Help non-car people pick a second family car

[Anonymous]

We moved from DC to somewhere upper NY. We have a Subaru Forester that we bought new in 2019. We checked for 4wheel drive and the safety report and said this and we bought it.

We have two kids and it’s getting harder to coordinate schedules. We need a second car.

Husband wants a “low luxury” car because he likes the look and feel of a Volvo like a XC60. I don’t care - I get the Forester. I was recommending an ascent Subaru because it has a third row but he cares more about the feel and look than I care about a third seat.

Which brings us to money. We only last year started making 320K and don’t know how much car we could afford. Any recommendations for minimalist sleek vehicles? What should we consider?

[Anonymous]

Impossible to know without budget. $320k without a big mortgage and private school costs could give you plenty of room, but a luxury car still feels like an overspend to me unless you’re in the car for many many hours a day. I would prioritize the third row if you think you’ll need it and get a high trim Highlander or Pilot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved from DC to somewhere upper NY. We have a Subaru Forester that we bought new in 2019. We checked for 4wheel drive and the safety report and said this and we bought it.

We have two kids and it’s getting harder to coordinate schedules. We need a second car.

Husband wants a “low luxury” car because he likes the look and feel of a Volvo like a XC60. I don’t care - I get the Forester. I was recommending an ascent Subaru because it has a third row but he cares more about the feel and look than I care about a third seat.

Which brings us to money. We only last year started making 320K and don’t know how much car we could afford. Any recommendations for minimalist sleek vehicles? What should we consider?

I bought a 3 year old certified Volvo xc60 with 22k miles, for 30K and then added the 100k extended warranty. They depreciate so much right away that if you buy one that is two years old you can get a great deal. Just make sure it’s certified!

[Anonymous]

This. Buy used cpo Volvo.

[Anonymous]

Lincoln Corsair?

[Anonymous]

Agree with CPO.

Buying luxury new is stupid. Most of those cars are leased to the first owner and are treated pretty well.

Depreciation is fierce.

[Anonymous]

Only $320K, are you kidding. Get him the Volvo he wants. You can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only $320K, are you kidding. Get him the Volvo he wants. You can afford it.

....my youngest still has a year of daycare and our salaries were like 100K combined last year....yes it's only 320K now and 50K car would be a big chunk of this new income.

[Anonymous]

I bet you can actually go without a second car for awhile. Why would you want such a big car in the city.

[Anonymous]

Audi SUV, buy a used one. Doesn’t have to be cpo as long as it is under 4 year/50k miles basic warranty.

[Anonymous]

If you are ever going to want to carpool I’d get a car with a 3rd row. Do your kids do sports? Activities? You might say no now if they’re young but once they’re upper elementary it’s nice to have carpool options.

[Anonymous]

Let him get what he wants if he can afford it. If it’s his vehicle why must it have a third row?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are ever going to want to carpool I’d get a car with a 3rd row. Do your kids do sports? Activities? You might say no now if they’re young but once they’re upper elementary it’s nice to have carpool options.

OP here -one of my kids is 3rd grade and while we don’t do carpools yet we have friends we drive around etc. but if we have two cars we can manage while he picks up the youngest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bet you can actually go without a second car for awhile. Why would you want such a big car in the city.

OP - we’re in a rural area in upstate NY…our forester had some tire issues and we had to ask neighbors for rides and now my oldest has school events that interfere with daycare pickup. Do you have one car? And two kids? And work full time? Haha. I hear this advice often from other parents who don’t seem to live in reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Audi SUV, buy a used one. Doesn’t have to be cpo as long as it is under 4 year/50k miles basic warranty.

OP - I’ll suggest it thanks! Looks like he may have to look at some used ones too based on the advice here.