For your purposes, I would just get a used Toyota or Honda. If you want a mid/sized SUB then a RAV4 or CRV.

Subarus are very popular low maintenance non luxury cars.

Anonymous wrote:Hyundai or Honda.

I am considering Sante Fe.

We used to have CR-V, so dont want to buy the same one again even though it served us very well.

Anonymous wrote:We love our Mazda CX-9 and it fits all your requirements. It’s one of the smaller 3-row SUVs which is what I wanted because we live in the city and park on the street a often. The third row seating is tight but we only use it occasionally. It’s got all the safety features and Mazda is consistently rated as the most reliable car makers. The cx-5 would also fit your requirements but does not have the 3rd row. We’ve had ours for 3 years with no trouble.

Thank you!

I would prefer to keep it under $35k, but CX-9 seems to be above $40k.

CX-5 seems like another good option.

Hyundai or Honda.

We love our Mazda CX-9 and it fits all your requirements. It’s one of the smaller 3-row SUVs which is what I wanted because we live in the city and park on the street a often. The third row seating is tight but we only use it occasionally. It’s got all the safety features and Mazda is consistently rated as the most reliable car makers. The cx-5 would also fit your requirements but does not have the 3rd row. We’ve had ours for 3 years with no trouble.

Anonymous wrote:For $30-35k why bother with a used car? You should be able to get a new CRV or forrester or outback for around 35. You can fit a lot of stuff in these cars if you fold second row seats, especially in the outback

I came to the same conclusion. Going to buy new. Looking at used car prices, it is not making a whole lot of financial sense either.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it would be more economical to uber or book a standing appointment with a taxi company. seriously.

That was what we are doing now, but it is inconvenient. For swim and gym, DD does not feel as comfortable going in a Uber.

I understand financially it is utterly nonsensical. We are buying a car that we need for two to four 15 minute trips a week. But having been without a 2nd car for 8 months, it is inconvenient enough for me to consider just biting the bullet and buying. Our sole car now is 10 years old but has only 60K miles It might run a while but having a newer car might be more pleasant to drive as family. We would use the old car for 15 minute trips and use the new one more.

For once a week l would get them to uber or ride a bike.

It might make sense to rent or car share for your road trips.

If you add up the car + insurance + maintenance you will see it doesn’t make financial sense to get a second car. Also depending on where college ends up being, Amtrak might mage sense. The Northeast Corridor is good and convenient. (DC to NY to Boston), but south of DC there are not enough trains yet for it be a reliable option.