Help Me Buy A Mom-Car

"Jay Lauer" (thefaultinourcars)
12/18/2014 at 21:48 • Filed to: None

As of Monday, I finally sold my mom's wretched Chevy Traverse. We've been searching on our own, but I figured you guys could help.

So, here's the criteria:

Budget is roughly $23-26k. No more than $28,000

Must be an SUV. The bigger the better

Must be under 30,000 mi

Must be a 2011 or newer

Must have leather

Must have navigation

Must be within 350mi radius of 67235 (Wichita, KS)

The new Escape is too small. The Edge is too small. The Prius V is out too.

Here's what we have so far in our lists:

-Mazda CX-9

-Nissan Murano

-Subaru Outback

-Ford Flex

-Hyundai Santa Fe

DISCUSSION (62)

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 21:50

How is the Edge too small but the Outback being considered!?

Jay Lauer > Brian Silvestro
12/18/2014 at 21:52

I think the Outback is bigger. I'm just surprised the Murano is in consideration.

None of it really makes any sense. She wants the biggest thing possible.

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 21:53

Escalade ESVfuckityolo Edition

Jay Lauer > Brian Silvestro
12/18/2014 at 21:56

If we could get one within the parameters that I've got set, she'd be on it.

I'm trying to steer her towards Japanese, cause most American SUV's blow.

Nibby > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 21:56

Dat xc70

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 21:56

I have nothing but good things to say about the Flex, but go for the AWD, and as loaded as you can reasonably get.

Spaceball-Two > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 21:57

4runner.

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 21:58

Land Cruiser actually doesn't sound like a bad idea.

Jay Lauer > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/18/2014 at 21:58

I'm a fan of the flex too. It would have to be a limited for her, and I think that Ford's Nav system is the best for her.

My only worry is resale. They just discontinued the Flex, and in my experience, that means the prices are about to plummet.

Jay Lauer > Brian Silvestro
12/18/2014 at 21:59

Eh, gas mileage probably has to be comparable with the Traverse.

Can Land Cruisers even be bought newer than 2011 for under $28k?

Brian Silvestro > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:01

uhhh no. They're like $70k vehicles. shit

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:01

Totaled.

I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:01

They did?!

Grindintosecond > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:02

Must be an SUV? Why?

Used 4runner. Done. Lifetime car.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:03

I have heard nothing official on the discontinuation of the Flex. Only rumors, and not from super reliable sources. Where'd you hear that?

dogisbadob > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:04

Are the Pilot and Highlander attainable for her price range? If you're really lucky, an R-class is possible (I think 2012 is when they stopped selling them here, although they're still made in Alabama for overseas markets)

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:04

*Makes disgruntled noises at you*

yamahog > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:05

My mom has a Lincoln MKX. Notbad.jpg

Jay Lauer > Grindintosecond
12/18/2014 at 22:07

Typical mom stuff. Wants to be high off that ground, thinks it's safer, etc.

I'll look into 4Runners.

Jay Lauer > dogisbadob
12/18/2014 at 22:11

The R-Class would depreciate so damn hard though. It'd be worth $10k in two years.

I like the Highlander. I've to steer her that way. And for some reason, she doesn't like the Pilot. Who knows really.

Jay Lauer > yamahog
12/18/2014 at 22:11

That's a Ford Edge, right?

ttyymmnn > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:11

I can't help you, but it gives me an excuse to post this video. It's hilarious.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:13

Why not a newer Sorrento? It's pretty easy to find a late model EX or SX with the direct-injected 3.3 liter and all the other features in the mid-20s.

PatBateman > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:14

Your mom needs a Tahoe in her life.

Jay Lauer > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
12/18/2014 at 22:22

I think it may be too small, but I do like the 13 and newer ones

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:23

2015 Golf Sportwagen TDI 4Motion!

yamahog > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:26

Basically, but her other car is an SLK350, so it seems a lot bigger. Explorer/Navigator?

Jay Lauer > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/18/2014 at 22:29

Because there aren't any 2015's for sale. I really like the Flex, so I hope it doesn't go belly-up

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:35

Good point.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:36

It's big enough for a third-row.

dogisbadob > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:38

But the Pilot has VTEC!! How could she not like that? :p

If depreciation/resale value matters that much, then the Pilot and Highlander would be at the top of her list because Honda and Toyota (but especially Honda) do high resale value like no other "used Honda tax"

The corollary to the above is that depreciation doesn't matter much, so the R-class would be the best bet :)

Grindintosecond > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:41

4runner is the suv version of the Hilux. it can be older than 2011 and last longer than anything on that list.

wantafuncar > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:43

First - if you're saying "who knows really," I think maybe you/she need to get a better handle on what you want.

Second - why all this focus on resale? Buying and then crapping out new or newish cars is a great way to waste thousands (possibly hundreds of thousands on the aggregate) over a person's lifetime. The wise advice is to pay cash for something used & reliable, maintain it well, keep it as long as possible, repeat. A Traverse can't possibly be very old considering how long they've been available, so this whole thing just smells like poor decision-making to me. Finances are 80% decision-making....

Jayhawk Jake > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:45

Kia Sorento should be cross shopped with the Santa Fe. They are basically the same car but I think the Sorento is a little cheaper, and I've generally preferred the Kia option to the Hyundai option lately.

Jayhawk Jake > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:46

As an aside, I fucking hate ford's system. If the Flex is the same version of Sync as my dad's Edge, it's horrible.

Nibby > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:48

Pilot is a bit loud and terrible blindspots. Tis comfy though

Grindintosecond > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:49

http://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/…

theres one.

Jay Lauer > Jayhawk Jake
12/18/2014 at 22:51

Really? Shit.

I'll have to try one out.

Jay Lauer > Grindintosecond
12/18/2014 at 22:52

I think you missed the under 30,000 mi. clause.

And the leather seats.

And the navigation.

Grindintosecond > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:53

I think with a 4 runner, under 30k is a senseless requirement for something that sees 400k miles regularly.

Jay Lauer > Jayhawk Jake
12/18/2014 at 22:55

Really? I think the Hyundai is a bit more quality on the inside. My boss bought a new Santa Fe and I quite like it. Either one would be good really.

Added to the list.

Jay Lauer > Grindintosecond
12/18/2014 at 22:56

She sold the Traverse because 46,000 miles was too many.

Grindintosecond > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 22:58

For a Traverse, shes probably right to do so. Look up the history of 4 runner reliability and miles people see. Don't forget, Top Gear's Hilux episode where they try to destroy a Hilux and cant. Blowing up a building under it. Still ran. This is that vehicle, just newer.

Jayhawk Jake > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 23:04

I haven't been in either. I prefer Kia's styling and interior layout in those thst I've been in.

Jay Lauer > wantafuncar
12/18/2014 at 23:05

Dude, I flip cars. You can save me the finance lesson; I know all about buying/selling and the used car market.

This isn't an issue where logic trumps all. She knows what her sons does. She also knows her husband owns and operates a mechanic shop. However, she feels that she needs a new-ish car every couple of years and that 50,000 is too many miles.

So, of course with her decisions, she's going to be losing some money on each car. I'm focusing on resale because I'm trying to make sure she doesn't lose a lot.

The wiser advice is to buy something that needs repair, fix it, and sell for double the price, but that isn't really what I'm asking here.

sellphones2493 > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 23:06

Can you find a CPO MDX for that type of money?

Jay Lauer > Grindintosecond
12/18/2014 at 23:07

I don't doubt that 4Runner's good, but there's no budging on the 30k mile limit for her.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 23:09

I'd take the CX-9 off the list due to crash safety.

Flex off the list due to general unreliability, and poor customer service (personal experience)

And Santa Fe off the list due to poor warranty coverage, poor customer service. (personal experience)

Grindintosecond > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 23:15

Well, ive learned we cant make our parents learn what we learned. but they'll keep trying to teach us what they know.

Jay Lauer > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
12/18/2014 at 23:16

Jesus fuck, that crash was brutal. Do you know what rating it got?

Customer service clearly varies. The car would only be kept til aboout 50k miles, so I'm sure unreliability can be too much of a factor. Nothing really breaks on her cars.

I'm a fan of the Santa Fe. I think it'l hold better value than the Flex.

Jay Lauer > Grindintosecond
12/18/2014 at 23:19

True dat to the max. If it were me, I'd agree with you. I just bought my first car with under 100k. Dad drives a Mustang with close to 300k, and my sister's has 120-140k.

Hell, dad owns a goddamn mechanic shop, but she thinks 60k miles kills a car. It's easier not to make a big argument of it, so that's why I'm sticking to the criteria.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 23:21

Mazda was the second worst car ever tested. The flex and santa fe would probably get similarly poor results. Although they weren't tested, their rebodied twins were, and did bad.

Kia Sorento (Hyundai Santa Fe) Test- Poor

Ford Explorer (Ford Flex) Test- Marginal

Compared to a good performer, the

Subaru Outback/Legacy- Good

If she gets the Hyundai Santa Fe, I pray to god she never has an issue. The company and dealers are awful to deal with.

Grindintosecond > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 23:21

Eh, get a new traverse with leather and nav or whatever, its cheaper. save the money. Shell get rid of it in three years anyway. when the tires need replacing.

Jay Lauer > Grindintosecond
12/18/2014 at 23:24

Technically, the Santa Fe's cheaper.

This is where I'm trying to make the best of a bad decision. They're SUVs, she'll lose money, but I at least want her to get a halfway decent one. The Traverse was just a dumb car. Unnecessarily big, made of plastic, felt hollow.

wantafuncar > Jay Lauer
12/18/2014 at 23:56

Thats only the "wiser" advice if she is intent on not keeping a car (generally a poor financial decision). It is just math.

Good luck with the purchase.

E92M3 > Jay Lauer
12/19/2014 at 00:19

What? That's barely broken in...

JDMatt > Jay Lauer
12/19/2014 at 00:29

I'm a bit jaded on this topic. about 2 years ago I did really extensive research on buying my mom a car. 15 thousand dollars, volvo, no s40, n0 c30. I looked at every single used volvo that fit her criteria that was for sale in northern california. I even asked an auto broker how much it would cost to ship a volvo from southern california, where theres a bigger and cheaper market for used volvos.

After a month of research, my parents come out of left field and spend double their budget on a ford edge. Moral of the story: research is useless when a high-pressure salesman gets involved.

Jay Lauer > E92M3
12/19/2014 at 00:31

I know. It makes no sense to me either.

wafflesnfalafel > Jay Lauer
12/19/2014 at 01:06

lease return Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander

ArmadaExpress drives a turbo outback > Jay Lauer
12/19/2014 at 08:31

Try a Subaru Forester with the turbo engine.

Sweet Trav > Jay Lauer
12/19/2014 at 13:24

DO NOT BUY A MURANO. Those CVT's are time bombs.

Chris McMays > Jay Lauer
12/21/2014 at 21:14

I'd get a 2015 Murano.