What should my next car be?
January 9, 2015 10:23 AM   Subscribe

My car is about to be paid off and I'm planning to drive it into the ground before shopping for another one. And let's be honest, my next car is going to be what I can get the best deal on. However, for the sake of argument, how about you all figure out what my next car SHOULD be. Things to factor within.

1.) I'm a medium-to-smaller-sized car guy who would like to be a small car guy. I've always driven 4-door sedans and I've always wanted a hatchback, but I took the best deals I could find and always wound up with sedans.

2.) Gas mileage is important-ish; I will never be driving a SUV, van or such.

3.) I live and work within city limits. My commute is under 10 miles.

4.) I'll be buying used. I am not made of money.

5.) I am (hopefully) starting a family in the near future. We live within walking distance to our schools.

6.) My wife drives a Honda Fit, although she'll be up for a new vehicle before I am. Her commute is much longer than mine, so I would guess she'd probably be staying in that class of car.

7.) I am also taking up carpentry as a hobby, so the ability to haul 8 foot long pieces of lumber and 8x4 sheets of plywood would be really beneficial.

8.) I do not want a pickup truck.

9.) I plan to dedicate my roof rack to kayaks and bikes.

10.) Teslas set my heart aflutter, but come on, it's never going to happen.

11.) I do live in a snowy climate (Syracuse, NY), but 4-wheel drive isn't a necessity. I've actually never even driven a car with 4-wheel drive, so I guess I have no idea what I'm missing.

12.) I know next to nothing about cars. Hence my asking for advice here.

I am expecting to get some votes for a Subaru Outback, which is totally fine. I'm just curious what other suggestions people come up with.
posted by JimBJ9 to Shopping (24 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Get a Subaru Impreza hatchback with roof rack and a trailer hitch.

Put the wood on the roof, or pull it in a trailer.

If you want to haul big stuff, but you want good gas mileage and don't want a pickup truck, you're going to be limited to putting stuff on roof racks or pulling a trailer.

Imprezas won't have the best mileage due to the AWD, but they'll make up for it in the snow.

edit: an Outback would also be an acceptable answer.
posted by leotrotsky at 10:31 AM on January 9, 2015 [8 favorites]


Honda Fit. You already know how awesome it is.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:32 AM on January 9, 2015 [3 favorites]


Man, expanding family and carpentry and roof rack and snow and no SUV meant Subaru before I even saw your last sentence. We have an elderly Outback and the biggest negative is finding it in the sea of identical elderly Outbacks at Wegman's and daycare. My mom and my in-laws both have Forresters and they're also good, but might be more expensive.
posted by tchemgrrl at 10:35 AM on January 9, 2015 [4 favorites]


Proposal, in a longer-term sense: when your wife needs a new car, get the long-hauler with the roof rack and all-weather driving (so...the Outback) and then you get a full-electric (not a Tesla - a Leaf or whatever else is available in that class by the time you actually buy) or extremely small efficient gas or hybrid car that's still big enough for a carseat (Mini, Fiat, Smart, Scion iQ or one of the little xX cars, the smallest Prius, some car that doesn't exist yet) for the lighter-use car.

Should you ever go off-road snow woodworking on a weekday, you can swap cars with her for the day.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:20 AM on January 9, 2015 [1 favorite]


Regarding Subaru options. (We bought a Subaru last year and ALL THE DATA is still stuck in my head, so.) (1) Historically their fuel economy has been poor but it's gotten better in the last few years with newer, more efficient engines and transmissions. (2) Generally speaking Foresters are less expensive than Outbacks (at least new) though it's not by much and it'll depend on the used stock in your area. (3) Cargo-wise, Foresters are tall; Outbacks are long. (4) Imprezas as of the current generation (2012 model year and later) don't support trailer hitches, but they're the most fuel efficient.
posted by mcwetboy at 11:32 AM on January 9, 2015 [3 favorites]


I have an old Honda Accord, 4 door, and it can fit 8 ft long pieces. (It's 17 years old now, so I don't care that it might damage the leather seats.) I've also tied down the trunk over the wood, when the pieces are too long to fit in completely. So I wouldn't be too worried about that, unless you're planning to make ginormous pieces, and hauling lots of wood all the time.

With that said, I'm considering a Subaru Impreza for my next car.
posted by ethidda at 11:34 AM on January 9, 2015


You mention Teslas...what price range are we talking about? If you can afford it, the more you pay for a car the longer it will last (within limits). Which is why getting a Prius or something is actually pretty cost-effective.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:42 AM on January 9, 2015


Best answer: Everyone's next car, last car, and current car should be a station wagon.

A station wagon has the same front profile, engineering specs, and approximate weight as the corresponding sedan, hardtop, 'fastback', hatch, henhouse, outhouse, or whatever. For an additional few kilos of weight and pennies of cost, you get generally the same technology and creature comforts available on the less efficient sedan with the bonus extra added benefit plus of two to three times the cubic footage of cargo storage with easier access and more storage options.

Consider, for example, the 2009 Volkswagen Passat:
Sedan:  Wt:3,344 EPA:19/29 Cargo:14ft^3
Wagon: Wt:3,512 EPA:19/28 Cargo:35.8 to 72.6ft^3

My station wagon is a nice car when I need a car, and a light truck when I occasionally need to haul, say, a few 8-foot long pieces of lumber. Four by eight sheets aren't going to fit inside any car. That's what the roofrack is for. On most modern station wagons, it comes with the vehicle.

If you haul sheets of plywood or sheetrock (or bales of hay or manure or bulk cargo) on a regular basis, yeah, you probably need a P/U. Otherwise, no. Rent it from Home Depot for $20/day on those occasions. A few people actually need an SUV. I'd estimate about five, nationwide.

If you are driving on paved roads, you do not need four wheel drive. I'll say that again. If you drive only on paved roads -- and do not intend to drive off of them to get from point A to B on a regular basis -- you do not need four wheel drive.

Don't let anyone tell you that you won't look cool driving a station wagon. You're driving a car: that's not cool.

New and late model station wagons are available from Volkswagen, Volvo, Subaru*, Audi, Ford, Acura, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Cadillac, Saab, Saturn, Kia, Chrysler, Dodge, Jaguar and if more loosely defined from Scion, Toyota, Nissan, Mini, Suzuki, Fiat . . . I suggest you look into one of these.

---------------------
*The last few model years of Subaru Outbacks appear to have come down with a bad case of the Mumps. I hope it isn't contagious.
posted by Herodios at 11:59 AM on January 9, 2015 [5 favorites]


As a cheaper alternative to the Outback, consider a Toyota Matrix. The rear seats fold flat with a sturdy plastic backing. Took a half sheet of drywall. Or 2 bikes (wheels off). Or a latex queen size mattress (taco style). Or more IKEA flat packs than I'd like to admit to publicly.

Bigger than your Fit. Bigger than my Kia Rio 5 (which I also recommend). More room in the back seat. You sacrifice a bit in MPG, and Toyota goes oddly cheap on their interiors for the base model. But overall, worth your consideration.

And read this blog post about adding a hitch to a tiny hatchback car for extra cargo. You can also consider inflatable or temporary roof racks instead of a factory or aftermarket installed one if you're only using it a few times a year.
posted by fontophilic at 12:09 PM on January 9, 2015 [1 favorite]


Mazda 3 -- 2014 model if you can get one used. They are great. Definitely preferable to the Fits I've driven...
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 12:10 PM on January 9, 2015 [2 favorites]


For the ultimate in flexibility and hauling and family...well no one likes them but a minivan. They exist for a reason. Barring that, the Ford Transit Connect would fit in what you need or the Nissan NV200.

Yes they are "Vans" but not 80's custom conversion, down-by-the-river vans. They are really front wheel drive commuter cars with a big box and barn doors on the back. The can fit a LOT of people in them with the right seats and those seats can be removed to haul stuff. Contractors/service technicians love them because they work, are small enough to park well, get respectable mileage (20-25mpg), and don't leave all your stuff exposed to thieves/weather/dirt/wind in the bed like a pickup does. Plus it is easy to sleep in on long road trips.

With your wife having a Fit (sounds funny out of context). I would recommend you get something with more capacity and more rugged/capable of hauling a small trailer. That way you get more flexibility for your life/hobbies.

Another compromise mini vanish vehicle is the ford C-MAX or the Toyota Prius V (The prius is going to be better made and better mileage but still doesn't haul a lot, the cmax is going to haul a lot).
posted by bartonlong at 12:13 PM on January 9, 2015 [1 favorite]


I just finished going through this exact process. I am trading in a 9-year-old subcompact hatchback, and wanted to get a new or late-model hatchback that is larger but not too much larger. I didn't want a full-sized station wagon because I like the feel of driving a compact, plus the maneuverability and parking advantages when driving in the city. (Also, fuel economy.)

Reliability and safety are must-haves. My height is about average, so almost any car will fit me fine. I have a young child, so the back seats need to be decent but don't need to fit adults most of the time. Fuel economy is a plus, but I drive so little that it doesn't make a huge difference. Most of my driving is in the city. Like you, I don't need AWD. Plug-in electric cars are out because I don't have a place to put a charger. Cost isn't a major factor, but I won't want to pay much for convenience/luxury feaures like push-button start, sun roofs, leather seats, etc.

I used Consumer Reports (through my public library) and TrueDelta and a bunch of other sources to research almost every small hatchback on the market, and took a closer look at just a few. These are the four cars I considered most strongly:
  • Honda Fit
    • Pro: Great reliability ratings. Good fuel economy. Very small exterior dimensions (the only subcompact I considered). Great flexible cargo space. Relatively inexpensive.
    • Con: Smallish cargo space when rear seats are in use. Mediocre ride/handling/acceleration. I don't like the exterior styling.
  • Mazda3
    • Pro: Good reliability ratings. Best fuel economy (with "Skyactiv" engine, included in most 2012/2013 hatchbacks and all 2014/2015 models). Great handling and acceleration. Nice interiors and lots of fancy options like blind-spot monitoring (in most 2014 and later models). My favorite exterior styling.
    • Con: Small back seat. 2014/'15 hatchback models have bad visibility to rear (not a problem with older model years, though). Can be slightly expensive.
  • Subaru Impreza
    • Pro: Above-average reliability. Good handling. Smooth ride. Most spacious back seat. Great visibility. All-wheel drive. Available factory roof rack.
    • Con: Mediocre acceleration. Mediocre fuel economy (though 2012–'14 models are pretty good, and 2015 even better).
  • VW Golf
    • Pro: Good handling and smooth ride. Good back seat. Nice interior. Small exterior dimensions.
    • Con: Below-average reliability. Mediocre fuel economy (except in recent TDI diesel models). Can be expensive, especially new.
(All these cars have good safety ratings for their class and standard dynamic stability control, though in many cases only the latest models pass some of the newer crash tests.)

I passed on the Honda Fit because I decided that a subcompact (even a very spacious one like the Fit) is no longer big enough for us on family trips when we have passengers in the rear seats. The larger compacts also offer a smoother ride, which isn't a big deal most of the time but is nice for those occasional long trips.

The VW Golf was tempting but I wasn't willing to take the reliability risk, even though some recent VWs have proven more reliable than their old versions. The same thing kept the otherwise good-looking Ford Focus off my list. Like you, I want a car that I can definitely keep for the long haul.

I almost bought a Mazda3, and would have no qualms about recommending it to you. But personally I ended up choosing the Impreza. I really liked the great all-around visibility for city driving, the nice back seat so my kid is comfortable and can get in and out really easily, and the smoother ride (even at the cost of less-peppy handling and acceleration). My only worry is that the long-term reliability might not be quite as good as the Toyota Scion that I'm replacing.
posted by mbrubeck at 12:13 PM on January 9, 2015 [4 favorites]


I drive a 2010 Honda Oddysey and I like it. I personally just ignore the mini-van haters, as I think a car is a tool, not a fashion statement. It doesn't get great fuel economy, but it's not much worse than most Subarus (I drove an impreza wagon previously that got ~10l/100km and my oddysey does ~12l/100km) and is a lot better than 4 wheel drive SUV's or trucks. I also do woodworking and I can fit a full 4'x8' sheet of plywood in the back (with the seats removed) and I can tow my small travel trailer easily. With winter tires it handles snow and ice just fine. And I can haul 8 people around in comfort. Very handy when family are visiting from out of town.

> Plug-in electric cars are out because I don't have a place to put a charger.

Electric cars do not require a dedicated charger and can be plugged into a standard 110V outlet. The only reason you would want a dedicated charger is if you need it to take less time to charge.
posted by Poldo at 12:49 PM on January 9, 2015


Electric cars do not require a dedicated charger and can be plugged into a standard 110V outlet.
What I meant is that I only have street parking at home, no garage or anything.</derail>
posted by mbrubeck at 12:54 PM on January 9, 2015


Response by poster: These are some great answers.

If it matters, I currently drive a 2008 Mazda 6 and it's been a great car. I actually went to the dealership to buy a Mazda 3, but came out with the 6 because there was one going for a great price and only had like 6,000 miles on it at the time. Thrifty!
posted by JimBJ9 at 1:07 PM on January 9, 2015


JimBJ9, I test-drove a new Jetta wagon when I went shopping for my used Passat wagon, and if it had been entirely up to me, I would have gone with the smaller (and less expensive) Jetta with the TDI diesel and manual trans. However, Mrs H lobbied for the larger car for highway driving, trading 10 to 15 mpg for 'feeling safer' (sigh).

Here's some specs on the current VW Jetta Wagon TDI diesel:
EPA: 30/42
Cargo: 66.9 ft^3
Towing capacity: 2,000 lbs
Wt: 3283 lbs

Here's a nice comparison among the 2014 VW Jetta Wagon, Subaru Outback, and Toyota Prius. In numbers, they're all pretty closely matched. I'd keep an eye on all of these.

When it comes to reliability, there's climate (what you're told to expect) and weather (what you actually get). In my view, The Toyota Buyers Guide Consumer Reports has been unfairly negative on all VW models for years, while favouring all Toyota models in every class. Anecdotes aren't data, but I've been a VW driver for decades, and for me the 'weather' has been generally clement.
 
posted by Herodios at 1:57 PM on January 9, 2015 [2 favorites]


I have a Mazda5. Love it. Car-sized van. Fun to drive. Easy to see stuff. Sliding doors make it easy to get the kiddo in and out of the vehicle. Fold flat both back rows of seats to haul bicycles and a crib and loads of stuff. I'm still thinking about getting a roof rack. Decent gas mileage. And can haul a load of people in a pinch, too. (Just not very tall adult-sized ones in the back seats.) I live in MN with snow and ice and it works great - except the lower profile means I can't plow over big piles of snow.

Get one of the newer-ish redesign models that has heat in the back, though. The only flaw, really.
posted by jillithd at 2:04 PM on January 9, 2015 [2 favorites]


Well, nobody has mentioned it yet so... You might consider a KIA Soul. Even if you are NOT a rapper. Very reliable, economical, convenient, and spacious. You can buy a brand new one for 15k, so finding a used one in your price range should be doable.

Subaru Outback is a great car for your circumstances as well. If it was me, given the parameters you have described, the outback would be my vehicle of choice.

If you are thinking about starting a family I would DEFINITELY avoid the otherwise excellent Honda Fit. It is one of the most dangerous cars in a crash. Dont expose your family to that.
posted by jcworth at 5:59 PM on January 9, 2015


As re the Fit, the 2015 model is purportedly improved viz crash protection. So, if you are buying new you may be able to disregard the previous crash data.
posted by jcworth at 6:07 PM on January 9, 2015


The new Mazdas with the skyactiv engine, I think starting with the 2014s depending on the model, get wicked good mpg. My better half has a 2015 3 hatchback and gets 35-45+.
posted by fieldtrip at 7:08 PM on January 9, 2015


The distaste Americans find for wagons is strange to me. I like wagons, and my last two (1993 and 2005) Subaru wagons have been stout, mostly trouble-free and fun. They are both Legacys, which seem to have been phased out around 2007 in favor of the (IMO uglier and worse-handling) Outbacks. I've carried a 7' cast iron bathtub, a ton of pavers, manure, firewood, camping supplies, dogs, IKEA flat packs and all kinds of miscellany in them.

And yeah, you do not need AWD / 4WD unless you go off-road a lot, which I do - but the feel of AWD will make a believer out of a corpse. Cars with two-wheel drive don't even make it onto my radar screen any more. Subaru engineers are single-minded about maintaining a low center of gravity in the cars they design, and they kept that in the Forester. They feel like Imprezas, which they mostly are.

Note there's a Mazda 6 wagon that was made for a few years, too, so if you love your 6 you can retain the feel while gaining a lot of practicality.

Don't know if it will be in your price range, but there is an Acura TSX wagon with AWD that might also be worth a look.
posted by jet_silver at 7:22 PM on January 9, 2015 [1 favorite]


A Subaru is always a good answer. They are well built and very reliable, but I find Japanese interiors a bit cheap and naff generally.

One of my favourite hatches is the Volvo C30. Looks good, well made, reliable, stylish interior. The T5 is turbocharged and has a good turn of speed, but still gets good mileage. Swedish, so will be good in the snow! You can get one for less than $10,000 now such as this one.
posted by derbs at 1:01 AM on January 10, 2015


I just bought a 2015 Forester after much research (I might have bought a Mazda if there were a dealer closer than 5 hours away). I wanted more room than my 14 year old Cavalier in case kids or dogs are in the future, I wanted AWD because Colorado and I now have a 20 mile commute, and I was worried about gas mileage because of said commute.

Consumer Reports LOVES Subaru, so I felt I couldn't go wrong with one. I really liked the Impreza but there wasn't one within 3 states with the package I wanted, and I did find it to be rather gutless and because I'm surrounded by mountains, that was a bummer. The Outback was more expensive and longer which I didn't need. I originally went in wanting a Crosstrek (available in a hybrid, btw) but the interior felt cheap and I've heard they're loud which was my biggest complaint about the Cavalier. So, Forester. I really like it - it's not as fun/sporty to drive as the Impreza, but it's a great car. And I'm getting 30 mpg during my commute (largely highway), which isn't bad at all for AWD.
posted by kattyann at 2:22 PM on January 10, 2015 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thanks for the input everyone!
posted by JimBJ9 at 4:09 PM on January 10, 2015


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