Should we buy new?

[Thermo1223]

We do live on a mountain side...hence the need for AWD w/ snows. If you see the grade we climb daily you'd understand why and then to get to the highway is more poorly maintained(in the winter) roads which are usually unplowed for the better part of a day.

Like I said driving with the Forester w/ snows spoiled me because before that I was using fwd w/ snows and the difference was pretty drastic.

We do have a big dog though

I am not saying we will need an SUV 100% of the time but for the 75% of the time we do it seems a prudent choice.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: fxrider
Stick with what you have.


This. They make narrower car seats. I fit two kids in a saturn SL which is smaller than anything you mention. Car-seat.org lists narrow car seats that fit in cars like yours.

My almost-five year old has a better time than my almost-three year old because his thighs are long enough he can bend his knees. Youngest can't bent his knees yet to take advantage of the "legroom" and kicks my seat. This is a temporary situation though and will resolve itself as he grows.

If your lease buyout is better than the car's value (could/should be) then buy it out. This was set when you started your lease and they may or may not have expected the current high resale situation. Don't forget they can screw you with reconditioning/ excess wear charges, and don't forget the sales tax/ registration fee ramifications. If you're getting tons of solicitations from your dealer/ fincance company to turn in early w/o penalty etc they may be onto your high resale.

Any snow related problems (are schools/daycares even open when it snows hard) can be solved with tires and driver training, not blowing money.

 

[Thermo1223]

Originally Posted By: supton
I'm not sure I'd pack the family into an older car for long trips. Partly safety, mostly reliability. That, and the Jetta is going to do better on mpg's for long trips. We only take our Camry on long trips as it's just got more interior space (and is more quiet). I'd think an older 4wd would drive me bonkers on long drives.


This is my main concern...if it fails will I ever hear it from the wife. Also as you stated safety systems have come a long way.

I thought about going junkyard hunting for an ASR pump myself or even ESP and working little by little to get yaw sensor in. I mean a least with an ESP pump it will still work as ASR regardless.

 

[supton]

Well, if you've got another year on the lease, then I guess you've got time to shop. With any luck, and a used car, you might be able to just transfer those dollars for the Mazada lease towards the whatever you'd buy. Go used, avoid depreciation (unless if it's a model that doesn't seem to depreciate--go look at used Toyota's, it's ridiculous), and I'd aim for thinking about replacing it in 3 or so years, as I think you will--growing familes cause that sort of thing, even if you don't add more kids. A Subaru I think is your best bet, 5 or so years old, although the other cute 'utes might work too. Unless if you need 4lo, in which case a Jeep will likely cost less (albeit with increased costs).

I have a tough time buying into the notion that a $3k 4wd contraption could be counted on as a reliable family hauler, hence the figuring on a payment. And I assume keeping the Mazada for more than a year means a payment anyhow.

 

[sciphi]

I'd spring for snow tires on steelies for both cars and make do. 2 car seats in a Jetta shouldn't be a big deal. Find a big box (or boxes) about the size of a carseat, stick it in one side, and see what that does to the driving/passenger positions.

With 2 hatchbacks, there is not much point to a SUV with the same/less room on the inside.

Stick with what you have, and get snow tires for winter grip. AWD is good for going, not for stopping/turning. Snow tires excel in stopping/turning.

 

[The_Jeff]

And bring a measuring tape when (if) you look at cute utes. Certain dimensions like rear shoulder room are pretty tight on some of them.

 

[Smokescreen]

I've done 2 car seats easy in a Jetta, without issue forward rearward facing etc. No problem.

Put a good set Nokian Hakka winter tires on the Jetta and you be well outfitted. I have had winters on all my cars and they out- handle the 4wd/AWD with 3 seasons any day of the week on the roads.

I know you aren't as concerned, but the much better fuel economy is another bonus to keeping the Jetta. Being the DD this cost will amplify every week. You could easily have a few hundred dollars in your pocket for Christmas compared to a SUV. Plus you know the Jetta, how it runs and its condition.

 

[Thermo1223]

Not getting rid of the Jetta! lol It's the Mazda!

Trust me on the need for awd part here it is a requirement and whatever vehicle that will be will also have snows! I don't drive in the winter with anything less.

 

[supton]

Can you quantify miles/year and the off-road requirements / towing needs / etc?

3-4 miles for your commute? I'd get a bicycle. I looked at motorcycles, and they aren't necessarily cheap per mile, plus you need all the get-up. 4 miles can be easily done on a bicycle. Heck, you could even walk that, or perhaps bum a ride from a coworker. [Yes, I'd own a car too if I was in your situation, for rainy days--but I'd be biking it otherwise.]

Kids don't need to go out during snowstorms, so Jetta with snow tires ought to be good enough for a family hauler. Little dicey if you have to go out in a snowstorm, but do-able. Just bring a shovel with you to dig out snow from under the car--I used to carry a spade that a flat edge (instead of round) which I found to be excellent for digging down to the bare pavement when stuck. Then most any beater would get you around, which then could be most anything.

What were the inspection requirements in PA? I've seen some rusty contraptions down there, so I'm thinking you can get real cheap if desired.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

You're so financially irresponsible that I don't know where to begin. Leases? Selling to reduce the payments? Loans against your future retirement? All the while sponging off in-laws to make ends meet?

You need a serious financial reality check.

It's not often that I'm left speechless.

 

[HerrStig]

It's amazing what bling bling people think is necessary these days.
WHat will the neighbors think? How did families ever get on without an SUV?

 

[dave1251]

Why not save what you are paying on the lease after the lease has expired for a couple of years then use that to pay a newer bigger vehicle? It can be a pain in the rear when I visit my in-laws with 3 children, I feel sorry for my 7 year old, sitting between my 14 year old that is 3x his size and between my 4 year old in his car seat in the Focus. Not mention the luggage and other stuff that is hard to fit in the trunk. I prefer to use the pickup but we do not use it every trip. You have to make compromises at times but you can make it work until you have better footing. I have a front wheel drive car and 4x4 truck. The 4x4 helps at times but on iced over roads I can work a FWD drive car just as well as 4x4 pickup. Under conditions like that it comes down how well you can control a skid.

 

[PandaBear]

You don't NEED an SUV, any 4 door compact should fit unless you are 6' or more with rear facing car seats in both rear seats.

Is your current #1 kid already in front facing car seat? If so then you can put #1 front facing behind driver and #2 rear facing behind front passenger, problem solve.

The trunk space would be a bit limited if you want to put 2 stroller and all the big toys that the kids want to have. That's not a necessity, and I'd bet if you don't encourage this the kid wouldn't demand it to begin with.

In this market if I were to buy an SUV I'd buy a used one, they are worthless with today's gas price. However I'd buy something that is rock solid reliable as anything from VW will likely give you problem and your family want something to fall back on.

 

[JHZR2]

Though it is nonsense to some, do yourself a favor, sacrifice now (both sticking with the cars you have at least until you have to turn in the lease, and lifestyle-wise), and save and buy for cash.

Personally Ive never found that used cars are a really good value. Ive bought used cars, but they always need some work to make them 110% right to my liking. Sometimes ive had no choice, like my old diesels, so it is what it is. But for a late model car, Ive never found that the amortized per mile cost benefit of some slight depreciation (look at real selling prices, not some claims that they all loose 60% when leaving the lot) pays off in a big way. After all, a used car or new car will both need work at, say, 100k. If you buy a car with $45k for 50% of the cost of new, the practical per mile cost when repairs are needed at 100k is going to be roughly the same.

No loans is best. Save for what you can afford, buy that. Dump the lease at its termination unless there is a real good deal or another sensible reason not to, and get away from it - dont re-lease to getyou into more car. Im OK with a low interest car loan if you have a good plan to pay it off quick, like
Your biggest issue is that youll need a replacement for the Mazda, and arent going to escape that. Could you pay it off
I can see the need for a bigger car, given that you may have two rear-facing car seats - new guidance says that 2 years is the recommended date before they should go forward. I can appreciate the effects space-wise to fit two rear facing seats.

But to span the gap, it does not look like it is readily in the budget, so I might try to find an old reliable caprice wagon that was owned by a grandma to cover the time being until things get set right - that is one possible backup plan that you could get into cheaply... But be smart about it, buy quality and make sure you see receipts. Dont borrow from a 401k, not smart.

Good luck and let us know if you have any other questions... I know you can figure out a good path on this.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
You don't NEED an SUV, any 4 door compact should fit unless you are 6' or more with rear facing car seats in both rear seats.

Is your current #1 kid already in front facing car seat? If so then you can put #1 front facing behind driver and #2 rear facing behind front passenger, problem solve.

The trunk space would be a bit limited if you want to put 2 stroller and all the big toys that the kids want to have. That's not a necessity, and I'd bet if you don't encourage this the kid wouldn't demand it to begin with.

In this market if I were to buy an SUV I'd buy a used one, they are worthless with today's gas price. However I'd buy something that is rock solid reliable as anything from VW will likely give you problem and your family want something to fall back on.


Our friends have an older 2dr accord, and the front seats have to be most of the way forward with a rear facing carseat behind.

Since guidance is now 2 years old for rear facing (the safest place is Sweeden where rear facing is done until 3 or 4), its a real problem, IMO. Im not advocating SUV, but it is a challenge.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Thermo1223
Not getting rid of the Jetta! lol It's the Mazda!

Trust me on the need for awd part here it is a requirement and whatever vehicle that will be will also have snows! I don't drive in the winter with anything less.

So how can you still keep the Jetta then? I have a hilly 1/4 mile driveway which makes AWD nice to have, as some days the Neon with snows won't make it until I plow, or if its really really icy, so I leave it at the road and get some exercise. Once I'm out on the public roads though I've never got stuck with the Neon.

I can understand though that you might want to have AWD just for emergencies, like little Johnny breaks his arm during a snowstorm type stuff. I think you are basically back to buying something like a Subaru Legacy as the best AWD bang for your buck with some haulage space. Or a good clean upper mid-2000's Explorer or Equinox in the 8-10k range?
I've got a similar situaion myself as the Tracker is nearing its end soon...

 

[KrisZ]

I had no problems with fitting two kids into the back seat of my Mazda 3, although when my son was born, my daughter was two years old and could sit in a front facing seat, so I did not have two rear facing seats installed.

The rear facing seat was on the passenger side and the seat had to be moved forward and my wife struggled a bit with leg room, but at the time we simply did not go for very long trips and my wife was fine during daily commutes.

I admit, more room would've been nice and sometimes I wished the car was bigger, but we knew right from the beginning that we would have to struggle a bit at the beginning.
Now, the car is long paid off, trouble free and my kids fit perfectly. We went camping last year and are planning more camping trips this year using this car and I am actually surprised how much stuff can be crammed into it with some planning, without sacrificing comfort.

 

[Dakota1820]

Take a few grand and buy a used Cherokee not the grand a regular one. They're cheap easy and tough or a blazer also cheap easy and tough. Don't take a loan out or anything like that have a car with no payment its better all around as so you buy a reliable car

 

[DemoFly]

Never buy new. Financial masochism.

Used doesn't have to mean 50k to 100k miles. As long as you are not the first owner and don't drive the car off the lot you save thousands.

When I bought my Saturn VUE (BTW Fantastic vehicle with Honda V6 and AWD) we got it for $6k less than new with only, IIRC 5-8k miles?

 

[Thermo1223]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
You're so financially irresponsible that I don't know where to begin. Leases? Selling to reduce the payments? Loans against your future retirement? All the while sponging off in-laws to make ends meet?

You need a serious financial reality check.

It's not often that I'm left speechless.


It's not often I have to put someone in their place but whatever you asked for it.

I sold the Forester ouright because it had a loan with higher interest & a higher monthly payment. The fact that it was stick and my wife has no interest learning it notwithstanding. So it was a smart financial decision considering the terms on the new loan for Jetta and other factors like fuel economy & transmission. Sorry it doesn't meet your standards.

There is nothing wrong with leases as long as you know what you are getting into. It was her car, her money, her decision(to a point). Both leases were much lower than any outright purchase of the same or similar cars, she doesn't exceed the mileage and in the Mazda's case the value exceeds he payoff at this point. Best financial decision? No, but certainly for from the worst and as I stated with our family's ever changing structure it certainly wasn't a bad idea.

We took a small chuck out now that her plan is drifting down again(as with the market) for our house. I could reapportion some of that to the car but I haven't decided which way to go with that yet. Quite frankly it is none of your dam-n business either way.

Where the bloody he[[ did I ever come out and say we were sponging off our in-laws? You do realize family can help each other out in ways other than money right? Maybe you don't, maybe your an idiot savant with enough brain power to click & point a mouse. Taking into account your verbal diarrhea and lack of comprehension it is possible. Run along now so you can catch the short bus.