Used car/crossover SUV advice
March 24, 2018 10:44 AM   Subscribe

I've got to relocate to the burbs and, at the tender age of 37, need to buy my first (used) car. Feeling overwhelmed and need to narrow down the search, either with recommendations or with things to avoid. Details below the fold.

Must haves (my wife has a back injury):

- a high seating position in the front
- not bumpy! good shock absorption, protection from bad roads

More must haves:

- can be found used for under 7.5k USD / 10k Canadian
- decent fuel economy
- reliable, not always requiring work

So far we are considering, all from the 2009-12 period, a Honda CRV, a Subaru Forester, a Nissan Rogue, a Hyundai Santa Fe, and a Chevy Equinox. But that's just based on online searches, the only one I've actually driven is the Santa Fe.

We're in Toronto, where it is snowy for 3 months of the year. Not doing any off-roading.
posted by Beardman to Shopping (10 answers total)
 
Response by poster: (As you can see, I've been looking at small SUVs, hoping to make it a smoother ride for my wife. But is that a mistake? I asked a similar question awhile back and someone said that a small minivan like a Mazda 5 would be smoother than a small SUV, and I don't really know the difference.)
posted by Beardman at 10:49 AM on March 24, 2018


Buying a used car for dummies, and car repair for dummies are the essential books to get. (Car repair so you can diagnose problems before you take it to the mechanic, who will play dumb and 'fix' 3 different things before adressing the real problem and charge you $1500+ for the privilege. This happens more often than it doesn't.)
posted by sexyrobot at 11:01 AM on March 24, 2018


That also describes the Ford Escape. My wife's 2007 Escape has 155k miles and is still going strong.
posted by madcaptenor at 11:18 AM on March 24, 2018


The RAV4 has a more isolated/soft ride than the CR-V. I like the seats better, also. Maybe go to a used car lot and test drive a few different things?
posted by wierdo at 11:31 AM on March 24, 2018


The ride of a Mazda 5 is not smooth at all. Mazda uses a tight suspension, so you feel every little shift in the road. Fun for "zoom zoom" driving, not fun for catching all the speed bumps and pot holes.
posted by crunchy potato at 11:47 AM on March 24, 2018


I have bought a number of used cars. I had a RAV4 that was great. Get any used vehicle inspected by an independent mechanic. This has saved me so much trouble. I use Edmunds to research pricing.
posted by theora55 at 8:16 PM on March 24, 2018


I have a 2011 Forester and while I'm happy with it I think its a bit bumpy. Nothing jarring but you can definitely feel things on the road. Perfectly fine for driving around the GTA and our terrible roads. It is great in the snow. I rented a van over the Christmas holidays and driving that in the snow was terrible in comparison to the Forester.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 10:18 PM on March 24, 2018


SUVs are not necessarily a more comfortable ride than other types of cars. If anything, that high center of gravity is actually worse for both ride quality and driving dynamics compared to a traditional car. It's worse for everything besides driving over rocks and being able to see over other SUVs. If comfort is a priority, you should by no means limit your search to SUVs and crossovers (which is just a marketing term for "small SUV" that avoids using the word "small").
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 11:53 AM on March 25, 2018 [1 favorite]


Have you considered the Subaru Outback? Its driving position is similar to a Forester, provides the same amount of cargo space, all-wheel drive is standard on all trim levels, and has Subaru reliability. Its ride might be softer than a Forester because it's trying to split the difference between a sedan and an SUV.
posted by dlwr300 at 8:47 AM on March 26, 2018


If you are not car-savvy, and buying a used car, pay a mechanic for a "pre-purchase isspection" before buying. In the US, they cost between $60 and $120. I bought a used Honda Fit last week (excellent headroom in the front seats, I'm 6'3" with back and neck disc issues, and I sit completely upright for ergonomics. Might not be a smooth enough ride for you, but I hear they make an all wheel drive version with adjustable suspension, which might be a smoother ride.) I narrowed my choices down to 3 different sellers from Criagslist, followed some "how to inspect a used car" youtube videos, and eliminated one based on suspicious paperwork. The remaining 2 I had inspected by a mechanic with an excellent yelp raiting; he gave me a significant discount on the second inspection. Based on the appraisel of the knowledgable mechanic, and Carfax reports and Kelly Bluebook values, I chose the car that seemed to be the best deal.

I know it can be difficult to shell out $ for inspections on a car you might not buy, when you're already trying to stretch out money for the purchase, but I wouldn't ever buy a used car without one.

The exception would he buying a pre-certified used car with a warranty, but those were out of my price range.

Good luck with your new move. :)
posted by ethical_caligula at 9:24 AM on March 26, 2018 [1 favorite]


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