New car suggestions

[scottygirl]

We are in need of a new car. We are a family of 5. Two 4th graders and one 7th grader who almost always sits in the front seat, unless the whole family is in the car. We have a Buick Rendezvous that we are keeping. I want something fuel efficient, safe, roomy. I drive 50 miles round trip to work 3 days a week. I have access to VW, Chrysler and Ford employee discounts (one positive aspect of living in the Motor City). All suggestions welcome!!

 

[puffkin]

How about a Ford Escape hybrid? I have a regular Escape and LOVE it. It is decent on gas for an SUV but the hybrid would probably be much better. Plus it will be nice and roomy for your growing kids, but not huge like some of the bigger SUV's.

 

[barkley]

i just bought a ford escape a few weeks ago and i love it! very comfortable, roomy-great cargo area. it handles realy well.

 

[scottygirl]

Thanks, I will add the Ford Escape to my list. Anyone familiar with the Mazda CX-7?

 

[BeckWhy]

I'm not a Ford person... but whatever... I would suggest a minivan that way if your kids have any friends you have room. I would suggest a large SUV also that has 3 rows of seats, but they don't get very good gas milage.

 

[Just2554]

If it were me, I wouldn't go Ford, VW, Chevy, Chrysler, Pontiac, etc. Decent for the time-being, yes, but unless it's an expensive sports car or truck, these companies are not known for quality over time.

I would suggest a Honda or Toyota, which are both companies with products that last over time. My mom's best friend has a 1996 Honda Accord. I have a 1999 Honda CR-V. Neither one of us has encountered one single problem in all these years outside of routine things (oil changes, new tires, etc.).

As for fuel efficient and roomy, well, both don't necessarily go hand in hand. It's hard to get something that is extremely roomy that isn't an SUV or minivan.

My recommendations would be as follows though:
Toyota Prius (a hybrid car)
Toyota Camry (they have a hybrid version now as well)
Honda Civic (which also has a hybrid version)
Honda Pilot (an SUV that can seat up to 8 yes, but not as huge as you'd think; my mom bought one recently and LOVES it)
Honda CR-V (the new ones are slightly redesigned, but I LOVE my 1999 version and it is much better on gas than an average SUV. It also has the added plus of all-wheel drive).

 

[RC Fan]

If it were me, I wouldn't go Ford, VW, Chevy, Chrysler, Pontiac, etc. Decent for the time-being, yes, but unless it's an expensive sports car or truck, these companies are not known for quality over time.

I would suggest a Honda or Toyota, which are both companies with products that last over time. My mom's best friend has a 1996 Honda Accord. I have a 1999 Honda CR-V. Neither one of us has encountered one single problem in all these years outside of routine things (oil changes, new tires, etc.).

As for fuel efficient and roomy, well, both don't necessarily go hand in hand. It's hard to get something that is extremely roomy that isn't an SUV or minivan.

My recommendations would be as follows though:
Toyota Prius (a hybrid car)
Toyota Camry (they have a hybrid version now as well)
Honda Civic (which also has a hybrid version)
Honda Pilot (an SUV that can seat up to 8 yes, but not as huge as you'd think; my mom bought one recently and LOVES it)
Honda CR-V (the new ones are slightly redesigned, but I LOVE my 1999 version and it is much better on gas than an average SUV. It also has the added plus of all-wheel drive).

Excellent advice IMHO! You can't go wrong with a Honda or a Toyota. I just wish there was an AWD Civic Coupe. I would be set then!

 

[golfgal]

Are you looking for a family car or a commuting car? I am assuming your Rendezvous has 3 rows of seats so you have accommodations for longer car trips. If that is the case I would go with a small hybrid of some sort. I have to agree with Honda and Toyota's being the best value for the money. Not only do they last a long time, they rarely need repairs saving money that way too.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Escape Hybrid is pretty nice, but you would really have to shell out the extra $$$ to save 10 mpg or so likewise with most of the hybrids. We just picked up a new 2007 Chevrolet Suburban and its great. Its got a new motor that shuts down from 8 to 4 pistons on the e-way to save gas. Right now were getting around 20.5 mpg overall (17 city 23 hwy) which is great for a large truck. I agree that Minivans are good for utility but almost as bad on gas as an SUV. Keep your mind open and foremost go to a good dealer!

 

[Disneyjosh229]

I would suggest a Honda or Toyota, which are both companies with products that last over time.

This looks a little contradicting....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13953387/

 

[WonderfulDreamer2]

Back in March we bought a VW Jetta and we absolutely love, love, love this car. We bought the TDI Diesel. I gets about 45 miles to the gallon The diesels are supposed to last forever, like 400,000 miles if maintained properly.
Did I mention we love it?

 

[ChrisFL]

This looks a little contradicting....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13953387/

Toyota's having some temporary growing pains since their cars are so popular they've had to increase capacity and factories substantially. AFAIK the investigation in Japan is about one incident and the actual issue was already fixed by Toyota, they're investigating that it took them a couple of months before the fix came out. Japan is EXTREMELY strict on safety issues in their country.

I'd still trust Toyota over practically any other brand...and I mean it, I just bought a Scion tC a few weeks ago!!

Also, the recent crash tests still show Toyota as some of the best cars, and American cars had some of the worst.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Honda CR-V. I LOVE mine! Gas mileage is unbelievable good!

 

[Just2554]

Toyota's having some temporary growing pains since their cars are so popular they've had to increase capacity and factories substantially. AFAIK the investigation in Japan is about one incident and the actual issue was already fixed by Toyota, they're investigating that it took them a couple of months before the fix came out. Japan is EXTREMELY strict on safety issues in their country.

I'd still trust Toyota over practically any other brand...and I mean it, I just bought a Scion tC a few weeks ago!!

Also, the recent crash tests still show Toyota as some of the best cars, and American cars had some of the worst.

I couldn't agree more. It's so sad to say so, but I would never buy an American made car (save the trucks and sports cars, which I mentioned above). The foreign cars are just much better products. Just open up the car pages of Consumer Reports. They pick apart cars in every aspect that can cause problems and it seems that Ford, Chevy, etc. have alot of problems.

Btw, I love those Scions! I like that Toyota is marketing them in the way that they're all the same as well (or at least this is how the dealer explained it to me when I looked at one). No haggling with a dealer is always a plus.

 

[musicotb]

I am not trying to but i think that if you can afford to buy hybrid, you are both an irresponsible consumer and citizen of the world not to buy one.
I am a poor grad student hoping my 2000 nissan altima doesn't fall apart in the next 4 years, but if I could afford to get rid of it and get a hybrid, I would in a second! Especially with the environmental issues and the rising costs of fuel.
So, my vote goes for a hybrid. Good luck!

BTW, my dad has a Scion TC (I've seen ppl talking about it) and it's been a great car for him for the past year!

 

[BeckWhy]

My suggestion is to go to sites such as Car and Driver or Road and Track to see what they suggest in your price range. But I will tell you it doesn't matter what anyone says, what matters is how you feel driving it. I would pick out a few cars and start test drives.

 

[powellrj]

we bought a 2007 Camry about 6 weeks ago and LOVE IT! Its my second Camry. The first one was a company car that I had to turn back in, but we bought this one, and I hope that DD who is 10 can drive it when she turns 16.

I already have 4,000 miles on it and it only had 2 when I picked it up at the dealers.

 

[barkley]

one thing to take into consideration is how roomy the car is now vs. how it will compare in a few years (if you plan on keeping it for the long run). don't know if your kids are boys or girls, but i've had several friends who bought great cars-safe and dependable, only to realize when the kids got taller (esp. the boys who shot up in height around middle school) that what was roomy is now very uncomfortable and a tight fit for her boys who she describes as 'all long legs and arms' .

 

[MAH4546]

Forget the Escape. The vehicle is on an ancient and outdated platform. It was great in 2000. We are almost in 2007.

Look at the Hyundai Santa Fe, best value truck out there. Mazda CX-7 is another great choice. Dodge is coming out with a new small truck, the Nitro, which looks great. Volkswagen is coming out with a minivan next year, if you can wait.

I have no idea what your budget is, but if you can afford a $400-$500 a month lease, check out the Mercedes-Benz R-Class. The lease deals on the vehicle (which they call a "sport tourer" but is essentially a minivan with swing-out doors and a more wagon-like body) are amazing.

I am not trying to but i think that if you can afford to buy hybrid, you are both an irresponsible consumer and citizen of the world not to buy one.
I am a poor grad student hoping my 2000 nissan altima doesn't fall apart in the next 4 years, but if I could afford to get rid of it and get a hybrid, I would in a second! Especially with the environmental issues and the rising costs of fuel.
So, my vote goes for a hybrid. Good luck!

It is unfortunate you buy into all the media hype about hybrids. They do save fuel, but they are not the only way to save fuel. GM and Chrysler's cylinder cut-off technology saves fuel. DaimlerChrysler's BluTec diesel technology saves fuel. Honda's natural gas-powered engines save fuel.

What do you get with a hybrid? A vehicle with such a complicated electrical and motor system that the money you saved in fuel will be wiped out when it comes to fixing the engine out of warranty. And very few consumers realize there is a difference between a full-hybrid and a half-hybrid. The Toyota Prius is a full-hybrid. Pretty much everything else - Escape, Mariner, RX 400h, etc - is a half-hybrid, which only takes advantage of the hybrid technology during certain driving conditions (parked at a light, traffic, stop/go in the city), which reduces the fuel benefits.

In the end, consumers have the right to buy whatever they want, 10MPG or 40.

 

[trip]

One more thing to keep in mind.... your 7th grader will probably learn to drive in whatever car you get. Time flies!!!