Best 20,000 Dollar Family Car?

"JR1" (type35bugatti) 02/11/2014 at 18:20 • Filed to: Lincoln Navigator, Oppositelock, 20k family car

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Ok ladies and germs I have a challenge. What is the best FOUR DOOR family car currently on the market for 20k. I do not care if it is an auto or a manual. You have 2 kids in their teens who need to be driven around to practices, so leg room is essential. Also you like to go on vacations once year or more and usually you drive about 1000 miles so you'll need a big trunk for the luggage.

As you can see from the picture above I nominate the Lincoln Navigator. One with 50k from 2007-2008 can be found for roughly 20k. For me ever since I was four I have always had a crush on these big things. It has more than enough room for just about anything you need to haul and the security of 4x4 in the tough midwestern winters. Also I think they look the business. Plus I can haul wood for the fireplace in the winter time.

TDLR: Whats the best way to spend 20k on a family car?

iforgotmyburnerkeyonce > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:22

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4-door Golf or Jetta Sportwagon.

The answer, in this case, is NOT Miata.

feather-throttle-not-hair > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:23

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4 Doors eh? For once the answer isn't Miata.

It's 2 miatas.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:25

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Brand New Dodge Grand Caravan AVP

This one is only $17,785

http://www.cars.com/go/search/deta…

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:26

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Well... I like your choice, it's a good one! I've always had a soft spot for the Navigator.

I got my '10 SHO for not much more than 20k, there's also the non-SHO of course. Plenty of leg room in the back. I once hauled 50 2x4(x8's) with it, with the trunk closed (one rear seat down). The trunk is truly gargantuan. Because datass. It also comes equipped with AWD (standard on the SHO).

For Sweden > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:26

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Dodge Grand Caravan American Value Package, MSRP $19,995.

Brand-new 263 horsepower minivan with heavy-duty transmission cooler, seats that fold into the floor, and not much else. This is as close to a Jalop-spec stripper vehicle as you will ever find.

JR1 > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 02/11/2014 at 18:27

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I forgot to mention I have a hatred for minivans but they are a great choice!

JR1 > feather-throttle-not-hair 02/11/2014 at 18:27

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Well played

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:29

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For the money, this is a shit ton of car with a respectable amount of horsepower.

bob and john > feather-throttle-not-hair 02/11/2014 at 18:30

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oh thats a good one. +1 for you sir

Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:30

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Ford Flex. You can get them used for under 20k. Traveled all around Michigan and as far as South Carolina in that car. Seriously the most comfortable road trip car I've ever been in. There are a few drawbacks though, its long, like really long, and it does surprisingly bad in the snow. Other than that though its a great road trip car.

carcrasher88 > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:32

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Nissan Xterra

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nissan-Xte…

911e46z06 > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:32

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e38 with a bunch of money left over. If I had to carry around 4 grown people, I would take one of these before anything I could get for 20 grand. W12 Phaeton would also be a good choice.

JR1 > Dwhite - Powered by Caffeine, Daft Punk, and Corgis 02/11/2014 at 18:33

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That would have been choice number two for me. These might be the greatest cars ever made...

JR1 > 911e46z06 02/11/2014 at 18:34

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But what about maintenance cost? It has to be high right?

Manuél Ferrari > 911e46z06 02/11/2014 at 18:35

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You can even find some E39 M5s for that price. They might have more miles but who cares, it's awesome!

The teens can handle the rear legroom. It will be way more than they'd get if they lived in Europe and their parents had a tiny car.

+1 to the Phaeton too

JR1 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs 02/11/2014 at 18:36

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I didn't know the SHO was going for around 20K. The SHO is such a sleeper, I love it.

JR1 > For Sweden 02/11/2014 at 18:37

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You are the second person to mention that, perhaps I need to reconsider my views on minivans. But I have to ask what do you find that is Jalop about this?

911e46z06 > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:37

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If you get one that hasn't been taken care of. But with 20 grand I could probably get one still practically in the wrapper. I've had a bunch of Bimmers with reputations for being unreliable (e46 M3, five e39s), but I take really good care of them and I've never had a major problem with a car that had under 200k on the odometer.

Rico > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:39

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Navigator or Tahoe would be my choice. I'd avoid Escalades because they don't age well looks wise.

For me ever since I was four I have always had a crush on these big things.

Navigators were first available in 1998, for some reason I can't imagine you being born in '94

Milky > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:40

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SO MANY GOOD CARS

HammerheadFistpunch > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:40

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my land cruiser and 15,000 grand in fuel (or upgrades)

JR1 > Rico 02/11/2014 at 18:40

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I was actually born in 1994. Why can't you imagine me being four? Not mad just wondering.

JR1 > HammerheadFistpunch 02/11/2014 at 18:41

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Upgrades, always go upgrades.

For Sweden > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:43

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Same thinking as the Jalop-spec 320i , because cheap stripper van with 263 HP

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

911e46z06 > Manuél Ferrari 02/11/2014 at 18:43

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I think, with all modesty, I can call myself an e39 expert. You can get 4 in there without a problem, but it isn't comfortable for anyone, because the front seats need to move forward to get a normal-sized person in the back. If you're driving more than 2 on a regular basis, you'd be better off with the 7er.

Rico > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:44

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20 year olds don't often have kids in their teens so that threw me off.

And looking back I think I really read your post wrong. So back on topic Navigators or Tahoes man, stay away from Escalades!

JR1 > Rico 02/11/2014 at 18:45

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This was just mine own personal experience as a teen. We always had big capable SUVS

JR1 > For Sweden 02/11/2014 at 18:45

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I like your logic.

HammerheadFistpunch > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:47

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That's the plan! Just ordered my sliders and my lift kit should be coming soon. my girls love it. my oldest loves it when it gets muddy and going on 'ventures (adventures) which we will be doing together this Monday in Moab. Seriously, aside from the gas mileage and the 90's power, its a GREAT family car. roomy, comfortable, quite and since I got it cheap I'm not too sad when crayons melt into the carpet. plus, take a look at this interior and then be amazed at 18 years and 240,000 original miles.

911e46z06 > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:47

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You don't need to reconsider your views. The only reason to get a minivan is if you have young kids who are going to throw food everywhere and get everything sticky. If that happens in anything but a minivan, you get upset about it. With a minivan, you don't care. Because it's a minivan.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > JR1 02/11/2014 at 18:53

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My mother had a CPO 2009 from the August 2012- July 2013. It was a great road trip car, but she sold it due to: massive unrepairable water leaks (from the vista roof), mold and mildew (from the water leaks), sudden acceleration, brake failure, gas leaks, and the engine refusing to turn off. She ended up selling it to Carmax, and leased a 2013 Volvo XC60 T6.

A3R0 > HammerheadFistpunch 02/11/2014 at 19:01

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Wait... What? Its automatic and manual?

Manuél Ferrari > 911e46z06 02/11/2014 at 19:07

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True. Your pick is definitely the more practical choice.

I was just offering up a more fun choice, because screw the kids!

The parents matter more. Especially the Dad, who wants tons of HP and torque and the ability to handle really well :)

When I was a teen my Mom had a Minivan so we used that for longer trips. But if she was busy and my Dad was dropping me and my friends off somewhere he used his 2 door E30. Nobody complained because we were just happy to get a ride.

Once he handed it down to me and started DDing his '82 911SC things got even more fun. There were a few times when my car was parked somewhere and he picked us up straight from work in the 911. It was hilarious for 6' guys to sit in back.

HammerheadFistpunch > A3R0 02/11/2014 at 19:07

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I couldn't figure out what you were after for a second, but now I've got it. The second lever is the transfer case 4H N 4L. its nice having a truly manual transfer case. I wish I could get the manual in this model, but they never sold it in the US with one and converting one is hard and expensive.

JR1 > HammerheadFistpunch 02/11/2014 at 19:07

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I never would have thought of a 90s Yota! And I have to ask why not a Jeep? That's like the go to four wheel SUV

JR1 > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 02/11/2014 at 19:09

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Wow I wonder if she just got a lemon? Or if most of them are like that

HammerheadFistpunch > JR1 02/11/2014 at 19:11

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im not a "jeeps are for pansies, land rovers are for pricks...blah blah blah" type, but I've always loved the 80's series. My uncle has 2 and I always liked them. So I finally bought one. Plus, Wranglers are cold, noisy, cramped uncomfortable things. This this is dead silent on the highway and smooth as silk (considering). I had an XJ cherokee growing up and I liked it, but I feel like the XJ is to Twinkies as the 80 series is to eclairs.

A3R0 > HammerheadFistpunch 02/11/2014 at 19:13

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Reasonable on the swap thing. A couple years ago my mom had a Jeep, so that makes sense now. I feel like in the Jeeps it was more off to the side, though. Also, it seems like a really stupid question now. haha

Manuél Ferrari > 911e46z06 02/11/2014 at 19:16

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New idea -

As you said the E38 can be had with money to spare.

One could get an E38 and mod the suspension to make it handle better. And maybe there are some engine tuning things that can be done that won't break the bank.

Then you could have a home made M7

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > JR1 02/11/2014 at 19:18

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I'd say to avoid the 2009 model year, and the vista roof. Ford told her that all of her issues were "normal" for a four year old car with 40,000 miles.

911e46z06 > Manuél Ferrari 02/11/2014 at 19:21

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Or just use the money you saved not having to spend 20 grand on a good e30.

I once had to drive 3 other dudes in my '87. It got very interesting. It was cold as shit and we had to put the top down to get everyone in.

Manuél Ferrari > 911e46z06 02/11/2014 at 19:22

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That is awesome!!

did you have two in the front passenger seat and 2 in the back?

911e46z06 > Manuél Ferrari 02/11/2014 at 19:32

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Yep.

Manuél Ferrari > 911e46z06 02/11/2014 at 19:32

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classic

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > JR1 02/11/2014 at 20:31

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New VW Jetta 1.8T

With a manual, it's 18.5K
Auto?19.95K
if you go for a manual, you can get an APR tune, meaning 217 hp and 223 ft-lbs.
Tune is $450
so, for 18.95K, you can have a fast, comfy, midsize sedan that will get about 26 city/35 hwy MPG's all day

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Milky 02/11/2014 at 20:32

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I like the bluetec idea.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > carcrasher88 02/11/2014 at 20:33

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These things are very underrated! Not only does it haul ass, it looks good too!

I own dead car brands only > For Sweden 02/11/2014 at 20:49

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I agree with this recommendation. I loved my rental caravan. I was 24 when I rented one. I miss it. I hustled it around the mountains of Oregon. I would get a brand new one then drop some coin for nicer wheels and stickier tires.

awe46m3zcp > JR1 02/11/2014 at 21:05

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MDX

Lets Just Drive > JR1 02/11/2014 at 21:32

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If the question assumes, hypothetically, that I have twenty thousand dollars cash to spend, and that's up front cash-in-hand, then my answer changes because if it's being financed, with some portion down, my choice is going to be much more safe.

First, I'd go out and buy one of these. I'd look for a straight, clean car with a bazillionty thousand kilometers on the clock, bagged out tranny and suspension sagging sadly because all that stuff would go, and it's where I'd save value. Thankfully, they abound.

Spending no more than a grand or three, I'd come away with my tank-like chassis in excellent condition and a rust-free body. The interior is of little concern, but I'd still avoid anything with dead, rotting animals inside.

Next, I'd shop around for one of these.

Thankfully, they also abound and so do parts. After finding the right motor, I'd put some more into it, have it run FI, an aggressive cam etc. Match it up to a 5 speed and put an 8.8 rear end under it. New shocks, springs, wheels and tires...

Then, re-do the interior. Leave rear seats pretty much stock, the kids'll be riding back there anyway. Fit some nice buckets up front for me and the wife, new fabrics and headliner...

... and when all is said and done, come away with a fairly sleeper looking (if not sounding) wagon with all the room in the world.

Under twenty grand, all in? I think so.

Stef Schrader > JR1 02/11/2014 at 21:33

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I was going to be a fartknocker and post my car, but everyone knows I don't let small children near that thing.

Besides, the answer is 42!

There's even a rollcage for extra safety...and things. Stuff breeders care about or something.

(Pictures via Dusty Ventures, ofc.)

JR1 > Lets Just Drive 02/11/2014 at 22:00

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That sounds like an awesome idea, a lot of work but you would definitely be the only person on the block with one!

GeorgeyBoy > JR1 02/11/2014 at 22:22

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V6, Close to 20mpg, Benz chassis.

You can get a decent lowish mile one for $20k.

NeilR > JR1 02/12/2014 at 12:08

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Mid 2000's 4Runner anyone? 4.7L V8 gets around 19mpg, you can get one for a bit less than 20k and do a mild suspension upgrade to make it ride better/go over things. They're tough as nails, easy to work on, and very reliable. Not to mention 4x4/AWD for snowy places.

NeilR > NeilR 02/12/2014 at 12:09

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Here's a nice one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-4Ru…

NeilR > NeilR 02/12/2014 at 12:16

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Since kinja wont let me edit, here's one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toyota-4Ru…

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > JR1 02/12/2014 at 21:52

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Mazda 5. Seriously. It's like driving a Mazda 3, only with more room.

JR1 > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 02/12/2014 at 23:29

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Best minivan!