What would you suggest?

LexiKD · #1 05-15-2002, 08:35 PM

Ok, I need some help. I'm thinking about buying a new car. Mine is falling apart....it's a 1996 2 door Explorer Sport.

So, what would you get if you could get any new car and why(within reason!)? What should I go look at? And what can I say to talk my parents into it, they will be helping me with a down payment...maybe(cross your fingers!)

I cannot drive a car or pick up truck, I'm an SUV kind of girl...thinking about a Yukon maybe? What do you all think?

It has to be large enough for me moving the dog and her friends and packing up some of my friends for a roadtrip too!

AOIIBrandi · #2 05-15-2002, 08:37 PM

Hubby and I have a 2002 Explorer XLT that we absolutely love. Before that we had a 1998 Explorer Sport that we didn't really love.

queequek · #3 05-16-2002, 12:01 AM

How about Jeep? Like, Cherokee?

SATX*APhi · #4 05-16-2002, 01:19 AM

One of my sisters has an Isuzu Axiom. It is very nice and a new vehicle model, not something everyone has like the Explorers or Tahoes.

aphotoguy · #5 05-16-2002, 03:02 AM

I have a 2000 Montero Sport. I haven't had it 3 years yet, and just turned 60,000 miles. I love driving, and before the montero I was a sportscar kind of guy. I know tons of people that have a montero and that's why I bought mine. None of us have had any problems what so ever. It is really a great car. Plus Mitsubishi has some great financing options. Something you should test drive. I think you will like it.
Good Luck,
Eric

LexiKD · #6 05-16-2002, 01:07 PM

Thanks guys!

Leslie, that was a good tip!

SoProud2BeAnAlphaXi · #7 05-16-2002, 02:22 PM

We have an Acura MDX which I LOVE -- reliable, comfy, safe!! I also drove a Mitsubishi Montero Limited for a week last winter, and it was great (but not my Acura). I heard Honda's coming out with a new model based on the MDX but cheaper, called the Pilot, and Car & Driver's editor was on the radio the other day talking it up a bunch. And finally, I think those new Envoys look cute, though I'm always reluctant to buy a domestic car (sad and deplorable, I know, but still true -- there's nothing worse than having your car break down when you need it, and my three hondas/acuras have never seemed to -- not so Mr. SoProud's Fords, Oldsmobiles and Chevrolets!). Good luck!!

APhiRattlerGal · #8 05-16-2002, 02:40 PM

I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Its perfect, wouldnt change it for the world. I'd recommend one of those.

SigmaChiCard · #9 05-16-2002, 03:46 PM

Landrover Defender 90

why?

Because it's the coolest automboile made!

AGDLynn · #10 05-16-2002, 05:42 PM

This is what I REALLY wanted but hubby didn't want a SUV so I got an Altima 2.5 SL which I also love.

I recommend checking out Consumer Reports, kelly blue book (www.kbb.com) and other websites to get info. We saved about $3000 dollars by knowing what the dealer paid for standard and options.

Lynn

KappaStargirl · #11 05-16-2002, 07:29 PM

My thoughts:

I have no reason to ever own an SUV (I like small cars and can't afford to put gas in an SUV) but I do have some advice for buying one:

Go to your local public library and borrow a copy of the April 2003 Consumer Reports, NOT Consumer Guide or Consumer Digest. CR does not take advertising and is published by a not-for-profit organization that does nothing but test products all day. Look at reliability, problems, features, etc. Copy the pages and narrow your search down to 3 or 4 cars. Then go test drive those cars and see which one you like best. Then get the Consumer Reports Wholesale price on the car you plan to buy, so you can be an educated bargainer. CR also includes articles on selling your used car, should you choose to do so (don't ever expect to get Kelley Blue Book Value on a trade-in). Reading CR helped me buy a nice used car (a 1995 Saturn SC2) and was instrumental in helping me choose the car I'm going to buy this winter (a VW Cabrio

)

Also, take a look at Car Buying Tips on the Web, a site done by consumers.

Good luck and enjoy your new car!

TriSigmaTX · #12 05-18-2002, 12:07 AM

I'd have to go with that Montero Sport.....but mainly because Aphotoguy drives me around in it

dzandiloo · #13 05-18-2002, 10:56 PM

My dh used to be in the car business...we had a *new* car (meaning loaner off the certified pre-owned lot) every month...SUV's were a favorite of his. My 2 cents:

HANDS DOWN FAVORITE: Montero Sport--drove like a car, was comfortable and looked cool. 4WD's are often cheaper than the 2WD's in the Montero Sports b/c the 2WD's are in higher demand in some areas (esp. Dallas). Only real downside was that Mistu's still don't have the greatest resale...not really sure why. Someone else mentioned that Mitsu has some very creative financing options...check them out, but consider them carefully.

Jeep Grand Cherokee-looked OK, but actually very bumpy & made me car sick. They don't have the very best resale, and to be honest, my husband said dealers actually kind of laugh at Cherokee buyers as they drive off the lot. Also, most of them have the stupid spare tire mounted INSIDE the back & really cuts down on storage space. This may have changed in the last 2 years, but was a major pain for us.

Nissan Xterra--these things have a tendency to roll. DOn't know much else about them, but one flipped over on top of my Camry last year, and it was not pretty (3 of the 5 folks in the Xterra were seriously injured--2 were thrown...although, seatbelts would have been a major help there. DUH). They weren't going that fast when the driver did something boneheaded & lost control & flipped 3 times into oncoming traffic (us).

Honda Passport(?) Reliable...didn't leave a lasting impression, though.

Kevin · #14 05-19-2002, 01:35 AM

I've really been happy with my 4-Runner. I have around 115K miles on it and it's still great.

I have to look at cars from a maintenance standpoint and the only problem I've had since I've owned it (bought it with 50K miles) is the transmission I had to replace...

-- That was my fault, misjudged a curb I was hopping and...

banged it on the curb.

Bought an extended warranty when I got the truck though for $1000, covered the whole transmission being replaced so I was happy

It's comfortable, always the choice for road trips with my bro's.. Spacious -- load stuff into it with no problems...
Dependable -- Trust it on long drives.

Also, I've really not like Consumer Reports since the whole Omni thing (that economy car that they said rolled which turned out to be basically a fabrication). They also tend to give American cars a really bad rap and always be high on Japanese cars...

I like all those Toyota and Lexus SUV's though. Would be happy to own any of them. Give 'em a look.

LeslieAGD · #15 05-19-2002, 09:39 AM

Everyone in my family drives GM cars and we've never had a problem with them. I drive a Jimmy and I LOVE it!!! I don't think they're making them anymore because they've switched over to the Envoys. You might want to looking an Envoy...it's a little smaller than a Yukon and probably a little cheaper too. It also gets great marks for car safety, etc. Also, get a four door! IMO, there is nothing uglier than a two door SUV! I hate two door vehicles...climbing over people is a pain in the rear!