Car Shopping

We are now in the position of either making an expensive car repair or buying a different car. Hubby is voting for buy a different car since our Buick Regal is now pushing 185,000 miles. We spent Saturday driving cars and will probably do that again today. They want to sell cars off the lots now to avoid year end taxes. We have driven some vehicles and so far the choice is a Nissan Altima or a Toyota Camry. I am a short person and also have problems now getting out of the Regal since the passenger seat sits so close to the floor. Nobody makes a car with a passenger seat adjustment that goes up and down. Therefore I want a car with a higher sitting seat on the passenger side or a crossover. I want to see the Honda CRV and the Toyota Rav 4. Does anyone drive either of these cars or are there suggestions for a car with a higher seat on the passenger side. I am open to suggestions and help here. I rather take a beating that have to deal with car salesmen.:nod:

As for the crossovers, when we bought our Tucson, it was pretty much a toss-up between the Tucson and the Rav 4. We both drove the Rav 4, a Jeep Patriot, the Honda CRV, and the Tucson. We liked the Rav 4 and the Tucson; my only problem with the Rav 4 is that I hate those racks on top of the car. And I couldn't get the Rav4 w/o the racks. The price I wanted to pay was for a basic Rav4; it seemed that everything I wanted cost extra on the Rav 4 or wasn't available at all. I wanted the panoramic roof and the nav system and the roof wasn't available at all on the Rav 4. 

But the Rav 4 seemed to have more cargo space and I liked that. I think I was sitting up a little higher in the Rav 4, too. I did not like having the spare tire on the back door....but that's why there was so much more cargo space in the back....no spare tire there.

We didn't care for the Honda CRV at all...way too expensive for what you get. We both drove it and when we came back, the salesman said, "Well, on a scale of 1 to 10, what did you think?" Rick gave it a 7; I think I gave it a 6. The salesman pretty much kicked us out of the dealership at that point; he really didn't want to talk to us anymore.

I wasn't overly impressed with the ride in the Patriot. If it was between the CRV and the Rav 4, I'd go with the Toyota. I'm not quite 5' 5" tall.

I deeply regret not test-driving the Buick LaCrosse. 

We like Toyota vehicles, they seem to be really well-built with low maintenance. Our next car will probably be a Toyota FJ Cruiser, not sure what color  but husband will choose (I don't care).

We have a Nissan Sentra and a Subaru Outback.  I love my outback!  The Nissan has been good to us.  We had a toyota before the subaru and it was fantastic.  It was 12 years old when we traded it in and the salesman even said it would make someone a good first car.  It never really gave us any issues.  The Sentra might not be good for in and out of.  I feel more low in that one now that I'm used to the Outback.  The outback is  considered a wagon; but it feels more suv like without being huge.  It's deffinitley a good family car for us.

I really love the 2013 Hyundai Sonata. Maybe I'll be able to get it around 2020. 

We bought a car today. We had been looking at a Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Honda CRV. The Altima was top of the line with everything you can name on it. The Camry was a nice car. My problem is I am 5 ft. 2 in. tall and I am tired of having to shove myself out of the Buick Regal. The passenger side seat had no up and down adjustment and that is true of most cars now. The Altima and Camry both had a passenger seat higher than the Buick, but not adjustable height wise. We bought the Honda CRV, a 2012 model with 14,000 miles on it. It has heated seats, back up camera and some other things. Driving home, the display showed we were averaging 30.6 mpg, which is better than we were used to. So I am glad the decision is made and we are done with that. Car shopping was beginning to get on my nerves.

Congratulations on the new car. I know you'll love it. We have had Hondas in the past and they are great. The last car we bought was in 2011 - a Nissan Altima. It is beautiful and we just love it. Problem is we drive the '06 Saturn more than the Altima. Paul never likes to take the "new" car to busy shopping centers, etc. Kind of strange, I know - we really have to use it more. At any rate, lots of luck with the Honda Post a picture when you have a chance.

kookycats said:

Congratulations on the new car. I know you'll love it. We have had Hondas in the past and they are great. The last car we bought was in 2011 - a Nissan Altima. It is beautiful and we just love it. Problem is we drive the '06 Saturn more than the Altima. Paul never likes to take the "new" car to busy shopping centers, etc. Kind of strange, I know - we really have to use it more. At any rate, lots of luck with the Honda Post a picture when you have a chance.

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We were contemplating a 2013 new Altima SL. It had so many bells and whistles, it would be like learning to drive again. It had keyless entry, heated seats, steering wheel windows, navigation system, lane warnings, back up camera. I don't know what else. The seats in the new Altima sit higher than in the older models, but still there is no up and down seat adjustment.on the passenger side. Because I am so short and I am getting older, it was getting harder and harder for me to get out of the Buick Regal which sat very low. The Altima seat on the passenger side was definitely higher, but I liked being able to back up to the seat and sit my butt down without having to turn loose and fall in.:lol3:

We drove the new car on a road trip yesterday to see our children. We got 32 mpg with the car. We are very satisfied.

Congrats on your new car!

congrats!! I don't think you would have gone wrong with any of those three in my experience. My friend had an altima for years (family car, it was her dads and was passed down to her) and it ran really well right up to the end, my dad has a rav4 now and loves it, I drove it once but that was back in my terror of driving phase so I did not enjoy (at no fault of the car!!!!!) it is a great ride .

My grandma used to have a CRV, and she drove it on many long long road trips, hauled us kids and the dog around in it all the time, it was a great car and she only sold it because she didn't want a car anymore at all. It treated her well.

I'm 5ft tall, and have no trouble driving my 2013 Subaru Impreza. It's the only car that I can say that about! The driver's seat can be adjusted up, and front and back. I find it very comfortable to drive, and Subarus (and Hondas) are known for their reliability; Subbies have AWD, if that's important to you.

MargeCat said:

I'm 5ft tall, and have no trouble driving my 2013 Subaru Impreza. It's the only car that I can say that about! The driver's seat can be adjusted up, and front and back. I find it very comfortable to drive, and Subarus (and Hondas) are known for their reliability; Subbies have AWD, if that's important to you.

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The issue we had was finding something with a passenger seat that was comfortable. Most all drivers seats are adjustable up and down, back and forth etc. The Nissan and Camry both had higher passenger seats than our Buick which would have been an improvement. However we bought the CRV Honda because the seat was already the right height for me to back up to and sit down. We drove it Christmas day on a road trip of three hours. When we reached our destination, I had no trouble getting out of the car. Always with the Buick, I had to unwind and shove myself to get out of the low seat and then I was so stiff I could hardly walk. I never had a problem when we drove it so I think we will love it.

I meant to add something regarding the passenger seat, "Not sure if mine adjusts for height, or if any makes do so."

The last thing I saw was the first post, where you said that you were "open to suggestion" about car models, hence my reply.

Margecat, I remember the days when front seats in cars looked like a bench seat. There was no need for height adjustment because they sat up high. I wish they still put them in cars. I was told by the car salesmen that only the high end cars like Lexus and Cadillac had the the height adjustment. Also we did see that some of the Chevrolets had them, but Hubby didn't want a GM product.