Which car?

[minnie61650]

I just want to share this:

SEAT BELTS:REAR
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 90,189 MY 2008 HIGHLANDER AND HIGHLANDER HYBRID PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THIRD ROW SEAT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE NON-DRIVER DESIGNATED SEATING POSITIONS (DSP) ON THESE VEHICLES IS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT HAVE A FEATURE THAT CONVERTS THE RETRACTOR FROM AN EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR (ELR) TO AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR (ALR). THE BELTS CONVERT TO THE ALR MODE AFTER THE WEBBING HAS BEEN FULLY WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTOR. THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED SO THAT AS THE BELT IS RELEASED INTO THE RETRACTOR, THE SYSTEM REMAINS IN THE ALR MODE SO THAT A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM (CRS) CAN BE TIGHTLY SECURED.

Link:

http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-recalls/09-int/2008/toyota/highlander-hybrid/index.html

 

[All American]

If I could justify it, I'd buy a Nissan Xterra in an instant.

Someone mentioned the Toyota Camry and think that is a great choice too. This is only because I watched a car chase in California, and the criminal was driving this type of car, and no matter what happened to it, that car kept going. It had been crashed, tires flat, and smoke coming out of the hood---I couldn't believe it and to this day think footage from that particular chase would be great for a commercial. "If this car runs like this, like this, imagine how it'll work new!"

In my reality, I drive a Ford Focus. I can't complain (except that it's a little loud on the highway). It gets me where I need to be and has for 8+ years now. It's a comfortable, small size. It gets good gas mileage and handles turns well. I will say I really like the look of the newer models.

Happy shopping!

 

[Totally Tink]

I only buy Hondas. I've had the Civic, Accord and Pilot. I just got a brand new Odyssey. I think the Civic is really nice for a smaller sedan.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

*scribblescribble*
Alright..now I have few others to add to the list. If we get a new car, our preferred brands are Chevy or Dodge, really. But I'm willing to look at everything, just to see how they look, what they feel like, etc.

To the PP who's Dodge Neon was totalled..I called mine The Barbie Car for a reason. It seemed like every time I turned around I was accidentally denting it from bumping (even lightly) into things and when that teenager hit me last Feb my car was totalled. Which is why I'm driving what used to be DH's car which has earned the nickname Redheaded Stepchild. It's a pretty little red PT Cruiser, but I don't like the way it looks. It looks like the Batmobile and a 68 VW Beetle got together and had a lovechild.

 

[PigletsPal2]

I know they're pricy, but they're SAFE and RELIABLE and they last FOREVER!
A VOLVO! We have three in our family - a 1997 850 (biggest model that year) with +/- 150,000 miles on it, a 2001 V40 with 85,000 miles on (don't make them anymore and rarely seen on the used car market, people love them and don't trade them in) and a 2002 S60 with 85,000 miles on it. We LOVE our Volvos and when DH kicks the bucket (no time soon I hope!), I'm trading his Durango in for whatever Volvo wagon is on the market at that time.

Queen Colleen

 

[MinnieMe87]

I've been poking around a bit on the Chevy website and the Dodge website (we've owned both in the past) and I really like the Chevy Aveo. It's a cute, sporty little wagon but I don't know what DH thinks of it. It even comes in a really cute color called Tahiti Green which is pretty on the screen, but probably not so much in real life.

Whatever you do, please do not get a Chevy Aveo. My brother used to be co-manager of our local Chevy dealer's service deparment and they had more trouble with those things then they are worth! Plus, they are really cheap looking on the inside. They are cute on the outside, but I wouldn't recommend it! I'm not saying that everyone who owns one has had troubles, just giving you some information that my brother had passed along when I was looking at new cars! Hope that helps a little bit for your notes!!!

 

[ols386]

We recently bought an 08 GMC Sierra. It was sitting on the lot and they wanted to get rid of it. We got a great deal on it! Don't know if there are still 08's sitting on dealership lots at this point in time, but if so, you can probably get a good deal, whether it's a truck or car.

 

[HOGFAN]

IF we buy a new car in the summer, it will be the Focus. Have you seen the new ones? Pretty sporty looking.
Second choice would be the Solstice convertible. very cute and very inexpensive.

 

[nephthys43]

I've been poking around a bit on the Chevy website and the Dodge website (we've owned both in the past) and I really like the Chevy Aveo. It's a cute, sporty little wagon but I don't know what DH thinks of it. It even comes in a really cute color called Tahiti Green which is pretty on the screen, but probably not so much in real life.

run! fast and far!!! my mother has one and it's a piece of 'you know what'. she's had it for only 3 years and it's falling apart. it was rated by consumer reports as the worst car in its class.

 

[Dominus]

I own a honda fit. It's the best car I've ever owned. It's deceptively large on the inside. I used to have a civic, and the fit feels larger. I highly recommend you test drive one.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

go with a Honda or Toyota.
Go with the best.
Nissan, Subaru, Hyundai, Mazda are also very good choices but-
Honda and Toyota just cant be beat.

I love my Toyota Rav4 and my camry. You can't go wrong with a Honda or toyota.

 

[SereneOne]

I know they're pricy, but they're SAFE and RELIABLE and they last FOREVER!
A VOLVO! We have three in our family - a 1997 850 (biggest model that year) with +/- 150,000 miles on it, a 2001 V40 with 85,000 miles on (don't make them anymore and rarely seen on the used car market, people love them and don't trade them in) and a 2002 S60 with 85,000 miles on it. We LOVE our Volvos and when DH kicks the bucket (no time soon I hope!), I'm trading his Durango in for whatever Volvo wagon is on the market at that time.

Queen Colleen

I traded in a Volvo that was 15yo and had almost 200,000 miles on it. I loved my baby, but the repairs where going to be more than it was worth. The new Volvo's are not as reliable as the once where, sadly. I still think they are better than a lot of choices.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Keep your current cars. Even a "good deal" on a new car is expensive if you don't need it. We drive our cars for a minimum of 10 years. It saves us a lot of money. Sit down and do the math sometime. Driving cars for a very long time won't make you seem cool, but it'll let you keep a lot more of your hard earned money.

 

[minnie61650]

To the OP

If you are looking for a Detroit 3 car made in USA here is a list:

Consumer Buying Guide - 2007 Cars and Trucks made in the USA

Buick Lucerne
Cadillac CTS
Cadillac DTS
Cadillac STS
Cadillac XLR
Chevrolet Cobalt
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Malibu
Chrysler Sebring
Dodge Avenger
Dodge Caliber
Dodge Viper
Ford Five Hundred
Ford Focus
Ford GT Ford Mustang
Lincoln Town Car
Mazda Mazda 6
Mercury Montego
Mitsubishi Eclipse
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
Mitsubishi Galant
Pontiac G5
Pontiac G6
Pontiac Solstice
Pontiac Vibe
Saturn Aura
Saturn ION
Saturn Sky
Toyota Corolla *

UAW PICKUPS
Chevrolet Silverado *
Chevrolet Colorado
Dodge Ram *
Dodge Dakota
Ford F-Series *
Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Ford Ranger GMC Sierra *
GMC Canyon
Isuzu i-Series
Lincoln Mark LT
Mazda B-series
Mitsubishi Raider
Toyota Tacoma *

UAW SUVs/CUVs
Buick Enclave
Cadillac Escalade
Cadillac Escalade ESV
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Suburban *
Chevrolet Tahoe
Chrysler Aspen
Dodge Durango
Dodge Nitro
Ford Escape/Escape Hybrid
Ford Expedition
Ford Explorer
GMC Acadia
GMC Yukon XL
GMC Yukon/Denali
Hummer H1 Hummer H2
Hummer H2 SUT
Hummer H3
Jeep Commander
Jeep Compass
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Liberty
Jeep Patriot
Jeep Wrangler
Lincoln Navigator
Mazda Tribute
Mercury Mariner/Mariner Hybrid
Mercury Mountaineer
Mitsubishi Endeavor
Saturn Outlook
Saturn VUE

UAW VANS
Buick Terraza
Chevrolet Express
Chevrolet Uplander
Chrysler Town & Country *
Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan *
Ford Club Wagon Ford Econoline
GMC Savana
GMC Savana Cargo
GMC Savana Passenger
Saturn Relay
Ford Freestyle

From this link:

http://www.uaw.org/uawmade/auto/2007/index.cfm

 

[ntsammy5]

How about one of these?

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

We drive our cars for a minimum of 10 years.

We do too. Before I had the Neon, I had a Buick Skylark that I drove till the wheels (literally!) fell off and I was going to do the same with the Neon. I loved that car, for all the faults it had.


There is a guy two or three streets over that has a Honda Fit and I LOVE the way they look but DH is adamant: Nothing that ugly will ever sit in his driveway.

 

[goofy!]

We have been a Ford family for our entire 25 year marriage and DH's family had nothing but Fords before that.

When looking for a car for DS last year and doing lots of research, we ended up with a Acura TL for him. We haven't been sorry.

We loved the Acura so much that a few months later we purchased an Acura RL for DH.

The service we have received from the Acura dealer (really Hondas) the past year far surpasses anything we have ever experienced at a Ford dealer. We are hooked and we will now be Acura/Honda owners for the future. And believe me, it would have had to take an exceptional car to move DH from Ford to a foreign car. Needless to say, it was.

I would highly recommend giving Acura a look and seeing if there is anything there that interests you.

FWIW - My Ford Expedition has had numerous recalls on it over the 10 years we have had it as did my Windstar that died at 78,000 miles.

 

[momof1princess]

many honda vehicles are also american made. there is a honda plant about an hour from my house that makes pilots, odysseys and ridgelines. if i were choosing a smaller car, i'd get a honda accord or civic. i've got my heart set on the pilot suv, as soon as honda calls my DH to work there.

 

[Lib E]

We have been a Ford family for our entire 25 year marriage and DH's family had nothing but Fords before that.

When looking for a car for DS last year and doing lots of research, we ended up with a Acura TL for him. We haven't been sorry.

We loved the Acura so much that a few months later we purchased an Acura RL for DH.

The service we have received from the Acura dealer (really Hondas) the past year far surpasses anything we have ever experienced at a Ford dealer. We are hooked and we will now be Acura/Honda owners for the future. And believe me, it would have had to take an exceptional car to move DH from Ford to a foreign car. Needless to say, it was.

I would highly recommend giving Acura a look and seeing if there is anything there that interests you.

FWIW - My Ford Expedition has had numerous recalls on it over the 10 years we have had it as did my Windstar that died at 78,000 miles.

That's a good point. Besides feeling my Toyota and Honda purchases by far surpass my past Big 3 purchases in EVERY way, the service I've received from the dealers and their service departments has also been night & day. IMO, they try harder to please and it shows.

 

[minnie61650]

DH and I have been married for 40 years. We have always bought cars and vans from the Detroit 3 and American Moters (before AMC was bought out). We have always recieved wonderful service from our local Detroit 3 dealers and service departments. I guess we have been blessed with great cars, great dealers and great service.