Looking for a good used car

[AMink]

With my oldest heading to college (in town), we're looking for a good used car. The plan would be he'd use our '03 Expedition for his needs and my wife would use the car for her commute and our travels. We don't really need the seating anymore now that the kids don't need to go everywhere with us. I like the Volkswagen diesels but even used they are pretty pricey. What newer cars have you all had good luck with? I'm thinking mid-to-full size, nicely appointed, and '08 or newer. Thanks!

 

[rscurtis]

See if you can get your hands on a Consumer Reports buying guide, that should give you some ideas. If you can't, let me know and I'll do a little research from mine. At least they can tell you what to stay away from.



I don't own anything near that new so I can't give you any personal advice.

 

[AMink]

Thanks for the offer. Turns out I didn't know what I (my wife) was looking for!:-laf More along the lines of a Mini!

 

[rscurtis]

A number of Mini's are on CU's list of cars to avoid if that's any consolation. I know first hand from seeing one apart that the supercharged version is a nightmare to work on.

 

[AMink]

Thanks for the heads up. It seems that people who have them have no problems with them or expensive problems with them. We drove a normally aspirated version yesterday and it was pretty nice. The tool at the dealer said "what if I can get it to you for $10,000"? We thought on it for a while, ran some errands and came back and said "sure". Turns out, no can do. So we walked with me making a comment on leaving about they should pay for my gas to come back and wasting my time. Disappointed but not surprised. Things happen for a reason and we're in no hurry.

 

[MChrist]

We've had a few Mazdas and really liked them. Friends and acquaintances had Nissans, (Maxima) and had lots of problems. Not suggesting they are ALL bad, just voicing what I've witnessed.

Minivans sure are handy, though. Super safe, easy to maneuver, space galore, etc. And inexpensive used.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Dont know what you will end up buying but look into CARMAX. We bought the kid next door to us in CA a Corolla with 10K and I think it was 2yr old. They gave us a car fax without asking and changed the brakes tires and all the fluids the wife did the money part I looked at the car so ill have to ask her what we paid but I do remember it sounded like a good deal. The part that I liked was that I hate to buy used because you have no idea of how it was driven and how well maintained but this helped take some of the sting out of that . JMO

 

[jgillott]

We've had a few Mazdas and really liked them. Friends and acquaintances had Nissans, (Maxima) and had lots of problems. Not suggesting they are ALL bad, just voicing what I've witnessed.



Minivans sure are handy, though. Super safe, easy to maneuver, space galore, etc. And inexpensive used.

Just a note on the Nissan Maxima..... A guy I work with just had to have both front floor pans replaced due to rust through on his 2006. Going just on what he told me, it must be a common problem. I believe that Nissan did cover the cost of repair for it though.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Minivans sure are handy, though. Super safe, easy to maneuver, space galore, etc.

We own a minivan and enjoy using it for the reasons listed above and more. We're an older couple who have always driven SUVs, never had kids (only a weenie dog), and like our Honda minivan that my wife bought new in 2006. The vehicle has been problem free, easy to drive, and gets good fuel mileage for its weight. We looked at and drove a Dodge minivan before the Honda, and when we told the salesman we were going to look at Honda before we purchasd a vehicle, he walked off shaking his head. :-laf



Bill