Help me Know What Car to Buy?

January 19, 2023 9:42 AM

My beloved manual, diesel, jetta sportswagon is very suddenly and unexpectedly totaled. We had been planning on driving it until forever. I have no idea how to car shop! I want another car with great mpg, ability to tow, and cargo space for the two big dogs. I also now want something that I can convert to be able to transport my power wheelchair. (Otherwise, I would just buy the exact same car again.) 2020 and newer preferred, very reliable with relatively easy maintenance needs. I would not like to have to do this again soon.

I’m wary of anything electric because of the relatively rural place I live, although something with a range like the f150 lightning would be fine.

Question 1: Do you have a specific suggestion for what I should buy?

Question 2: How do I go about narrowing down what fits my needs?

Can you suggest a resource like Consumer Reports or Car and Driver? I glanced at them, but realized I didn’t know enough yet to actually use them effectively.

posted by Bottlecap to Travel & Transportation (12 answers total)

Response by poster: I should have noted in the post that I can be flexible about my powerchair - it would be Very Good but I do have other options available to me.
posted by Bottlecap at 9:45 AM on January 19, 2023

chrysler pacifica phev
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:55 AM on January 19, 2023

My in-laws have a RAV4 and like it (they also have two Rhodesian ridgebacks, so the dog capacity is well-tested.) Theirs isn't hybrid but it looks like even the hybrid has some towing capacity. (It's not infinite, so you'd have to check to see if it's enough for what you want to tow.) It probably sits higher up than your Jetta - it's a light SUV rather than a station wagon. Dunno if that's an issue for you.

As for car shopping, I think figuring out a list of models that meet your needs - size, towing capacity - and then checking them against CR is the way to go. Once you've narrowed it down to a couple, test drive some, then figure out if you want new vs. used. I've used CarMax for almost all of my cars, if you have one in a reasonable distance, and they can get you basically anything from any CarMax for a fee that (last time I checked) is applied against the purchase price if you end up buying it. (So test-drive at a dealer if they don't have one at your local, first.)
posted by restless_nomad at 10:14 AM on January 19, 2023

Best answer: I used a local business (I'm in Northern California) called Ability Center to convert my Subaru to hand controls for driving. I've linked to their page on some of the fully accessible vehicles they carry to give you some ideas. They required me to have a note from my neurologist and from my Occupational Therapist who taught me how to use hand controls (took one day--just an hour or so). There are other local companies that are not so strict.
posted by agatha_magatha at 10:16 AM on January 19, 2023

Best answer: Is your powerchair one of the travel ones that folds and is light enough that you can put it into a cargo area, or does it need to roll into the vehicle (with you in it). If you need a vehicle where you roll into the vehicle, your options are limited to minivans, the Chevy Traverse, and a few other specialty options. If this isn't important, then your options change quite a bit. I think you'll need to evaluate how much you want to be flexible about your powerchair.
posted by hydra77 at 11:09 AM on January 19, 2023

I'll put in a vote for the Lightning F150- I had a chance to try one out and it's pretty impressive, and the power storage feature could also be useful if your home power goes out. I think everyone should be buying EVs now if at all possible...
posted by pinochiette at 12:14 PM on January 19, 2023

although something with a range like the f150 lightning would be fine

The range of an F150 Lightning goes down dramatically when towing, from 300 miles to 100-150 miles, depending on what you are towing and what extended battery features are purchased (which add to the cost). The additional torque required when towing puts a lot more load on the battery system. Something to think about, if you are moving a lot of stuff around regularly.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 12:36 PM on January 19, 2023

For Question 2, I'd start with dealers near you and see what they actually have on the lot that meets your criteria, and then check Consumer Reports for those models. It may be starting to improve a bit, but the car market was hit hard by supply chain issues. For new cars, some models in some locations have long wait times, or significant price markups, or both, and used cars also have higher prices and fewer choices.
posted by songs about trains at 1:19 PM on January 19, 2023

The larger EVS and hybrids--F150, Pacifica, Rav4, Toyota Sienna--are very difficult to find new, and consequently the used ones can cost as much as a new one. If you need one of these without being able to wait double digit months, expect to pay for the privilege. In your situation, one of the ICE minivans from Honda or Kia or Chrysler makes a lot of sense.
posted by Kwine at 1:48 PM on January 19, 2023

FWIW, I own/owned a similar car so have somewhat similar criteria, and one of the possible replacements would be one of the Volvo wagons that comes as a plug-in hybrid.
posted by Dashy at 2:03 PM on January 19, 2023

How heavy is the thing you want to tow? I had a Honda Odyssey that was pretty great, could tow 2,000 lbs, nicer to drive than you'd think, comfortable, tons of room for dogs, chair. It held up great until a family member totaled it, and everybody was okay. People with Priuses tow 300 - 400 lbs. though I'd be wary. Towing much weight is a big ask for an electric or hybrid car.
posted by theora55 at 6:28 PM on January 19, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: FYI - my local dealership had two used F150 Lightnings when I called. If you want one, it’s worth giving calls around. A lot of people bought multiple on pre-order thinking they could sell them at a profit or ordered and then backed out. My dealership said they usually keep two used on the lot.

Regardless, an electric car does not meet our needs and I am in touch with the accessibility dealership, which was already amazing and helpful! Bonus - buying a converted vehicle here exempts us from most state and local taxes and confers a permanent disability license plate. I wouldn’t have been aware that I could buy an already converted vehicle without the answers here, and that’s pretty exciting.
posted by Bottlecap at 11:30 AM on January 20, 2023 [1 favorite]