Vehicle suggestions

[wolf_Q]

Right now I have a 1987 (or is it 89?) Buick Century. It actually has been a good car, considering the age....however it's not reliable at all (I would never even attempt a road trip), nor does it get good gas mileage.

I need to buy a different vehicle. However, I'm pretty clueless about vehicles. All I know is that I want an automatic and I would prefer a mid-size car or a smaller SUV that gets decent gas mileage. I don't want a truck. I cannot buy brand new, my price budget is pretty slim.

Any suggestions? Have any advice/experience with certain vehicles/brands, good or bad?

Here's a few I've thought about, in no particular order...I apologize in advance if I screw up names/spelling, I really am clueless here.

Toyota Camry
Toyota Rav4
Honda CRV
Subaru Outback
Saturns, Buicks (no particular model)

[BCBlondie]

Oooo I'm also looking into getting a Honda CR-V or Toyota Rav4!! So far I haven't heard anything bad about either one of those two cars. I've heard that Honda's are actually pretty good cars and last a long time and Toyota's are pretty good too. Both are in the same price range if you want a new one. ($18,000 - $23,000 I think, at least in my area..)

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Honda's are GREAT cars! Excellent gas mileage (My dad's got 22 miles to the gallon)..and they're very durable. My dad had one before he got his Lexus. Toyota's are very durable too, but I call them 'gas hogs'.

[aly]

My mom, my sister, and I all drive Toyota Camrys (and have been for the past 9 years). They are wonderful, safe cars. My parents did months and months of research on cars and safety before deciding on the Camry. Our cars are very reliable and haven't given us any problems at all. My dad is about to buy a Camry too!

[G.P.girl]

we had a Toyota Camry for 15 years. it was a really good car, it had 136,000+ miles on it when we gave it away, and it could have run longer. my dad has a Rav 4 he really likes it, he says it's really good for off road in the sand (he lives in Oman) and my mom just got a new CRV which i really like, it's got good gas mileage, better than most cars, (it's thirty something...36 maybe?) and it's a good suv, but not too big and bulky. i don't know anything about the other cars you mentioned. but i would say go with the CRV or maybe the Rav, hope this helps

[LoudLou]

We just bought a used 93 Nissan truck... Great advice at these 2 sites.
Worth checking out if you don't know much or are somewhat intimidated about buying a vehicle new or used. Helped me a lot.


http://www.edmunds.com Great article on Car Dealer's... What really goes on behind closed doors.

http://www.carsurvey.org/ Has a lot of peoples opinions on their vehicles.


www.carfax.com Great site to check the car/truck you are considering buying... very helpful.

[jenfer]

I loooooooooove Honda and Toyota. I have a tiny Echo (Toyota) right now and when I have more $$$, I may want to get a Rav4. I have wanted 1 for sooooooooooooooooo long!

[CountryWolf07]

I have a Honda Civic - and they are REALLY GOOD CARS! Excellent gas mileages - and you've ridden in one! Hondas are the best choice, I think.

[wolf_Q]

Thanks for the replies!

[popcornbird]

I would go for a Camry or Rav4. I like Toyotas.

[Kfamr]

Whichever gets you to Florida fastest!

(sorry, I'm rather clueless when it comes to cars too.)

[Uabassoon]

Camry's are pretty good cars, and hondas are also great they seem to last forever.

[sirrahbed]

Of all our vehicles and those of my father who is also a mechanic - the Toyotas have been by far the BEST and most reliable cars. My dad still drives his 70ish Toyota Corona and it is in pristine condition. No experience with Hondas - although we did look at them in 2001 when buying our most recent used car and found them to be high in resale which is good and bad BTW - we went with a 99 Ford Escort! Have owned four Escorts and is our#1 car of choice since we really wanted American made.

Oh yes and Never Ever Own a Neon!!

[popcornbird]

Originally posted by sirrahbed
Have owned four Escorts and is our#1 car of choice since we really wanted American made.

Oh yes and Never Ever Own a Neon!!

He he.........we always avoid American made cars. We used to have Fords and Dodges, and I don't think cars with worse problems exist. German cars are the best, and I love European cars in general, but Japanese are good too. I don't really like American cars other than their SUPER comfy seats. They're not reliable enough, from my experience......ESPECIALLY Fords. We still have a Ford btw. Its our only Ford that has actually lasted long, but its still a Ford, and not very much loved in this household.

Amy, have you considered a Volkswagon Jetta.......or Passat? Passats might be a little pricey, but Jettas are excellent too, and they're great, reliable cars. I drive my brother's Passat and its so smoothe and easy to handle. I love it! Whatever you do, don't even consider getting a Ford Taurus. We used to have one, and it was an ultimate nightmare.

[catnapper]

We have two Saturns... and would never ever buy another car! They run forever and have great gas mileage. Hubby has the older SL model (been replaced by the incredibly cute ION) and I have the L200. We just did a major road trip this weekend in the L200 with three people completely comfy in the back seat. I do a lot of local and long-distance travel with my car and its great. I never feel road-weary. We've never had any repairs done outside new brakes and tires.

Our youngest knows that when she turns 16 that the SL will be hers and she yells at anyone who accidentally bumps "her" car *snicker* *giggle*