Advice on a "forever car" under $30K?

[Anonymous]

Base on my and SIL's experience with Subarus, I call them POS, but some people like them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Might also look at the Subaru Forester or Outback.

Hondas are tanks.

My mom loves Subarus and always has a car in the shop.

[Anonymous]

Very loyal to my RAV4 and you can get a new base model for about 25k out the door, or 30k for nicer.

[Anonymous]

I test drove almost every car named in this thread and it was an easy choice in the end - Honda CRV. The front console is SO spacious, safety features are great, good space for the size.

They are all fairly similar so you can't go too wrong but if you want to avoid research just go with a CRV. Mine is an AWD which I also love but I can't remember if that upgrade pushed it over $30k or not...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very loyal to my RAV4 and you can get a new base model for about 25k out the door, or 30k for nicer.

In February I could get 2019 RAV4 with all the side alarms and rear-view camera for 25K OTD. Negotiated by e-mail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Base on my and SIL's experience with Subarus, I call them POS, but some people like them.

I agree. Very overrated with touchy feely advertising. Toyota Highlander is one of the best vehicles on the road. Also, never buy a car made on a Monday or Friday, no matter the manufacturer. The invoice date is generally the build date.

[Anonymous]

RAV 4 or CRV. In the burbs there is more of car pooling with kids though so many find even a smallish 3rd row space is worth having. We went from small wagon (just us 4) to...minivan. Room for kids and theit sports stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I test drove almost every car named in this thread and it was an easy choice in the end - Honda CRV. The front console is SO spacious, safety features are great, good space for the size.

They are all fairly similar so you can't go too wrong but if you want to avoid research just go with a CRV. Mine is an AWD which I also love but I can't remember if that upgrade pushed it over $30k or not...

What about tired with AWD? Don't you have to replace all 4 tires if ones goes bust and has to be replaced?

[Anonymous]

^^tires

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very loyal to my RAV4 and you can get a new base model for about 25k out the door, or 30k for nicer.

In February I could get 2019 RAV4 with all the side alarms and rear-view camera for 25K OTD. Negotiated by e-mail.

I think that is the base model? Not sure. They have tons of features standard now. Better than most out there.

[Anonymous]

Honda or Toyota.

[Anonymous]

In a very similar situation we bought a Subaru Forester a couple years ago and are thrilled with it.

[Anonymous]

Toyota for sure. We just bought a car and it was between Honda and Toyota for the reliability. Had a Toyota before that lasted ten years without an issue, but then it was totaled in an accident. Ended up going with Toyota again based on Honda's reliability ratings falling. For us it was between the RAV4 hybrid and the Prius. Ended up going with the Prius because it surprisingly had a lot of cargo space and was quite a bit less than the RAV4 hybrid. So happy with our decision and I've been averaging 65 mpg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Toyotas. My mechanic says Toyota, even used one better than most other cars. He also says Honda, but I don't like them due to CVT and BIL had one that was 5 years old just break down out of the blue. Nothing with a Toyota. Depends on your budget for gas monthly which one to get. If you can get a Highlander that would be my choice.

Agree with this. If you are looking for a "forever" car, get a Toyota. They last and last.

[Anonymous]

no one has yet mentioned the Mazda CX5, but it also meets your needs and is a great car. We're 9 years into our first Mazda and have never needed anything beyond routine maintenance. It's fabulous.