New car, or no new car? UPDATED (Not - GP Related)

brij2006

H and I have been going round and round about purchasing a new (to us) vehicle. So I want some opinions on what you girls would do...

Currently I drive a 2009 Ford Fusion with 70k miles on it (bought it new).  It's a good car, and I bought it fully loaded so it has everything on it I would want. 
H drives a 2010 Nissan Altima coupe with a 6 speed manual. He also drives 110 miles round trip each day for his job.  We don't plan to get rid of that car until it has 100k miles or we have a child (whichever comes first).

So this brings us to what we're contemplating.  We want an SUV that is either 4 wheel drive or All wheel drive.  With H's commute and his new position at work, he is not able to leave early when there is a snowstorm (live in midwest). But my employer will send me home early if there is any threat of a bad storm. So this vehicle would be my normal daily driver, but on days where it's going to snow, we would trade vehicles.  We also do a lot of remodeling projects on our house, and we are constantly having to borrow my mom's SUV or dads truck in order to pick up supplies. We would really like to be able to eliminate that.

We have it narrowed down to a Ford Flex or a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but it's looking like we can get more for our money with the Flex.  The Flex has a 3rd row, and would sort of be overkill for us right now.  We plan on keeping the car for at least 4 years, so we want to plan accordingly for the future.

Should we just keep my car and continue to deal with H driving home in terrible snow storms, and borrowing others SUV's and trucks?  Or is it stupid for us to buy a huge SUV to very rarely have more than 2 people in it?

Originally we were hoping to begin TTC, get pregnant, and purchase a Ford Flex. HAH! How hopeful we were in January....

UPDATE: Well, we took the pludge and went and looked at the 2 we were interested in and were in our price range. We did a very low-ball offer on their vehicle, and asked an insane amount for our trade-in. We decided that if they took the offer, then we would purchase. If not, then we would re-visit the subject again after the winter.

They took our offer. It helped that there was another couple there at the same time as us, and they saw our car sitting at the doors and asked the dealer if that car would be for sale.  Our car was exactly what they were looking for. So we literally handed the keys to my Fusion, over to its new owners.

Here's our newest car addition.  It's so weird to have so much space, but I love it!

amccul20

i'm cheap. if I don't have a car payment there is no way you're getting me to buy a new car. so i'm not sure i'll be much of a help here.

I wouldn't get a new car just because of the home improvement stuff...and I personally think we're not going to be seeing that much snow from here on out.

rccola1981

How many roads does your H drive on that are not quickly maintained? Would you be getting rid of your fusion? How would payments compare? Would having something older 4 wheel drive to use only as needed be an option? Sorry to ask so many questions but it will help me determine my opinion.

LuckyAngel07

I don't know what the Midwest's typical winter snowfall is like, but if it's considerable, I would absolutely make that a big decision in my vehicle purchasing. If you're likely to only get 1 or 2 snow storms all winter, I wouldn't replace existing cars for an AWD vehicle. Somewhere that lives buried in snow all winter definitely requires a vehicle suited for snowy driving; somewhere that's mostly clear and only gets major accumulation once or twice a season is a poor reason to lean toward AWD (unless one or both of you are going off-roading on a regular basis all year long).

Getting something now for future family isn't a bad idea, but I wouldn't hinge it on the snow thing/reno thing. If both of your vehicles are in perfect condition and don't need to be replaced, I'd probably at LEAST wait for a major sales event (my 2007 Corolla is still totally perfect; I'd never consider replacing it right now). I'd probably also only get the new car if it wouldn't cost you more per month than your current car payment is (and also comparable cost of insurance/buying gas).

Aimothy

I drive 70 miles RT to work in Midwest winters. I don't have four wheel drive and I've never had it be a necessity. I drive on major highways that get plowed regularly. I wouldn't add a huge car payment if it wasn't a necessity.

brij2006

amccul20 said:

i'm cheap. if I don't have a car payment there is no way you're getting me to buy a new car. so i'm not sure i'll be much of a help here.

This is where I'm very hesitant.  We have it budgeted in, and have been putting aside the monthly payment into savings so we have a good down payment on the next vehicle.  So the money is there. I just keep telling H that we'll get me a new car when we have a child. He says we will wait forever to get things if we keep waiting till we have a child.

Since this was when we had planned on getting a newer/bigger vehicle, we still both want to follow through with that plan (while my car is still worth a descent amount). But H is wanting to get a Jeep more than the Flex since we have no use for a 3rd row yet. I don't want to get a Jeep now, then wish we would've gotten something bigger 2 years from now.

rccola1981

Aimothy said:

I drive 70 miles RT to work in Midwest winters. I don't have four wheel drive and I've never had it be a necessity. I drive on major highways that get plowed regularly. I wouldn't add a huge car payment if it wasn't a necessity.

this is why I asked about roads that are poorly maintained. DH drives approximately 70 miles RT but the only roads that are slow with maintenance are our street (one block) and the two streets to his office (3 blocks). We do have two 4x4 vehicles but he only drives his (Dad's) truck if there is threat of bad roads the majority of the time he drives our convertible. He had a car and a truck when we got married and I had a Jeep. I don't really foresee us giving up our 4x4s but if we hadn't each had one I'm not sure we would buy a new one. Also because the trucks have been paid off for some time and are rarely used we have low insurance and therefore costs on them. My Jeep is paid off but had comprehensive because it is my primary vehicle.

brij2006

rccola1981 said:

How many roads does your H drive on that are not quickly maintained? Would you be getting rid of your fusion? How would payments compare? Would having something older 4 wheel drive to use only as needed be an option? Sorry to ask so many questions but it will help me determine my opinion.

About 40 miles of H's 55 miles commute are rural county roads that are terribly maintained and will drift shut. So it's not a fun commute in the winter.

We would be getting rid of my fusion, and the payments would be the same amount each month that we have been putting aside for a down payment on the next car (the amount the payment was on my Fusion till it was paid off).

Another option we thought of was to take the money we've been putting aside for a newer vehicle for me, and purchase an older 4x4 truck for H to drive when it's bad and to use for remodeling projects. But then we would have 4 vehicles in our household, and only 2 garage stalls.  We live in town, so we don't have much space to park them outside.

LuckyAngel07

brij2006 said:

amccul20 said:

i'm cheap. if I don't have a car payment there is no way you're getting me to buy a new car. so i'm not sure i'll be much of a help here.

But H is wanting to get a Jeep more than the Flex since we have no use for a 3rd row yet. I don't want to get a Jeep now, then wish we would've gotten something bigger 2 years from now.

Is the 3rd row in the Flex optional? It's my impression that most 3rd rows are optional; it's not like the Flex is a huge SUV (like a Suburban or something), so eliminating the 3rd row gives you good cargo space without having all those empty seats staring at you. 

I know when my sister got her Rav4, there was the optional 3rd row, but that basically eliminates trunk space, so she went without.

brij2006

@LuckyAngel07 The 3rd row is not optional, but it folds down into the bottom of the vehicle. So you don't lose any cargo space.  We would rarely ever have the 3rd row upright unless we had 7 passengers.

LuckyAngel07

brij2006 said:

@LuckyAngel07 The 3rd row is not optional, but it folds down into the bottom of the vehicle. So you don't lose any cargo space.  We would rarely ever have the 3rd row upright unless we had 7 passengers.

In that case, if you really want the bigger vehicle now in and of itself, I'd probably get it and sell your current car. I'd have no qualms about keeping the 3rd row folded down all the time. Especially if you're budgeted for it already and if selling your current car gets you an additional chunk for the down payment.

But again, I'd wait for a major sale.

musac15

brij2006 said:

rccola1981 said:

How many roads does your H drive on that are not quickly maintained? Would you be getting rid of your fusion? How would payments compare? Would having something older 4 wheel drive to use only as needed be an option? Sorry to ask so many questions but it will help me determine my opinion.

About 40 miles of H's 55 miles commute are rural county roads that are terribly maintained and will drift shut. So it's not a fun commute in the winter.

We would be getting rid of my fusion, and the payments would be the same amount each month that we have been putting aside for a down payment on the next car (the amount the payment was on my Fusion till it was paid off).

Another option we thought of was to take the money we've been putting aside for a newer vehicle for me, and purchase an older 4x4 truck for H to drive when it's bad and to use for remodeling projects. But then we would have 4 vehicles in our household, and only 2 garage stalls.  We live in town, so we don't have much space to park them outside.

We have two trucks, and I really don't like either of them in the serious snow and/or ice. I feel safer in an SUV with 4x4. Jeeps have great 4 wheel drive, as well, btw. I have a Rav4, and my "4x4" is really AWD, and it only works up to 20 mph. I really feel it's kind of useless. 

DangerMuffin23

Pshaw. I've had an SUV since I was like 20 and I love it. I feel safer all around and (I'm 5'3") and can actually see around other people. We use my car for everything. Camping, Christmas tree buying, plant shopping, loading up the dogs you name it. Therefore mines the dirty car that has to get cleaned all the time, but it would drive me nuts to always have to borrow others cars. We use his for all the pretty stuff and his long trips to work ( his car gets better gas mileage). So, if you can afford it, I'd vote for yes. You don't need more than two people to make an SUV worth the while. (But I like the jeep better)

brij2006

@musac15 & @dangermuffin23

If H had his way we would be getting a Jeep and not the Flex. He wants the 4x4 that comes on the Limited though, which takes the price out of our comfort zone. I don't like that it doesn't have as much cargo space in the back as the Flex does.

DangerMuffin23

Cost is always a factor. And I'm sure the flex will be safer than what you have now. And anyways, maybe you'll need that money in the near future for something else *hint hint body* and then he'd be glad you got the flex?

brij2006

I keep telling him that the space in the Flex will be useful for trips to IKEA

)

brij2006

Updated.

LuckyAngel07

brij2006 said:

UPDATE: Well, we took the pludge and went and looked at the 2 we were interested in and were in our price range. We did a very low-ball offer on their vehicle, and asked an insane amount for our trade-in. We decided that if they took the offer, then we would purchase. If not, then we would re-visit the subject again after the winter.

They took our offer. It helped that there was another couple there at the same time as us, and they saw our car sitting at the doors and asked the dealer if that car would be for sale.  Our car was exactly what they were looking for. So we literally handed the keys to my Fusion, over to its new owners.

Here's our newest car addition.  It's so weird to have so much space, but I love it!

That's awesome!! It's always so much more exciting when things work out far better than you'd expect them to. I hope you enjoy it!

islandmonkey8

Congrats! Enjoy!

amccul20

@brij2006 congrats on the new car!!

brij2006

LuckyAngel07 said:

That's awesome!! It's always so much more exciting when things work out far better than you'd expect them to. I hope you enjoy it!

We really weren't expecting it to work out at all, honestly.

But I did shed a tear when giving my keys away. The Fusion was my first car that I bought without anyone's help, and after getting my "big girl" job. It was also the last thing that was solely in my name only. Now we're officially joint owners of a vehicle.

DangerMuffin23

I love it! On every level! You got what you wanted for a great deal and someone else got what they wanted! It's hard to part with your first big girl car, but just think what bigger and greater things will come with this one! Congrats!

brij2006

DangerMuffin23 said:

I love it! On every level! You got what you wanted for a great deal and someone else got what they wanted! It's hard to part with your first big girl car, but just think what bigger and greater things will come with this one! Congrats!

The first thing I'm doing is going to Menards to buy a damn garbage can! The one we have to put out for garbage day has had a broken handle on it for 2 years now. But we could never fit a new one into either of our vehicles. Now I'm going to happily purchase that $40 effing garbage can, and put it into the back of my car. lol.

LuckyAngel07

brij2006 said:

LuckyAngel07 said:

That's awesome!! It's always so much more exciting when things work out far better than you'd expect them to. I hope you enjoy it!

We really weren't expecting it to work out at all, honestly.

But I did shed a tear when giving my keys away. The Fusion was my first car that I bought without anyone's help, and after getting my "big girl" job. It was also the last thing that was solely in my name only. Now we're officially joint owners of a vehicle.

I know I'll feel the same way when it comes time to give up my Corolla. I bought it all on my own after starting my first FT job after college. It's a bittersweet moment to come to!

DangerMuffin23

brij2006 said:

DangerMuffin23 said:

I love it! On every level! You got what you wanted for a great deal and someone else got what they wanted! It's hard to part with your first big girl car, but just think what bigger and greater things will come with this one! Congrats!

The first thing I'm doing is going to Menards to buy a damn garbage can! The one we have to put out for garbage day has had a broken handle on it for 2 years now. But we could never fit a new one into either of our vehicles. Now I'm going to happily purchase that $40 effing garbage can, and put it into the back of my car. lol.

Yay! Adult purchases are super fun! The things that excite me as an adult crack me up!