Vehicle shopping...need opinions

[emily_in_nc]

We just bought a 2013 CR-V EX and love it! I don't know how it compares to the others you're considering, and we didn't buy the AWD model, but there is a ton of storage room with the back seats down, and I am absolutely loving the back-up camera. Gas mileage is better than advertised as well (we're getting 30-35 mpg in mixed driving), at least here in flat Florida, and we're digging the real-time mpg display. We weren't sure we'd find something we liked as much as the Element we sold when we moved to Belize, and this does have less cargo space, but it's just way nicer, rides much more quietly and smoothly, and doesn't have the huge blind spots the Element does. And the gas mileage is much better.

Enjoy your car shopping!

[OakLeaf]

I am absolutely loving the back-up camera.

Funny, that's one of the handful of things I really hate about the Prius. I know I could just ignore it, but I find that it's a huge temptation to NOT look where I'm going, and rely on the stupid screen instead. Danger, Will Robinson. Even if I start off looking where I'm going, if I want to turn my head to look over the other shoulder or out the side window, the screen is there distracting me...

It would be nice if it defaulted to off, so I could turn it on when I knew there were, say, stanchions or stuff like that nearby. But I honestly think that screen really increases the likelihood that I'm going to back into something someday, because it tempts me not to pay attention. Or worse, back into some*one,* because looking at that screen makes it impossible for me to see people walking toward the car from the side, as so often happens when I'm backing out of a parking space.



Anyway enjoy your shopping!

[nuliajuk]

Subaru has a good reputation for reliability, so that's a point in the Subaru's favour. I wouldn't put too much weight on the supposed mpg ratings of vehicles, as they're often calculated under idealized conditions and the buyer doesn't come close to betting that sort of gas mileage anyway.

[OakLeaf]

I dunno ... we got 25.5 overall with both our Subarus, 46 in the old Prius and 47 so far in the new one, which is right smack what the EPA says all of them are/were supposed to. And our driving habits and conditions are far from "ideal."

[Catrin]

Subaru has a good reputation for reliability, so that's a point in the Subaru's favour. I wouldn't put too much weight on the supposed mpg ratings of vehicles, as they're often calculated under idealized conditions and the buyer doesn't come close to betting that sort of gas mileage anyway.

I get better mileage in my Kia Soul than it is rated for. It DOES have a manual transmission and that can make a difference, am unsure if that really has anything to do with it or not.

I am enjoying reading about the vehicle search, I don't know much about the vehicles in question but it is an interesting discussion. Indy - for years I drove a hatchback, and my Kia Soul is a return to that. I really prefer that to a more traditional trunk, for me it allows me to use what space I have more...creatively?

[Crankin]

I loved having the hatchback on my 325Xi and if I get another sedan, that will be a must.
Another thing I didn't check closely enough on my A4 wagon is how high the hatch goes up. As in, I can barely reach it to grab the top to pull it down when I need to close it. It's definitely not built for a short person. My DH bought a new car in December; he really wanted another Lexus SUV, but was not impressed with the new one (his was 9 years old and needed some major work). He ended up getting a Mercedes SUV (no comments, please ) that has every imaginable bell and whistle, including the fricking back up screen. I have been resistant to even getting in the car and "learning" how to operate it. My car is going in for service in a couple of weeks, but it 's on a day when I don't need it until very late in the PM, so I doubt I'll have to drive DH's. I hate this kind of change and am yearning for a car with actual buttons and dials, with no touch screen.

[Jolt]

Ditto on the awesomeness of hatchbacks...I have one now (Suzuki SX4) after driving sedans before and would find it hard to go back. It's much easier to transport awkward or large items than with a regular trunk (even one where the seat folds down).

[GLC1968]

Funny, that's one of the handful of things I really hate about the Prius. I know I could just ignore it, but I find that it's a huge temptation to NOT look where I'm going, and rely on the stupid screen instead. Danger, Will Robinson. Even if I start off looking where I'm going, if I want to turn my head to look over the other shoulder or out the side window, the screen is there distracting me...

It would be nice if it defaulted to off, so I could turn it on when I knew there were, say, stanchions or stuff like that nearby. But I honestly think that screen really increases the likelihood that I'm going to back into something someday, because it tempts me not to pay attention. Or worse, back into some*one,* because looking at that screen makes it impossible for me to see people walking toward the car from the side, as so often happens when I'm backing out of a parking space.

Anyway enjoy your shopping!

Every car we've looked at has had the backup camera thing. I guess it's pretty standard when you are basically picking the highest trim level for these vehicles. I assume the BMW will not have one since we won't be putting a lot of options on it.

I didn't mind it. I actually used it on the Mazda to get close to the curb when I was parking it and it was pretty cool. The Mazda has a nice feature (or potentially annoying feature) with a blind spot monitor. The car has sensors all around it so if you go to move in the direction of something (be it a tree, a person, another car) it will beep at you. I'm not sure I like that for every day use, but it sure was helpful when passing on the highway with that big ole dealer sticker on the window blocking my view!

Personally, the less fancy electronics, the better as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately, my H feels differently.

[indysteel]

I have nothing to add but a bit of envy. I'm driving a 2001 vehicle that arguably still has some life in it. I promised myself and DH that I wouldn't even start looking at new cars until my job situation is clear--probably summer, 2014. And even then, I might talk myself out of it if my car is still working as well as it currently is (it pays to be married to a car-crazy engineer who can do most of his own repair work). All this talk of new cars, test drives, and all these high tech features has me itching to start the process. Can I just live vicariously through you for a bit?

[GLC1968]

I have nothing to add but a bit of envy. I'm driving a 2001 vehicle that arguably still has some life in it. I promised myself and DH that I wouldn't even start looking at new cars until my job situation is clear--probably summer, 2014. And even then, I might talk myself out of it if my car is still working as well as it currently is (it pays to be married to a car-crazy engineer who can do most of his own repair work). All this talk of new cars, test drives, and all these high tech features has me itching to start the process. Can I just live vicariously through you for a bit?

Sure!

Really, we didn't plan on this at all. We figured we'd keep the truck for awhile since it's running wonderfully and it's paid off. The problem that prompted this whole thing is that my DH is now getting into trail riding but has a motorcycle that doesn't do well on highways (even though it is a dual-sport). This means that he needs a way to transport it to the trails. When we had a yard, we just pulled the camper top off the truck, left it off to the side and he put the bike in the bed. Now we have no place for the camper top and we didn't think about that when opting for a house with no yard.

We weighed the idea of getting some type of pulley system to store the camper top from the garage ceiling, or...getting a little trailer for his bike that will fold up small enough to store some place when not in use. The trailer won.

Then we realized that we really don't need a pickup that only gets about 17 mpg and that has horrible visibility when the camper top is on it, anymore. With the sale of the farm and the drastically reduced mortgage, we can afford a car payment without affecting our financial plans so we figured 'why not'? Then we started thinking of all the situations we'd use this new vehicle in and ended up with the idea for a small SUV. If it weren't for the dogs, I'd be pushing for an Audi A4 and we could use the MINI as our play car (it's already outfitted for it), but three dogs in the mini is a pretty miserable situation (mostly because it's only a two and a 1/2 door so the dogs must slobber out of our windows and down our shoulders).

Our MINI is only a 2011, so I do feel a little guilty for buying another new car when the truck runs perfectly fine. BUT, it is kinda fun.

[indysteel]

Sounds like good reasoning to me.

I'm leaning toward a hatchback for some reason. I've had a sedan for a long time now, and I'd like to drive something a little different I guess. Mazda, Ford and Kia (they're releasing a redesigned hatch in the fall that I think I'll like) have cars that will be in the running. I drive 50 miles each work day at a minimum, so MPG is important, too.

[emily_in_nc]

It would be nice if it defaulted to off, so I could turn it on when I knew there were, say, stanchions or stuff like that nearby. But I honestly think that screen really increases the likelihood that I'm going to back into something someday, because it tempts me not to pay attention. Or worse, back into some*one,* because looking at that screen makes it impossible for me to see people walking toward the car from the side, as so often happens when I'm backing out of a parking space.

The CR-V backup camera has three modes -- normal, curb (looking down) and wide-angle view. The WAV would prevent backing up into people. I mostly use the backup camera, so far, for backing INTO parking places, where I'm unlikely to hit anyone, but it sure helps me line up. I definitely feel like it makes me safer rather than less safe.

Our CR-V also came with a cargo liner insert thing, which is great for a dog back there. Maybe not three large dogs, but it's a pretty spacious back area even with the back seats up. However, the back seats do not fold down totally flat, and if that is a dealbreaker, then the CR-V will probably not work for you, GLC.

We're also getting mileage better than the CR-V is rated for, not worse. Gotta love that!

[Possegal]

My niece has the newest Mazda3 hatchback, and she loves it!
I'll be in need of a new car before long. I'd get the same car I have now, except they no longer make that model in a manual. I get annoyed that less and less of the affordable, yet with some bells and whistles, cars come as manuals.

[Catrin]

My niece has the newest Mazda3 hatchback, and she loves it!
I'll be in need of a new car before long. I'd get the same car I have now, except they no longer make that model in a manual. I get annoyed that less and less of the affordable, yet with some bells and whistles, cars come as manuals.

I hear you, I won't buy an automatic either. I did once and hated it...that car only lasted one year before I replaced it. It was a very nice car, I just don't care for automatic transmissions. Thankfully the Kia Soul does come with a manual transmission and I've a few bells and whistles. Not as many as the Gallant GTZ did (it was used), or the Lancer (manual) that followed it, but it suits me much better. When I purchased my Soul, they had to actually bring one in from Ohio, none of the Indianapolis dealers had a manual in stock... I've hopes my green machine will last many years

[OakLeaf]

I get annoyed that less and less of the affordable, yet with some bells and whistles, cars come as manuals.

I'm guessing that all cars will have CVT sooner than later, if they actually let the proposed fuel economy standards go into effect. It's a pretty simple way to maximize efficiency.

The funny thing about the Prius is that when the gas engine kicks on and off, it basically feels just like a regular AT shifting. So you still get those klunks, just for a different reason.