New or Used: the 4-1-5 Family Hauler
TTAC reader civicguy writes:
My wife and I currently own an 04 Honda Civic EX (mine) sedan and an 03 Honda CR-V LX (hers). We have two Golden Retrievers who travel with us a lot to visit family, etc and we are expecting our first child this March and probably another child while we are driving this new car. This means we are running out of space and need something big, compared to the CR-V at least.
This means the car we are replacing the CR-V with must hold up well without many major issues for that 10 year span.I know it can happen, both our families are Honda families going back awhile. Her list of requirements are:
~Must be SUV (I’m trying to convince her of the convince of a minivan but she says we are too young (mid-20’s) for that)
Contenders so far:
Am I missing any? I’m not again domestics necessarily just usually always had Japanese cars in my past with good results. Also, what should I really be looking for in this mid-size SUV segment? Should I try to stick with used or can new be worth it? Never bought a car new before so kind of scared of that but since we plan on keeping it so long does it matter? Great thanks from me, my wife, my dogs and my unborn child :)
Sajeev Answers:
Yes, the Pathfinder takes premium gas. But since its not turbocharged and you never mentioned towing, odds are you can run regular and not lose much fuel economy (no leadfooting!) and any durability. I’ll let Steve discuss your 4-1-5 year plan, as I never look at vehicle purchases with such attention to a financial scheme. In my experiences, people fall out of love with a vehicle, decide something is more interesting, get disillusioned by 1-3 months of “excessive repairs” or–back when credit flowed like a soda fountain–a sweetheart finance/lease deal showed up to shift your current plan. So, as per my plan, I stick with product.
Advice: test drive them all, with dog crates and children in tow. More to the point, if one doesn’t have a perfectly flat load floor for the doggies, run away. Long trips with uncomfortable pets is no fun for anyone. In general, used cars can work if you buy vehicles with low-ish resale (no Hondas) and avoid 1-2 year old creampuffs with CPO warranties. Given your need to drive a vehicle for 10 years, owning a 13+ year old whip might frighten, but you’ll get no sympathy from my mostly reliable, 16-year-old Lincoln driving self. But I digress…
The Veracruz is a good idea, even if the one I sampled had toxic new car smell. It has the features, size and warranty to work with you. I think the best product for your needs are the large, efficient and somewhat fun to drive GM Lambda Crossovers. They are all good enough, so cross shop on price: I suspect a used Saturn Outlook is the “smartest” of the bunch.
Steve answers:
Here’s what will really happen.
In four years either you or your wife will get tired of the ‘new’ vehicle. You will spend one year mulling around about it. Then continue on the cycle of wealth destruction that comes with financing new cars instead of ‘owning’ what you have. Your plan doesn’t work. But Honda will certainly appreciate your patronage.
Look, you are not running out of space. You are expecting a baby. That’s all you have to deal with. Keep both cars. Use the CR-V when it’s required to transport the shit smelling mongrels (just kidding, we have dogs) , and the Civic for errands and commuting.
One more thing: your financial idea is just another excuse to spend money. That’s not an insult. If you really want to save money for the long haul, do exactly that, so that next time you can buy ‘the car’ with cash.
Need help with a car buying conundrum? Email your particulars to mehta@ttac.com, and let TTAC’s collective wisdom make the decision easier… or possibly much, much harder.
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I agree with Steve. My parents hauled around 4 kids in a 2 door chevette. But at the same time, a person is always going to be hindered by auto expenses. So either you pay for repairs or you pay the payment. Take your choice. Until people give up automobiles, theres always gonna be cost. Back to my parents, they tried what steve said. They dumped thousands of dollars into used cars, trying to keep them running. They would have probably been better buying new every few years. But during those times (80s & 90s) interest rates were far higher than today. So financing costs were high as well. They should do their patriotic duty and spend their money. By saving, they are hurting the economy.
Let's face it, you're not going to listen to reason, so why not do the exact opposite of what i would do: Screw your 4-1-5 plan. Buy the biggest SUV you can find. I would recommend a Suburban or Expedition for the reasons stated in previous comments. Also, make sure you buy it brand new. You wouldn't want to worry about exensive vehicle repairs now, would you? High vehicle payments? Just ammortize the loan for 7 years. Immagine how cool your wife would look driving this beast. Your neighbors would turn green from all the jelousy. Wow. And you would have soooo much room for all your pets, kids, and stuff. Make sure that the vehicle is made in USA though to support your country and help the economy. And please report back to us in a few years to let us know how things are going.