New car delima

[jstbcuz]

Our car has 222500 miles on it and is beginning to have some major repairs. We have some financial trouble.........medical bills, etc..and probably have a low credit score.and wont be able to spend a lot on a new vehicle.........

I know I wont be able to get what I want.........which is something with 3 rows (a family of 5, and its tight in the car), leather, etc. I was looking at something like the Pacifica, Rendevouz,.........

So we went and looked at cars yesterday, and it was put out there that for our situation, it wont be possible. So he showed us a Chevy Malibu, and a Chevy Venture van. Had my heart set on the other vehicles as it seems we always have to settle..........anyway.......Ive driven vans before (3 of them) and while I love the room, I just want soemthing different, besides the fact I think they are hard to back up in...........as far as the car...........it gets excellent gas mileage.

We travel alot watching our kids do whatever season it may be, and we drive alot of miles back and forth to work.

So I guess what Im asking is would you do the car.........or the van? The van offers room for all of us (tho DD is leaving for college in the fall), and the car gets great gas mileage.

If you have any suggestions on something else, I'd be interested in hearing it.

 

[englishteacha]

I drive a Chevy Malibu every day. I like my car. But there are only 2 of us. We've had 3 people in the backseat before and it's a bit snug. It's not horrible, but if you travel a lot then you might want the van for more room. Look around some more, though. I don't know where you live, but around here, in rural Maine, there is a used car dealer every 2 miles. Do you only have the one dealership to choose from? Edited: are you planning on buying a brand new car? If that's your plan, I'd like to encourage you to look at used vehicles. Much more bang for the buck!

 

[Darcy03231]

Since you have a child old enough to be leaving for college in the fall, I'm going to guess that your other children are older too.

I drove a van for years because we're a large family (4 kids). I've found as the kids have gotten older, we usually don't have all of us in the car at the same time anymore. I've gone to a small 4-foor hatchback (Dodge Caliber) and I love it! It gets great gas mileage, is versatile and comfortable to drive. Now with the youngest being 17, I'm the only one in the car 99% of the time.

I vote for the car. Depending on your budget, did you look at the Kia Rondo? I looked at it when I was looking for a new car and it was in the running as it seats 7 with the 3rd seat flipped up (but then you really have no cargo space).

 

[jstbcuz]

Used all the way............

I know how snug it can be.......we have a DD17,DD15, and DS5 in the back of a Chrysler Cirrus. Like I said, the oldest will be going off to college in August, so wont be riding alot with us alot........

The van has more room.........Im just so tired of vans right now. I know the van is practical tho.

 

[Hardy]

I would go with the car...if you can deal with a smaller car and will ultimately have just the two kids for most of the car's life, and even then, your 15 y/o will be driving soon enough as well I assume....it sounds like you puts lots of miles on, and a van is going to cost you a lot more in that area. I have a Pacifica because I have two kids and a great dane and I'm in denial that I need a van ....but it is such a gas hog! I don't even work and I'm filling that thing up all the time just going to different activities with the kids and normal errands. I just cannot wait until I can get a much smaller car, I'm hoping to pass the mom mobile down to my son in 6 years!

 

[Jeff_G]

We have some financial trouble.........medical bills, etc..and probably have a low credit score.and wont be able to spend a lot on a new vehicle.........

I hope you are looking at a reliable used car rather than a new one. That new car is going to lose a significant portion of its value the instant you drive it off the lot. Even going 1 or 2 years old would save you tons of money!

 

[PatMcDuck]

Consider used Kia or Hyundais. They have bad resale value, which makes them a good buy for a used car. Consumer Reports likes many of these cars as well. Would a Santa Fe be large enough?

DD got a used Hyundai Tucson, which is too small for your needs, but it is a nice little SUV (NOT 4 wheel drive in her case, and she has the 4 cylinder). DH got a used Chevy Equinox last year, in his case it was only 3 years old, but had lots of mileage. We decided to go for it because it was cheap enough to be worth it even if it needed a major repair, so far, so good. ($6800 for a 3 year old Equinox!) It takes a LONG time to find a good used car though, lots of work, making phone calls and running around looking, running Car Fax reports.

Good luck!

 

[DawnM]

I keep reading that gas is going up to $5/gallon by 2012, I would go with better gas mileage.

Dawn

 

[daniele_ut]

I drive a Chevy Malibu and have 2 small children still in carseats and we are contemplating a 3rd child. We've taken our car on lots of road trips and find it to be just fine for us. If I were in your shoes with one child about to leave for college, I would pass on the van. The only reason I am contemplating a larger vehicle is that DS is going to a school next year that is 35 minutes away and we'd like to carpool some of the days and may need extra seats for that. If I can get away with it, though, we'll just keep the Malibu longer. It gets excellent gas mileage, it is very reliable and very safe. This car replaced a car with over 200,000 miles as well and we were on a budget.

 

[jstbcuz]

The Santa Fe would be one of my top options, but I keep thinking of gas mileage and insurance and Im afraid it would end up costing me alot more than the car.

Im thinking maybe I can drive the car for a couple years until we are better financially, and then get what I really want. However, I have thought that for years, and always end up settling.

 

[pixiewings71]

Well I have a mini van and I love it!!!! But, when we got it I had 3 kids at home and a medium sized dog. Now I have 2 kids at home and a little dog (DD22 took the md size dog when she moved out) and don't need the room but still love it. Our plan is to keep the mini van forever and use it when we need the room. I must say it's also very nice to have the van when we want to go places with family, we can usually all fit with plenty of room. It's a Dodge Grand Caravan, purchased used. We also have a Kia Spectra, purchased used for our Kia dealer. It's got a lot of room and it's a nice car, we could put 5 in it but the 3 in back might be a bit squished depending on their sizes. I mean 3 kids could probably fit, but only if they were smaller. If you've got linebackers for kids it won't work. lol
Like I said we buy used, we typically buy previous daily rentals (we've had 3 now) and they've served us well, the first one was a Dodge Neon, it's in the driveway waiting for DD14 to turn 16, it will be her first car. The minivan gets 19-21 mpg depending on the type of driving I am doing in it, the Kia gets somewhere above 30 mpg but I don't know exactly, I don't drive it so I don't pay that much attention to that.

 

[FINFAN]

the minivan will come in handy for that move to/from college over the next 4 years. We have a '96 Nissan Quest, no bells or whistle, repairs, yes, lots of them, but for some goofy reason we are all attached to that van, and we love the room we have in it. Actually, I have the best vision in it as well. no blind spots like we have with our other cars (Mazda CX-9 and Pontiac G6) One thing I really like is sitting up higher in the CX-9 or minivan vs a sedan...I mean, trying to see past a monster SUV in the G6 is not gonna happen. I agree with used, such a savings especially now that Carfax is available and you can see how the car was maintained or in any accidents, etc. I also thought I was done with the minivan stage, we went for the CX-9, and I do love it, but we've had it since '07 and I still find myself taking the van a lot, and DS has taken over the G6. Car buying is tough. DH would love an '05 jeep Grand Cherokee...maybe something along those lines would cover your needs?

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

Are you able to pay cash and buy from an individual? Do you have to purchase from this particular dealership? If you can, I'd shop around some more for an SUV. They don't get stellar gas mileage but the room is worth it.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

Seems like the used Chevrolet Impalas are pretty reasonably priced, you can probably snag one with some warranty left for a lot less than a new anything. My parents have one and they love it.


*and it gets good gas mileage

 

[princesslily]

My husband is in car sales and says Look around, if you get a good sales person they will try to find you what you want and fit your price range! He has been selling for a long time and says Keep LOOKING!

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

My SIL has 3 tall kids (10 to 15) and she drives a Subaru Forester. Enough room and gets great mileage. The new style has been out around 2 years so there should be some newer used ones out there!