« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Buying a Car  (Read 3503 times)

Offline smf008

  • Learner's Permit
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • Carma: +0/-0
  • member
    • View Profile
  • Cars: Ford
Buying a Car
« on: October 17, 2013, 10:02:46 am »
We've been looking for a new (or used) car for quite a while now. Couldn't seem to find anything that pleases everyone in the family. Wondering if I can get some suggestions for ones to look at that fits the following criteria (can be 2014 model).

- Plenty of trunk space for 2 young kids' stuff
- safety features such as adaptive cruise control is a must
- prefers to not be an SUV
- something in the mid price range, i.e. not a super luxury car

We've been looking at wagons but they either don't have the safety feature we want or that they are the expensive ones.
Logged

Offline tpl

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 23909
  • Carma: +298/-675
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2022 Taos
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2013, 10:13:00 am »
A pre owned Volvo V70 wagon. Everything except adaptive cruise control...which still is not that common even on 2014 vehicles.

Would you consider a Subaru Forester to be an SUV?   or would it be a station wagon.
Logged
The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.

Offline Weels

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 6377
  • Carma: +253/-259
  • Gender: Male
  • This is my happy face
    • View Profile
  • Cars: The 5's: 2023 Mazda CX-5, 2016 Mazda MX-5
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2013, 10:15:11 am »
VW Passat maybe.
I know the trunk is massive, doubt it has the adaptive cruise though.

Taurus would fit all criteria i think.
« Last Edit: October 17, 2013, 10:19:23 am by Weels »
Logged


Offline blotter

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 5008
  • Carma: +92/-128
  • Gender: Male
  • member
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2014 Taco
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2013, 11:14:07 am »
if adaptive cruise control is a must, it will really limit your options.

not too many non-luxury used cars have this. (as far as i know)

If you don't like the Subaru Forester, there's also the Outback (but I'm not sure about the adaptive cruise)


what's the budget?
Logged

Offline toolatecrew

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 3055
  • Carma: +16/-25
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2013 Ford Focus Titanium 5 speed with Handling Pack, 2007 Nissan Senta 6 speed
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2013, 11:50:34 am »
I have to ask but why would you consider Adaptive Cruise control an important safety feature?

I can certainly understand air bags or stability control but a cruise control that uses radar and a computer to determine if you are too close to the car in front of you?

Anyway here is a list of cars that have that optoion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_cruise_control_system#Vehicles_models_supporting_adaptive_cruise_control
Logged

Offline Sir Osis of Liver

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 28596
  • Carma: +1376/-1726
  • Gender: Male
  • Ramblin' man
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2017 KTM DUKE 390, 2019 VW Jetta GLI 35th Anniversary
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2013, 12:59:55 pm »
Subaru Outback has good safety ratings, very low depreciation, and tonnes of space. The EyeSight system covers adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management and lane departure and sway warning.

The system is also available on the Forester and Legacy, if you prefer.

http://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?WebSiteID=282&WebPageID=18112
Logged
On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

H. L. Mencken

Offline dkaz

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 13967
  • Carma: +289/-389
  • Gender: Male
  • Flip flop
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 12 Mazda 5 GT 6MT
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2013, 01:04:04 pm »
I hardly ever use cruise control, let alone wanting adaptive cruise control. I find it wastes 10% more gas compared to using a skilled right foot to maintain the same speed, according to my Ultra Gauge. Once in awhile my foot wants a rest and I'll turn it on for a few minutes.
Logged

Offline johngenx

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 33318
  • Carma: +758/-938
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2009 Toyota Corolla, 2004 Toyota Highlander V-6 4WD, 2001 Subaru Forester, 1994 Mazda Miata
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2013, 04:20:24 pm »
Even my Mazda has adaptive cruise control powered by a computer as powerful as any on the planet: my brain.  I like cruise (which the Mazda lacks) but as for the part that maintains a safe following distance, that I can easily do.  Cruise control to me is a inconvenience item, not a safety feature.  My adaptive cruise knows exactly when to slow down, can see weather coming, knows when it's dark, watches entrance points for level crossings, and so on.
Logged

Offline Ex-airbalancer

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 40151
  • Carma: +729/-1584
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2011 Silverado 1500 LTZ ext ended cab , 2013 Lexus RX-350 F Sport
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2013, 05:21:30 pm »
Prius V 
Logged

Offline phazotron

  • Auto Obsessed
  • ***
  • Posts: 510
  • Carma: +12/-22
  • Gender: Male
  • member
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 05 Montana SV6
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2013, 06:48:41 pm »
What's the budget?  Heck, except for the adaptive cruise control (I use the ole' Mk I eye ball to judge when to kick the cruise control off), why not just get a Dodge GC Canadian Value Edition? Cheap & lots of space. With young kids (as I have), when they make the inevitable mess in it/bike into it on the driveway/stick gum into places that should not have g,um/whack it with a hockey stick/etc...., <shrug>, it's not big deal.
Logged

Offline Black Hatch

  • Drunk on Fuel
  • ****
  • Posts: 1740
  • Carma: +36/-42
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2014 CX-5GT w/Tech
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2013, 09:44:44 pm »
Quote from: johngenx on October 17, 2013, 04:20:24 pm
Even my Mazda has adaptive cruise control powered by a computer as powerful as any on the planet: my brain.  I like cruise (which the Mazda lacks) but as for the part that maintains a safe following distance, that I can easily do.  Cruise control to me is a inconvenience item, not a safety feature.  My adaptive cruise knows exactly when to slow down, can see weather coming, knows when it's dark, watches entrance points for level crossings, and so on.

Awesome, I wonder how Consumers Reports (or others) would feel about testing this new adaptive cruise control.

Pros
Can be switch-in between vehicles
Very pro-active in avoiding vehicles, sees weather

Cons
Doesn't like taking road directions
Cannot be run continuously. Requires recharge every x hours.
Requires different fuel supplement (not gasoline)
Tends to go over the maximum speed limit

etc
Logged

Offline johngenx

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 33318
  • Carma: +758/-938
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2009 Toyota Corolla, 2004 Toyota Highlander V-6 4WD, 2001 Subaru Forester, 1994 Mazda Miata
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2013, 10:50:47 pm »
More "features:"

1. Seeks to take all on and off ramps as close to opposite lock as possible when "installed" in RWD sports cars.
2. Changes lanes abruptly to wave at pretty girls in Jeeps.
3. Spontaneously drives into DQ drive-throughs for a Dilly Bar fix.
Logged

Offline smf008

  • Learner's Permit
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • Carma: +0/-0
  • member
    • View Profile
  • Cars: Ford
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2013, 10:53:21 pm »
Well, very good points. Yes I do have that high functional "adaptive cruise control" in my car while I'm driving. Except for one problem, what I wanted is for the other person who will be driving the car who has a very "faulty" control. Was hoping this could improve their driving / reduce problems when I'm not driving.
Logged

Offline johngenx

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 33318
  • Carma: +758/-938
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2009 Toyota Corolla, 2004 Toyota Highlander V-6 4WD, 2001 Subaru Forester, 1994 Mazda Miata
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2013, 10:56:56 pm »
Quote from: smf008 on October 17, 2013, 10:53:21 pm
Was hoping this could improve their driving

Not to be a dick, but I don't think that adaptive cruise will improve someone's driving.
Logged

Offline mmret

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 14603
  • Carma: +240/-570
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2013, 11:13:35 pm »
Quote from: smf008 on October 17, 2013, 10:53:21 pm
Well, very good points. Yes I do have that high functional "adaptive cruise control" in my car while I'm driving. Except for one problem, what I wanted is for the other person who will be driving the car who has a very "faulty" control. Was hoping this could improve their driving / reduce problems when I'm not driving.

This is a bad idea.
Logged
You can't just have your characters announce how they feel.
That makes me feel angry!

Present: 15.5 V60 T6 + Polestar, 17 MDX
Sometimes Borrow: 11 GLK350
Dark and Twisted Past: 13 TL AWD, 07 Z4 3.0si, 07 CLK550, 06 TSX, 07 Civic, 01 Grandma!

Offline quadzilla

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 23560
  • Carma: +391/-634
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2022 Rock'n Rolla Nightstalker
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #15 on: October 18, 2013, 08:45:47 am »
+1  This will only make the driver more lazy.  Instead spend the money on proper driving course.
Logged

Offline random006

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 8306
  • Carma: +123/-83
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: His - 2018 Subaru Crosstrek .... Hers - 2008 Honda Civic DX
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #16 on: October 21, 2013, 01:34:28 pm »
Quote from: quadzilla on October 18, 2013, 08:45:47 am
+1  This will only make the driver more lazy.  Instead spend the money on proper driving course.

+2, especially on the driver's ed.

Finally, until you are well and truly satisfied with their skills, might I suggest the ultimate adaptive technology:  The passenger seat.  ;)
Logged
I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass...and I'm all out of bubblegum.    -    John Nada (played by Roddy Piper) in "They Live"

Offline Fobroader

  • Car Crazy
  • *****
  • Posts: 35460
  • Carma: +1424/-2121
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Cars: 2020 Toyota Tundra, 2021 Lexus GX460, 2018 Kawasaki Versys X300
Re: Buying a Car
« Reply #17 on: October 21, 2013, 01:36:38 pm »
Quote from: quadzilla on October 18, 2013, 08:45:47 am
+1  This will only make the driver more lazy.  Instead spend the money on proper driving course.

+1....trying to cover the problem up wont fix it. Get them some proper driving lessons or even better a defensive driving course.
Logged
Lighten up Francis.....
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »