Wife wants an electric car. You know how that goes.

[AZjeff]

Well fellas, regarding new Teslas and Venzas and being chintzy and such, I pulled the plug a year ago and she's going to in the spring and despite our best efforts we don't have the recommended >$1M in investments so there are no new cars on the horizon.

It looks like hybrids will have to be considered and there aren't many choices that match the wish list there either. Whatever it is needs to fit the 2 dogs in the back seat and be able to fit a receiver hitch for a bike rack.

I might tell her the experts on BITOG say nothing fits and we have to keep the Xterra!

 

[Cujet]

Right now is a very tough time to purchase any vehicle, I wish you success! I can afford a reasonable car, but I can't stand to pay absurd prices just because of market swings.

 

[AZjeff]

Right now is a very tough time to purchase any vehicle, I wish you success! I can afford a reasonable car, but I can't stand to pay absurd prices just because of market swings.

True. The absurd trade-in values somewhat offset the lack of discount on new vehicles which is how we ended up with a new truck not a 2 year old priced higher than it's new MSRP.

We're just getting ideas right now and I knew the varied opinions here would give me different things to think about I wouldn't have considered. Prius is the gold standard of hybrids and are proven reliable etc but just shudder a little bit at the thought of owning one.

Maybe a lifted one? Hmm

 

[OVERKILL]

Wonder what the used X3 hybrids are going for? That'd be a nice option.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Why not a sedan?

My vote is for a Chevy Volt. Looks like you can get a 2018 for $20k

Drive one first. I found the seat unbearable

 

[Quantico]

This is a terrible time to buy any used or new car. You would pay thousands more than a reasonable value to buy in this current panic/ chip shortage / car shortage.
For your 20 k budget. These days you only able to buy a 12 thousand dollar car.. marked up to 20.

 

[AZjeff]

Wonder what the used X3 hybrids are going for? That'd be a nice option.

$50k+

This is a terrible time to buy any used or new car. You would pay thousands more than a reasonable value to buy in this current panic/ chip shortage / car shortage.
For your 20 k budget. These days you only able to buy a 12 thousand dollar car.. marked up to 20.

Agreed, just getting ideas. Don't know much about E and hybrid cars. This isn't a panic it's a real shortage. The local GMC/Buick dealer has 1 new vehicle on their lot, last week none. This could last another year. People who want a different car have a choice to make. People who need a car for whatever valid reason can't wait it out.

 

[MParr]

https://www.hybridsuv.com/

 

[Hermann]

If you are not ready for an EV, I would take a real hard look at the Venza. I believe it is the new Lexus NX at a much lower price.

Go drive the Model Y... C'mon... Don't be chintzy...

Venza is a very nice vehicle. Have yet to get less than 40 mpg on any trip on my 2 week old one. The interior on my $34.5K LE is quite nice and gets complimented frequently. The hybrid power train is almost perfect and the vehicle can be quick if you give it the beans. YMMV

 

[Hermann]

If you are not ready for an EV, I would take a real hard look at the Venza. I believe it is the new Lexus NX at a much lower price.

Go drive the Model Y... C'mon... Don't be chintzy...

Ooops.

 

[deven]

My wife wants one too. I of course said yes. She gets to pick the color;

So when is the court hearing?

 

[deven]

My wife wants one too. I of course said yes. She gets to pick the color;

So when is the court hearing?

 

[FZ1]

My wife wants one too. I of course said yes. She gets to pick the color;

I like that thang. Still, I will be wearing my Arai helmet

 

[Job]

There isn’t much if anything at 20 for a plug in. Not anymore. The Volt is about it, maybe, second gen, but they still have a few things like low ground clearance in front and pretty wide windshield pillars. Otherwise they are still one of the best in range I think. Quite efficient on electricity and pretty fast too. I like the looks of them. Ford makes a plug in Escape. A local dealer has one for 37k. Minus rebates it may get down in price, but never to 20. Maybe a Prius Prime first years but the wife would have to accept the looks of the back end. They are looking alright as time wears on. At first when they came out it was, “what the heck is that?” Still at 20 it will be tough now.

 

[Job]

If you are not ready for an EV, I would take a real hard look at the Venza. I believe it is the new Lexus NX at a much lower price.

Go drive the Model Y... C'mon... Don't be chintzy...

All is left is a string of lights across your driveway and a Teslas sign.

 

[eljefino]

My Prius Prime (plug in) was 17602 including doc & title, but not including tax, after all the rebates and $4502 federal tax rebate. Back in February. The deal will be a few grand worse now.

That car gets around 26 miles on electricity only. Shows the compromises for spending under $20k, but it does have me hooked on the plug-in hybrid way of doing things. It's a "first gen" that's been the same since 2017 so a better one is surely around the corner.

It's technically a hatchback, not a sedan, but the driver obviously sits very low.

 

[TeamZero]

True. The absurd trade-in values somewhat offset the lack of discount on new vehicles which is how we ended up with a new truck not a 2 year old priced higher than it's new MSRP.

We're just getting ideas right now and I knew the varied opinions here would give me different things to think about I wouldn't have considered. Prius is the gold standard of hybrids and are proven reliable etc but just shudder a little bit at the thought of owning one.

Maybe a lifted one? Hmm
View attachment 76078

If u had of told me in may(bought ours in june) I'd be driving a Prius I would have laughed and laughed.....until I drove one. And it was my idea, not hers, and I'm a die hard gear head. It is a VERY good car. Have 18k on it already. Gas savings is almost paying for the car. She went from the XC in my sig to it, and she loves it. We were looking at maybe a Rav hybrid, but mileage/cost was not worth it. Now that said, it IS low(but AWD), so it isnt a small suv or anything. But surprisingly leg room in back is better than the XC. I drove it just to see what it was like, and we both loved it....I expected it to be awful.

 

[TeamZero]

My Prius Prime (plug in) was 17602 including doc & title, but not including tax, after all the rebates and $4502 federal tax rebate. Back in February. The deal will be a few grand worse now.

That car gets around 26 miles on electricity only. Shows the compromises for spending under $20k, but it does have me hooked on the plug-in hybrid way of doing things. It's a "first gen" that's been the same since 2017 so a better one is surely around the corner.

It's technically a hatchback, not a sedan, but the driver obviously sits very low.

Ya I so wanted one of them, but sadly no AWD which I wanted for the snow we get here. I'll keep ours for 4 or 5 years and hopefully by then there we AWD available.

 

[Hermann]

Right now is a very tough time to purchase any vehicle, I wish you success! I can afford a reasonable car, but I can't stand to pay absurd prices just because of market swings.

My recent Venza purchase was by far the easiest new car purchase in my life. The vehicle was offered at MSRP and my trade was worth what I anticipated it would be. Was able to eliminate the $500 doc fees completely, by sticking to my guns on what I was going to spend. If you have a decent trade in, it will bring top dollar. All you have to do then is find a vehicle you like at MSRP.

 

[vwmaniaman]

Maybe she should check out the new Ford Maverick Hybrid. It doesn't sit low like a car and has room for 2 dogs in the back seat. City mileage of 40mpg won't eat you up at the pump.