Sunday after church we drove around to every other dealership in town trying to just get a feel for what else is out there. We realized Saturday night that until we actually decide what we want it is going to be hard to pick something out. Don't get me wrong I always know what I want and could have had a perfect option bought and in the garage by now but when the debate of family vs fun is still going on it makes it a little difficult.
We both had decided that probably sticking around the $30,000.00 range made us feel a lot more comfortable. But let me tell you that is hard if you are looking for a midsize SUV unless you want to to buy a car with a ton of miles already on it.
Here is what we deducted after Sundays little outing for the Family car:
- Mazda CX-7 (5 seats and around $25,000 - $27,000 brand new) We liked the CX-9 but we were talking an extra 10 grand for the 3 seats and just not what we were wanting to spend.
- Nissan Murano - Sharp looking car but only 5 seats and upward of $43,000.00 for more base models dollars. Rather have a Buick Enclave or Highlander for that type of money b/c you get more seats. The Rogue just seemed to small.
- Hyundai Santa Fe: Not bad but would rather have the Toyota Highlander it would last longer.
- Honda CR-V - Have heard great things but just not our favorite.
And of course we looked at a few more BMW's and a Mercedes that were a little older and few more miles (2008 - 2009 range) that brought their price under our $30,000.00 bench mark.
Monday morning rolls around with still no decision. We feel like we have decently looked at most of our options and so now it is time to sit down and make a decisions. Luke calls me multiple times that day first starting out with let's just buy a cheap car something that will get us around like a 4 or 5 year old fusion (hello that is what we are giving away remember) or a few year old Hyundai. Can you believe this I was thinking all along that we had two categories, decided on a budget and now a new wrench in the plan.
Anyhow by the end of the day I say let's just do the BMW. You have always wanted one, you work hard and long hours, we do not have kids yet, we are not over extended on our house and have to have the money for when we have to have that family car so let's just cross this off your bucket list.
He agree's and we spend Monday night testing out a few BMW's. Funny thing is even the salesman after talking to us for awhile was advising us on getting something like the Toyota Venza because it really did make since for what our plans were in the future.
Day 2 & 3: Family Car 0 vs Fun Car 0
Haha, that's funny! I love my subaru forester. It is awesome in the snow and there are lots of used ones out there. We got super lucky because ours had only 15k miles as a 2009 when we got it last year. They start new around 25 too. Even though it seats 5 the backseat is roomy as is the trunk. Rick liked the jetta diesel wagon when we looked last year also. Amazing mileage and extra trunk space. A BMW would be fine with kiddos tho.
ReplyDeleteHey Step, think about a used vehicle. Its usually a better overall purchase and you get much more bang for your buck. You might be surprised that you can come in under budget with a car you enjoy more. Look for an 09 or newer and you will find lots with low mileage. Bob bought me a BMW convertible that way and we drove it for a year and sold it for more than we paid:) Have fun
ReplyDeleteYou sounded really cool making the final decision, Stephanie. :) Having no kids yet still allows you to give yourself some pampering. So enjoy it. A BMW is such a rewarding car. It has style, comfort, and prestige. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteKerstin ^.^
A friend of mine had the exact same regret when she exchanged her van for a smaller vehicle. I told her she should not have been too hasty with choosing a car for her and her family. I am not saying that the Town and Country is a bad choice. The thing is, when choosing a car, you should reflect on what you expect your vehicle to deliver. Determine what you want your car to do for you.
ReplyDeleteTyra Shortino