Looking for a new Family Vehicle [Archive] - CASC Ontario Region Message Forums

Kent Missons

11-27-2009, 01:30 PM

Hey every, its come to the time for Katie and I to get a new family vehicle. Katie and I are expecting our first and we need a vehicle with more room, at the moment we cant really make up our minds on what we want. The vehicles we have narrowed it down to go as follow:

Ford Escape
Dodge Caliber
Mazda 3 Hatch
Dodge Grand Caravan(god do I hate minivans but they are versitalie)

Our Budget is like most people in this current ecconomic state and very tight, so the price is right around $10,000. As high as $11,000 and below. Trying to keep the payments close to 100$ bi-weekly. I am just wondering what the people here would reccomend.

Doug P

11-27-2009, 01:39 PM

For that budget you do not get much of a Mazda 3, just bought one.

Likely more depriciation from new on for the Ford or Dodge.

AtomicPunk

11-27-2009, 01:46 PM

Having had my first this year I can tell you that there really isn't a need for a SUV or minivan. We get along just fine with a Mazda6. Picking from your list my first choice would be the Mazda3. There really isn't that much to cart around - a stroller, baby seat and diaper bag. Maybe it'll change a bit as they get older, but I can't really say.

Todd

Snizzoop

11-27-2009, 02:02 PM

You might not get a Mazda3, but you could probably get a Protoge5. I don't think there's anything major wrong with those cars.

Kent Missons

11-27-2009, 02:18 PM

Thanks for the responses guys, the reason why we were thinking minivan is because we will have payments for at least the next 5 years. The kid will be almost 5 by then and we will most likely have our 2nd by then, so we were just thinking down the road thats all.

I have found a bunch of Mazda 3's for in and around my price range that have less than 75,000kms on it, so they are out there. I wanted to try and stay away from the caliber simply due to the resale value will just plummit over the years, where is at least a Mazda will somewhat hold its value as long as its taken care of. Me personally I was hoping Mazda 3, but she is leaning towards the Minivan. She will be driving it more than me, so her input means a lot.;)

RETROCRX

11-27-2009, 02:39 PM

I suggest a used Honda Element. We have one as our family car......it is fantastic for getting the little one in and out of....and there is good storage space too.

Plus it's economical and AWD if you pick the right model.....though the FWD is a unstopable in the snow too with snow tires.....

Hope that helps...

Rob

PS it's better than a minivan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Burnsey

11-27-2009, 02:41 PM

Myself, I would lean towards the 3. I do, however, recall reading somewhere that 2005 and older models were prone to paint chipping and rust. Other than that, the 2.3 4-cyl is a great little motor, and there are LOTS of them around, so parts shouldn't be an issue. Also keep in mind it uses a "cartridge" style oil filter, not the spin-off type used by most. However there is a conversion process that will let you change this. Have a look around the toronto mazda 3 club's site to get a better feel for it.

All that being said, you can't go wrong with a minivan for utility...:)

Have you looked at the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix? There should be plenty of used ones around...maybe even an AWD version?

feds

11-27-2009, 02:52 PM

I have a pair of kids, 1 at 21 mos, and 1 at 0.75 mos.

We get along fine in a Protege5, as long as it's just us. It is a little tight for a couple of months, especially if you have one of those strollers that lets the car seat clip into it. Those are big suckers, but once you get the kid into an umbrella stroller, life is good again.

If you are going to keep it beyond your first kid, you may want to consider something with 3 rows of seats. With 2 kids in 2 car seats (which they will be in until they are 8), you are out of passenger space, so forget driving anybody else anywhere. Not a big deal if you are friendless, but 1 or 2x a month we end up having to travel somewhere in 2 cars.

Also, if your kids are close enough in age that a double-stroller will be used, consider stepping up to a midsize wagon (Mazda6, Legacy) or suv. Escape is a good choice, Forester is in your price range, you can also get into an R50 pathfinder, which is a step up in size. That extra space will out-convenience any gas mileage decline.

Out of left field: think about a 4-door pickup, either small or full-sized. If you can get into one cheap enough, there are big durability and load-carrying dividends, especially with a decent toneau cover.

Kent Missons

11-27-2009, 03:01 PM

Out of left field: think about a 4-door pickup, either small or full-sized. If you can get into one cheap enough, there are big durability and load-carrying dividends, especially with a decent toneau cover.

This is what we ultimately want in the end, we both love trucks especially the 4 door ones! How ever most trucks that have this option are well out of our price range.

We have looked at the Vibe/Matrix, havent really thought about them though. Will have to go test drive one and see how they feel, and how much room they have.

Doug P

11-27-2009, 03:33 PM

Are there not decent new or demos out there with 0% interest?

feds

11-27-2009, 03:42 PM

[QUOTE=Kent Missons;157156
We have looked at the Vibe/Matrix, havent really thought about them though. Will have to go test drive one and see how they feel, and how much room they have.[/QUOTE]

Slower, wobblier, and less roomy than a Protege5. I worked for The General back in aught-3, and still bought the P5.

Do you have friends in Maryland?

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=270364478&dealer_id=584611&car_year=2001&rdm=1259353758592&lastStartYear=1981&model=FRONTI&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=NISSAN&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=14204&advanced=&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=235&standard=false&rdpage=thumb

thekid

11-27-2009, 04:10 PM

We have both a Protege and a 3, and if you're tall, you won't be able to put a rear facing seat behind you without it touching the driver's seat, which you're not supposed to do as they are to be free fo all obstructions. So we put our infant seat behidn teh passenger seat, which we have sitting up further, but if we were both tall this wouldn't work.

Great cars, cheap to maintain, and very reliable, but if you'll ever have 2 rear facing seats at once, it likely won't work well for you.

darcyw

11-27-2009, 05:40 PM

avoid a caliber at ALL COSTS...even is someone gives you one...give it right back.

i survived with a 2000 MY two door honda civic and still use it with kids now 4 and 7. although my wife complained it was hard to put the baby seat in...tough.

we also had her 4 door neon until they were 2 and 5...now she has an '03 odyssey...avoid those also unless the transmission has already been replaced.

seriously, check our ebay.com...there you will find some tasty treats.

how about a used impreza wagon - wrx or otherwise. and to maintain some semblance of your manhood...get a manual.

how about a honda fit? they have incredible room and are pretty fun to drive with the manual. if your wife can't drive stick...teach her.

good luck...i love spending someone else's money.

darcy

Crusher45

11-27-2009, 05:52 PM

JOHNNYD

11-27-2009, 06:26 PM

Auto or manual ? I know of a nice Rav4 thats a 5 speed

John

abrracing

11-27-2009, 09:07 PM

Slower, wobblier, and less roomy than a Protege5. I worked for The General back in aught-3, and still bought the P5.

Do you have friends in Maryland?

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=270364478&dealer_id=584611&car_year=2001&rdm=1259353758592&lastStartYear=1981&model=FRONTI&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=y&make=NISSAN&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=14204&advanced=&end_year=2010&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=235&standard=false&rdpage=thumb

Only issues with the 3 are 2004-2006 have major rust issue's and are not cheap to repair (I am an ex Mazda dealer) lol

feds

11-27-2009, 10:13 PM

After looking at the prices of Legacy wagons, I am throwing my support in that direction:

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-2002-Subaru-Outback-Wagon-VERY-LOW-MILEAGE-W0QQAdIdZ166247523

Usefully bigger than the 3/vibe/etc, less mileage penalty than going to an SUV, and not so tall that you couldn't use a roof carrier if space became an issue.

John Powell

11-27-2009, 10:51 PM

How about this http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-1991-Volvo-240-Wagon-W0QQAdIdZ150270837 A 5 speed manual, which is rare for wagons, the B230 engine is pretty well bullet proof (and some say they're only just broken in at 300K kliks), easy to work on, and you can pretty much put the whole world in the back if you know how to pack properly. And with the $7500 you've saved you can do some up-grades. :D Personally, I'd be all over this if it wasn't so far away from where I live (the other end of the Province for me :( ).

soloZ

11-28-2009, 01:01 AM

My wife and I (well her mostly) just had a baby a month ago and I am still using my Cobalt SS coupe, it is a bit of a pain in the ass to get him in and out of the back but this is where my point is. When you go to look at a car take the baby car seat with it's base(if it's a two piece unit) and try it in the car and adjust the front seat so that your comfortable sitting in it. In my car we have the seat behind the passenger seat and it's tight so my wife has to sit more upright. I am in the same boat and that why I am trying to sell my car, I would like a wagoon. Legacy wagon,Forester, BMW 3series, Mazda 6 wagon, heck I would take a CTS wagon if the timing chains weren't all streaching. As for SUV's I have allways liked the older Toyota 4runner.

Hey Kent do you know what you guys are having? My wife wanted to be surprised and we had a boy anyways good luck with the new family.

max attack

11-29-2009, 05:35 PM

I'd stay away from anything built by dodge,even if they were reliable(which they aren't) they aren't worth shite when you want to sell it(and you will).
I was interested in a mazda6 wagon,I think they look about as good as a wagon can(3 series bimmers are sweet though)and with the 220hp V6 should be able to haul a reasonable load.I drove the sedan V6 5speed when they 1st came out and thought it was pretty decent.
Don't know about a subaru,have an '08 imprezza 5 door right now and its hand with the hatch and is very good in the snow but I dislike nearly everything about after having it a year and half.

Kent Missons

11-30-2009, 08:45 AM

Thanks for the tips guys!!

Katie and I are not finding out what the sex of the baby is, we want the surprise the day of.

I do like the Outback wagons, same with the legacy wagons. I enjoy Subaru's, and know they have a great reputation so would have no problem getting into one of them if its low km's and right price.

DaveCotie

11-30-2009, 02:06 PM

Have you thought about a Saturn Astra.

I have seen used 2006 and 2007's for the kind of dough you are talking about. Saturn is going away but any GM dealer can service them.

SmokeScreen

12-01-2009, 12:25 PM

I just picked up a new Saturn Astra XR 3 door for about the price used ones with 10k on them. A NEW 5 door XE new if there are any left would be in the price range of cars you are looking for with a bit better access to the rear as well. Not a bad car really, GM is marking these left overs down huge to get them gone ASAP. I have been looking to down size my daily driver ( Chev 1 ton dually) for a while now and kept coming back to these little cars. One of the better transplants GM has brought here in a long time and more upscale than a lot of its competition in the segment. Worth a look.