Car advice - Need a new car

[cristen72]

Bought my Subaru Forester new in 2002. Twelve years and 255,000 miles later it's still going. Love it!

 

[tvguy]

Bought my Subaru Forester new in 2002. Twelve years and 255,000 miles later it's still going. Love it!

Soooo many people I know that have Subarus don't do what you clearly have done, kept it up.

Absolutely positively no scientific evidence, but I swear people who buy Pontiacs and Subarus are more likely to neglect their cars.

 

[Trek Girl]

OP, what model year of the Escape are you considering? My husband had a 2012 as a company car and we both loved it. He moved to a new job last year, and the new company also gave him an Escape, but this time it was a 2013. What a difference a year makes! The 2013 is okay, but if we were looking to purchase a car, we wouldn't go with that one. We've been having issues with what we think is the fuel injection system. If we start the engine and let it idle immediately after filling up, there's a weird rumble. The car actually shut off on my husband one day while he was sitting at a red light. He restarted and it was fine, but still...The car is only a little over a year old! He should not be having issues like this so soon.

A few of his co-workers, who also drive the same model, have had similar issues. They're vehicles actually shut off on them in traffic (though not at highway speeds, thank goodness). He has the option of purchasing his company vehicle in about a year - we won't be taking advantage of that particular offer.

 

[jedijill]

I just bought a 2014 Ford Escape Titanium on Saturday and I'm in love with it! I have the bigger engine and it is really responsive. Can't wait to take it up to the mountains on Friday.

Jill in CO

 

[mikehn]

I got my spouse a 2014 forester, the all leather touring, eyesight model. I admit it is a pretty sweet ride. I like it just about as much as my 2013 ram

 

[rsschneck]

We currently own a VW (5 years old) and a Ford (10 years old). While we do enjoy being in the VW, it is a very different driving experience than any other vehicle. Additionally, the maintenance on the VW has been quite expensive for being a newer car.

If we were to purchase a car tomorrow, we would go with a Ford again but not a VW.

Interesting. We have a Ford that's 7 1/2 years old and a VW that is 7 years old and we have repaired the Ford WAY more than the VW. I love my VW so much I ordered another one and it should arrive any day now. The Ford will be sold next year when the extended warranty runs out. We won't buy another Ford period.

 

[ellochka]

Interesting. We have a Ford that's 7 1/2 years old and a VW that is 7 years old and we have repaired the Ford WAY more than the VW. I love my VW so much I ordered another one and it should arrive any day now. The Ford will be sold next year when the extended warranty runs out. We won't buy another Ford period.

I have to admit, my experience with VW (2001 Beetle) has been good, too. It did have several minor things go wrong in the first three years while it was under the warranty. Random stuff, like light on a switch on a panel, some break work. It only had two serious repairs out of warranty and both were some sort of engine sensors, $500 to fix each. Everything else was just normal wear. I drive a Scion now, and I have to admit that it has not been to the shop in the first three years I owned it (it was 2 y.o. when I got it), and I hope it lasts. However, my husband spent close to $6,000 just this spring on his Prius which is not at 100K yet (some computer thing for the battery - $1,600 and three weeks waiting for the part, $3,600 new battery, $600 new breaks, and he needs a new engine guard/cover). So, having a Toyota is not a guarantee for low maintenance cost.

 

[tvguy]

I have to admit, my experience with VW (2001 Beetle) has been good, too. It did have several minor things go wrong in the first three years while it was under the warranty. Random stuff, like light on a switch on a panel, some break work. It only had two serious repairs out of warranty and both were some sort of engine sensors, $500 to fix each. Everything else was just normal wear. I drive a Scion now, and I have to admit that it has not been to the shop in the first three years I owned it (it was 2 y.o. when I got it), and I hope it lasts. However, my husband spent close to $6,000 just this spring on his Prius which is not at 100K yet (some computer thing for the battery - $1,600 and three weeks waiting for the part, $3,600 new battery, $600 new breaks, and he needs a new engine guard/cover). So, having a Toyota is not a guarantee for low maintenance cost.

Did he take it to the Toyota dealer? The basic warranty on the battery is 8 years and 100,000 miles, unless you live in a state that requires California emissions standards, then it is 10 years or 100,000 miles. That repair should have been free.

 

[ellochka]

Did he take it to the Toyota dealer? The basic warranty on the battery is 8 years and 100,000 miles, unless you live in a state that requires California emissions standards, then it is 10 years or 100,000 miles. That repair should have been free.

Yes, he did fix at the dealer. Maybe he just got over 100K miles or because we got the car used, but we had to pay for it. His first Prius ran on the same battery until it got totaled with 170K miles.

 

[tvguy]

Yes, he did fix at the dealer. Maybe he just got over 100K miles or because we got the car used, but we had to pay for it. His first Prius ran on the same battery until it got totaled with 170K miles.

A friend of mine has been a mechanic at the Toyota dealer since 1970. When asked about Toyotas being reliable, he always says "I wouldn't have a job if they didn't break down". But he does add, that Toyota is far more likely to pay for a repair after the warranty is up than an other auto maker. His dealership does a lot of warranty work on out of warranty cars. I think he said they had done over a million dollars in head gasket replacements on V6 engines, all on cars over 100,000 miles, all free to the customer.

 

[eliza61]

I just got a new car. I had a 1997 Nissan Maxima. Loved it, 285k miles. Upgraded to a 2012 infinity GS 37x. So far so good. Lol

 

[ellochka]

A friend of mine has been a mechanic at the Toyota dealer since 1970. When asked about Toyotas being reliable, he always says "I wouldn't have a job if they didn't break down". But he does add, that Toyota is far more likely to pay for a repair after the warranty is up than an other auto maker. His dealership does a lot of warranty work on out of warranty cars. I think he said they had done over a million dollars in head gasket replacements on V6 engines, all on cars over 100,000 miles, all free to the customer.

Gee, my DH should have complained we did not have the money to get it fixed. His car had just spent over three weeks in the same dealership because of a part they had to order from Japan (and a $1,600 bill to boot). We do have an "rare large expense" savings account, so we could pay for the repair, but between than and some medical expenses our accounts is now drained.

 

[O RLY]

After spending the whole day out at dealerships I'm leaning towards the Subaru Forester and the Ford Escape. Didn't have a chance to go see the volvo dealership yet. I think the VW is out, even with a warranty its annoying that everyone I talk to has had these cars constantly getting repaired. Up next is checking out Honda..maybe a CRV?

 

[jedijill]

After spending the whole day out at dealerships I'm leaning towards the Subaru Forester and the Ford Escape. Didn't have a chance to go see the volvo dealership yet. I think the VW is out, even with a warranty its annoying that everyone I talk to has had these cars constantly getting repaired. Up next is checking out Honda..maybe a CRV?

Just wrapped up a weekend of driving in the mountains with my new Escape. I averaged 25 mpg for both days (stop/go traffic on interstate and driving through Rocky Mountain NP and through a couple of high mountain passes.)

Loving my Escape so far.

Jill in CO