Car for Au Pair

[Anonymous]

If you bought a car for your AP, what did you get and how much was it?

We live in the suburbs and currently share a car, but would like to buy a 3rd one. She can't get out of the house right now when we're at work, and the kids need to get out (toddlers), especially in the winter months.

We're currently looking for something used under $10K that I can drive to and from work (longish commute) and she can use on the evenings and weekends.

I'd love to know what others have done.

[Anonymous]

In your situation, I'd probably look at carmax and get a toyota or honda.

[Anonymous]

If AP uses it for work and driving the kids, usually families get a newish car or lease.

For AP's social use only, any beater car that runs well enough that AP doesn't get stranded and call you to help.

[Anonymous]

We had a 2009 GM sedan for AP from 2014 - 2019, this year we got a small 2014 Ford crossover, has a lot of miles but runs great and we got it for about $4k

[Anonymous]

Get the smallest car that will fit your kids. Think Ford Festiva.

[Anonymous]

How old is your oldest family car? If it is 7-8 years old or so, I'd just make that the "au pair" car and get a new one for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old is your oldest family car? If it is 7-8 years old or so, I'd just make that the "au pair" car and get a new one for yourself.

+1
having 3 cars over 6 years old just means you get to replace 2 back to back in a few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old is your oldest family car? If it is 7-8 years old or so, I'd just make that the "au pair" car and get a new one for yourself.

+1
I drove my HP's Chrysler Grand Voyager during working hours (four kids) and my HD's old Honda Civic in my time off. My HP's bought a new car that was not AP compatible

[Anonymous]

So it sounds like you will have a 3rd car for your commute and then for au pair free time, so you guys are sharing it correct?
I would get a Toyt Camry or Honda Accord. Something safe and reliable that your kids can ride in if need be too, if one of the other cars is in the shop or something.

[Anonymous]

Do NOT lease a car for the au pair.

Get a new one for yourself and hand down the older car.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! Our cars are new-ish, so we will likely buy an older car for the AP/my commute. But an older one that runs well enough to sustain a 60 mile daily commute for the next 2.5 years.

[Anonymous]

We jumped back in the program for a year only. Our kids are 9&13, the job requires a lot of driving. She has all day free and I don't want her using my to drive all over kingdom come during the day. We also live in the suburbs.

We purchased a Honda Civic for 10k. We figure we will sell it for 7k when the year is up. We basically look at the car as a rental.

[Anonymous]

Just purchased a used toyota corolla off Facebook marketplace. $9,500. 54k miles on a 2014. New breaks, new tires, and all the service records. All service was done at the dealership, even oil changes and recommended maintenance. Spectacular find.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just purchased a used toyota corolla off Facebook marketplace. $9,500. 54k miles on a 2014. New brakes, new tires, and all the service records. All service was done at the dealership, even oil changes and recommended maintenance. Spectacular find.

Let me fix that for you.