Mid or full size car advice (used)

[kb01]

I just recently got word from our corporate office that my employer is going to limit the use of my corporate vehicle for personal use. This means that I'll soon be in the market for a 2nd POV, so my wife and I can both have cars. We currently have a Jeep Compass and a Toyota Prius (my company car).

I *think* I know roughly what I'm in the market for. I don't have much in the way of brand loyalty but would prefer a vehicle manufactured in the US if at all possible.

This is what I'm thinking:

- Budget of $10 - $12k (possibly up to $15k)
- Full or mid size with at least a 6 cylinder engine
- 25 mpg highway
- Good crash test rating
- Big enough to hold a car seat in back without pulling front seats all the way forward.
- Quiet & comfortable for very long highway trips
- Easy & cheap to repair w/no specialized mechanics needed

Is this possible? I'm undecided about how I feel about RWD cars. My wife is not comfortable driving in the snow. My last RWD was a '78 Cutlass Supreme and it was miserable in the winter and I'm not sure I'd want to subject my wife to anything like that.

Thanks!

 

[addyguy]

Crown Vic, Crown Vic, Crown Vic.

I'll beat EVERYBODY to it.........

 

[willix]

There is a pretty nice looking Camry in the "for sale" forum. I think its in Summerville GA. I looks like a great car.

Have you ever checked out the Walmart classifieds?

 

[lyle]

I was recently looking for the same thing. I've been out of the used car market for about 10 years. HOLY [censored]!! Prices on used cars in general have skyrocketed, any family sedan in that price range were generally 4 or more years old and have 60000+ miles on them.

I ended up buying my brother-in-law's leased corporate car, a 2008 Taurus Limited with 65000 miles on it for $11500. After seeing what was available used online and at dealerships, and at the prices they were asking, I will probably buy new this fall when I need to get another car.

 

[The_Jeff]

LeSabre!

 

[kb01]

Originally Posted By: lyle
I was recently looking for the same thing. I've been out of the used car market for about 10 years. HOLY [censored]!! Prices on used cars in general have skyrocketed, any family sedan in that price range were generally 4 or more years old and have 60000+ miles on them.


I've noticed the same thing. For the past 15 or so years, I've purchased cars new and driven them until they were completely worn out but they've always been compact cars. It seems like any mid or full size family sedan nowadays runs close to $25 or $30k new.

We really like our Jeep Compass and before that, we had a Toyota Matrix. We really like both cars but they're very loud at highway speeds and not the most comfortable vehicles for 10+ hour car trips, with the passenger seat all the way up to make room for a car seat in the back.

I think I'd prefer something with the ballpark of around 40k miles (single owner who traded it in when the lease/loan finished and the warranty ended). I'm not sure how practical this is in reality.

 

[MysticGold04]

Ford Fusion would be one at the top of my list if I needed a mid or full size sedan.

 

[The Critic]

A 2006 Lexus ES330, CPO, would be perfect.

That was the last model year of the previous generation and those were bulletproof and did not have the reliability issues of the 07+.

 

[brandini]

Ford Fusion, Merc Milan

I don't see why a V6 is necessary unless you pack the car full on a regular basis or want to win races. The 4 bangers above will merge easily.

 

[VNTS]

Look at Chrysler 300.

Friend just picked up a hemi AWD for 16K with about 35K miles.
Very nice comfortable car.

 

[PandaBear]

for that price, and since you don't want RWD due to wife not wanting to drive in the snow, I'd say any FWD mid size car with good reliability rating will fit that bill.

I don't know if new fusion or 300 or an 06 ES330 will sell for that low of a price. You will have to go 4 year old for typical japanese, or 6-7 year old for luxury, maybe you can get a 2-3 year old domestic.

 

[Nick R]

Fusion, new style malibu, Crown Vic.

 

[kkreit01]

Someone recently bought a new Camry for 16K. I'd shop around at the larger dealers in your area. Find the lowest mileage car (possibly certified with good warranty). Any Fusion, Malibu, Impala, Camry, Altima, etc. will fit the bill. Noticed I left out "Accord"? Reasoning: "you can buy a new Camry for less than a used Accord". I agree that most modern 4-bangers are adequate for mid-size family sedans.

 

[BearZDefect]

Originally Posted By: kkreit01
... "you can buy a new Camry for less than a used Accord"...

That seriously depends on the Toyota dealer.

Accord LX seems quite easy to buy at a reasonable price. Of course, nowadays that price is close to 20k before tax.

Last time I checked at the Toyota dealers around here you couldn't touch a new Camry LE for 20k.

 

[The Critic]

For a highway cruiser, I wouldn't want a cheap Camry, Malibu, Fusion, or especially, an Accord.

You want something quiet, comfy and relatively powerful, which is why I recommended a '06 ES330. And yes, you can find them for around $15k CPO-ed if you look hard enough.

 

[JustinH]

You can probably get a new body malibu with the 6 speed automatic trans for right around 10k..

 

[BearZDefect]

Critic, I didn't mean to suggest an Accord to the OP. It was just a price comparison of two popular competing models.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
For a highway cruiser, I wouldn't want a cheap Camry, Malibu, Fusion, or especially, an Accord.

You want something quiet, comfy and relatively powerful, which is why I recommended a '06 ES330. And yes, you can find them for around $15k CPO-ed if you look hard enough.


May I ask why? The Fusion, and Malibu (and yes, camry too) are all great for highway cruising, with their smooth and controlled rides.

 

[UncleS2]

As noted above: Ford Crown Vic or Mercury Grand Marquis. Jillions of cops & cabbies drive 'em in the winter, you can too.

If you must have FWD- how about a Buick Lesabre or Park Ave?

 

[Stu_Rock]

The LeSabre is great suggestion. The fuel economy is great, they're easy to work on, they're comfortable, they're built like tanks, and they have lots of room in the backseat.

Find one with the F41 suspension option--the handling is good without much compromise to ride quality. These are mostly "Limited" trim models (in the later years, all Limiteds had F41). The more common FE1 suspension is horrid, in my opinion.