Help me pick a new car!

[AlohaPolynesian]

I'm lucky to be blessed with the gift of a new car as a graduation present. I'm going to look at cars tomorrow with my dad and I am just so not ready. I would like to drive a small SUV, my first car was a Jeep Liberty. If anyone has any similar ideas or suggestions and can recommend something, please do! My price range is no more than $30,000. Right now I am thinking about the new 2010 Toyota 4Runner....thoughts? Thanks in advance!

 

[mumom95]

My DH is looking at the 2010 Ford Fusion. It's Motortrends car of the year and is getting great reviews. It's very different from the 2009 both inside and out. You can get it pretty loaded for under $30,000.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Nice! I just looked it up and that is a really good looking car. Thank you!

 

[a1tinkfans]

We're a HONDA family (mostly) LOVE the crv and we also have the Pilot. Honda is reputable, competitive, keeps their value and great driving.

Safe driving and Congratulations on your graduation AND your new vehicle!

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Thanks!! That is so funny that you say that because my sister and brother in law have been telling me to look at the Honda CRV since I got my first car. She has one and I don't really like it - but I know it is a good car so I really should be considering it. Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[KRIS10420]

I recommend a Subaru, either the outback or the forester are the nicest. I have an impreza and love it. It is an all wheel drive which makes it excellent for driving in the snow (if you get snow where you live) and is great on gas.

 

[Phil'sFrontier]

Test Drive a Nissan Xterra. You won't be dissapointed.
Im not sure if you can get a new 4runner for 30 grand. A Rav4 though.
Another good one to check out is the new Subaru Forester. We test drove one when the wife bought her 2008 Pathfinder. I really liked the Subaru, but she didn't. It a good option because you can get a turbo charged 4 cyl. which gives you good power for passing, and good gas mileage as well.

 

[vicb]

We are a GM family, I am driving an 2008 Equinox right now and one of my best friends just bought the new 2010 Equinox, it is sharp and getting good reviews from the major auto magazines. The new redesigned one gets better gas mileage than mine. My DH is driving the GMC Terrain for his business car right now, I don't like the look as much as the Equinox but he loves it.

On a related note Saturn dealers and Pontiac dealers are offering major incentives on their suvs right now and the warranty will be covered by remaining GM dealers (ie. Chevy). You might be able to get more car for the buck with the incentives!

Good luck and have fun shopping.

 

[DVCLiz]

My girls are driving Mercury Mariner Hybrids and love them!

 

[KristiMc]

My DH just got a 2010 GMC Terrain and he loves it.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Thank you all so much!!

 

[MWAZU39]

My DH is looking at the 2010 Ford Fusion. It's Motortrends car of the year and is getting great reviews. It's very different from the 2009 both inside and out. You can get it pretty loaded for under $30,000.

Another vote for the Fusion, plus it's available in a Hybrid! The Mercury Milan Hybrid is another option, just about the same as the Fusion, however a few different styling cues that the female crowd find more appealing.

 

[Jex]

I recommend a Subaru, either the outback or the forester are the nicest. I have an impreza and love it. It is an all wheel drive which makes it excellent for driving in the snow (if you get snow where you live) and is great on gas.

+1 I have the STi model and love it.

 

[disneymarie]

I'm lucky to be blessed with the gift of a new car as a graduation present. I'm going to look at cars tomorrow with my dad and I am just so not ready. I would like to drive a small SUV, my first car was a Jeep Liberty. If anyone has any similar ideas or suggestions and can recommend something, please do! My price range is no more than $30,000. Right now I am thinking about the new 2010 Toyota 4Runner....thoughts? Thanks in advance!

You can't wrong with a Toyota Camry. THe resale reliabilty There is some argument as to why this was not named car of the year. I heard it had either something with an additional airbag, or mile per gal...etc.

We have a Camry 99 and our son just got us a 2010. The Corolla was great too, but too small for our family. the younger son has a 89 Corolla and almost 300,000 miles on it.

The new Camry has a 6 speed auto overdrive transmission that had so much power we got the 4 cyl instead of another 6 cyl. Sun roof, alloy wheels, rear reading lights,

Picked out the Barcellona Red. LE and had added leather seat covers with heat and Limeted Edition package trim.

Total was $23,500 amazing deals going on with Toyotathon. Sticjkered at $26,000 with the leather Limited Edition trim, wood look, stripe, trim...Sharp looking.
Our 99, just needs some work now, struts muffler, also a timing belt was due at 100.000 miles.

Unfortunatly the ds Honda Civic has had issues with a new transmission and heads, electrical.
There is something that in the transmissions made in Ohio, not CAnada, that the high distance traveling has shaving wear off and block the filter of some kind.

Otherwise the car looks mint like the day he bought it. Tonight he called and a small tab on a harness broke off and it keeps letting the car stall. He has to order the entire bundle to fix.
I was so hoping the Civic would have been as good as the old Corolla is.

 

[Mysteria]

Get the consumer reports book for cars. They list the best and worst and why for numerous years. Great resource.

 

[RC Fan]

Another Subaru fan here! If you drive in snow, you can't go wrong with any of the Subaru models.

Otherwise, you can't go wrong with a Honda or a Toyota.

 

[golfgal]

You can't go wrong with either the Toyota Rav4 or the Honda CRV. I like the looks of the Toyota better but they are both great, reliable cars.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Another vote for the CR-V.

We've got an 08.

Just got back from a 8 hour drive to WDW...my wife and I, and our three kids, 20, 15, 14 and all our luggage. Everyone was comfortable. 26 mpg at 80 mph. If I slowed to 70, mileage goes up closer to 28.

The CR-V is the best selling SUV of any kind in the US., and is fact, in the top ten of sales of all vehicles in the US.

If you enjoy driving, get a Honda. If you view driving as just a way to get somewhere, get a Toyota.

Make sure to visit this site...will save you a lot of money:

http://www.carbuyingtips.com/

 

[marypoppinswannabe]

I would go with a Honda or a Toyota. It has been my experience that American-made are not as reliable.

 

[Mom21]

I have the Hyundai Veracruz Limited and I love, love, love it. A bit more than your price but the GLS should work for you. My dd and I have parked beside of the Lexus and you can't tell the difference except theirs was about $20,000 more. Customer service has been wonderful. Only a few minor things have gone wrong including I broke a latch on the middle console. They are replacing it even though it was my fault. Also my dd moved the front seat forward and caught my cell phone charger cord in the mechanism. I took it in sure I would have to pay to get it out. They took the seat out and removed it for me. No charge.

2 years and 30,000 miles and still as happy as the day I bought it. Never said that about a car before. My 12 yo has already picked out her car. The all new Genesis.... Told her she better get a job, but it is a very nice looking car.