$30-35K For Family Car - Help me Choose!
09-12-16, 07:48 PM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
Better late then never. 
That's because of the current obsession by automakers with designing sedans basically as 4-door coupes.........low, steeply-raked rooflines that slant back almost to the rear bumper. That doesn't leave much room for the lids themselves.....or for rear-seat passengers. 
The trunk openings of cars has been getting smaller.
09-12-16, 11:22 PM
#32
09-13-16, 01:02 AM
#34
Is the retained used value on their sedans as good as their wagons????? Seems like I see 5 or 6 Subie wagons of various sorts for every one sedan. Just seems like the average Subaru buyer is looking for that wagon, not the sedan.
09-13-16, 05:49 AM
#36
Lexus Fanatic
I too would definitely buy the wagon over the Sedan, especially since he was originally looking at SUVs. You get the driving dynamics of a sedan with the cargo capacity of an SUV, win/win.
09-13-16, 07:03 AM
#37
Lexus Fanatic
..................not only that, but, with an Outback over a Legacy, the same AWD system, more ground clearance, and the ability to go through deeper snow. The OP is from NY state...parts of where snow can be a REAL problem.
09-13-16, 08:43 AM
#38
Lexus Champion
^
Yes the GS is superior car in every way but its about $5-6k more. Also the backseat is smaller but it will be sufficient especially after the rear facing seat is no longer needed. I'm looking for an Fsport
too lol. The Base cars can be had for around $32k but Fsport is around $2-3k more on average.
I think the Subaru rides more comfortable though prob bec of softer susp setup and much larger sidewall tires.
Yes the GS is superior car in every way but its about $5-6k more. Also the backseat is smaller but it will be sufficient especially after the rear facing seat is no longer needed. I'm looking for an Fsport
too lol. The Base cars can be had for around $32k but Fsport is around $2-3k more on average.I think the Subaru rides more comfortable though prob bec of softer susp setup and much larger sidewall tires.
I have two car seats in my GS - one forward and one rear facing. Our family of 4 fits easily and comfortably in it. As for strollers, my single BOB fits, along with an umbrella stroller, or I can fit my double BOB, but only if I take off the wheels first.
09-13-16, 09:34 PM
#39
Lexus Test Driver
A used GS would be a more of a car than the others listed. But for new, the Accord is hard to beat. However, I agree it is absolutely ridiculous you still can't get a sunroof, leather, or a nav with the best-looking Sport trim. Honda's practice of stinginess is infuriating and holds the company back from additional sales. I have written to them about this a long time ago, but deaf ears prevail.
09-14-16, 06:08 AM
#40
Lexus Fanatic
"More of a car" is relative. It's the best car he's listed by far, but the best FAMILY car? I would disagree. When I had mine my wife and I couldn't even get in the front seats with rear facing car seats installed. 4 adults weren't comfortable for more than 2-3 hours. The back of it is just quite tight.
09-14-16, 06:41 AM
#41
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
you drive an m3 - why not live a little and get her something new and nice!?
So I think now it between the Legacy or a L-certified 2013-2014 RX or GS350 AWD. The ones in decent shape with ~30k miles are in low to mid $30 range.
What would you guys do?
What would you guys do?
I am late to this discussion but once I saw that the OP had decided against SUVs/CUVs, I wanted to comment on something to consider when looking at cars (sedans) rather than station wagons or utility vehicles.
The trunk openings of cars has been getting smaller. I would advise trying to fit your stroller(s) into the trunk opening of any cars that you are looking at. My wife has a current-generation Accord, which has a fair-sized trunk opening. My ES, on the other hand, has a smaller (front-to-back, from base of the rear window to the rear bumper) opening. A stroller (especially one that comes in a combo-pack with an infant carrier) may fit the Accord but not the ES; the Mazda6 and the Ford Fusion trunk openings may be rather small also. I do not know how large or small the trunk opening on the Subaru Legacy is.
The trunk openings of cars has been getting smaller. I would advise trying to fit your stroller(s) into the trunk opening of any cars that you are looking at. My wife has a current-generation Accord, which has a fair-sized trunk opening. My ES, on the other hand, has a smaller (front-to-back, from base of the rear window to the rear bumper) opening. A stroller (especially one that comes in a combo-pack with an infant carrier) may fit the Accord but not the ES; the Mazda6 and the Ford Fusion trunk openings may be rather small also. I do not know how large or small the trunk opening on the Subaru Legacy is.
"More of a car" is relative. It's the best car he's listed by far, but the best FAMILY car? I would disagree. When I had mine my wife and I couldn't even get in the front seats with rear facing car seats installed. 4 adults weren't comfortable for more than 2-3 hours. The back of it is just quite tight.
09-14-16, 07:57 AM
#42
Lexus Champion
"More of a car" is relative. It's the best car he's listed by far, but the best FAMILY car? I would disagree. When I had mine my wife and I couldn't even get in the front seats with rear facing car seats installed. 4 adults weren't comfortable for more than 2-3 hours. The back of it is just quite tight.
Oh how I can't wait to be done with kids car seats...
09-14-16, 08:18 AM
#43
Lexus Fanatic
It's been a fantastic family car for us, but will depend greatly on how compact the car seats you have are. I have my passenger seat almost all the way back with a rear facing seat behind it, which has enabled us to take long, comfortable road trips in the GS. Though now that we have the Highlander, we usually just take that.
Oh how I can't wait to be done with kids car seats...
Oh how I can't wait to be done with kids car seats...
09-14-16, 08:34 AM
#44
Lexus Champion
We bought the smallest seats we could buy. It also depends a lot on how tall you are. My wife and I are both tall, I'm 6' and she is 5'10, I truly don't see how its possible to have the front seat in the GS "almost all the way back" with a rear facing car seat installed. Its not even possible to do that with a person sitting in the rear seat, let alone a rear facing car seat...
When I have an adult in the rear seat, I have to move the front seat up from where it resides with the car seat in there. With the car seat in place, I have about 4" of rearward travel left.
Bear in mind I am talking about a convertible seat, and not an infant seat. Those suckers are tough. When I had the infant seat in there, the front passenger seat was up about half way.
09-14-16, 09:38 AM
#45
Lexus Fanatic
True, now that we have convertible seats we no longer have the GS.
I suppose it also depends on how steeply you recline the backrest. Our issue was that we could not get our heads underneath the roof because the seat backs had to be so upright.
I'm 6' but my inseam is only 31", so I have a long torso
I suppose it also depends on how steeply you recline the backrest. Our issue was that we could not get our heads underneath the roof because the seat backs had to be so upright.
I'm 6' but my inseam is only 31", so I have a long torso