Daughter needs new car

[rstsco]

My youngest daughter (almost 30!) was involved in a hit-and-run this morning. A car coming off a toll road merged directly into her, sending her spinning and into the grass next to the roadway. She's not hurt, but her fully-paid-for 2014 Altima will likely be totaled, as her insurance company already told her to have her title ready based solely on the pictures of the damage. Luckily my granddaughter was not in the car, as the door where her carseat is mounted took the brunt of the impact. The car had to be towed and the police gave her a ride home.

She and her husband were planning on keeping this car for one more year, then replacing it. It's their second car and my daughter uses (used) it to commute to work.

She's okay with getting another sedan and prefers Toyota or Honda. With the new market relatively slow, and used market hot, would you suggest buying new or used? They have a 2024 Outback as their primary family vehicle. Would buying an older, higher mileage vehicle be a smart idea considering the circumstances?

I appreciate any and all suggestions... within reason, of course. Thank you.

 

[OVERKILL]

Glad to hear she's OK!

 

[demarpaint]

I'm glad she's OK!

 

[Urshurak776]

I'm very sorry this happened, but thankful she's okay!

Nothing wrong with an older High Mileage vehicle. Just check it out first and make sure it's good to go.

 

[rstsco]

I called a local auto repair shop (mom-and-pop) who charges $165 for comprehensive pre-purchase inspections. He suggested a Toyota Camry with anywhere up to 100k miles would be a great place to start. He said he's bought his last three cars from Carmax, as they usually had what he was looking for at a fair price. Not the cheapest, but fair.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Lotta cars out there; you will find one. As others have posted, your daughter is fine which is all that matters matters.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Glad she's OK

 

[FZ1]

My youngest daughter (almost 30!) was involved in a hit-and-run this morning. A car coming off a toll road merged directly into her, sending her spinning and into the grass next to the roadway. She's not hurt, but her fully-paid-for 2014 Altima will likely be totaled, as her insurance company already told her to have her title ready based solely on the pictures of the damage. Luckily my granddaughter was not in the car, as the door where her carseat is mounted took the brunt of the impact. The car had to be towed and the police gave her a ride home.

She and her husband were planning on keeping this car for one more year, then replacing it. It's their second car and my daughter uses (used) it to commute to work.

She's okay with getting another sedan and prefers Toyota or Honda. With the new market relatively slow, and used market hot, would you suggest buying new or used? They have a 2024 Outback as their primary family vehicle. Would buying an older, higher mileage vehicle be a smart idea considering the circumstances?

I appreciate any and all suggestions... within reason, of course. Thank you.

New low-end Corolla could become a second car 10 years from now. New Low-end Mazda 3 would have more power. Look for Mfr. cash back on various new cars.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Glad she is OK. Sorry to hear that happened. Not a lot you can do when you get hit like that, no autobraking etc will help. Hit and run I presume no other information about the person that hit her. Maybe someone had a dash cam?

What were they thinking for budget in a year, was it going to be new or used? Does she want to sit a bit higher like the Outback? I just saw I think the new Tucson had better IIHS safety ratings than the CRV and RAV4.

My only fear with Carmax is the people that didn't maintain it or had lots of issues and said F it like my Pilot might get. It could last forever after all that was done or be a money pit. @macarose might have some options as well as his dashboard light program.

Granddaughter will not be getting smaller, potential for siblings. A "full size" sedan would be my smallest choice for highway cruising, trunk. That was my scenario with a Corolla. Car seats were tight, trunk small, then it got wrecked. New Sonata replaced it based on space, reviews and $$. That went 13 years and 220k and my kids learned to drive stick shift in it.

New options give an opportunity for nice factory warranty or maybe not too expensive factory extended version like HondaCare.

I suggest renting a couple versions for a day or 4 from rental places close or at airport. You get to actually drive them for a test. I also know multiple people that bought their used cars from the rental company used sales. For the most part they are decently maintained, maybe higher mileage and cheap tires but fluids done regularly. My daughters boyfriend has a Sonata from Enterprise. Guy that works for me is on his 4th vehicle from Hertz and Enterprise. His kids now drive the first 3 he bought.

Personally if able I'd lean toward a small/midsize SUV/CUV for future sports, travels, added family, higher seating. Mitsubishi Outlander seems to be an often recommended, underrated vehicle for price and reliability. Looks? Well that's subjective.

 

[crashz]

A few year old Camry is quite a nice car. I rented a few about 5years ago and was pleasantly surprised. No doubt they are still in good shape, but affordable now.

I hate to say it, but a 2014 Altima will not yield much when they total it. Take out the deductible and she may get $1500.

 

[dogememe]

Glad she's OK! I would say that slightly used cars are not a great buy anymore (unless you go with an EV because they do depreciate horribly) due to incentives like discounts, rebates, and financing deals, a new car is overall a better deal.

From the perspective of it just being a commuter car so it doesn't need to be anything nice... I don't know what she does for work but breaking down on your way to work or on your way home after a long day sucks so I'd suggest getting a good vehicle.

And the newer the better if it's going to have kids in it. I never much cared about safety til I got in a bad wreck last year. Buy the best, safest, vehicle you can!

 

[andrew_j]

Glad she is okay.

On used a high mileage 150k+ will need work no matter what brand or condition. Beater crowd will swoop in and I am in that crowd but know reality give I own 3 and 4th approaching 150k.

If high mileage means 100k+ that can be a sweet spot with some life left.

Or easy button new if they can afford it

 

[We're Metals]

Glad she is ok

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

My 2 cents and the rule I follow IF buying new I buy a car that holds strong resale value IMO, Honda, Subaru, Toyota ( Im not a Hybrid guy so I skip Toyota) and perhaps Mazda.

IF buying used I buy a almost new car that the other guy who purchased it new took the loss not me.
I consider Ford as I last purchased a 6 month old ford with only 500 miles for only 2/3 what it was new, drove the car 9 years and sold it for only $6K less than I paid used 9 years prior.

However, a 2 year old Honda is almost what a new Honda is and with new I get better bank rate and longer warranty so I but used Fords and new Hondas!

I do check the brands for that specific year as example the new Toyota trucks show issues and not rated as high as in the past when Toyota truck was always "THE" truck to buy for many years so things change year to year.

And I always BUY a car that I have had good experience with my close to me service department.

I have had GREAT ( THE BEST ) service and parts dealings with my local Ford dealer so I would always consider a Ford.

I had BAD Dodge and VW and Chevy service / parts dealings but great Honda after the sale dealing so that has a BIG factor is what I buy and I don't want to travel far for service so I buy a brand I can service close to my house.
Lexus, Audi, Porsche etc dealers are all 2 hours away so ONLY local brands will I buy sadly. Im not driving 4 hours round trip for a oil change or warranty work!

My plan has always worked well for me when I go to trade, sell etc. However, the few times I didn't follow my plan I lost my rear or got so upset with a parts / service manager things almost ended VERY bad.

 

[rstsco]

Taking @Sequoiasoon 's suggestion and told her to see if she can get a Camry rental to see if she likes it okay. Their primary car is a 2024 Outback, so she really only needs something safe and reliable which gets good mileage.

The granddaughter wasn't in the car, but her insurance company has already told her to buy a new car seat for her since it was in the car when hit. I'm glad to see her insurance is being proactive.

@crashz - I have a subscription to visor.vin and checked 2014 Altimas for sale near us. Found six with pricing which ranged from $4k - $8k. Those at the higher end had slightly more miles than she does, so can at least use those listings to help get a higher valuation for her car from the insurance company. Have to at least try.

 

[JTK]

Did she have issues with the Altima? Why not another one?

 

[SEBZX79]

Something bigger and safer. Your grandkids will ride in it....

 

[wag123]

I called a local auto repair shop (mom-and-pop) who charges $165 for comprehensive pre-purchase inspections. He suggested a Toyota Camry with anywhere up to 100k miles would be a great place to start. He said he's bought his last three cars from Carmax, as they usually had what he was looking for at a fair price. Not the cheapest, but fair.

There isn't anything fair about Carmax's prices. You can usually purchase an equivalent vehicle for at least $3000 less somewhere else. I was in the car business for over 40 years but you don't have to take my word for it, just pull up CarGurus.com and see for yourself. Your local mechanic may know his stuff mechanically but he doesn't know the car business (most people don't). Having said that, IMO there isn't anything really fair about the current used car prices ANYWHERE and that is because the new car prices have gotten out of control.

 

[SEBZX79]

How about an EV that depreciated by 50percent or more in less then 24 months.

 

[97prizm]

My youngest daughter (almost 30!) was involved in a hit-and-run this morning. A car coming off a toll road merged directly into her, sending her spinning and into the grass next to the roadway. She's not hurt, but her fully-paid-for 2014 Altima will likely be totaled, as her insurance company already told her to have her title ready based solely on the pictures of the damage. Luckily my granddaughter was not in the car, as the door where her carseat is mounted took the brunt of the impact. The car had to be towed and the police gave her a ride home.

She and her husband were planning on keeping this car for one more year, then replacing it. It's their second car and my daughter uses (used) it to commute to work.

She's okay with getting another sedan and prefers Toyota or Honda. With the new market relatively slow, and used market hot, would you suggest buying new or used? They have a 2024 Outback as their primary family vehicle. Would buying an older, higher mileage vehicle be a smart idea considering the circumstances?

I appreciate any and all suggestions... within reason, of course. Thank you.

Not sure if you're near a retirement home or know anyone that is, but after I worked at one for many years I found numerous slightly used vehicles at bargain prices. Sometimes the kids or grandkids didn't want grandma and grandpa's Buick or Caddy, or Audi.