Vehicle help please

[emily_in_nc]

Subarus are very popular in New England, but my personal experience (good friends have 2) is that they are sluggish on the highway and we couldn't really fit 4 bikes and luggage for 4 people going on a trip in the station wagon.

Agreed. I drove a Forester for four years, and my DH always complained about how tiny it was on the long trips we take. With suitcases and a dog kennel, it was packed. If we took bikes in it, we had to stack them on their sides and there was no room for luggage or dogs then. The Element is much, much roomier, and bikes go in upright!

Plus, my Forester needed a new transmission after four years, and I was plagued by a "check engine" light that just couldn't be fixed for any length of time. I put a lot of miles on that car, but that just didn't seem right. The dealership where I live were jerks too, so I've sworn off Subies, even though I like the company's values.

We also used to have a Rav4, which was really tiny, but it was one of the earliest ones with 2 doors. They've changed a lot since then.

Emily

[Mr. Bloom]

Chick:

I am a banker, albeit, a commercial one, not consumer. What you've described sounds like good potential for a great credit rating...but there are other factors (it's a top secret black box that is more protected than the secret formula for Coca Cola).

Be Self Aware: If you're interested in getting your credit bureau, you can go to www.freecreditreport.com but beware, I don't think that it's "Free" to get your actual credit score.

Don't Just Compare on Rate: The two week lag in getting the 'best rate' from the credit union can wind up costing you more...say you save 1/2% on the rate (about $150 over four years on a $15,000 loan)...you could save considerably more than that by being able to negotiate a better price by having the loan "locked up" or getting it through the dealer. In other words, the dealer will not negotiate the best price if they have to wait two weeks to close the deal. Use www.edmunds.com to help determine fair value of the car you're considering.

My bank doesn't do many car loans primarily because we can't compete with the rates that are offered through the dealer. SO, I recommend you pay a few $ to get your actual credit score...if it's over 750, then you'll be able to get the best deal possible with a low/no down payment. If it's over 700 or 720, you'll still get a good deal, no matter where the money comes from.

Strategy: Also, you might consider working with a male salesman. WHile they've gotten more 'sensitive', Silver and I learned long ago that many don't know how to negotiate with a strong-willed woman...and this tends to accrue in your favor.

Beware: If you know your credit score and the dealer asks for your name/address/ssn BEFORE you've picked out a car, give them your credit score instead...otherwise, they may be running a credit bureau report on you and every time someone (not you) pulls one, it's about 18 points off the score. SO, save them the trouble in 'prequalifying' you by giving them the score and making them wait to pull the credit bureau once you've settled on the car and the price.

Sorry to be so long. Good Luck

[snowtulip]

I have an XTERRA and I love it! It does get horrible gas mileage compared to everything nowadays, but I bought it primarily for my recreational activites (camping, hiking, biking) and try to make up environmentally in other ways (less driving). When I went shopping I was looking for a vehicle with good clearance and this has it. Apparently 2003 and 2004 models are good, the newer models have some issues I've heard.

[chickwhorips]

mr silver thank you for your insight! i appreciate it.

i will have to pull my credit report and see what my score is. i've been on edmunds.com a bunch looking at their advice. i also found out my friend use to work as a new/used sales girl, and she also worked in the financial department. i'm taking her along for ammo.

this next vehicle i get, i'm going to be well armed! watch out sales man! you have a wild one who is well armed coming your way!!!!!

[Hub]

Remember to check Kelly Blue Book online to get pricing when shopping for used.

Happy Shopping

[roguedog]

Hey CWR,

I agree with Mr Silver...

Other info for you for what it's worth...

Two of the largest auto lenders are Citi and Capital One. I'm not sure if you're going to run into problems with other lenders because you're in Alaska.

I know our auto division didn't lend in some states.. and I *think* Alaska was one of them. Only telling you this in case you run into issues.

I'd follow Mr. S's advice and definitely shop for a loan. Also, I believe it's very powerful to come to the table prequalified. At the place I worked, once you applied, we fed ex'd you a check basically so you can buy on the spot.

And lastly, as you know.. I'm a Toyota person

[Tuckervill]

i did call my credit union. they said they could do it, but it would take 2 weeks for everything to go through.

I have had to buy a couple of cars recently that I didn't intend to buy, but because they were unplanned, I had to use credit. I used Capital One's instant check program....The check is FedExed to you after you've picked out your car. You can go to the dealer or wherever you get your car and it's just like buying with cash. Sellers love that.

Karen

[Tuckervill]

Beware: If you know your credit score and the dealer asks for your name/address/ssn BEFORE you've picked out a car, give them your credit score instead...otherwise, they may be running a credit bureau report on you and every time someone (not you) pulls one, it's about 18 points off the score. SO, save them the trouble in 'prequalifying' you by giving them the score and making them wait to pull the credit bureau once you've settled on the car and the price.

Yes. Absolutely do NOT give them your identifying information that they could use to pull a credit report. That would just be giving them the advantage. Any dealer that would even ASK before negotiating on the car is the dealer I would walk right out of.

Just go in with your own financing and then you don't have to negotiate on anything but price and features.

Karen

[Mr. Bloom]

i also found out my friend use to work as a new/used sales girl, and she also worked in the financial department. i'm taking her along for ammo.

this next vehicle i get, i'm going to be well armed! watch out sales man! you have a wild one who is well armed coming your way!!!!!

A BIG THUMBS UP from Mister S!!!!

One more thing, keep in mind that the salesman has an incentive to get the best price...then the finance manager has a totally separate incentive to get the highest rate and to sell high margin products like warranties. The finance manager will be the slickest one...better educated and much more highly paid.

[tygab]

Agreed. I drove a Forester for four years, and my DH always complained about how tiny it was on the long trips we take. With suitcases and a dog kennel, it was packed. If we took bikes in it, we had to stack them on their sides and there was no room for luggage or dogs then. The Element is much, much roomier, and bikes go in upright!

Plus, my Forester needed a new transmission after four years, and I was plagued by a "check engine" light that just couldn't be fixed for any length of time. I put a lot of miles on that car, but that just didn't seem right. The dealership where I live were jerks too, so I've sworn off Subies, even though I like the company's values.
Emily

My husband and I both have Subarus of roughly the same age and mileage, which we love as cars, and it's how we met so I feel we "should" always have a Subaru. Mine is a WRX wagon which I got when they first came to the US. Great to drive, and Subaru's AWD + snowtires combo is rock solid in winter (not that we had much of one this year). Anyway, long story short, I just got an Element a few months ago, and I love it too. The Subaru wagon simply cannot carry bikes + gear, kayaks + gear, camping gear and 2 people, even though this to me does not sound like that a crazy load. I disliked being forced to choose between biking or kayaking when we'd set out someplace. Even without two people's stuff, I had to arrange my bike into the interior since we have the kayak racks on it.

After looking at current Subaru offerings, the Forester's never caught my eye, and the Outback seemed too... I dunno, plushy and not giving us much more cargo space for what we wanted. I did go to test drive the new Outback. Add some frustrating interactions with dealer service departments (though nothing major has broken on the car), and I started looking at other vehicles.

The Element really became my vehicle of interest because of it's flexible and large interior. I can put the bikes, upright with NO changes to the wheels inside it. I can put the kayaks on top. And we'll still have room to throw camping gear and whatever else in there, with just some seat changes. I'm most undecided about if I'll remove one or both of the seats for the summer, but we'll see. It also gets pretty good MPG for a SUV/boxy type car, no worse than my Subaru, and takes regular gas (WRX is premium fuel due to the turbo). It has AWD and I took it on a ski trip two weeks ago where it handled quite well in fresh snow roads (though I will want to get snow/summer tires once the stock ones are done). [I got mine preowned which is nice because I got a longer warranty this way.]

I'll be able to wipe out the dirt we will get in it with just some cleaning cloths. Sounds about perfect to me and I can't wait to have it fully loaded up. I named it Bento.

[Mr. Bloom]

My husband and I both have Subarus of roughly the same age and mileage, which we love as cars, and it's how we met so I feel we "should" always have a Subaru.

Interesting statistic: Subaru is the best selling car in America...kinda. Here's why: Subaru is not a "full line". They only have a few models targeting the customer niche they serve well, so their success in that niche doesn't get the notoriety it deserves since all the other manufacturers make so many more units. This is also why a Subaru dealership will also represent other brands as well.

Hope that's your fill of esoteric knowledge for the day!

[Tuckervill]

The Element really became my vehicle of interest because of it's flexible and large interior. I can put the bikes, upright with NO changes to the wheels inside it. I can put the kayaks on top. And we'll still have room to throw camping gear and whatever else in there, with just some seat changes.

I still haven't put a hitch on mine, yet, but when I do, likely the bikes will go on the bike rack on the hitch, kayaks on top, and camping gear inside when we go camping. It doesn't rain much in the hot summer time around here, so bikes outside won't be much of an issue. It's those cross country bike trips (Oregon in 4 weeks, woohoo!) that need the bikes inside.

You can even build a PVC frame for a full-sized air mattress, which can fit in the back (seats out), and then sleep inside! I think directions are on the elementownersclub site.

Karen

[emily_in_nc]

The Element really became my vehicle of interest because of it's flexible and large interior. I can put the bikes, upright with NO changes to the wheels inside it. I can put the kayaks on top. And we'll still have room to throw camping gear and whatever else in there, with just some seat changes.

Yep, that's us! We have the back seats out pretty much permanently so bikes can go inside upright, with plenty of room around them for luggage and gear, kayaks on top, and we're good to go. You also brought up a good point about the wipeable interior - I love it. I had bike grease stains on the carpet in my Forester's rear section.

I believe the Element also comes in a hybrid model now (confirmation, anyone?) I bought mine in '04 before that was an option. I would definitely go for it now if I were in the market, but I'll drive this one til it falls apart.

Emily

[Trek420]

I believe the Element also comes in a hybrid model now (confirmation, anyone?) I bought mine in '04 before that was an option. I would definitely go for it now if I were in the market, but I'll drive this one til it falls apart.

Emily

Not yet. I read somewhere that the teeny tiny itsy bitsy Honda Fit is close to cargo room of the Element and it's true:

Fit - passenger volume 90 cu ft
mpg 31/38

Element - 102.6 -105.4 cu feet.
mpg 22/27

[Blueberry]

I believe the Element also comes in a hybrid model now (confirmation, anyone?) I bought mine in '04 before that was an option. I would definitely go for it now if I were in the market, but I'll drive this one til it falls apart.
Emily

Nope - no hybrid. There's a rumor that there will be a diesel model next year, though. I might hold our for that, or might look at the Fit - they are cute (and I'm getting a little tired of various and sundry VW "issues")

CA