I need to start thinking about my next vehicle, any thoughts

[ronlarimer]

I know you can't choose a car for me, but I thought I would solicit ideas.  I currently have a 2009 Z71 GMC Sierra Crew-Cab SLT that I bought 2 years ago with the sole purpose of taking 3 years depreciation on it and selling it to my dad.  The end of that period isn't too far off and I am beginning to think about what 2012 model vehicle to replace it with.

I like my truck enough that I would keep it if my dad decided not to buy it, but I don't think that is going to happen. I plan to keep this next vehicle for 10 years and then give it to my son as a 1st vehicle.

The ideal vehicle would be...

• Under 22' long (garage depth)
• 4 door with decent rear leg room
• 4 wd
• Get 20 MPG average
• Have 58"+ of shoulder room
• Have some inside storage
• Under 40K

This vehicle doesn't exist.  What would you choose?

[TAB]

If you negate the 4wd  A town car fits that bill to a tee.   The impala is another option, but its about half the car the town car is.

If you want the 4wd, then your options are basicly suvs and the milage will be in the teens.

[Timothy]

Based on that list, I'd say none of the above!

Reliability issues with the Jeep/Chrysler and GMC both.  Let alone they shouldn't even be in business anymore.  They're managed by incompetent fools who could find their butts with both hands and a flashlight and haven't paid us back for their bailouts.

Can't' speak to the Audi but with premium fuel required, that's just silly.

The Toyota is a two door.

Regardless of my ire about the bailouts, I'm still going to be a Ford guy for the foreseeable future and I worked for GM some years back.  My father retired from GM.  You couldn't give me one for free.  

Look at the Taurus or Fusion in AWD....way under 40K

[MikeBjerum]

I would go with a full size pick up or suv.  My choice is tainted by our location.  Between Thanksgiving and Christmas we faced four days of solid ice on our state highways and three weeks on the county blacktops in our part of the state.  Last weekend a storm nailed the Dakotas and northern Minnesota, and I spent Monday through Thursday on glare ice on interstates and state highways.  Friday I left the Cities in strong NW winds, and was bucking small drifts and near zero visibility for the last 60 miles home (the last eight miles I could not see the end of the hood, and I drove with the door open watching the center lines most of the time). 

When I travel I am mostly driving a 2005 Chevrolet Malibu.  It is a very good car, and it is very reliable.  It is plenty small for a guy my size (see photo), but it has as much room as my wife's 2009 Chevrolet Impala.  After the first 100 miles last week I wished I had broke the pick up (2005 Ford F 100 crew cab 4wd) out of the shed.  The 4wd wouldn't have been that big a deal, but the height off the ground helps visibility in blowing snow, and the added mass around me helps settle the nerves around whacko drivers on this crap.

I'd love to tell you exactly what to do, but buying a vehicle is like picking a wife ... actually somewhere between picking a gun and picking a wife 

[tombogan03884]

Don't even think about the Audi, if it needs work the cost just of parts will make your ass sore.
Toyota didn't take any bail out money, and has a pretty good reputation for reliability, plus, unlike Ford, most of them are assembled in America, so that's the only practical choice on your list

[Sponsor]

[Pecos Bill]

Drop by your local Subaru dealer and look at the Forester or Outback. One of those will be my next car.

Pecos

[Timothy]

Don't even think about the Audi, if it needs work the cost just of parts will make your ass sore.
Toyota didn't take any bail out money, and has a pretty good reputation for reliability, plus, unlike Ford, most of them are assembled in America, so that's the only practical choice on your list

Of the 26 world wide Ford assembly plants, 18 are in the United States.  By 2012, that number will be higher as Ford has brought the Focus out of Mexico and back to the Wayne, MI plant.


I agree on the Toyota line of cars though, don't let the debacle of their recall problems dissuade you from considering a Toyota truck just be prepared to pay the higher price.

Edit.....this information is from 2005, this list has changed, probably significantly....I'm a bit disappointed as the Fusion is built in Mexico.  Kind of a killer for me...

[TAB]

Of the 26 world wide Ford assembly plants, 18 are in the United States.  By 2012, that number will be higher as Ford has brought the Focus out of Mexico and back to the Wayne, MI plant.

I agree on the Toyota line of cars though, don't let the debacle of their recall problems dissuade you from considering a Toyota truck just be prepared to pay the higher price.

toyotas build quality as sliped alot in the last 5 years.  hell we even limoned lawed one back to them.  in less then 7k miles it went thru 2 cpu, a tranny, 5 gps/climit control boards. and a new rear hatch lift system.  Funny, they were way over the time in shop and number of vists, and still did not want to pay up.  One call from my lawyer, and we walked out with a check.  Now yeah, every once in awhile something slips thru, but just about every thing on that suv broke.  oh yeah toytoa still only gives you 10k mile tires unless you upgrade   

[MikeBjerum]

One thing I forgot to include in my earlier rambling:

Good  Local  Dealership!!!

Every make out there has service departments.  No matter how good it is, at some point you will need parts and service.  If you don't have a good local shop and a good extended network where you travel the 99.99% reliable vehicle will be 100% worthless when the 0.01% happens.

We have a Chevrolet dealership in town, a Ford dealer 12 miles away, and both have service nationwide.  Pretty well dictates what I will be looking at.

[TAB]

A good dealer will make a bad car better and a good car great.

a bad dealer will make a great car bad.


Sadly all the local non luxury car dealers are pita.   Its what happens when on guy/family buys up all the dealer ships in the area.