Need advice, shopping for a new/used family car

[4x4mike]

With the possibility of buying a house I would not buy a new car. High insurance and a car payment can be more stressful when shopping or paying for a house. This is just my opinion but if you're not dead set on a new car avoid the instant depreciation and get some thing relatively new. There are a lot of options out there and used can put you in a better place for whats to come.

With the potential of buying something with good gas mileage get something with enough room. 4 people traveling in a small car can get old quick. Heck, anything over a few hours in the 4Runner make me wish I was driving a motor home with a minibar and TV.

[slosurfer]

Mike, I tend to agree with you. I might have to rent this car another week, until I can find something

[slosurfer]

Going to try to cut out of work early today and walk some lots. I am going to need a stick though, I hate talking to sales people until I am ready to talk to them. I am hoping I can find a good used low mileage vehicle in the next two days. If I have to, I will rent a car a few more days to find the right deal, I guess it will be worth it in the long run, and the Dodge Charger is kind of fun to drive

[Good Times]

Mike does have a valid point here. Additionally, any purchase which requires payments right before a large purchase is definitely going to put a big dent in your purchasing power especially a house. Therefore maybe we need to shift the search parameters to limit to cash purchase option vehicles only?

Found this: http://slo.craigslist.org/cto/3727125824.html

08 Civic, similar to the 06 Civic we have at home. It's small but works for our needs. You guys are beyond the stroller requirement so I would think any 4 door vehicle would suffice right?

Have you looked into used Nissan Altima's?
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/3783281930.html

[slosurfer]

Yeah, just about any 4 door will work. We have been using my parents 2000 Passat for months, which is what made us realize that we could easily do with a small 4 door car. A small wagon, would make it a little easier when April has to take the dog to the vet, but it is still doable in the small car, especially now that the older kid is out of a booster seat and can sit in the front if need be.

[Seanz0rz]

Altima has trans issues and other quality issues.

2011+ Focus, the earlier ones are not worth buying.
2010+ Fusion, the 06+ models are ok but a bit ugly.

if you can stand the ugly (I personally want one) the Accord Crosstour is nice, and you should be able to pick one up pretty cheap seeing how it is so ugly.

[YotaFun]

If your alright with a midsized car as well, may I offer this option.

2005-2006 Toyota Camry LE or SE with the 2.4l 4Cyl.
Don't flame! Its the last of the good camrys and the reliable 2.4l.
I daily drive one of these (LE model) my only gripe, it doesn't have a sunroof (SE models usually do)

Also a 2005-06 Matrix with the 1.8l is not to shabby of a car, my boyfriend Chris has one and he loves it, just try to shoot for a fwd only model, the AWD (which we have) eats through tires to quickly.

Also 2005 Rav4, just before they resigned it for the 06-12 model, it was the last year and had the 2.4l in it an every kink worked out of it, I wish i could have picked up one of the these for Chris, but I could never find an 05, or one that wasn't 2wd only.

[Good Times]

Here's a Toyota Matrix
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/3781264028.html

03-08 Matrix ranges from $6-12k

[Good Times]

If you find something local to me I can check it out for ya!

[Seanz0rz]

If you go matrix, get the 1st gen. It is bigger with more cargo room. My almost son-in-law had one until a drunk driver took out the left rear while it was parked. Nice car.

I also agree with the -06 Camry. Even the 07+ is OK. You can't go wrong with one, I just think there are probably better options out there.

the last gen Mazda 6 is pretty nice, but reliability might be suspect. you'd have to weigh the price/car vs expected long term repair costs.