What car to buy now?

meanwhile · #1 02/01/11, 06:18 PM

We need another family car. My Husband travels extensively for work and his car needs to retire. Son #2 will take Husband's car since Son #2 will only drive it in town and if it breaks down again, he can walk home.

We had planned to buy a Honda Pilot and had a good price on one that will arrive at the Honda place in 2 or 3 weeks. Son #1 has driven a Honda Pilot for a year now and loves it.

But - with the recent trouble in the Middle East, I am wondering if there is a better choice of car to buy? Any suggestions or opinions?

Husband is very tall and large-build. He needs a bigger car to be comfortable and safe plus he travels with lots of boxes and bags, so he needs room in the car for those things.

We have thought about letting Husband take the Honda Pilot that Son #1 drives and buying something smaller or electric for him? But, he also travels quite a bit and will move to Minnesota in May for Grad School.

All ideas and tips appreciated. Thank you.

meanwhile · #2 02/01/11, 07:07 PM

Would it be better to buy a diesel fuel car? And, how do you know if a car will use fuel like french fry grease? Is that a diesel car?

mpillow · #3 02/02/11, 09:38 AM

The VW Jetta (TDI) is popular with the conversion kit to use used grease...

Joel at Frontier Oil here in China was interviewed for either MEN or Countryside...

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://w...qhkudiJp5gbDzQ

Blu3duk · #4 02/02/11, 01:45 PM

Not all computers like anything but the NON-Sulfur diesel with some of the newer vehicles... and of course if you ask the dealership, you may get the response that using anything other than the recommended product in your vehicle will void any warranty you may or may not receive.

That said, my cousins son years ago bought a used Mercedes 4 door car that was diesel powered and had all the niceties on it [luxery] and still got 40 mpg..... but living in North Idaho he traded it off on a "NEW" pickup that got under 20..... just to be in style. Though there is something to be said for the Chevy Surburban even at $50,000.00 they are built to get you there and back, hold up well in an accident and will haul pretty much anything you need to including a family once in awhile, though at les than decent mileage... but still in somewhat comfort [I never have cared much for chevy seats] if ford had not discontinued their big SUV type rigs i would recommend trying one of those out, but even getting one of the older ones like the Excursion with a 7+ liter power plant is still a decent thing they can get up to about 30 mpg i am told, and for a big SUV that is special, our 98 Expedition at its best gets 22 on the highway with a tailwind and around this small town it gets average of 15...... but it does feel good to have room for things as well as the kids at the same time.

The older rigs like before 1995 seem to have less problems if you use homemade bio-diesel in them from what ive read.

William
North Central Idaho

secretcreek · #5 02/02/11, 02:07 PM

In our 2003 Ford Expedition, I have: hauled up to 8 people at once... climbed mountains with vacation gear for 5 and that engine just purred climbing Big Horn mountain, Wind river range, In-law's steep driveway in winter, etc... ... converted the back into my personal little camper for a week... hauled ladders, broadband household equipment, and becomes my husband's work station once he flips up the back hatch-which also keeps him dry if he has to do an install in the rain. The expedition, for the last 6 yrs has carried three big teenagers comfortably in the middle seat- adults up front-and a ton of gears-to-groceries behind... hauled a large crate with a goat kid inside 10 hours one way. This truck was used when we got it. We've taken care of it-maintained it like it should be and it has been an absolute gem...and it's still a real looker-no rust. The driver and passenger seats have an amazing lumbar support adjustment and although I am in agony in anyone else's vehicle on a trip...I actually feel even better after a long drive in my own truck due to the great supportive seats(I've had fractured vert's). I told my husband, I wish we could move the expedition seats into our Living room! Gas usage: mpg 16=town, 23=highway.

meanwhile · #6 02/02/11, 05:14 PM

Thank you --

manygoatsnmore · #7 02/02/11, 06:42 PM

I hate to say this, but your Expedition gets better gas mileage than my small V-6 SUV, a Mitsubishi Montero Sport.

Maybe I need a tuneup.

oregon woodsmok · #8 02/02/11, 07:02 PM

If the price of fuel goes really sky high, there isn't going to be any French fry grease available. It's not like 3 people here on HT are the only ones whop will be looking for cheap fuel, and there is a limit to how much used fry grease there is.

I'm pretty sure that all the fry places here are already under contract to a bio diesel company. So where are y'all going to get all this french fry grease from?

mpillow · #9 02/02/11, 07:17 PM

Its plentiful enough here...
We got some for bear baiting...

I think American laziness comes into play...myself included. I hate to pump gas...making biodiesel sounds like no fun...

Not only is Joel Glatz doing it... so is Unity College....20 mins. away---and we can still get some oil in town for bear bait

TnAndy · #10 02/02/11, 07:44 PM

Our last 3 cars have been Honda.....most recent is now 12 years old with 175k miles.....extremely well built, reliable cars, without a doubt.

But we're looking at the Hyundai Santa Fe or Tucson now. Look like also top notch quality, and a bit less than Honda. Also, far better warranty ( 5 year pretty much all, including roadside assistance/towing, 10 year power train vs 3 year on Honda ).

You might give them a look.

The Santa Fe is comp to the Pilot, the Tucson to the CRV.