We are in the market for a “new-for-us” car in the next 6 months or so... Our Chevy Blazer has already seen its best days although I loved that “light truck” and its 4-Wheel-Drive - awesome when we lived in Colorado and went up to the mountains a lot.
We’re in Wisconsin now, so although I think 4WD is awesome for those really bad snowstorms, it’s not a necessity as it was in CO. I have to admit to not wanting to lose the size/height of the car. My husband had a run-in with a deer last year, and if he wasn’t in the SUV it would have been a LOT worse — just a moderate concussion for my husband, and car battered from windshield cracks from the face/antlers to a huge indentation when the body slammed against it on the passenger door driver’s side. I’m concerned about deer, but not to the point where I wouldn’t buy a “regular” car.
Suggestions as to a dependable, reliable “mid-size” sedan? We’re turned off on GM cars due to political concerns & union issues - but I think I might still buy a used Saturn if the price was right and the mileage low enough (I LOVED my Saturn SL2).
We’re probably looking at a foreign car for the first time ever - Toyota/Honda for dependability and length of life. I see discussion of Kia here — are they up to par with the Toyota/Honda cars with quality and dependability yet (I’m just not familiar with their cars - except that they reminded me of a Yugo-type when they first came out as they pushed the inexpensive feature so much when introduced).
Thanks for all the info. people have posted on the thread already — gives me places to start! LOL
I leased a 2011 Hyundai Sonata and my daughter leased a 2012 Elantra.
Both are beautifully designed, comfortable to drive and economical.The lease prices are very attractive. I have a set price to purchase the car at the end of three years, and if I don’t want to purchase it, I turn it in and lease a another car.
Years ago Icame to the realization that whether you lease or buy, you are still drive a depreciating vehicle. Leasing is renting, and is more flexible and has no large down payment, plus a much more reasonable monthly payment. And it is more flexible—I don’t have to sell the car, I am not stuck with the car past the lease end unless I want to buy it, and I have that option also.
If you have small kids that wreck cars or high mileage commutes, leasing is not for you. But if you’re older, don’t have little kids or messy teenagers, and you can live with 1,000 or so miles a month, it may make sense for you.
Have you looked at the Ford Flex? They can be found used at a big discount from original selling price, and are available in AWD. It’s a full-size wagon, but worth a look at least.
I’ve had one for about a year, and my family loves it more the longer we have it. It sits up reasonably high, gets 22mpg on the highway and can carry 7 adults comfortably. Competing products with the same level of options as our Flex were selling for $10K above what we paid for ours, and the low-milage Flex SEL we purchased is loaded with tons of features. No problems with it at all so far.