Car shopping. Suggestions needed.

[Samantha's pet]

I have a dilemma. My husband is getting a newer Range Rover. He currently has a 2004 Range Rover Sport. It's fully loaded, heated seats, navi and all. I can take his Range Rover or get another car for around $20,000.

The Range Rover is awesome but I would really like a sporty but practical car. I have trouble with large vehicles, parking and such. Here is what I REALLY want Cars for Sale: 2007 Volkswagen Eos 2.0T in Chicago, IL 60641: Convertible Details - 299734554 - AutoTrader.com

The problem is that the car seat BARELY fits in the back seat. It's just not going to work.

So I guess my questions are, should I just take the Range Rover? If not does anyone have suggestions for a car that is

Unique- I don't want something that I see everytime I turn around.

Luxurious- I really want something fully loaded that has that luxury feel.

Sporty but practical- ideally 4 door or 2 door with a decent sized back seat.

Easy to see out of! lol. I don't do well with blind spots.

Some other cars I like are the the Volvo C70, Infiniti G35, Lexus IS.

I am just not having much luck. I don't have enough car knowledge and I don't want to overlook anything.

 

[zoe08]

What do you have right now?

Personally I would NOT want a small car with kids if you are the one taking them places often. I have a 4 door grand prix and even at times I feel like it isn't big enough.

Also my issue would be finances. I would NOT be paying on 2 cars at once. I am at the point where we are trying to save so that the next time we upgrade (to hopefully something with 3rd row seating) we will be able to pay cash and will not have to finance anything. If you would be financing a car, and him financing a new Range Rover, I would most definitely wait. If you can afford to make payments on 2 cars - buy one, pay it off faster, and THEN buy the other that way you are paying less in interest.

Also do you plan to have more kids? If so, how far in the future? You don't want to have to turn around and change cars again in a year or 2 if another baby comes along.

 

[Samantha's pet]

We would be paying cash for whatever car I get. He would be financing his new Range Rover but paying it off in about a year. Also, we do not want anymore kids. I currently have an older model Lexus IS. It's a 4 door and I never feel like it's too small. If I ever need to haul anything large we also have an old pick up.

Did you have any car suggestions? I was mainly just wanting to know if people would choose the Range Rover over a different car based strictly on preference or if there are any other cars that fit my "profile" that I am overlooking.

Although the Range Rover is largeish, it is extremely easy to see out of so I am thinking that would make up for it and I wouldn't hit anything when parking. IDK.

Also swapping cars in a year if something doesn't work out wouldn't be a problem. We are constantly buying and selling cars and hubby usually gets such good deals that we end up profiting. We got my Lexus in march, lol. Before that I have a 2001 Mercedes c320. I had that one for a year. We sold it for what we paid.

 

[CaliTerp07]

I really like the infinity G35. It has a huge backseat (I used to carpool with other coworkers, and 2, sometimes 3, adults fit comfortably in the back). It's super nice and can come with the heated seats, etc.

I like the volvo S40 too, but that might be smaller than you were looking for.

 

[Samantha's pet]

I really like the infinity G35. It has a huge backseat (I used to carpool with other coworkers, and 2, sometimes 3, adults fit comfortably in the back). It's super nice and can come with the heated seats, etc.

I like the volvo S40 too, but that might be smaller than you were looking for.

Yeah, I have never actually driven one. I definitely need to add it to my list of cars to drive. The Range Rover is so nice and comfy but I really feel like it's overkill. Not to mention it's a gas guzzler. I am just more of a car person.

 

[Samantha's pet]

I am looking at the S40 now. I like it. It's 4 door so definitely not too small. Lol. I am looking for anything big enough that She would have a reasonable amount of leg room. Even if I have to move the passengers seat up a little.

 

[CaliTerp07]

I am looking at the S40 now. I like it. It's 4 door so definitely not too small. Lol. I am looking for anything big enough that She would have a reasonable amount of leg room. Even if I have to move the passengers seat up a little.

4 doors doesn't necessarily mean larger backseat though. I mean, we test drove a civic, jetta, mazda3, and corolla (all 4 doors) when looking for cars, and the civic's back seat was light years bigger than the other 3. I mean, I'd be comfortable putting a car seat in any of them, but not long legged adults.

Living in an urban environment, I could never see driving a range rover. I have to parallel park or park in tiny underground garage spaces way too often to drive anything other than a compact car!

 

[Samantha's pet]

4 doors doesn't necessarily mean larger backseat though. I mean, we test drove a civic, jetta, mazda3, and corolla (all 4 doors) when looking for cars, and the civic's back seat was light years bigger than the other 3. I mean, I'd be comfortable putting a car seat in any of them, but not long legged adults.

Living in an urban environment, I could never see driving a range rover. I have to parallel park or park in tiny underground garage spaces way too often to drive anything other than a compact car!

I'm not saying that 4 door cars necessarily have bigger backseats than all 2 door cars, but anything with four door will have a big enough back seat for what I need, if that makes sense. Most 2 door cars have a big enough backseat, too but none of the 2 door hardtop convertibles have much of a backseat. The backseat on the eos was TINY. I can't imagine ever sitting back there without having a panic attack. It's like, it just has a backseat to say that it has one. lol.

 

[CaliTerp07]

I'm not saying that 4 door cars necessarily have bigger backseats than all 2 door cars, but anything with four door will have a big enough back seat for what I need, if that makes sense. Most 2 door cars have a big enough backseat, too but none of the 2 door hardtop convertibles have much of a backseat. The backseat on the eos was TINY. I can't imagine ever sitting back there without having a panic attack. It's like, it just has a backseat to say that it has one. lol.

Haha, I drive an eclipse. I know EXACTLY what you mean!

 

[eddieq]

I'll sell you my 98 Neon for 20k :rofl1:

 

[Samantha's pet]

Haha, I drive an eclipse. I know EXACTLY what you mean!

Exactly! My husband had an eclipse when we met, lol.

 

[Samantha's pet]

I'll sell you my 98 Neon for 20k :rofl1:

Oh lord! My first car was a purple '99 neon, lol!

 

[Bailey08]

I have a 2011 Infiniti EX35. I *love* it. I wanted something a little different, too, but not weird (like the Juke my brother suggested!). I got the fully loaded one, with all the bells and whistles. So fun. Anyway, if you like the sedan, you might want to take a look at it.

I drive in the city, in heavy traffic -- and my gas mileage is pretty lousy. So, based on my specific experience, that's something to consider. Also, I like the look, but the curved back end means that there is less space in the "trunk" area. I've ridden in the backseat and it's comfortable -- it doesn't work great for tall men, though.

I like Audis, too, but they're just not reliable enough.

 

[Samantha's pet]

Right now I am leaning toward a 2006 Acura TL.

 

[ChrisWB]

Samantha,

My father drove a 2006 Acura TL for ~3 years. It was an excellent, reliable car with a great interior, tons of features, comfortable seats, a good GPS/Nav system, a good sound system, etc. The only downside was that it requires premium gasoline. I can't imagine spending that much on gas these days, but if that's not a problem for you then it is a VERY nice car.

 

[Samantha's pet]

Samantha,

My father drove a 2006 Acura TL for ~3 years. It was an excellent, reliable car with a great interior, tons of features, comfortable seats, a good GPS/Nav system, a good sound system, etc. The only downside was that it requires premium gasoline. I can't imagine spending that much on gas these days, but if that's not a problem for you then it is a VERY nice car.

That's what my husband has always made me put in my vehicles. I don't really drive a whole lot anyway. I stay home with our daughter and we live in a small town so it's usually just short trips. Maybe a couple times a week I will drive 25 minutes to Little Rock. This is one reason I am leaning away from the Range Rover. Can you imagine filling that thing up with premium? Ugh! And it gets bad mileage.

 

[Zoom]

Sounds like your Lexus suits your need just fine and you only want a new car because hubby is getting one. Personally, I'd stick with what's working until you don't need to mess with car seats anymore and then to get whatever you want.

 

[Jules]

Sounds like your Lexus suits your need just fine and you only want a new car because hubby is getting one. Personally, I'd stick with what's working until you don't need to mess with car seats anymore and then to get whatever you want.

This.

 

[~Jessie~]

Sounds like your Lexus suits your need just fine and you only want a new car because hubby is getting one. Personally, I'd stick with what's working until you don't need to mess with car seats anymore and then to get whatever you want.

Yeah, this.

 

[Samantha's pet]

Oh, we buy and sell our cars a lot There is no way I would still have the Lexus til she was out of a car seat. It's just kind of a hobby for Danny. I have actually never asked for any of my cars. He usually just finds something for a great price then shows me and talks me into it. I normally get attached to my cars. I am not as much of a car nomad as he is but ever since I got the Lexus I have regretted giving up the luxury options that my Mercedes had.

It's not like I just HAVE to have a new car cause he is getting one. If that were the case I would want a new car every few months. That man is always getting a different car. In a way it does have to do with him getting a new car as far as timing. See, my Lexus and the Mercedes were not shiny, new, top-of-the-line cars or anything. They were both 2001 models and they both had damage to the interior. They were my "training" cars, lol. He didn't want to spend a lot on my cars cause I used to be really bad about having fender benders but I think it was just cause I had several cars with really bad blind spots. Anyway, he said, since i haven't had any kind of accident in several years, and since he is getting a newer Range Rover I could have his Range Rover or we could sell it and get me a more current car. I am certainly not passing that up!