Let's play another round of "Help me find a car!"

[shortcake57]

Hello all. A friend of mine is in search of a new car. She's a mom with a daughter going to college in the fall and a younger son with severe special needs. Her past car was an Acura MDX, which she loved. She's looking in the $20-25k range for her next car, though that's flexible. She drives on the highway a lot, lives in the suburbs, and goes to Yosemite a few times a year. Also, the family has two Labrador Retrievers that they take lots of places, and her husband bikes a ton, so the trunk should be able to fit a dog kennel or mountain bike.

Her initial thought was to buy another MDX or some other sort of crossover, but I've suggested she buy a station wagon, perhaps a Subaru Outback (for the extra space and better gas mileage). Also, I'd normally suggest buying a used car from a private owner (so much cheaper), but she isn't the most adept with or interested in cars, so a new or certified pre-owned might be a better way to go so she can have peace of mind.

Do you guys have any advice to add to or change that?

 

[Doog]

Sounds like you need a minivan, it can easily do all of that stuff while making sure everyone gets there in comfort. Is she open to a minivan?

 

[shortcake57]

Sounds like you need a minivan, it can easily do all of that stuff while making sure everyone gets there in comfort. Is she open to a minivan?

I think she's looking for something a bit more stylish and with better gas mileage. I'll mention it, though.

 

[Bopop4]

VW Jetta Wagon or Passat Wagon
Station wagons and diesels so great milage.

 

[theotherspongey]

Subaru Forester or Mitsubishi Outlander. AWD, Reasonable MPG, and good cargo space with folded seats.

 

[Doog]

If that doesn't work out, I'd suggest a Honda Pilot. It shares the same platform as the MDX, so your friend will probably feel right at home. It has a boxier shape than the MDX, so it will haul all of their stuff easier, and it should get the same gas mileage as the MDX. You'd have to go used for this price range though, but I found some Certified Pre-Owned models as well.

Another good option is a Volvo XC70 wagon. It's basically what the Subaru Outback is to the regular Legacy Wagon. It's a beefed up, more rugged and durable version of the already well-liked Volvo V70 Wagon. It appears to get good reviews from owners, and of course, it's very, very safe. All wheel drive is standard, and that's always a nice extra to have. The trunk is very large, and dog kennels should fit without an issue. Check this one out.

 

[Adamgp]

There's still time to score a great deal on a new 2012 Ford Escape:

I did and love it. Should fall exactly in her price range as well.

 

[ghsnu]

Ferrari FF? Kidding...

Assuming anything new/old/used is an option:
Explorer? Minivan? Forester? 4Runner? X-Terra? Suburban? Bronco? Wagon of somesort?

Better yet, just buy a truck and stick anything you want back there. If you're nervous about the dog escaping or the bike flying out, buy a camper shell or bed cover.

 

[oopssorryy]

Wagons! If your not going to off road then why get an SUV, and crossovers are just wagons on 20s and a raised suspension. They look better than mini vans but can do 95% of what they do.

 

[Slash]

Truck? lol jk

 

[Doog]

Actually, a truck may not be a bad idea. Try the Honda Ridgeline, as Honda calls it, the Honda of trucks. I hear it's more refined and comfortable than other trucks, but is also very practical, and gets good gas mileage for a truck. It has a legitimate row of actual backseats, with decent legroom and rear air vents. The bed is nice and boxy, perfect for kennels and bikes. If your friend wants the cargo to be isolated, they can install a camper shell over the bed, or even get it carpeted. You can find plenty of 08s and 09s with under 50,000 miles and in good condition.

 

[Slash]

I really don't like that style but the idea of the 4 door and bed isn't bad.

 

[Parker]

A Subaru Outback or Forester sounds perfect for what she wants. They have plenty of room for two full grown dogs (about 70-80lbs a piece) in the back and they are very comfortable, good on gas and very reliable. My wife's '02 Impreza Outback Sport has almost 200K miles on it and it's been nothing but dead reliable. Of course I maintain it very well and we've had to replace wear parts but it has never left us stranded and the awd system works flawlessly.

For what it's worth I'm a truck guy. I've never owned a vehicle other than a diesel truck because no car I have ever driven has given me any reason to stop daily driving my 21 year old Cummins. When we bought our Subaru that changed, I immediately fell in love with the car and am currently looking for a '02 WRX wagon to call my own. I'll always own my truck (and trucks in general) but for me something is special about a Subaru my experience with our '02 OBS has made me a fan for life.

 

[Antonisbob]

Definitely a station wagon, Audi A3 or Passat/Jetta, Legacy wagon?

 

[AequaMundi]

Nissan Xterra maybe?

 

[Antonisbob]

Nissan Xterra maybe?

From what I can tell their fuel economy isn't the greatest. Also, I seen one the other day, probably an '02 or '03 and it was already rusty. We don't use salt on our roads here, and it had B.C. plates. So that's pretty bad.

 

[Zenith]

Most Subaru owners I have talked to have said similar things as peobryant. A 2.5L Outback would be a great family car. It's also available with a leather interior (if that's your fancy).

The Outback is better than the Forester in nearly every quantifiable way. Most importantly, it has more room inside and a bigger gas tank that will be used more efficiently.

Other good wagons to look at are the aforementioned Volvo XC70 or V50. The V50 gets slightly better gas mileage than the Outback.

A truck seems like overkill if it's only going to be used for Yosemite.

 

[1241Penguin]

If you do want the Forester, I would wait until a later date because there is a new, fourth generation model coming out.