Suggestions for sub 20k sedans

[TheMeanGreen]

\r\n \r\n Honestly, I`d go with a Toyota Camry or Avalon for reliability, Mazda 6 for styling and driving dynamics, or Chevrolet Impala. All three of them have pretty good safety ratings.\r\n \r\n

[House of Wax]

\r\n \r\n My wife is pretty drawn to the Mazda 6. From everything I`ve read, it sounds like they are a little more "fun" to drive than most of the other cars in that segment. The newer Impalas are pretty sharp.
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\nI know the Camry`s are good cars, but boy are they just so blah in every way
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\nSent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk\r\n \r\n

[TheMeanGreen]

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My wife is pretty drawn to the Mazda 6. From everything I`ve read, it sounds like they are a little more "fun" to drive than most of the other cars in that segment. The newer Impalas are pretty sharp.
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\nI know the Camry`s are good cars, but boy are they just so blah in every way
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\nSent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

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\nHaving driven numerous examples of all of the cars that I mentioned:
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\nMazda6:
\nThe most fun to drive and some argue looks the best, but I really think that it could use more power, that`s its only fault. Best steering, best left foot brake modulation. Good examples just look the part. If I remember correctly I had the best visibility outside of the Mazda.
\nEngine Options: I-4 Only
\nInterior: Super simple design, will age well when taken care of, will be the least out of date in 10 years
\nLighting:
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\nChevrolet Impala:
\nEngine Options: I-4 or V6
\nInterior: Plastics are cheap, fit is not on par with the Mazda or Toyota. I am not sure Chevy has hit the timeless design that Mazda has.
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\nToyota Camry:
\nEngine Options: I-4 or V6
\nInterior: Plastics are refined for a nice fit, plastics don`t ever finish well. The buttons in the Toyota are my preference, they feel like they are the best quality as far as actual engagement is concerned.
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\nBluetooth: The Toyota and Mazda are easiest to connect, I am not sure which the driver sounds best to the other end of the phone call.
\nBackup Camera: Screen resolution goes to the Chevy, but it finger prints the most easily. Quickest screen to appear from park to reverse goes to the Toyota, then Mazda, Chevy can tend to lag (maybe they have fixed it with software upgrade).
\nInfotainment: Chevy`s is the most attractive, but I think it will age the most in terms of looks. User interface goes to the Toyota as it is very intuitive, and just easy to use. The Mazda infotainment is a happy medium, it takes some thinking, but learning it is quick.
\nLighting: Mazda Bi-Xenon functions the best, and quickest to react to on/off high/low flash.
\nInterior noise: If I remember correctly my ear said that the Chevy was the most quiet.
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\nIf I had $20k cash to spend on a vehicle, I`d go for a 2008-2011 Lexus GS350 from the little old man or lady from Pasadena that is being sold on Craigslist, and then invest the money I saved (I`d guess around $4k-$6k), find a reputable independent repair shop, and put the money I saved into the vehicle to make it road worthy for another 100K miles, whilst getting many bells and whistles, a good looking car, a reliable car, and a car that was still built in Lexus` *built to last* philosophy.
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\nHowever, you are not me, nor am I,you. The Mazda drives the best, the Chevy looks the best, and the Toyota is the Toyota. It may be boring, but it will be the most reliable. You and your wife should just pop into a dealership where they have all three and ask to test drive them, I recommend going to a dealership that you don`t see the exact car at, you`re just test driving. Don`t tell the salesman that you are ready to buy, just say that you are doing your homework/research. He will most likely be more forthright and efficient with you. Once you find out which car she likes best, to drive (remember this may not be the exact one she wants), begin searching for the actual car that meets your desires/need. Get all your paper work together when you find the car, test drive it, talk to sales, get a PPI, and buy it if passes PPI.
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\nYou may already know all of that, but I wanted to share because the less time one spends at a dealership the better they are, mentally. haha
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\nEdit**
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\nThe S60 is a good choice, more on the luxury side of the spectrum. The only thing is future running costs, but if you don`t mind them, go with the Volvo. I like their standard dual single touch window auto roll down/up. Volvo is like the Toyota of the European cars, simple, robust and most reliable.
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\nThe Subaru`s are good cars, I quite enjoyed driving them, the only thing is that their paint systems are soft, but slightly harder than Honda and Acura. The redeeming qualities to the Subaru`s are their Toyota based infotainment systems and their standard all wheel drive.
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\nHonda and Acura are good choices, their fit and finish have gone done and seem cheaper than they used to be. Their infotainment systems are riddled with nuances, they are my least favorite behind Chryslers U-Connect and third behind Cadillac`s Cue or Que as my least favorite.\r\n \r\n

[House of Wax]

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Having driven numerous examples of all of the cars that I mentioned:
\n
\nMazda6:
\nThe most fun to drive and some argue looks the best, but I really think that it could use more power, that`s its only fault. Best steering, best left foot brake modulation. Good examples just look the part. If I remember correctly I had the best visibility outside of the Mazda.
\nEngine Options: I-4 Only
\nInterior: Super simple design, will age well when taken care of, will be the least out of date in 10 years
\nLighting:
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\nChevrolet Impala:
\nEngine Options: I-4 or V6
\nInterior: Plastics are cheap, fit is not on par with the Mazda or Toyota. I am not sure Chevy has hit the timeless design that Mazda has.
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\nToyota Camry:
\nEngine Options: I-4 or V6
\nInterior: Plastics are refined for a nice fit, plastics don`t ever finish well. The buttons in the Toyota are my preference, they feel like they are the best quality as far as actual engagement is concerned.
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\nBluetooth: The Toyota and Mazda are easiest to connect, I am not sure which the driver sounds best to the other end of the phone call.
\nBackup Camera: Screen resolution goes to the Chevy, but it finger prints the most easily. Quickest screen to appear from park to reverse goes to the Toyota, then Mazda, Chevy can tend to lag (maybe they have fixed it with software upgrade).
\nInfotainment: Chevy`s is the most attractive, but I think it will age the most in terms of looks. User interface goes to the Toyota as it is very intuitive, and just easy to use. The Mazda infotainment is a happy medium, it takes some thinking, but learning it is quick.
\nLighting: Mazda Bi-Xenon functions the best, and quickest to react to on/off high/low flash.
\nInterior noise: If I remember correctly my ear said that the Chevy was the most quiet.
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\nIf I had $20k cash to spend on a vehicle, I`d go for a 2008-2011 Lexus GS350 from the little old man or lady from Pasadena that is being sold on Craigslist, and then invest the money I saved (I`d guess around $4k-$6k), find a reputable independent repair shop, and put the money I saved into the vehicle to make it road worthy for another 100K miles, whilst getting many bells and whistles, a good looking car, a reliable car, and a car that was still built in Lexus` *built to last* philosophy.
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\nHowever, you are not me, nor am I,you. The Mazda drives the best, the Chevy looks the best, and the Toyota is the Toyota. It may be boring, but it will be the most reliable. You and your wife should just pop into a dealership where they have all three and ask to test drive them, I recommend going to a dealership that you don`t see the exact car at, you`re just test driving. Don`t tell the salesman that you are ready to buy, just say that you are doing your homework/research. He will most likely be more forthright and efficient with you. Once you find out which car she likes best, to drive (remember this may not be the exact one she wants), begin searching for the actual car that meets your desires/need. Get all your paper work together when you find the car, test drive it, talk to sales, get a PPI, and buy it if passes PPI.
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\nYou may already know all of that, but I wanted to share because the less time one spends at a dealership the better they are, mentally. haha
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\nEdit**
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\nThe S60 is a good choice, more on the luxury side of the spectrum. The only thing is future running costs, but if you don`t mind them, go with the Volvo. I like their standard dual single touch window auto roll down/up. Volvo is like the Toyota of the European cars, simple, robust and most reliable.
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\nThe Subaru`s are good cars, I quite enjoyed driving them, the only thing is that their paint systems are soft, but slightly harder than Honda and Acura. The redeeming qualities to the Subaru`s are their Toyota based infotainment systems and their standard all wheel drive.
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\nHonda and Acura are good choices, their fit and finish have gone done and seem cheaper than they used to be. Their infotainment systems are riddled with nuances, they are my least favorite behind Chryslers U-Connect and third behind Cadillac`s Cue or Que as my least favorite.

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Awesome info, thanks
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[WaxAddict]

\r\n \r\n I`d go Volvo S60.\r\n \r\n

[Coleroad]

\r\n \r\n To me in that class I would say Subaru Legacy, and Impreza. The Acura tlx would be another.\r\n \r\n

[JSFM35X]

\r\n \r\n We have a Subaru Legacy
\nAnd it’s a beast in the snow. Get fantastic mileage. Reliable as anything. Great in snow and fun to drive
\nIn the nice weather. It’s also safe !\r\n \r\n

[Accumulator]

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We have a Subaru Legacy
\nAnd it’s a beast in the snow. .

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Wonder if they`ve changed their AWD system. Side-by-side (literally) with an Audi (exact same winter tires, size and all), it wasn`t a contest..but eh, that was a long time ago.\r\n \r\n

[House of Wax]

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Wonder if they`ve changed their AWD system. Side-by-side (literally) with an Audi (exact same winter tires, size and all), it wasn`t a contest..but eh, that was a long time ago.

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We have that Mazda towards the top of our list at the moment. Pretty cheap price, great gas mileage, and looks better than most cars in that class. I just wish it had an option for a motor with a little more guts\r\n \r\n

[Accumulator]

\r\n \r\n Given our experiences with Subarus and Mazdas (both of which we *really* wanted to like), I`d never own nor recommend anything from either maker. But eh, guess that`s just me as others seem to have OK experiences with `em.\r\n \r\n

[House of Wax]

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Given our experiences with Subarus and Mazdas (both of which we *really* wanted to like), I`d never own nor recommend anything from either maker. But eh, guess that`s just me as others seem to have OK experiences with `em.

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What were your issues with those?
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[Desertnate]

\r\n \r\n If I was in your shoes, my top two choices would be the Mazda6 or Honda Accord. As a wild card, you might look at a Honda Civic. They are surprisingly roomy in the current generation, especially with the hatchback. You could almost think of it as a small wagon.
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\nI recently had the Cadillac XTS which is essentially a gussied up Impala and I found it to be a huge let down. The interior ergonomics were all wrong, the ride was too soft, it was noisy at all speeds, and don`t get me started in the low quality materials....
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\nWhile the Camry gets panned for being boring, I`d say a Passat is worse. I`ve driven both and despite liking VW`s I`d choose the Toyota if given a choice. I spent several hours in a new-ish Camary rental last week and it wasn`t a bad travelling companion. It sailed across the Florida highways quite nicely at 80mph. Quiet, comfortable, and respectable brakes/steering/suspension for a vanilla sedan. The interior isn`t up to Mazda standards, but it wasn`t too bad.\r\n \r\n

[JustJesus]

\r\n \r\n nice info, guys. Thanks!\r\n \r\n

[Lonnie]

\r\n \r\n House of Wax:
\nThis IS going to be your wife`s car, correct?? My wife and I went though this process to replace my 2003 Subaru Outback with 183,000 miles on it and in dire need of a lot (read expensive) repairs. So rather than sticking that money into the Subaru and having a vehicle that would need who-knows-what down the road, not to mention the rust that was starting (happens to ALL vehicles driven for 15 years in the Upper Midwest winter salt. Sorry, it`s unavoidable, unless its a stainless-steel bodied DeLorean), we decided to look for a used vehicle for $17,000 or less.
\nAfter test driving over 16 different used vehicles, we (she!) settled on a low-mileage certified 2015 Ford Taurus SEL with AWD. Why THAT vehicle? It was Mica Metallic Ruby (AKA blood red metallic), was easy to get in and out of (an important consideration for us "young senior citizens"), has a great ride and interior room, has All-Wheel Drive, a HUGE trunk, Bluetooth-supported technology, driver-assistance safety features, was a certified vehicle with low miles and NO accidents, and the price was right, although "slightly" more than we budgeted. My choice was a used Subaru Outback, but those of lease-return of that same year with 10,000 miles more them were $5,000 to $7,000 more (A LOT more than we budgeted!!). Yes, I give up considerable gas mileage on the Taurus compared to the Subaru, but I can buy A LOT of gas for $5,000, even at $3.00 per gallon.
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\nPersonally, I liked a used 2014 Honda CR-V with 60,000 miles we test drove in our budget range, but I REALLY liked a used Honda Accord Sport with a four-cylinder and automatic, but it was "cumbersome" to get in-and-out of for my wife and it was a little over our budget. I think you and your wife would be most pleased with this quiet, fuel-efficient, and well-handling vehicle if you can find one for under your budgeted $20,000. Another upside to this vehicle is the how it retains its resale value and its large appeal to used car buyers if you decide to sell it down the road. SOMEONE always wants a used Honda. The downside? Paying for the (higher) cost of maintenance and repairs, and having a vehicle that is the MOST-LIKEY TO BE STOLEN VEHICLE in the USA ("according" to police data and insurance companies, no pun intended).
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\nKeep us posted on what vehicle you and your wife decide to purchase. She WILL miss her Expedition because with vehicles, as in life, size matters.\r\n \r\n

[House of Wax]

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House of Wax:
\nThis IS going to be your wife`s car, correct?? My wife and I went though this process to replace my 2003 Subaru Outback with 183,000 miles on it and in dire need of a lot (read expensive) repairs. So rather than sticking that money into the Subaru and having a vehicle that would need who-knows-what down the road, not to mention the rust that was starting (happens to ALL vehicles driven for 15 years in the Upper Midwest winter salt. Sorry, it`s unavoidable, unless its a stainless-steel bodied DeLorean), we decided to look for a used vehicle for $17,000 or less.
\nAfter test driving over 16 different used vehicles, we (she!) settled on a low-mileage certified 2015 Ford Taurus SEL with AWD. Why THAT vehicle? It was Mica Metallic Ruby (AKA blood red metallic), was easy to get in and out of (an important consideration for us "young senior citizens"), has a great ride and interior room, has All-Wheel Drive, a HUGE trunk, Bluetooth-supported technology, driver-assistance safety features, was a certified vehicle with low miles and NO accidents, and the price was right, although "slightly" more than we budgeted. My choice was a used Subaru Outback, but those of lease-return of that same year with 10,000 miles more them were $5,000 to $7,000 more (A LOT more than we budgeted!!). Yes, I give up considerable gas mileage on the Taurus compared to the Subaru, but I can buy A LOT of gas for $5,000, even at $3.00 per gallon.
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\nPersonally, I liked a used 2014 Honda CR-V with 60,000 miles we test drove in our budget range, but I REALLY liked a used Honda Accord Sport with a four-cylinder and automatic, but it was "cumbersome" to get in-and-out of for my wife and it was a little over our budget. I think you and your wife would be most pleased with this quiet, fuel-efficient, and well-handling vehicle if you can find one for under your budgeted $20,000. Another upside to this vehicle is the how it retains its resale value and its large appeal to used car buyers if you decide to sell it down the road. SOMEONE always wants a used Honda. The downside? Paying for the (higher) cost of maintenance and repairs, and having a vehicle that is the MOST-LIKEY TO BE STOLEN VEHICLE in the USA ("according" to police data and insurance companies, no pun intended).
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\nKeep us posted on what vehicle you and your wife decide to purchase. She WILL miss her Expedition because with vehicles, as in life, size matters.

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Yes it will be my wife`s daily driver. We`ve both driven the Taurus before and really liked them. Gas mileage looks pretty disappointing for moving down to a car, but it`s still on our radar for sure. Tons of roof and looks great.
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\nWe`re going to absolutely miss parts of the Expy. It`s been a great truck. Unfortunately we`ve racked up a lot of miles and it`s gonna take a good chunk of money to keep it rolling. Plus with the amount of driving my wife does, we won`t miss the fill ups. We found out for sure my duaghter is going to miss it. We were driving around some dealer lots last sunday and she asked what we were doing. We told her, and after about the second lot I noticed she was real quiet, so I asked her what was wrong. She started bawling and said she didn`t want to sell the truck because of all the good memories we`ve had in it haha.\r\n \r\n

[Coleroad]

\r\n \r\n The head gasket issues were the big one with the Subaru. Those issues have long been fixed now.\r\n \r\n

[E-Jag]

\r\n \r\n I can`t say enough about the Mazda 6. I bought a new one in 2009 (one of the last of the I-6`s) and have never had a single problem with it. It`s fast (272 hp in `09), comfortable, handles well and, to me, about as good looking as a small sedan gets nowadays. Bought it for my wife and she still brags about the car. Given that we`re both geezers, guess it`s gonna be an heirloom. Works for me I`d buy another one in a heartbeat. Have never read a bad review of one. My sister has had 4 or 5 and recommended I check out Mazda`s. Glad I finally listened to her. Good luck with whatever you get.\r\n \r\n

[512detail]

\r\n \r\n This thread made me search out Chargers. Looks like you can get a ~2015 charger with around 30-40k miles for 20 or below.
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\nV6 305 hp. 8 speed auto. 31mph highway
\nThat transmission makes them pretty quick.
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\nPretty roomy too. And we could be automobile family [emoji16]
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\nSent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk\r\n \r\n

[House of Wax]

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This thread made me search out Chargers. Looks like you can get a ~2015 charger with around 30-40k miles for 20 or below.
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\nV6 305 hp. 8 speed auto. 31mph highway
\nThat transmission makes them pretty quick.
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\nPretty roomy too. And we could be automobile family [emoji16]
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\nSent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

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I would love to get a charger. Only problem is my wife doesn`t want a RWD car (slick winters in our area) and the I haven`t really been able to find an AWD model in our price range yet.\r\n \r\n

[JSFM35X]

\r\n \r\n Our 2012 Subaru has been Rock solid. Changed the battery in year 6 and other than
\nOil and brakes - nothing else so far. I’m in love with the brand and if I can as younger I’d buy a wrx next. With the big tail in world rally blue! The Subaru quietly and effortlessly outperforms my Jeep trail hawk on paved roads up to the clearance of the front air dam. The Jeep is lifted and has knobby tires from the dealer and the subie get blizaks for the worst of winter. It’s an incredible awd system. The subie has a large trunk relative to its size. We got the 4 cyclider because it was purchased as a shared vehicle for new drivers. Not sorry I bought that fo one day. Plus it holds its value despite mileage. Check out car gurus. We considered the Passat and the Honda Accord at the time. I bought the Subaru on awd, safety and reliability. All true 6 years later.
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\nMight look at the new Tesla. I hear the tax advantages amount to close to 8k in year one plus no gas ever. They are safe. Looks are all in the eye of the beholder. I love the tech. For my life on the road the battery chargers limitation stops me and quite frankly I wanted to buy one for my wife and she wanted no part of it so it ended. She not the queen of tech but she is awesome.\r\n \r\n

[Lonnie]

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....
\nMight look at the new Tesla. I hear the tax advantages amount to close to 8k in year one plus no gas ever. They are safe. Looks are all in the eye of the beholder. I love the tech. For my life on the road the battery chargers limitation stops me and quite frankly I wanted to buy one for my wife and she wanted no part of it so it ended. She not the queen of tech but she is awesome.

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While you may not pay for gas, and hence, gas taxes that go to road repair, Wisconsin has a yearly "road tax" on all registered electric vehicles to alleviate this over-site and disparity.
\nWe`ve also discussed the "environmental" effects of having to supply electricity to re-charge electric vehicles, if say, 25% of the vehicles in driven in the USA were electric-powered. I know EVERYONE is on the solar and windmill generation of electrical power bandwagon. The solar part might be OK in the sunny Southwest USA. However, the low-level, low-Hertz frequency "white noise" generated by huge-blade windmills and the long-term harmful health effects on humans living in proximity to these windmills/turbines needs further study. In Brown county in Wisconsin I live in and adjacent Kewanee county, a lawsuit has been filed by nearby residents to Windmill farms that have recently gone up in rural areas. The lawsuit is still pending, but a Brown county health official did get fired because he would not "recognize the possibility"(a legal term to get around admission and verification, and hence, liability) that these residents MAY have health issues caused by low-frequency white noise and vibration. This could be a landmark legal case against the turbine windmill electric generation industry, akin to smoking tobacco causing lung cancer class-action lawsuit was (and is) to the tobacco industry (which they still adamantly deny). Obviously, further studies and research are needed, again just as was the case in smoking and lung cancer correlation. Unfortunately, it took many years and the lose of many lives to "discover" this heath issue. I am hoping that the windmill industry will resolve this and be exonerated for this possible heath issue, as we will need their electrical generation to power the proliferation of electrical vehicles in the (very) near future.
\n...Back to buying a used vehicle\r\n \r\n

[House of Wax]

\r\n \r\n Might actually be looking at a brand new Malibu or Impala. Some really good deals right now and with usually getting a better interest rate on new cars, it might be our best option. Going to drive as many different cars as we can this Saturday
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[Accumulator]

\r\n \r\n House of Wax- Eh, wrong answer here, but I`d just keep it. Cheaper to fix what you already have than to buy anything else IME and if your wife likes it and has fond memories then why not?
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\nI`ve put many times the cost of a new car into Accumulatorette`s A8, replacing it has never even been a consideration.
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\nIf you do buy a Mazda, I`d try to find out whether your choice has build-quality issues. I found out much too late that my MPV was known to have the stuff we sold it over...and no the Dealer/Regional Rep did *not* help at all. NEVER AGAIN, and my wife did like her previous Mazdas (which were also more or less Temporary Cars).\r\n \r\n

[Accumulator]

\r\n \r\n See how YMMV (again)?!?\r\n \r\n

[rlmccarty2000]

\r\n \r\n I’m with you on the Mazda’s. They look great, but the lack of a 6 cylinder engine choice kills it for me.\r\n \r\n

[House of Wax]

\r\n \r\n Choices are narrowing down. Drove a new Malibu tonight. Really nice car, very comfortable to drive, but we decided the full size sedan will work better for us. The back seat is just too narrow to realistically fit 3 across if/when needed. Right now a 2017/2018 Impala is the front runner. Going to find a Taurus to drive Saturday to compare.\r\n \r\n

[Accumulator]

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Going to find a Taurus to drive Saturday to compare.

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No concerns about Ford getting out of the sedan business? Once Ford abandons a vehicle platform the parts availability can become an issue; it appears they`d even rather pay fines than keep oddball stuff in stock (e.g., Lincoln MKVIII headlights).\r\n \r\n

[Desertnate]

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No concerns about Ford getting out of the sedan business? Once Ford abandons a vehicle platform the parts availability can become an issue; it appears they`d even rather pay fines than keep oddball stuff in stock (e.g., Lincoln MKVIII headlights).

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That would be a big concern for me in the same postion. I`ve never driven a Taurus, but when I looked at a couple of the current gen Taurus SHOs, I was surprised to see how big they were on the outside and how little space you had on the inside. The interior design was very strange in how it utilized (poorly) interior space. I found the Fusion to be more spacious and comfortable despite be an entire car class smaller.\r\n \r\n

[House of Wax]

\r\n \r\n Not too concerned. They`re still making brand new ones and aren`t they mandated by law to produce parts for like 5 years past the manufacture date? I could be off on that.
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[House of Wax]

\r\n \r\n In all honesty, we both really really liked the Impala, but are still going to drive a couple other cars just to make sure were making the right decision
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[The Guz]

\r\n \r\n My dad owns a 2015 Impala LTZ. The LTZ is now referred to as the Premier. He daily drives it and likes it. It`s spacious and there is enough room for 3 in the back. If you do decide on an Impala be sure to get the V6. It is definitely needed to haul around the weight of the car.
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\nWhen I drove it, it felt nimble and quick. Overall it drives nice. The complaint I have is the rear window. It is small so it will take time to adjust to the visibility. The other issue is that the gasket on the rear taillights is prone to failing. I am not sure what years this affects but there is a TSB for it. Essentially in heavy rains water will get through and get the carpet wet. My dad`s has this issue. The good thing is it doesn`t rain that much here.
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\nThe other complaint on the impala forums is the noise and comfort with the 20 inch wheels. The other thing I have seen lately on the forums and on my dad`s are the b pillars starting to have clear coat failure.
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\nOther than that it is a nice car to drive. I was just looking at the latest issue of consumer reports magazine and it received a score of 86/100 in the large size sedan category. It was recommended by consumer reports.
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\nMy dad bought his through enterprise car sales. The thing that is nice is that they have a no haggle policy. So the price is what it is. They will have slightly more mileage but for the price it is not bad. I think my dad paid around $22-23k.
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\nGood luck on the finding the right vehicle. I\r\n \r\n

[Justins00ss]

\r\n \r\n Just bought my wife a 2015 Mazda 6 i sport today. Leather interior pretty well loaded with 40k on it for 14k. My buddy works for Mazda and honestly I never even considered one until now. Looking forward to spending some time with it getting it proper lol.\r\n \r\n

[Accumulator]

\r\n \r\n Justins00ss- Ah, glad you were able to come to a decision! I bet she`ll love it.\r\n \r\n

[Lonnie]

\r\n \r\n OK, I am bumping this thread and asking House of Wax, the original poster (OP) , did you buy a vehicle yet??
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\nCurious minds want to know (or just plain nosy Autopians. Well, one for sure) .\r\n \r\n

[Tc99m]

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OK, I am bumping this thread and asking House of Wax, the original poster (OP) , did you buy a vehicle yet??
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\nCurious minds want to know (or just plain nosy Autopians. Well, one for sure) .

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LOL. I`ll third your question. My family most likely will be in the market next year. Hoping our 04 Cadillac can make it one more year.\r\n \r\n

[Accumulator]

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... Hoping our 04 Cadillac can make it one more year.

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Yikes, why wouldn`t it? If we had an `04 it`d be one of our "newest model year" vehicles..\r\n \r\n

[Accumulator]

\r\n \r\n Heh heh, good bumping Yeah...what ever happened?\r\n \r\n

[JSFM35X]

\r\n \r\n Subaru\r\n \r\n

[Accumulator]

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Subaru

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Unless you get one like either of mine...utterly unreliable to the point that we simply had to get something we could count on and frustrating to drive when they did work. Sold the WRX with the CEL still lit after *months* of [messing] around with the local dealerships but at least we could usually drive it (more than we could say about our Outback wagon). That`s leaving aside the, uhm...dramatic differences in performance...between the Subie AWD and Audi`s Quattro, which were an Object Lesson in how different such systems can be..
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\nOh man did we want to like those Subarus, but they were simply lousy cars compared to what we`re used to and the dealerships couldn`t fix them..apparently in part because "they usually don`t have problems like that..".\r\n \r\n

[Desertnate]

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Unless you get one like either of mine...utterly unreliable to the point that we simply had to get something we could count on and frustrating to drive when they did work. Sold the WRX with the CEL still lit after *months* of [messing] around with the local dealerships but at least we could usually drive it (more than we could say about our Outback wagon). That`s leaving aside the, uhm...dramatic differences in performance...between the Subie AWD and Audi`s Quattro, which were an Object Lesson in how different such systems can be..
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\nOh man did we want to like those Subarus, but they were simply lousy cars compared to what we`re used to and the dealerships couldn`t fix them..apparently in part because "they usually don`t have problems like that..".

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I didn`t have much luck with the Subie Outback wagon we owned either. While it was amazing in nasty/snowy weather, it was pretty crude and "agricultural" compared to other cars of similar same age. I bought ours used and what was a somewhat reliable car for the previous owner (he provided service records) turned out to be a bit of a money pit for me. When the timing belt tensioner failed at highway speed and the engine proceeded to consume itself, it was a blessing. My daughter was the primary driver at the time and despite all the troubles, she became a wagon fanatic. Her husband now drives a Forrester which he also loves, but it has become a money pit as well and they are starting to budget for something else before it leaves them stranded on the road like the Outback. I think that car is on it`s second or third head gasket, a common problem for Subies.
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\nMoving from the Subie to a Mazda was the best thing we ever did. Not only was it a nicer driving and far better built car, but it`s been shockingly reliable.\r\n \r\n

[House of Wax]

The wife and I are looking to downsize from her 09 Expedition to a newer sedan. We`re looking at spending less than 20K and don`t want to go much older than about 3 or 4 years. Anybody have some good suggetions? A few we`ve been looking at are 2016+ Malibu`s, Mazda 6`s, Maxima`s, Regal`s.....maybe Fusions, but she`s already had a Fusion before and kinda wants to try something different.

We`ve looked at some of the smaller SUV`s/CUV`s and none of them have really caught our eye. Plus they seem to be more expensive, so we can get a newer vehicle with less miles by going the sedan route.