advice on looking for a new vehicle.

[spikerS]

Alright, so the Wife and I are thinking it would be good to start down sizing a bit, and save a bit of money. Anything we look at is going to be financed, and we are looking for low interest rates over 36-48 months.

Vehicle MUSTS:
5 or more passenger
5 doors
must be able to tow 3500lbs minimum
automatic
AWD or 4wd or a combination

Wants:
Nav package
good off road ability
large sun roof


We are starting our search, and off the top of my head, I was thinking of vehicles like a Nissan Murano and Ford Edge. Anyone have any other ideas on what vehicles can fit this bill? We are looking to spend ~40k after rebates and what ever.

I will also be looking for places to check these vehicles out and test drive them. So looking for dealer recommendations that at least have one honest rib in them.

[Unknown303]

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

[Xtrema]

Other than the off road capability, you just described a fully loaded Kia Sorento to a T. But since you are already shopping Murano and Edge, how serious do you care about offroad and towing?

If u are, I would bump the budget up $10K and get a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

[InRich]

BMW X3

[CRXguy]

GMC Acadia
Nissan Pathfinder

[4bier]

resale may suck ford flex tow 5000lbs,very roomy ,awd ...resale sucks

[Sugarphreak]

...

[[Yu]]

Originally posted by Sugarphreak

I had a flex as a rental vehicle for a week... best rental car I have ever had. Very comfortable, lots of power, retarded amounts of space inside and technology coming out the ying yang.

Wow, didn't know that the Flex was actually that impressive. One thing still though, the exterior :barf:

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by InRich
BMW X3

Seats 5 or more. It barely sits 4.

[Guillermo]

if you're looking to finance $40k over 2 years, my advice would be to shop for something a bit "used..." :dunno: not trying to drag ya down, but IMO you can do better things with that money when you're young.

[spikerS]

the idea is we sell the current jeep, and my truck and trailer, and we consolidate down. buy a decent tent trailer and get 1 vehicle with lower payments, that is kind of a universal fit for all our needs.

for example, Ford has 0% financing on their new vehicles, I can't get that deal on a used one.

[freshprince1]

For what it's worth, I recently drove the Ford Edge for three weeks travelling on business, and I gotta say it is one of the nicest all-round urban vehicles I've driven in a long time. Tons of power for its size, very smart interior (looks good, ergonomic, and everything is set up right). And fuel economy is quite good, it will be way better than the Xterra.

I've also driven the Nissan Murano and I'd say the Edge is just as good in every way, but it would be more affordable.

I also drove the Dodge journey for a few weeks and it pales in comparison to the Ford Edge. No competition.

Good Luck.

[ercchry]

Originally posted by Unknown303
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

:werd:

but new with nav and auto would be a bit over $40k if you go new (if you go rubi)

but as a bonus... it has the biggest sunroof out of any SUV! :rofl:

[benyl]

New Ford Exploder.

[Unknown303]

Originally posted by ercchry


:werd:

but new with nav and auto would be a bit over $40k if you go new (if you go rubi)

but as a bonus... it has the biggest sunroof out of any SUV! :rofl:

The 4door I have parked at home was mid 30k. has everything but nav, which is a 1200 accessory so I think it might just squeek under that 40 mark. But it's a 2010 the 2011 could be a little more.

Personally I'd wait for the 2012 to come out with the Pentastar engine, then Jeep finally will have a decent powerplant in the Wrangler.

[ercchry]

yeah, a fully loaded sahara after taxes and "dealer fees" is about $43k? so... a sport would be under, plus the 2011s finally have a modern feature filled interior!

[Unknown303]

Mine was a new 2010 Sahara just for reference.
Got it around $36,xxx

So yeah I have a Rubicon and a Sahara parked downstairs... But the lady drives the Sahara.

[ercchry]

yeah, the 2011s dont have the same $2500 off and $1000 free options that the 2010s had :(

guess it helps 2010 resale though ;)

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by spikers
the idea is we sell the current jeep, and my truck and trailer, and we consolidate down. buy a decent tent trailer and get 1 vehicle with lower payments, that is kind of a universal fit for all our needs.

for example, Ford has 0% financing on their new vehicles, I can't get that deal on a used one.

Food for thought, a $40g secured LOC, paid off like a normal loan, over 3 years is only about $3000 in interest over that time.

You could have a $60g vehicle slightly used, for $40g VS a 0% interest brand new one.

Personally, I'll never buy new again, the depreciation is ridiculous, and I'm no baller than can take that without flinching.

[911fever]

Why buy new? I really encourage you to buy something used, 40k buys a LOT in the used USA market.

[Rarasaurus]

^What others have said above. 0% is nice but you will lose a lot more on depreciation than you save on interest....

[CapnCrunch]

Are you actually using this "offroad"?

Or do you mean soccer-mom offroad? (Ie: running into curbs and driving in snowy streets?)

[davesparky6]

Used Cayenne :thumbsup:

[Redlyne_mr2]

Ford Edge is a great truck. How about a Honda Pilot?

[Axe]

Toyota Highlander - Have a 2008 and like it a lot. Meets all of your requirements:

- 3 row seating
- AWD: 50/50 fulltime split (it's not a part time system)
- towing: 5000lb capacity
- Offroad: can't really comment other than great in snow and gravel roads; have not had it offroad.

Have the sunroof, nav, bluetooth in ours. Sunroof is average size; not huge. Sunroof in Edge is bigger.

Should be able to get it for the low 40's - don't know what Toyota is offering for financing however. We dealt with Alec at Stampede Toyota and together with the Car Cost Canada report had a good experience (pruchase and service-wise thus far).

My two cents...

[03ozwhip]

id have to say go used too. if you can get financing you should be able to get a LOC or a HELOC for the lowest possible interest. if you want 0% interest definitely the deals on trucks right now is very good.

[Guillermo]

why not just get like an '06 or '07 Ford Escape (or similar class)? if you buy something new, it's going to depreciate 40% in the first couple of years anyhow, so even if you think you're getting a deal with 0% financing, you're still paying $16k in depreciation. :dunno: just buy something a couple of years old if you want to save that cash.

i drove beaters for the first 14 years of my life, until I decided I wanted to "nice" car and saved up my money so i could pay cash (i don't think i'll finance a car EVER in my life... just can't see owing more on something than it's worth). my most recent purchase was an '07 with 19,000 km (basically a brand new car). I paid 58% of the original MSRP, and i even bought it of a dealer lot (so i paid an inflated price).

IMO it would be a poor decision to finance a $40k vehicle when trying to save money for your new family. :dunno:

[ercchry]

Originally posted by Guillermo
... if you buy something new, it's going to depreciate 40% in the first couple of years anyhow, so even if you think you're getting a deal with 0% financing, you're still paying $16k in depreciation. ...

i would say that fully depends on what the vehicle is. before i bought my truck i researched the resale values of similar models... and was impressed

right now between kijiji and autotrader this is the ONLY 2010 2dr rubicon for sale that i can find

http://www.autotrader.ca/a/JEEP/WRANGLER/EDMONTON/Alberta/5_9616430_CT2004614104055566/?ms=trucks_vans

mine has all the options that one has plus a few extra, i paid $33k out the door. tax and fees all in.

[ExtraSlow]

I think the advice about getting a recent used vehcile is pretty good. Even with 0% financing, you are fooling yourself if you think buying new is saving you any money.

Taking a look at kijiji, you could get yourself a two or three year old Highlander, Edge or flex for under $30k.
The Highlander is a great little unit, and sounds like it would fit your need really well.
Kijiji - Highlander (http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2008-Toyota-Highlander-SPORT-SUV-W0QQAdIdZ257440286)
Kijiji - 2010 Ford Flex (http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2010-Ford-Flex-3-5-LIMITED-4WD-AUTO-W0QQAdIdZ257213614)

Or hell, you could grab a three or four year old Expedition and not worry about downsizing your current trailer, unless it's a 5th wheel. Fuel is cheap :poosie:
Kijiji 2008 Expedition (http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2008-Ford-Expedition-Leather-Sunroof-DVD-4x4-W0QQAdIdZ241085089)
Kijiji 2008 Expedition #2 (http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2008-Ford-Expedition-eddie-baur-SUV-W0QQAdIdZ248139807)

[afrotl]

How about the Terrain?