Please help me car shop! So lost.

[cuadrado]

Sorry that I'm cluttering up the board with the drama that is my life right now. 

So my car was stolen and wrecked this past week. It's totaled and I need to get a new car. The car has to be released by the highway patrol and the local PD before insurance can step in, but it looks like that is all going to happen today. Insurance will stop paying for my rental once they cut me a check for my car. They said this should happen pretty quickly since everything is pretty cut and dry with my claim. They recommended I decide on something this weekend. 

My previous car was a newer model Hyundai Sonata. The car was good to me and I have been happy with Hyundai. I'm driving a new Camry as my rental. I like both of these cars but I think I'd prefer something smaller or a small SUV. I drove a Jeep Liberty prior to that. Loved the car but hated the gas mileage. 

I feel so lost here! 

New vs. used?

Car vs. SUV? 

Cheap as crap or let myself splurge a little bit? 

I don't need 4wd. I cycle a lot so transporting my bikes is a thought (I currently use a Saris Bones bike rack). I'm pretty sporty and I'm short. I know I would not want a Jeep, VW or Honda Fit

I am very financially conscious and the thought of rushing to purchase a car is really stressful to me. I'm thinking about 1.) dragging my feet on getting the insurance company the info they need to process my claim and 2.) paying for a rental myself so I can take my time picking something out. Also, how big of a deal is it to buy at the end of the month? I'm obviously not going to have something picked out by Sunday and I'm trying to see how beneficial it would be for me to pay for a rental myself and buy something at the end of Feb.

[starryfish]

I am so sorry you are going through this! I sympathize with you as my car was totaled too. I still don't have my check yet and its been 2 weeks since my accident, and don't expect my check for another week (insurance company messed up which caused an extra week delay).

I really wanted a Nissan Rogue but decided it was too small for my future family (we are TTC). I think it would be perfect size for you and you can get a nice used one for $17k or brand new for $25k.

I am debating between highlander and pathfinder right now for myself. AND I am having the same $ debate....used vs. new. I am still undecided about it!

[kwynn]

I've heard rumors that Super Bowl Sunday is the BEST day to buy a car. I have no idea if that's true - but if car dealerships are open in your state that day, it might be worth it to wait until then.

I personally would pay for another week of a rental because I don't rush decisions and it would cause me stress to do so!

My next car will be an SUV of some kind. I like the Toyota Rav4 and the Kia Sorento. I liked the Rav4 best out of those 2.

[audette]

I've been looking at the Honda Crosstour as a potential next car. It's basically an Accord (similar in size to the Sonata and Camry), but has a hatchback rear. Might work better for loading/unloading bikes, but would likely handle more like a car.

However, they have only been out for a year or two (I think - not long, if longer than that). So you'd have to look at new or late-model used if you go this route.


Also, it's worth paying for a rental if you want to take your time. Peace of mind is important, and a car is a hefty enough purchase that it would be worthwhile to spend a bit of money now to be able to have peace with your car decision.

[littlemisssunshine]

I always buy slightly used cars, ie 1-4 years old with less than 40k miles on it. New cars depreciate as soon as they are bought, I'll let someone else take the hit.

I would suggest a Prius. I love mine! Tons of cargo space, reliable, comfortable and gets amazing gas mileage. I've also seen some great deals on them as gas prices have dropped so low, demand for hybrids as dropped.

[tripleshot]

I have a 2015 Toyota RAV4 limited and I love it so much. My previous car was a 2013 Mazda CX-5 and it was a POS. It was in the shop multiple times before 20k miles.

[redredwine]

I'm sold on my Rav4. Can't go wrong with Toyota's and it's the perfect size - "bigger" small SUV and I was debating between the Kia Sportage, CRV (BOTH times I bought a car when I was car shopping in 08 and got a Rogue and this year after my Rogue needed to be replaced, STILL decided against the CRV, though I know they're still great cars)
Had a Rogue - it had issues and I sold it at 123k miles.

LOVE my Rav4. I bought it used (pre-certified from dealer) and got a V6, AWD and lots of goodies inside.

[msmerymac]

We're likely buying a used Volvo wagon this weekend (V70 or XC70). We're going really old, like late 90s, for several reasons. But one reason we like the models is because they have a good combination of cargo space for bikes, okay MPG, safety and handling.

[shopgirl07]

I always like buying a certified pre-owned with low miles. You could get a new or barely used 2015 for a good price right now.

The biggest thing is to decide what type of car you want to buy. Once you decide on something, figure out what you're willing to pay for it. Walk away if you can't get your price. It's true that you can get good deals at the end of a month, but if you do your research and are willing to walk, I don't think it matters too much when you buy.

[justjen]

We've bought 2 certified pre-owned Corollas, and have had good experiences with both cars.

[imojoebunny]

I would look at several different models and see what you can get the best deal on. It is better to rent a car for a week or two than just pay whatever the dealer is offering, so you can negotiate better, and get what you want. I have had the small Volvo wagon before and really liked it. I also do not know anyone with a CRV who doesn't like it. When I got the Volvo, I was looking at a honda and a Volkswagen, and the Volvo was by far the better deal because it was a close out on a model style that was discontinued, so heavily discounted. I negotiated with all 3 models I was looking at, and then after a week or so finally got to the price I wanted on the Volvo.

I would also not tell the dealer why you are getting a new car, or that you have a rental, since they may feel that makes you a motivated buyer, and hold back. I negotiated a lot over email after the initial test drive vs. In person, since I do not like aggressive people. I had printouts of all the Kelley Blue book and sale prices from autotrader on cars I was interested in, so I knew what was a good deal, and what dealer incentives were available.

I prefer to buy new cars, as I typically drive them for quite a while, and reliable transport is a priority for me.

I would also read your auto policy on stolen cars and rent a cars to make sure they are representing the coverage correctly and you do not have more than 1 day to replace the car / turn in the rental. February is the slowest month for car sales, so it is true that they are more hungry.

[carrierroe]

We are pretty brand loyal so it makes it easier. Toyota or Lexus. They are more expensive new or used, but hold their value better compared to say a Kia or Hyundai. Plus, you could own it forever with less expensive repairs overall.

[Deleted]

My sister loves her Subaru Outback
We have been really happy with our Mitsubishi Outlander but the Hyundai sante fe was our second choice and everyone we know has lived theirs.

[justjen]

FYI, the way we shopped was to basically look at the Consumer Reports car guide, and get the best car we could for the money we wanted to spend.

[keweenawlove]

I wouldn't want to take the gas mileage hit for 4WD if you don't need it. I'd look at something with a hatchback. My mom has a Subaru Outback and my sister has a Ford Focus hatchback. Both like that they can fit their bike in the back without taking a wheel off.

[VillainV]

Not sure what your budget is. I loved my CR-V and thought it was a great single-gal car. I could go to lowes or Costco and buy stuff without having to borrow someone else's car, so that was nice. Not sure how well-rated the Santa Fe is, but that could also be an option.

Accords and Camrys are solid choices as well.

I would see if your insurance agent can run numbers for you on what it will cost to insure different vehicles, since it's unclear whether the theft will affect your rates, and a different/newer car will change the equation as well.

[OG Jo]

I love love my Mazda3 hatchback. I got it CPO with only 1,900 miles on it. It's super fun to drive, good base mileage, and really cute.

On the other end of the spectrum I also have a Toyota Tundra. It is a beast that I love equally as much but is a pain to park.

Been really, really impressed with my sister's CRV. I test drove a lot of cars over the past few years and to me, the Rav4 was very uncomfortable.

[justemily]

I love my Kia Sportage SUV - it's not huge, and drives like a car. I've had mine 4 years now, and am super happy with it.

[hamster]

If I wanted a small SUV I'd totally get a subaru crosstrek

[mcsangel2]

I think you need to decide what type (compact vs. small SUV) before you get any further.

[gt7301b]

We love our Subaru Forester.

[alleinesein]

Dont settle!

I just went through the car buying process with a friend who lost her car in a freak flash flood. She now has a car in a color she doesn't like because she was so set on getting a specific make and model.

Set a budget and go from there.

[cuadrado]

Hey guys! Thanks so much for the advice so far. I think I decided today that I'm going to buy a used car that is a few years old with <30k miles. Just from looking at a few options online and knowing the way I feel about cars, I think this is a better financial decision for me. The only exception to this would be if the brand new model had 0% interest and it just made sense financially to go with the brand new car.

I test drove the Honda CRV and HRV today. I liked both. I think I will probably go with the smaller SUV or crossover/hatchback, so I plan on checking out the RAV4, Tuscon, and a few Subarus. I will say that I felt like my 2011 Hyundai Sonata was a lot nicer on the inside than either of the Hondas I drove today. So I feel like I might like the Tuscon the best?

[winecat]

If you want to rent a car for a bit longer, try Priceline to see if you can get it cheaper?

[kathybela]

My suggestion is once you've narrowed down your choice to one or two cars see if you can rent them for a couple of days each to see how you like driving them. I had never purchased a car on my own before - my husband had always handled the negotiations, etc so when I needed a new car in 2013 I researched the models I wanted and then rented them each for a week to see what I liked driving best - both in town and on the highway.

[compassrose]

Jan 28, 2016 12:56:28 GMT -5 starryfish said:

I really wanted a Nissan Rogue but decided it was too small for my future family (we are TTC). I think it would be perfect size for you and you can get a nice used one for $17k or brand new for $25k.

You can get a new Rogue for 20K. They were advertised in my area. I debated between the rogue and a 2014 forester and went with the forester

[qwerty]

I am very Honda loyal. Had a Civic for 300,000 miles. I now have a CRV which I love.

[jennistarr1]

If you don't need an SUV, then I would get a regular car and I would go for tried and true...Corolla baby! look for good deals/incentives

[shell403b]

Jan 28, 2016 20:55:32 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

Hey guys! Thanks so much for the advice so far. I think I decided today that I'm going to buy a used car that is a few years old with <30k miles. Just from looking at a few options online and knowing the way I feel about cars, I think this is a better financial decision for me. The only exception to this would be if the brand new model had 0% interest and it just made sense financially to go with the brand new car.

I test drove the Honda CRV and HRV today. I liked both. I think I will probably go with the smaller SUV or crossover/hatchback, so I plan on checking out the RAV4, Tuscon, and a few Subarus. I will say that I felt like my 2011 Hyundai Sonata was a lot nicer on the inside than either of the Hondas I drove today. So I feel like I might like the Tuscon the best?

Do you have an exact car in mind (meaning the actual one you will buy)? I ask b/c my dad always told me to try to get a fleet/demo car if at all possible. I got a top of the line 2010 Maxima in 2009, that the dealership's general manager's wife drove. You are basically getting a brand new car, with negligible miles on it (mine had around 1300 on it), for way less than the brand-new car price. I think the listings should say if it's demo/fleet. 

[dancingirl21]

Jan 28, 2016 12:56:28 GMT -5 starryfish said:

I am so sorry you are going through this! I sympathize with you as my car was totaled too. I still don't have my check yet and its been 2 weeks since my accident, and don't expect my check for another week (insurance company messed up which caused an extra week delay).

I really wanted a Nissan Rogue but decided it was too small for my future family (we are TTC). I think it would be perfect size for you and you can get a nice used one for $17k or brand new for $25k.

I am debating between highlander and pathfinder right now for myself. AND I am having the same $ debate....used vs. new. I am still undecided about it!

Butting in to say we LOVE our Pathfinder. We bought new a year ago and don't regret the decision one bit. We had one child when we bought (now have another on the way) and we bought a 3-row SUV knowing that we could have more than 2 kids in there. 

We tried to drive the Highlander but walked into the dealership and the guy at the front told us we couldn't afford one without asking any questions, so we promptly decided not to give him our business.