Help me find my next vehicle

[BEG]

I think I'm going back to a sedan. My husband is in there making the deal. I don't like to do that so I'm sitting outside the office, it stresses me out. I'm excited as this car is pretty dang cool for a sedan.

[jtyangel]

It's a basic model (A/C, power windows, but no DIV or special radio) 2006 Sienna, 98K miles.

For any van make sure the timing belt has been replaced before you buy it.

For any HOnda for sure. I have a Pilot though and I"m taking it for it's (due) timing belt replacement--actually I pushed the envelope a little, but it's time--I plan to keep her going strong for another few years through the first teenager driving(and needing) a vehicle. Good thing though is she'll be ready to roll at the weekend to the beach I have a Pilot and my ex has an Odyssey and we still own a RAV4(96) that's still running but about to give up the ghost. I can't speak highly enough to any of these cars, but in between all this we owned a caravan and an american truck. Both were POS.  I'd never buy an American made van ever again(transmission went at about 60K).JMO though

[jtyangel]

Do you have to have a minivan?

I have consumed the Hyundai koolaid and love my Tucson. It's a 2010 (which is when the body style changed I think) and I love it! I get about 25mpg and got 32 on the last road trip.

Yep, when we were first together..the ex had a Hyundai of some kind...it was actually very reliable

[BEG]

For any HOnda for sure. I have a Pilot though and I"m taking it for it's (due) timing belt replacement--actually I pushed the envelope a little, but it's time--I plan to keep her going strong for another few years through the first teenager driving(and needing) a vehicle. Good thing though is she'll be ready to roll at the weekend to the beach I have a Pilot and my ex has an Odyssey and we still own a RAV4(96) that's still running but about to give up the ghost. I can't speak highly enough to any of these cars, but in between all this we owned a caravan and an american truck. Both were POS.  I'd never buy an American made van ever again(transmission went at about 60K).JMO though

My husband has a Ford F-150 Raptor and it rocks.

[jtyangel]

My husband has a Ford F-150 Raptor and it rocks.

Yeah, I'd go with the truck again..that's why i left it out of the never buy discussion I think we were just on the unfortunate end there of a bad vehicle. The van, on the other hand, we were far from the only ones with trouble with transmissions in caravans in our own family/friend circle no less. I think American companies make good trucks..to me, that's ultimately their thing. The vans--was not pleased with at all. Good luck with the car hunt.  I'm planning on shopping next year for a used economy type of car that I am using partially for me to drive around here and there when the gas is outrageous, but ultimately for the oldest to use once she gets her license. 

I wuvs my Pilot though. 

[Zeus]

I got to make a comment/observation about automobiles.

It's become fashionable to bash american made automobiles and sing the glories of the far superior Japanese Autos. why is it you can find many 20+ yr old american made models on the road and have to look high & low to find a 10 yr old Japanese made auto on the road ? Seems to me if what people say is true you'd find just as many if not more decade or older Japanese vehicles on the road.

Truth be told those so called superior Asian vehicles have a life expectancy of maybe 100K and it's the rare one that goes beyond.

Yet people say marketing doesn't work. 

[CG6468]

I got to make a comment/observation about automobiles.

It's become fashionable to bash american made automobiles and sing the glories of the far superior Japanese Autos. why is it you can find many 20+ yr old american made models on the road and have to look high & low to find a 10 yr old Japanese made auto on the road ? Seems to me if what people say is true you'd find just as many if not more decade or older Japanese vehicles on the road.

Truth be told those so called superior Asian vehicles have a life expectancy of maybe 100K and it's the rare one that goes beyond.

Yet people say marketing doesn't work. 

I beg to differ. Our Japanese cars and trucks lasted well beyond 175K when we replaced them. I know, because I sold them after about 10 years to private parties who told me what great vehicles they got. My wife drives a 2003 Honda CRV, and there is no problem with it, nor has there ever been a problem.

I wouldn't pee on the best part of a GM product, and I never liked any Chrysler Corporation vehicles. Our 1997 Ford F150 is still going strong for our son after 180K.

[Zeus]

I beg to differ. Our Japanese cars and trucks lasted well beyond 175K when we replaced them. I know, because I sold them after about 10 years to private parties who told me what great vehicles they got. My wife drives a 2003 Honda CRV, and there is no problem with it, nor has there ever been a problem.

I wouldn't pee on the best part of a GM product, and I never liked any Chrysler Corporation vehicles. Our 1997 Ford F150 is still going strong for our son after 180K.

yes yes we all have heard the glories of Superior Japanese autos. Doesn't explain the absence of these vehicles on the nations highways & biways.

By the way a 2003 Honda CRV isn't even a decade old,where are all the 1993 or older Hondas Toyotas etc. Sure you see the occassional one but not in the numbers one would expect of such a superior automobile.

[CG6468]

yes yes we all have heard the glories of Superior Japanese autos. Doesn't explain the absence of these vehicles on the nations highways & biways.

By the way a 2003 Honda CRV isn't even a decade old,where are all the 1993 or older Hondas Toyotas etc. Sure you see the occassional one but not in the numbers one would expect of such a superior automobile.

No absence of them and other foreign vehicles around here.

And how did I know you'd quibble about the 2003 CRV? It's only 9 years old, not the 10 that you require.

[Zeus]

No absence of them and other foreign vehicles around here.

And how did I know you'd quibble about the 2003 CRV? It's only 9 years old, not the 10 that you require.

actually I was making the observation of 20+ yr old vehicles. No one is arguing their presence. the point of contention is those superior asian vehicles should be around a lot longer and in vastly greater numbers than the inferior american made vehicles. Anecdotal evidence aside the eyes and applied logic prove otherwise.

[CactusCarlos]

Any ideas yall?

Get yourself a copy of the April 2012 edition of Consumer Reports Magazine.  They rate used vehicles as well.

[Evil_Conservative]

I got to make a comment/observation about automobiles.

It's become fashionable to bash american made automobiles and sing the glories of the far superior Japanese Autos. why is it you can find many 20+ yr old american made models on the road and have to look high & low to find a 10 yr old Japanese made auto on the road ? Seems to me if what people say is true you'd find just as many if not more decade or older Japanese vehicles on the road.

Truth be told those so called superior Asian vehicles have a life expectancy of maybe 100K and it's the rare one that goes beyond.

Yet people say marketing doesn't work. 

We have a lot of 10+ year old foreign cars (not just Japanese cars) on our roads here.  My car is a 12 year old British car, runs like it's brand new.  Most American cars are crap these days.  Most, not all.

[CactusCarlos]

Truth be told those so called superior Asian vehicles have a life expectancy of maybe 100K and it's the rare one that goes beyond.

That explains two of the Toyotas in my driveway each with over 100k. 

[BEG]

I am now the owner of a sedan. Woo hoo!  I'll post pictures of it in the Spa.

[Zeus]

That explains two of the Toyotas in my driveway each with over 100k. 

Well Toyota must have sold at least twice as many as that in the last 20 yrs or so,ya reckon 

[TVDOC]

Well Toyota must have sold at least twice as many as that in the last 20 yrs or so,ya reckon 

You DO realize that Obama's "Cash for Clunkers" program took a large percentage of 10 to 20 y/o perfectly serviceable high-mileage vehicles (both imported and domestic) off the road, and distorted the entire used vehicle market. 

It will require a decade of normal consumption for that segment of the market to return to a normal state....

doc

[Zeus]

You DO realize that Obama's "Cash for Clunkers" program took a large percentage of 10 to 20 y/o perfectly serviceable high-mileage vehicles (both imported and domestic) off the road, and distorted the entire used vehicle market. 

It will require a decade of normal consumption for that segment of the market to return to a normal state....

doc

Yes I was. There are reports that a large portion of those "clunkers" were not destroyed as required but turned around and sold for cash off the books. Don't know how true the story is but I can believe it as those vehicles could be sold for little or nothing and still provide a profit.

Couple months back one of my employees bought his daughter  a 2002 Ford Crown Victoria in pristine condition for $1000. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if it was a cash for clunkers car.

[Gina]

bought a 09 Dodge Grand Caravan yesterday with 48k.  It's white with black interior and was a fleet vehicle.  I love it!  It's got swivel and go.....so captains chairs all turn and there is a table that can be set up in the back

got it at Carmax

[BlueStateSaint]

Congrats, Gina!

[Zeus]

bought a 09 Dodge Grand Caravan yesterday with 48k.  It's white with black interior and was a fleet vehicle.  I love it!  It's got swivel and go.....so captains chairs all turn and there is a table that can be set up in the back

got it at Carmax

Supposedly the number 1 selling mini van. People that have one swear by them. I don't see the appeal myself. To each his/her though. Enjoy the new toy.

[Chris_]

Didn't Chrysler have a lifetime engine/transmission warranty on '08 and '09 models?  I don't know if that applies to fleet sales, but it might be worth asking a dealer about.

[BEG]

I looked it up Gina, I saw the table and swivel seats. It looks cool!

[Lacarnut]

My brother purchased two cars from Carmax and is very satisfied. One is a Hyundia SUV and the other a Buick sedan.

For those that have been in the military, USAA offers a free buying service which is fantastic. I bought my new Infiniti sedan and the discount the out of state dealer quoted me would have been laughed at by my local dealer. They even delivered the car to me.

You might even be able to afford a new vehicle if the price is right and the interest rate is low or zero. Never hurts to give it a try. I hate going into the dealership so I do all my shopping on line.

Before you buy any vehicle, you need do your homework. Find consumer maintenance reports on that vehicle. Know what the dealer's cost is on a new car plus discount/incentives or the blue book value on a used car.

[Zeus]

Also arrange for outside financing before hand. That essentially makes it a cash deal to the seller and should afford them more wiggle room on price negotiations. On a new car purchase a cash offer should cut about 10% off the top and then you can Talk them down more from there. Let them know that if you don't get the deal you want you will walk.

I saved about 15K on my last car on a cash deal. It helped that the dealer was going out of business though.

[TVDOC]

Didn't Chrysler have a lifetime engine/transmission warranty on '08 and '09 models?  I don't know if that applies to fleet sales, but it might be worth asking a dealer about.

They did.....but only for the original owner, it's not transferable.  However Chrysler will reinstate it for subsequent owners for as little as $350, depending on model.

doc