Opinions wanted: used family car options for $15K

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: HangFire

Does truedelta distinquish minor repair trips from major? I'd consider a seat belt replacement in one category and a transmission replacement in another. And like I said, check out all the other trackers.


Unless they have changed, they do not. Which makes Truedelta utterly useless.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Thermo1223
Originally Posted By: d00df00d
One of the best kept secrets in the auto industry is that a Mazda 5 with a roof box has just as much cargo space as a full-size minivan and seats 6 people almost as well.

Combine that with the fact that the 5 itself takes up less space, is easier to park and maneuver, handles better (it's basically just a huge Mazda 3), and comes in stick...

As a simple people-hauler for people who like driving, it really is a slam-dunk.


After seeing the crash ratings on it...best kept secret as a death trap is more like it.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/mazda/5

Shame I really liked them a lot, even went shopping for one before I had the Jetta. My wife's xD is safer by far.

I think in a game of chicken though, I'd take the Mazda5 over any of your cars. The small offset test is nice for consistency but the odds of you have a similar accident in real life starts to get pretty small.
My cars are all death traps, I just try to drive with that in mind.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan

I think in a game of chicken though, I'd take the Mazda5 over any of your cars. The small offset test is nice for consistency but the odds of you have a similar accident in real life starts to get pretty small.
My cars are all death traps, I just try to drive with that in mind.


A friend of mine has a customer whose loopy wife refused to ride in his Abarth after she saw it failed the IIHS offset test. He sold the car. I would have kept the Abarth and divorced that wacko hand-wringing bedwetter of a wife.
But that's just me- the guy who gave his 16 year old son a 1975 2002 for his first car(he survived).

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: MCompact
A friend of mine has a customer whose loopy wife refused to ride in his Abarth after she saw it failed the IIHS offset test. He sold the car. I would have kept the Abarth and divorced that wacko hand-wringing bedwetter of a wife.
But that's just me- the guy who gave his 16 year old son a 1975 2002 for his first car(he survived).

I approve this message.

 

[MCompact]

Thank you!

 

[Thermo1223]

I'll admit the knee jerk reaction is a little harsh. Saying that my Scion xD or the Forester wouldn't be any better is laughable. The small offset was made to replicate how people tend to the far corner on the car against a k-rail or even another car itself. Away from the crumble zones now whether thats accurate to real life or not I can't say but I don't think they would waste money on it if it wasn't. I also thought IIHS didn't start testing cars like this till 2000ish.

It's not be getting into an accident myself I'm worried about it's all though other wackos but to this point I've seemed to avoid them quite well in any car I owned.

 

[jmb3675]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
I don't think toting a couple kids warrant 3tonne guzzla vehicles.
We get 30+ with the forester AND its got loads of room for 4 + junk. Don't bypass the Terrain or its chevy 4cyl stablemate.


I personally think their advantages are worth the cost of fuel. Older full size SUVs tend to be cheap right now and also seem to be more reliable than similar cost used minivans. I also think they have more comfortable seats. Even without a 3rd row seat, the back seat is wide enough for decent comfort for 3 since he said average 4-5 people. A full size SUV also fits the higher height preference mentioned. If you have one kid in a car seat, that makes the back seat even smaller. Being that he is 6'4" will also make the seat behind his smaller in a lot of cars. I am only 5'7" and that doesn't leave a lot of room in the seat behind me in my Focus now that the kids are older. For vacations and trip the extra space is a blessing. I intended to replace the Focus with a bigger vehicle as the kids got older, But life decided it had different plans and that option went away.

There is a big difference in space between 4 and 5 though. Especially with kids. Most of the time with 4 a wagon or small minivan works good. Add one more and space goes away fast. If one of the kids are young enough to use a stroller, there goes a big chunk of cargo room when you bring it with.
If fuel economy is really important, and very few trips will be taken I would go with a minivan. The minivan's bigger side doors does make it easier to buckle a car seat as well.
If you only have 4 of you, and don't mind the lower height a wagon will give you better mileage than a van and I think is more fun to drive. But a wagon is as small as I would go. I would never have a sedan as a family car. For fun to drive I would get a Mazda 6 wagon.

 

[asand1]

Our friend with a 2010ish Chrysler T&C says she wishes she had our Uplander. It handles better, rides better, is quiter, and in 5 years we've had no breakdowns with regular DIY maintenance. It has three rows and seats 7.

 

[slug_bug]

To me utilitarian = mini-van. I've driven various flavors for the last 20 years. Vacations, hauling lumber, soccer car pools, moving kids to college.... can't beat a mini-van.

Chrysler's aren't bad. Definitely need to budget for repairs, but, nothing major. Have never left me stranded.

 

[HangFire]

Originally Posted By: slug_bug
Chrysler's aren't bad. Definitely need to budget for repairs, but, nothing major. Have never left me stranded.


I would consider 7 transmissions "major".

 

[Thermo1223]

Originally Posted By: HangFire
Originally Posted By: slug_bug
Chrysler's aren't bad. Definitely need to budget for repairs, but, nothing major. Have never left me stranded.


I would consider 7 transmissions "major".


I would consider a different shop after the first 3...

Dad's 2000 Dodge with the KNOWN to be troublesome 4 speed has had the same transmission it's entire 150k life. It will be retired for rust long before it goes mechanically.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: HangFire
Originally Posted By: slug_bug
Chrysler's aren't bad. Definitely need to budget for repairs, but, nothing major. Have never left me stranded.


I would consider 7 transmissions "major".


Atypical. My inlaws have them and seem to loose a transmission by 150k-200k but replace and drive on. The thing that bothers me is they lose AC don't fix it. Personally a vehicle is junk without AC......

 

[Thermo1223]

^^^ Agree

Especially a big cabin vehicle.

There is only so much having the windows down can do on a 85% RH 90F day.

 

[Silverado12]

Originally Posted By: jimbrewer
Maybe a Dodge Grand Caravan? Looks like the price has bumped up just a little from rock bottom, but a lightly used Pentastar one should be in your range. Me? I figure the new car warranty is worth an extra 1,000 bucks alone. I'd go for a new one for $19K.

https://www.truecar.com/prices-new/dodge/grand-caravan-pricing/2014/EEC9B63D/


That's what I'd do. You get the 3.6 Pentastar engine, new warranty and don't have to worry about Honda's cylinder deactivation or tranny issues. Sometimes you just have to come up with a little extra money or stretch your pymts a little further but you'll be better off in the long run. Wife has a 2012 Equinox that's roomy and very nice.

 

[Y_K]

So, what did the OP pick and how happy he is with his/their choice?

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

There's also the Kia Sedona if you're looking for minivans.

And if you don't mind an oddball, the Hyundai Veracruz