bobzilla said:
Optima/Sonata are made in Alabama now, the Sorento/Sante Fe in Georgia. Both will offer everything they are looking for. The newer Optima/Sonata have huge trunk space for a midsize. At least 4 on the DHS (Dead Hooker Scale)
I was just thinking Korean American myself if you can sell the dad on it. $15k buys a pretty Damn new, dealer serviced and covered Hyundai.
We paid $13k for our 2013 in 2016, with factory warranty to 100k miles or 2021 because it wasn't registered toll 14. I've seen reports on the forum since then of newer models for less.
yupididit said:
Dr. Hess said:
He could also bring his musical instrument when car shopping at the dealer. My friend brings his Glock when he car shops. He has to see if it will fit in the car. If the Glock won't fit, he doesn't want the car. Sales guys kinda look funny when he takes it out and tries it in the console, etc.
Is he too fat to sit in a car while the glock is being carried IWB?
No, but he normally carries it on his right hip, and I think he prefers a quicker draw and more comfort while in the car. He used to open carry, but I think he's gotten away from that. Anyway, that's his requirement for a new car. He has a RAV4 and a 4runner now.
I'd third or fourth the Camry, Accord, Prius V, Rav4, CRV, etc. They're all dead nuts reliable (or as reliable as can be for reasons cited above...), and have great gas mileage. In talking to the cabbies in NY they all love the hybrid Camry/Prius combo - more reliable than the Crown Vics and 2x the mileage. Those cars get worked hard, and generally reach 250k (limit in NYC) far before the 5 year rule in which they have to be replaced.
Brett_Murphy said:
Rav4, Sienna or CRV.
It also sounds like a bit of effort to do maintenance will resolve 90% of this conundrum, but I'm sure you've already talked to them about that.
Yes. It's not really a maintenance thing. They do the oil changes and the recommended coolant changes, tire rotations, etc. Usually the shops don't have the car long enough to diagnose anything specific. The downfall is that they are just completely car-illiterate. They don't notice when something is wrong. Like their Freestar... The low oil light came on but their assessment was the "it still runs fine." Then the light went off (burnt out) and they failed to notice the lifters ticking and then one day they called me and said it overheated and shut off. Yeah. It was toast. My sister came to visit once in her old Impreza and she said it smelled funny. The rear diff was on fire. Literally flames. It had leaked all the fluid out and got hot enough to light the oil on fire. Her only comment was "well that explains the oil stain on the driveway." I was thinking how she could have missed the loud groan that thing must have been making.
What usually happens is they do the normal maintenance and then once a year for vehicle inspection the shop calls and says something like, "ummm.... you do realize that only one brake is working, right?" Or, "we happened to notice that two of your tires have worn through to the steel belts."
Curtis said:
My knee jerk thought was Camry as well, but they don't want a trunk. Derek's musical equipment for his gigs doesn't fit in the Impala trunk and it's also a bit of a pain loading and unloading heavy stuff. SUV, CUV, or wagon would be best.
Did the Camry come as a wagon recently?
That would be a Venza. I had been thinking to stay away from Camries due to the oil sludge issues if somebody neglects maintenance. Now that you've cleared up that they do change the oil, just neglect other things, I'm a bit less concerned there. Still, an iron block can be the difference between overheating meaning needing a head gasket vs a complete engine replacement, and Toyotas haven't used cast iron motors for a while.
I think she chose well. 2016 RAV4 with 50k. They had to bump up their budget a bit, but I think that is an awesome appliance and well serve them well.
In reply to Curtis :
Good choice. I feel sorry for the car, though.
