Post by countthestars on Mar 30, 2015 10:51:41 GMT -5
We are in the market for a new SUV. I am not interested in a car or mini van.
We are going to trade in my Murano and expect to get about $9k for it.
We plan to either pay in cash or finance some if the rates are low enough.
Our original discussion was:
- Used, 25,000 miles or less
- $30,000 or less
- Leather
After we started looking, we realized that we might want a third row so that I have the option to fit three car seats (across or with DD rear facing in the way back) if I want to drive my sister or BFF and their kid, plus I think it might be nice to have the extra space once we start carting around DD's friends. H has a highlander that we use often on the weekends and for many long drives, but it's a work car so we can't just trade and buy him something else.
I think we are now considering brand new, and have mostly narrowed it down to a Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. A used Pilot (26k miles) goes for about $33k and a new one is ~$39k. Do you agree that we should just spend the extra $6k? I also realize that our excise tax and insurance will be a little higher on new....
What I like about the Pilot:
- I think I slightly prefer the look of the Pilot. They are changing the body style this year to a new look, so I would have to buy before they did this for it to "count". I don't think we want to wait until Summer anyway since I am at 96k miles and want to trade in before I hit 100k.
- It feels slightly roomier inside
- My H has a Highlander and I'm not sure if I would prefer something different?
What I like about the Highlander:
- It has keyless entry and push start. I have no idea WHY Honda hasn't done this yet but I think it's a huge benefit, esp now that I'll be loading two kids
- It feels a little easier to park, I think because it's a little smaller? However, I think the Highlander looks a little too mini van for me, especially with the new body style (new this year or last).
- We would be the 4th Pilot in our neighborhood of 15 houses
They are both going to be right around $39k with leather. Should we keep looking for used? Lease? Do we really need a third row, and if not, tell me about an SUV that fits two infant seats and a Foonf easily across.
I have keyless entry now, and I will never, ever go back.
Same here. Love it so much! We are also a Toyota family though, so I tend to prefer the way they drive to the Honda.
Also I didn't quite get it, but are you thinking of buying the last year of the Honda Pilot before they redesign it? I wouldn't do that. I just don't like that the car looks dated immediately. Especially if you are buying new.
Post by nextbigthing on Mar 30, 2015 10:59:25 GMT -5
I have a 2012 Highlander Limited and absolutely love it, not a single complaint, I now especially love the captains chairs in the backseat, great w the car seat
Eta I bought it gently used with 19k miles I think in July 2013 for $33k
We were looking at highlanders and sequoias and ended up with a sequoia and I love it so so much!!! We didn't buy new but were looking at the same year range for both. The highlander was too small for me- with the optional third row up you has basically no trunk space, definitely not room for a stroller.
The sequoia is big but it's really great!
ETa: I recently took my friend and kids somewhere so we had two adults, two infant seats and two convertibles. A city select double stroller and all our crap and still plenty of room!
We just went through the process of shopping for an SUV with a 3rd row and also have a Murano!
I test drove the Pathfinder, Acadia, Pilot, Highlander and Traverse. We ended up going with the Honda Pilot.
I liked that the Honda Pilot had more trunk space with the 3rd row up so we could seat 8 ppl and also have enough room to keep a double stroller in the back. We bought a 2015 EXL so it has leather, moonroof, heated seats, etc and paid 31.5 new, so I would definitely look at prices for buying new.
The highlander was nice and I liked the push button start and the captain's chairs, but felt like there was no real point to the captains chairs as we'd be unlikely to walk between the 2 seats with 2 carseats installed. It also had a much smaller trunk.
Have you looked at the Pathfinder? That was my second choice, and I have been finding myself missing some of the Nissan features with the Pilot like the push button start and push button open on the door handles.
We ended up having an awful experience though with the Honda dealerships around here though, let me know if you want to know which ones we interacted with.
I'm no help. I was never a fan of the pilot and I hate the re-design of the highlander since they re-did the body style from the intial offering.
Is there a reason you don't want to stay with Nissan and look at the pathfinder?
See, I'm kind of struggling with the body styles of both too .
We actually looked at a Pathfinder yesterday but it doesn't seem like we can get out the door with leather for less than $42k. Which makes me want to croak even though it's not THAT much more than the Pilot or Highlander....
I'm no help. I was never a fan of the pilot and I hate the re-design of the highlander since they re-did the body style from the intial offering.
Is there a reason you don't want to stay with Nissan and look at the pathfinder?
See, I'm kind of struggling with the body styles of both too .
We actually looked at a Pathfinder yesterday but it doesn't seem like we can get out the door with leather for less than $42k. Which makes me want to croak even though it's not THAT much more than the Pilot or Highlander....
Really? They quoted us 33k for one with leather, I think it was the SL model - not top of the line but the step under that.
I have keyless entry now, and I will never, ever go back.
Same here. Love it so much! We are also a Toyota family though, so I tend to prefer the way they drive to the Honda.
Also I didn't quite get it, but are you thinking of buying the last year of the Honda Pilot before they redesign it? I wouldn't do that. I just don't like that the car looks dated immediately. Especially if you are buying new.
Good point - we were considering that because I think I prefer the current body style to the new one. You're right though about it looking outdated immediately. Blah!
See, I'm kind of struggling with the body styles of both too .
We actually looked at a Pathfinder yesterday but it doesn't seem like we can get out the door with leather for less than $42k. Which makes me want to croak even though it's not THAT much more than the Pilot or Highlander....
Really? They quoted us 33k for one with leather, I think it was the SL model - not top of the line but the step under that.
OMG! Where are you shopping?! I'm in MA too - would you mind sharing the dealerships you visited?
I'm no help. I was never a fan of the pilot and I hate the re-design of the highlander since they re-did the body style from the intial offering.
Is there a reason you don't want to stay with Nissan and look at the pathfinder?
See, I'm kind of struggling with the body styles of both too .
We actually looked at a Pathfinder yesterday but it doesn't seem like we can get out the door with leather for less than $42k. Which makes me want to croak even though it's not THAT much more than the Pilot or Highlander....
I was able to play dealers against each other online and then negotiate further in the showroom, so I wouldn't let the sticker price necessarily drive your overall decision.
We have a 2011 Explorer and are really happy with it. Roomy third row option (two adults fit back there). We bought used with 13k miles. I forget the cost. Not helpful I realize!
My mom has an Accord and it has keyless entry, so is it just SUV's that don't have it? I think the look of Pilot is fug. I'm glad to hear they are changing the style as I'd love one in a few years.
I have a 2013 Pilot. It works well for our family. I like the size of it and the look. Pretty much every mom in our suburb either has a Pilot or an Odyssey. There are little things about it that annoy me like the positioning of the rear air controls (the kid in the middle car set kicks them), the locks (auto locks, some weird combo on the fob puts all the windows down even if the car is off), the window locks (driver doesn't have full control). But it drives great and fits even eight comfortably.
Not to throw another car into the mix, but did you look at a Chevy Traverse? I just rode in a friend's new Traverse and got super jealous.
We comfortably sat 3 adults in the back row, though I'm unsure how the trunk is with the 3rd row seating. The second row seats were captain chairs, so it was easy to get all the way in the back.
If you look at that CSL link posted above, you'll see that you can't do 3 across in a Highlander (either second or third row). I would be very surprised if you could get a RFing seat in the third row unless maybe it is a Radian.
Thanks, I was just looking at that! I suppose I would actually not have to have DD rear facing in the third row because by the time #2 comes, she would be over 2 and it would only be for very occasional drives. But then do I really need the third row? Blah.
Post by carolinagirl831 on Mar 30, 2015 11:52:42 GMT -5
I just got a new 3rdSUV this weekend. The keyless entry was a must! I LOVE not having to jumble in my purse for the keys with E. It makes life so much easier and will especially when you're juggling two! For sure which ever offers that!
check out the Nissan pathfinder, I love it!
countthestars I just saw what you said about the price of the pathfinder. We got a 2015 SL tech package (navigation, leather, ect.) which was priced at 41,500. I traded in my lexus RX350 for 10,600. With rebates and such that got the price down to 28,500 and we talked them down to 25,900. I was really happy with that price.
Post by carolinagirl831 on Mar 30, 2015 12:02:30 GMT -5
countthestars I just saw what you said about the price of the pathfinder. We got a 2015 SL tech package (navigation, leather, ect.) which was priced at 41,500. I traded in my lexus RX350 for 10,600. With rebates and such that got the price down to 28,500 and we talked them down to 25,900. I was really happy with that price.
I'm no help. I was never a fan of the pilot and I hate the re-design of the highlander since they re-did the body style from the intial offering.
Is there a reason you don't want to stay with Nissan and look at the pathfinder?
See, I'm kind of struggling with the body styles of both too .
We actually looked at a Pathfinder yesterday but it doesn't seem like we can get out the door with leather for less than $42k. Which makes me want to croak even though it's not THAT much more than the Pilot or Highlander....
I got the SL with remote start, leather, and a few other options for $32K. I would go tomorrow and negotiate, last day of the month is how we got an awesome deal on ours. I love it. The third row has room for adults, and I don't think the Pilot or the Highlander do, I sat in the back of all of them as a test for when we have our ILs with us. I LOVE my Pathfinder.
I have a 2015 Honda Pilot Touring Package with all the bells and whistles. I love it, I have no real complaints except for one that sort of bothers me. I haven't gotten used to the excelleration yet. It sort of takes a bit for it to kick in when merging into traffic on the highway. I don't mind not having keyless entry, I have that on another one of our cars. While it is nice, it's not a huge must-have for me. My kids like the DVD player, I like the back-up cam and the navigation is nice too.
My FIL has a brand new Toyota Highlander. He bought the hybrid version and it's also really nice. I have driven it a couple times and I didn't really have any complaints with it. The hybrid engine takes just a little bit of getting used to also. Like when you are at a red light, the engine turns off. When the light turns green, there's a slight delay to wake the engine up again to go forward. I'm not a huge fan of the body style and I prefer the look of the Pilot over the Hylander.
Post by dancingirl21 on Mar 30, 2015 13:56:18 GMT -5
We just bought a new pathfinder. Unfortunately without leather because it was $6k more than the SV model that doesn't have leather. All in (after rebates and incentives), I think we paid around $33k. Leather would have been around $39k or so. Keep shopping around, maybe you can find a deal! Also, if anyone still has new 2014 models, you'd probably get a good deal.