Quote:
Originally Posted by maka2184
Didn't get offer.
Interviewing on no sleep was a bad bad idea but semi-glad since work is starting to become acceptable after taking a week off work with my wife.
SERIOUS QUESTION:
My wife got a promotion in which she will be traveling a lot more for work and I need to buy a car for her.
New/Used/Lease?
Listed below are projected ranking of new/used cars being considered by my wife and I. Any feedback would be highly appreciated since I'm just going to skim US News, post on the last 3 pages of this thread, some other review sites later this week but I know nothing about cars.
Buick (her older sister recommendation)
Honda Acura
Subaru Impreza
Hyundai Elantra
Honda Civic
Toyota Corolla
You can't lease, unless you're planning on buying out the car at lease end and want a lower payment in the meantime. Otherwise, the excessive miles will be too expensive.
For the most part, Acura is just a more expensive Honda. Wrt some amenities, Honda actually has more options than it's counterpart. The Honda/Acura relationship is more backwards ass than any of the other Japanese brands w their respective luxury counterparts. So I wouldn't bother w an Acura.
If she's driving lots of miles, even if they are highway miles, I wouldn't purchase a vehicle with 50k+ miles, unless the service history and Carfax are impeccable. Most vehicles require a major service at 60k. Still, you'd be better off w a 62k car that has had this service, than a 55k car that hasn't - financially and from a safety perspective.
But I also wouldn't "waste" extra money on a new car that is going to be driven a ton. The cars on your list are very common. When it comes time to trade this car in, a 5 yr old Civic w 100k miles is just about the least desirable product for a dealership to try and re-sell and their appraisal will reflect that.
To me, the choice would be something along the lines of a '14-'16 Civic or Corolla, 30-40k miles (so the 30k service should have been done), good Carfax 1 owner, and not the inaugural year of a body style. Frequently takes manufacturers a year to fine-tune any software or mechanical issues that often come w a new body style. Car serviced at the same place it was bought new is usually a positive sign for various reasons. Idk enough about Buick other than they've improved their line over the last few years, but reliability has always been an issue w domestic sedans. And reliability seems pretty important in your scenario.
Ime if you show the average buyer two '15 Civic LX w 35k mi and a similar Carfax/service history, they will have trouble recognizing the minor differences which make one the better buy. Properly buying a used car takes more work. Once you identify the year/make/model/trim/mileage you guys have decided on, ask the questions that won't be answered on the Carfax, such as, "Can you tell me about the previous owner's driving habits? Are these 35k highway miles or was he delivering pizza in the city? Why did they require new brakes/tires/whatever so early into ownership?"
Things to avoid, if possible: Carfax showing anything more than a "minor accident" (it differentiates between levels of accident based on damage and the "minor accident" notation is usually nothing to worry about and can possibly give you some bargaining leverage); more than 1 owner in short time span; previously bought at auction to be re-sold for profit; lack of any service records (dealership service dept and some others report to Carfax, but many independent mechanics don't, which is fine as long as the service records have been kept, usually in the glove compartment); service records that indicate an usual issue for ex transmission work at 35k. Former leases, rental cars, or cars that were used as demos by managers of the dealership or manufacturer executives - their mindset is much more likely to be, "I'll only be driving this thing for a short time, so I won't bother trying to figure out why the rear brakes are starting to squeal."
She might need to test drive different brands and models as a first step. It's often the random things like rear/side mirror placement, how the seats feel, where the cupholders are located, etc that can help you rule out some cars.
I think above all else, if it's your wife and she's going to be spending a lot of time in this car, make sure it is safe and comfortable, in that order. gl