OT: Car Buying Advice

[bearishgurl]

[quote=Ricechex]So far…here is what we tried today:
Toyota Avalon–he is still too tall and can’t see the stoplights.
Camry, Mazda6 (I have one) too small.
Honda Element–fit him well, very boxy, large interior, but seems a little cheap.
Toyota Scion–better price than the Element, also boxy and fit him, but again…just didn’t seem to be the right car.
Prius–he liked all the gadgets, but again too small.
His partner has a 2003 Grand Marquis, and he thinks maybe a new one of those might suit.
Will definitely check the Toyota Sienna.

Like I said…he is a big guy![/quote]

Ricechex, is there any way your friend can go older?? There are many Lexus LS’s (luxury sedan model), Cadillacs and Lincoln Towncars which would be much more comfortable for your friend to drive that are outside of the “certified-used” period of five years old. Used vehs. are SO competitively priced right now – almost a “steal” in some cases. If properly maintained, well-built quality vehicles such as the above-mentioned can last up to 200K mi. until they need major work. A Lexus can typically last 275-300K mi. before needing major work.

Your friend might be surpised how good the gas mileage is on an 8-cyl. passenger car built in the last 18 years. It’s not uncommon to get 29+ MPG on the open road. Look at private parties’ vehicles and ask to see service records. Sometimes a dealer will have service records avail. also.

My theory is, if you are going to go used, you want the most “bang for your buck.” There’s no sense in buying an unsafe “tin can.”

I am just about to embark on another 3000K road trip in the 100+ deg. heat in my 16-year old Lexus. I will be the only driver and am female and have complete confidence that everything will be fine 🙂

[bearishgurl]

[quote=eavesdropper] . . . a Toyota Sienna minivan. Talk about a perfect vehicle! I bought it when I was doing some major redesign and construction projects on my last house, and you can’t believe the range and the amount of stuff I’ve managed to fit into that car. I can fit a max of 7 passengers (they make them big enough for 8), and still have a huge amount of room for luggage and gear. The last row of seats can fold into the floor, and the middle row of seats is removable; once, after I had done that, I loaded 39 bags of mulch (yes, large bags) into the van, and half of the cargo area was still empty. I’m really into antiques (the big primitive-style ones), and there’s never been a piece that I haven’t been able to transport.

But the big surprises were how it handled and its excellent gas mileage. I can tear around winding country roads, narrow mountain tunnels, and corkscrew highway exit ramps in that thing, sometimes at 75 mph, and it just clings to the road; the handling is as good as any car I’ve ever owned (seems to have just the right combination of aerodynamics and weight). And, in its first 4 years, or so, I was getting 27 mpg hwy. Best part? I walked out of the dealer with this brand-new Sienna for $20,400. It’s the CE model (which I’m convinced means “cheap edition”), but it has the same engine as the $43,000 version did, and it has everything I need. And it’s still going strong at 125K miles.[/quote](emphasis added)

eavesdropper, you are fortunate to be living near many antique dealers in VA. I have visited a few in Loudoun County with a dear relative (now deceased) and had a lot of fun.

Ricechex, I have two neighbors that have the Toyota Sienna MV. I agree that they are very well-built with a roomy interior. This may be a good choice also. I still think an older full-size luxury sedan would offer your friend more leg room within his price range.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=eavesdropper] . . . a Toyota Sienna minivan. Talk about a perfect vehicle! I bought it when I was doing some major redesign and construction projects on my last house, and you can’t believe the range and the amount of stuff I’ve managed to fit into that car. I can fit a max of 7 passengers (they make them big enough for 8), and still have a huge amount of room for luggage and gear. The last row of seats can fold into the floor, and the middle row of seats is removable; once, after I had done that, I loaded 39 bags of mulch (yes, large bags) into the van, and half of the cargo area was still empty. I’m really into antiques (the big primitive-style ones), and there’s never been a piece that I haven’t been able to transport.

But the big surprises were how it handled and its excellent gas mileage. I can tear around winding country roads, narrow mountain tunnels, and corkscrew highway exit ramps in that thing, sometimes at 75 mph, and it just clings to the road; the handling is as good as any car I’ve ever owned (seems to have just the right combination of aerodynamics and weight). And, in its first 4 years, or so, I was getting 27 mpg hwy. Best part? I walked out of the dealer with this brand-new Sienna for $20,400. It’s the CE model (which I’m convinced means “cheap edition”), but it has the same engine as the $43,000 version did, and it has everything I need. And it’s still going strong at 125K miles.[/quote](emphasis added)

eavesdropper, you are fortunate to be living near many antique dealers in VA. I have visited a few in Loudoun County with a dear relative (now deceased) and had a lot of fun.

Ricechex, I have two neighbors that have the Toyota Sienna MV. I agree that they are very well-built with a roomy interior. This may be a good choice also. I still think an older full-size luxury sedan would offer your friend more leg room within his price range.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=eavesdropper] . . . a Toyota Sienna minivan. Talk about a perfect vehicle! I bought it when I was doing some major redesign and construction projects on my last house, and you can’t believe the range and the amount of stuff I’ve managed to fit into that car. I can fit a max of 7 passengers (they make them big enough for 8), and still have a huge amount of room for luggage and gear. The last row of seats can fold into the floor, and the middle row of seats is removable; once, after I had done that, I loaded 39 bags of mulch (yes, large bags) into the van, and half of the cargo area was still empty. I’m really into antiques (the big primitive-style ones), and there’s never been a piece that I haven’t been able to transport.

But the big surprises were how it handled and its excellent gas mileage. I can tear around winding country roads, narrow mountain tunnels, and corkscrew highway exit ramps in that thing, sometimes at 75 mph, and it just clings to the road; the handling is as good as any car I’ve ever owned (seems to have just the right combination of aerodynamics and weight). And, in its first 4 years, or so, I was getting 27 mpg hwy. Best part? I walked out of the dealer with this brand-new Sienna for $20,400. It’s the CE model (which I’m convinced means “cheap edition”), but it has the same engine as the $43,000 version did, and it has everything I need. And it’s still going strong at 125K miles.[/quote](emphasis added)

eavesdropper, you are fortunate to be living near many antique dealers in VA. I have visited a few in Loudoun County with a dear relative (now deceased) and had a lot of fun.

Ricechex, I have two neighbors that have the Toyota Sienna MV. I agree that they are very well-built with a roomy interior. This may be a good choice also. I still think an older full-size luxury sedan would offer your friend more leg room within his price range.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=eavesdropper] . . . a Toyota Sienna minivan. Talk about a perfect vehicle! I bought it when I was doing some major redesign and construction projects on my last house, and you can’t believe the range and the amount of stuff I’ve managed to fit into that car. I can fit a max of 7 passengers (they make them big enough for 8), and still have a huge amount of room for luggage and gear. The last row of seats can fold into the floor, and the middle row of seats is removable; once, after I had done that, I loaded 39 bags of mulch (yes, large bags) into the van, and half of the cargo area was still empty. I’m really into antiques (the big primitive-style ones), and there’s never been a piece that I haven’t been able to transport.

But the big surprises were how it handled and its excellent gas mileage. I can tear around winding country roads, narrow mountain tunnels, and corkscrew highway exit ramps in that thing, sometimes at 75 mph, and it just clings to the road; the handling is as good as any car I’ve ever owned (seems to have just the right combination of aerodynamics and weight). And, in its first 4 years, or so, I was getting 27 mpg hwy. Best part? I walked out of the dealer with this brand-new Sienna for $20,400. It’s the CE model (which I’m convinced means “cheap edition”), but it has the same engine as the $43,000 version did, and it has everything I need. And it’s still going strong at 125K miles.[/quote](emphasis added)

eavesdropper, you are fortunate to be living near many antique dealers in VA. I have visited a few in Loudoun County with a dear relative (now deceased) and had a lot of fun.

Ricechex, I have two neighbors that have the Toyota Sienna MV. I agree that they are very well-built with a roomy interior. This may be a good choice also. I still think an older full-size luxury sedan would offer your friend more leg room within his price range.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=eavesdropper] . . . a Toyota Sienna minivan. Talk about a perfect vehicle! I bought it when I was doing some major redesign and construction projects on my last house, and you can’t believe the range and the amount of stuff I’ve managed to fit into that car. I can fit a max of 7 passengers (they make them big enough for 8), and still have a huge amount of room for luggage and gear. The last row of seats can fold into the floor, and the middle row of seats is removable; once, after I had done that, I loaded 39 bags of mulch (yes, large bags) into the van, and half of the cargo area was still empty. I’m really into antiques (the big primitive-style ones), and there’s never been a piece that I haven’t been able to transport.

But the big surprises were how it handled and its excellent gas mileage. I can tear around winding country roads, narrow mountain tunnels, and corkscrew highway exit ramps in that thing, sometimes at 75 mph, and it just clings to the road; the handling is as good as any car I’ve ever owned (seems to have just the right combination of aerodynamics and weight). And, in its first 4 years, or so, I was getting 27 mpg hwy. Best part? I walked out of the dealer with this brand-new Sienna for $20,400. It’s the CE model (which I’m convinced means “cheap edition”), but it has the same engine as the $43,000 version did, and it has everything I need. And it’s still going strong at 125K miles.[/quote](emphasis added)

eavesdropper, you are fortunate to be living near many antique dealers in VA. I have visited a few in Loudoun County with a dear relative (now deceased) and had a lot of fun.

Ricechex, I have two neighbors that have the Toyota Sienna MV. I agree that they are very well-built with a roomy interior. This may be a good choice also. I still think an older full-size luxury sedan would offer your friend more leg room within his price range.

[bearishgurl]

Ricechex, credit unions have very competitive rates on auto loans. For instance SDCCU (below) has 5.75% (var. rate) on vehs. 2004 and older.

http://www.sdccu.com/pages/rates/VehicleLoanRates.pdf

I would recommend your friend put down at least 30% (if possible) on a veh. which is outside of the “certified used” range and pay no more for it than the Kelly Blue Book Private Party Value to get the best rates. This is also possible with dealers of non-certified used vehicles because they are slow and hurting right now.

I’m bearish in interest rates for the next 3-5 years. I wouldn’t worry too much about a var. rate auto loan jumping into the stratosphere. Just study the index and payment caps before signing up and keep the payments under 60 months, preferably to 36 months.

[bearishgurl]

Ricechex, credit unions have very competitive rates on auto loans. For instance SDCCU (below) has 5.75% (var. rate) on vehs. 2004 and older.

http://www.sdccu.com/pages/rates/VehicleLoanRates.pdf

I would recommend your friend put down at least 30% (if possible) on a veh. which is outside of the “certified used” range and pay no more for it than the Kelly Blue Book Private Party Value to get the best rates. This is also possible with dealers of non-certified used vehicles because they are slow and hurting right now.

I’m bearish in interest rates for the next 3-5 years. I wouldn’t worry too much about a var. rate auto loan jumping into the stratosphere. Just study the index and payment caps before signing up and keep the payments under 60 months, preferably to 36 months.

[bearishgurl]

Ricechex, credit unions have very competitive rates on auto loans. For instance SDCCU (below) has 5.75% (var. rate) on vehs. 2004 and older.

http://www.sdccu.com/pages/rates/VehicleLoanRates.pdf

I would recommend your friend put down at least 30% (if possible) on a veh. which is outside of the “certified used” range and pay no more for it than the Kelly Blue Book Private Party Value to get the best rates. This is also possible with dealers of non-certified used vehicles because they are slow and hurting right now.

I’m bearish in interest rates for the next 3-5 years. I wouldn’t worry too much about a var. rate auto loan jumping into the stratosphere. Just study the index and payment caps before signing up and keep the payments under 60 months, preferably to 36 months.

[bearishgurl]

Ricechex, credit unions have very competitive rates on auto loans. For instance SDCCU (below) has 5.75% (var. rate) on vehs. 2004 and older.

http://www.sdccu.com/pages/rates/VehicleLoanRates.pdf

I would recommend your friend put down at least 30% (if possible) on a veh. which is outside of the “certified used” range and pay no more for it than the Kelly Blue Book Private Party Value to get the best rates. This is also possible with dealers of non-certified used vehicles because they are slow and hurting right now.

I’m bearish in interest rates for the next 3-5 years. I wouldn’t worry too much about a var. rate auto loan jumping into the stratosphere. Just study the index and payment caps before signing up and keep the payments under 60 months, preferably to 36 months.

[bearishgurl]

Ricechex, credit unions have very competitive rates on auto loans. For instance SDCCU (below) has 5.75% (var. rate) on vehs. 2004 and older.

http://www.sdccu.com/pages/rates/VehicleLoanRates.pdf

I would recommend your friend put down at least 30% (if possible) on a veh. which is outside of the “certified used” range and pay no more for it than the Kelly Blue Book Private Party Value to get the best rates. This is also possible with dealers of non-certified used vehicles because they are slow and hurting right now.

I’m bearish in interest rates for the next 3-5 years. I wouldn’t worry too much about a var. rate auto loan jumping into the stratosphere. Just study the index and payment caps before signing up and keep the payments under 60 months, preferably to 36 months.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=Ricechex]So far…here is what we tried today:
Toyota Avalon–he is still too tall and can’t see the stoplights.
Camry, Mazda6 (I have one) too small.
Honda Element–fit him well, very boxy, large interior, but seems a little cheap.
Toyota Scion–better price than the Element, also boxy and fit him, but again…just didn’t seem to be the right car.
Prius–he liked all the gadgets, but again too small.
His partner has a 2003 Grand Marquis, and he thinks maybe a new one of those might suit.
Will definitely check the Toyota Sienna.

Like I said…he is a big guy![/quote]

Just don’t the dealer talk him into one of the more expensive models. Unless he absolutely must have heated leather seats or a DVD player or all that other useless shit, he should be able to stay within his target price range.

I should remind you that mine is a 2004. Hopefully, Toyota has done nothing to “improve” what was already a perfect vehicle (decent power, excellent space, handling like a sporty sedan’s, low price, good gas mileage – oooh! I get hot just typing.) The only thing they could have done to truly improve it is to make the middle row of seats fold into the floor like the rear row.

Speaking of power, one night I was on New York Avenue in downtown DC at about 3 am. I had some young cocky kid sitting beside me at the stoplight who didn’t like it because I was first off the line at the previous red, and was apparently determined to teach an old housewife in a minivan a lesson with his brand-new Chevy Avalanche. I was bored, and desperate for something to keep me awake, so I bit. I was first off the line again, and he never did catch up with me, even though our vehicles got up into the 90s. I’ll bet he’s still in therapy.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=Ricechex]So far…here is what we tried today:
Toyota Avalon–he is still too tall and can’t see the stoplights.
Camry, Mazda6 (I have one) too small.
Honda Element–fit him well, very boxy, large interior, but seems a little cheap.
Toyota Scion–better price than the Element, also boxy and fit him, but again…just didn’t seem to be the right car.
Prius–he liked all the gadgets, but again too small.
His partner has a 2003 Grand Marquis, and he thinks maybe a new one of those might suit.
Will definitely check the Toyota Sienna.

Like I said…he is a big guy![/quote]

Just don’t the dealer talk him into one of the more expensive models. Unless he absolutely must have heated leather seats or a DVD player or all that other useless shit, he should be able to stay within his target price range.

I should remind you that mine is a 2004. Hopefully, Toyota has done nothing to “improve” what was already a perfect vehicle (decent power, excellent space, handling like a sporty sedan’s, low price, good gas mileage – oooh! I get hot just typing.) The only thing they could have done to truly improve it is to make the middle row of seats fold into the floor like the rear row.

Speaking of power, one night I was on New York Avenue in downtown DC at about 3 am. I had some young cocky kid sitting beside me at the stoplight who didn’t like it because I was first off the line at the previous red, and was apparently determined to teach an old housewife in a minivan a lesson with his brand-new Chevy Avalanche. I was bored, and desperate for something to keep me awake, so I bit. I was first off the line again, and he never did catch up with me, even though our vehicles got up into the 90s. I’ll bet he’s still in therapy.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=Ricechex]So far…here is what we tried today:
Toyota Avalon–he is still too tall and can’t see the stoplights.
Camry, Mazda6 (I have one) too small.
Honda Element–fit him well, very boxy, large interior, but seems a little cheap.
Toyota Scion–better price than the Element, also boxy and fit him, but again…just didn’t seem to be the right car.
Prius–he liked all the gadgets, but again too small.
His partner has a 2003 Grand Marquis, and he thinks maybe a new one of those might suit.
Will definitely check the Toyota Sienna.

Like I said…he is a big guy![/quote]

Just don’t the dealer talk him into one of the more expensive models. Unless he absolutely must have heated leather seats or a DVD player or all that other useless shit, he should be able to stay within his target price range.

I should remind you that mine is a 2004. Hopefully, Toyota has done nothing to “improve” what was already a perfect vehicle (decent power, excellent space, handling like a sporty sedan’s, low price, good gas mileage – oooh! I get hot just typing.) The only thing they could have done to truly improve it is to make the middle row of seats fold into the floor like the rear row.

Speaking of power, one night I was on New York Avenue in downtown DC at about 3 am. I had some young cocky kid sitting beside me at the stoplight who didn’t like it because I was first off the line at the previous red, and was apparently determined to teach an old housewife in a minivan a lesson with his brand-new Chevy Avalanche. I was bored, and desperate for something to keep me awake, so I bit. I was first off the line again, and he never did catch up with me, even though our vehicles got up into the 90s. I’ll bet he’s still in therapy.

[eavesdropper]

[quote=Ricechex]So far…here is what we tried today:
Toyota Avalon–he is still too tall and can’t see the stoplights.
Camry, Mazda6 (I have one) too small.
Honda Element–fit him well, very boxy, large interior, but seems a little cheap.
Toyota Scion–better price than the Element, also boxy and fit him, but again…just didn’t seem to be the right car.
Prius–he liked all the gadgets, but again too small.
His partner has a 2003 Grand Marquis, and he thinks maybe a new one of those might suit.
Will definitely check the Toyota Sienna.

Like I said…he is a big guy![/quote]

Just don’t the dealer talk him into one of the more expensive models. Unless he absolutely must have heated leather seats or a DVD player or all that other useless shit, he should be able to stay within his target price range.

I should remind you that mine is a 2004. Hopefully, Toyota has done nothing to “improve” what was already a perfect vehicle (decent power, excellent space, handling like a sporty sedan’s, low price, good gas mileage – oooh! I get hot just typing.) The only thing they could have done to truly improve it is to make the middle row of seats fold into the floor like the rear row.

Speaking of power, one night I was on New York Avenue in downtown DC at about 3 am. I had some young cocky kid sitting beside me at the stoplight who didn’t like it because I was first off the line at the previous red, and was apparently determined to teach an old housewife in a minivan a lesson with his brand-new Chevy Avalanche. I was bored, and desperate for something to keep me awake, so I bit. I was first off the line again, and he never did catch up with me, even though our vehicles got up into the 90s. I’ll bet he’s still in therapy.

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