Thread: Help me pick out a new car!

It might not hit the mileage requirement....or the price one but a Porsche Cayenne would fit the other requirements quite nicely!

Seriously, though, I'd probably be looking at some kind of crossover such as a Mazda CX-9 or a Nissan Murano. They won't have the mileage you are looking for but to get that you would have to go with something a lot smaller or more hybrid.

A Prius starts at 25k new, gets between 41 and 58mpg and is available in hatchback...the occasional 300/400 lbs of batteries, however, will probably require a truck to carry on a regular and reliable basis but I think a Prius can do it if it is only occasional. (It can carry 4 people at 200lbs apiece, but I wouldn't try that every day), I believe the new ones can recharge from regular electric services now.

I drive a Toyota RAV and use it for a simular purpose ( work tools etc)

Great vehicle, a little short in the wheelbase so its kinda choppy highway ride but the newer versions is a longer wheelbase.

AWD is great of road or in snow/mud rain

Might want to look into a Subaru Outback or Forester.

If you're driving over 30k miles/ year it is probably mostly highway so a hybrid is a bad idea. If you drive a city route and are delivering mail or something then a hybrid is the only way to go.

The Jeep Compass made the list of the top 10 fuel efficient SUVs so you might want to check it out. EPA highway is 29 for the 2WD version. They redesigned the exterior to mimic the larger Grand Cherokee which is the most awarded SUV of all time. Fiat owns Chrysler now and they have made great strides in interior comfort and design.

I've had my Grand Cherokee Overland 4WD since March and have put 11k miles on it so far. I have the new Pentastar V6 rated at 23 mpg highway and routinely get 25. It is my first Jeep and my favorite vehicle of all that I have owned, and I've owned a lot of vehicles. The interior is the better than my friend's Lexus that costs twice as much.

Hyundai Tuscon

20k price
100k warranty
stylish
32mpg
plenty of space, yet small and agile

I thought we all were required to buy a Chevy Volt or pay a penalty

Originally Posted by jviehe

Hyundai Tuscon

20k price
100k warranty
stylish
32mpg
plenty of space, yet small and agile

That's not a bad idea! I rented one my last trip back east and it was a decent ride.

Jviehe - I hadn't considered the Tuscon. I'll check it out.

John Drake - I don't think I want to deal with hybrids because of the long trips and I worry about battery replacement costs down the road.

RDK - I will look at Toyotas and Scions. I'm driving an 06 4runner now and love it. My 18 y.o. is excited to drive it, even with 150k miles on it.

Thorhammer - I'll put Subaru on my list to check out.

Here is where I started yesterday. I went to check out the Honda Civic, but they discontinued the hatchback. I looked at the Fit. They were ugly and I didn't like the cloth on the seats. They didn't look too durable. We'll see.

I test drove a Mazda CX-5. I like the room and the way it drove. I drove the base model and the price was right. ($22k) I'm sure the nicer models had a better stereo and they get 35mpg.

I didn't have time to test drive a Mazda 3 hatchback. It's kind of on the small side, but it is good looking, 40+mpg is pretty sexy, and 90% of my driving is by myself anyway. Fully loaded is about $22k.

My favorite by far has been the Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen with the TDI diesel. It was by far the most luxurious. The diesel was quiet and accelerated smoothly. It was no sports car, but my wife really likes this car. The stereo and instruments were nice and it had a panoramic sunroof. The drawbacks are maintenance. It requires special synthetic oil and a new drain plug with every oil change. The fuel filter is replaced every 20k miles. I usually do all my own maintenance, so this would be an adjustment to get it done at the dealership, order filters and drain plugs by mail, or make a trip to the VW dealership to get parts to do my own oil changes. It does get 42+mpg though. I know people getting over 50mpg. A couple recently bought a VW Passat with the same engine and drove it for the purpose of getting maximum mpg. They got over 1600miles on a tank and 84mpg. They went on to drive it through the 48 states and average 69mpg. Here is a link. I like the idea of trying to match that on long road trips. Cost of the Jetta Wagon was about $28k.

High-mpg Taylors drive a Volkswagen Passat 1,626 miles on one tank of fuel

Thank you for all your help.

Originally Posted by lutherf

That's not a bad idea! I rented one my last trip back east and it was a decent ride.

That or a Hyundai Genesis 3.8l Turbo. But thats more of a race car. Im looking at a new car too, but I need a pickup, and something cheap. Would love a F150, but theyre too expensive, so either a used Nissan Frontier or a Explorer Sport Trac. Just dont buy a GM until the govt stops owning them.

Originally Posted by jviehe

That or a Hyundai Genesis 3.8l Turbo. But thats more of a race car. Im looking at a new car too, but I need a pickup, and something cheap. Would love a F150, but theyre too expensive, so either a used Nissan Frontier or a Explorer Sport Trac. Just dont buy a GM until the govt stops owning them.

I'm with you on the GM view. One thing that concerns me with gas engines is rumors that we will be forced to switch to E15 ethynol fuel without notice. Ethynol is very hard on engines not designed for it. If I get a car with a gas engine, I'd like to find a flex fuel E85 car. I can see the government forcing us to E15 because it would be better for GM, who has so many E85 cars already. Toyota is considering putting warnings on their gas caps to the effect of "Use of more than 10% ethynol in this vehicle will void the warranty."

Jviehe - Don't forget the Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, or Mazda pickups, which are Ranger clones.

One other thing to consider is where you will be driving.

I live in a small town on the Canadian prairies, the only dealers for considerable distances are Toyota and the big 3 domestic manufacturers. Once had a Volvo, loved it but having a 200 km plus round trip to the dealer for oil changes was a bit of a pain. The only time it failed me, in 11 years and about 450,000 kms I was over 600 kms from the nearest dealer.

Obviously if you will always be near major centers this is not a consideration, but if outside major population areas this may be something to think about.

I'd buy a Toyota Hi-Lux 4WD diesel in a heartbeat if they were available in North America, drove one in Iceland for 6 months through all their winter ice storms and never had any problems.

Originally Posted by Texan

I'm with you on the GM view. One thing that concerns me with gas engines is rumors that we will be forced to switch to E15 ethynol fuel without notice. Ethynol is very hard on engines not designed for it. If I get a car with a gas engine, I'd like to find a flex fuel E85 car. I can see the government forcing us to E15 because it would be better for GM, who has so many E85 cars already. Toyota is considering putting warnings on their gas caps to the effect of "Use of more than 10% ethynol in this vehicle will void the warranty."

Jviehe - Don't forget the Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, or Mazda pickups, which are Ranger clones.

Wont buy a Dodge either given their history, and the Ranger is too expensive for what it is. Havent looked at Maza though. Doesnt come to mind when you think of pickups. The Nissan frontier seems like the best value.