In laws have managed to kill their 3 series and their kia something koup is out of warranty with a slipping transmission.
They live in Maryland, not mountains but hilly is an understatement. Have two Germany shepherd mixes with bad hips and arthritis in everyone.
And heart condition so no heavy lifting.
They want 4 wheel drive suv and it has to be automatic.
What they need is something that can survive neglect and bad luck, is low enough for dogs to get in and can be found new or low mileage (under 50k miles) used under $15 K.
Money is tight and they can't be trusted to refill their own washer fluid. They are out of state or I would do all maintance.
Good gas, 30+ mpg highway preferred.
Normally I would research but we are on a tight time table. My initial thought is a Fit with seats folded down for dogs or a CRV but that is a bit higher than what would be good for the dogs. Maybe a Chevy HHR but not sure of reliability.
What say yee GRMers?
A push in the right direction would be nice.
CRV, Rav4, Vibe or Matrix, Scion xB Gen1 or Gen2
Those will have a good seat high for the arthritic adults (not too high, not too low.)
Add a ramp like such for arthritic dogs:
As for the 4wd, save the $2k that option would typically cost you and instead, spend less than half that on quality, real winter tires mounted on a second set of rims.
Mid-2000s Toyota Sienna XLE.
Yes, Element is a good choice too.
old_
Reader
3/14/14 6:47 p.m.
I hear the Jeep Patriot is ok. Reliability might be questionable.
JohnRW1621 wrote:
Yes, Element is a good choice too.
And they were available with AWD.
Stone reliable? Element AWD is my vote
my in-laws and all his old folk friends drive Buick LeSabre's
I always thought that Honda were geniuses for making a dog package available on the element. I'd go with that
No one will readily admit it -- a minivan. Rear sliding doors and the ability to configure the rear for a trip to HomeLowes or a trip to the dog park (or vet) and a low load floor makes sense here......
Vibe/Matrix is a good choice especially because of the timing chain motors.
If not a Honda Element, then and Odyssey or a Sienna.
Heaven help me, I spoke to them tonight and their coworker is trying to convince them to get either a VW or a Subaru.
No specific models mind you, just any car from either of those manufacturers.
Nothing wrong with those cars manufacturers but with the top 4 boxes needing to be checked for them being up front cost, maintenance cost, reliability, and mpg I am hoping they listen to me when I make other suggestions.
Fr3AkAzOiD wrote:
In laws have managed to kill their 3 series and their kia something koup is out of warranty with a slipping transmission.
They live in Maryland, not mountains but hilly is an understatement. Have two Germany shepherd mixes with bad hips and arthritis in everyone.
And heart condition so no heavy lifting.
They want 4 wheel drive suv and it has to be automatic.
What they need is something that can survive neglect and bad luck, is low enough for dogs to get in and can be found new or low mileage (under 50k miles) used under $15 K.
Money is tight and they can't be trusted to refill their own washer fluid. They are out of state or I would do all maintance.
Good gas, 30+ mpg highway preferred.
Normally I would research but we are on a tight time table. My initial thought is a Fit with seats folded down for dogs or a CRV but that is a bit higher than what would be good for the dogs. Maybe a Chevy HHR but not sure of reliability.
What say yee GRMers?
A push in the right direction would be nice.
Honda Element? They even offered a dog hauling trim package at one point. Pontiac Aztek? Ford Escape, hybrid if the MPG is important.
The HHR makes me think 4wd is optional, so maybe Mazda 5.
i always lol about the element because it was a car made for young people who have an active lifestyle but the only people who bought it were retirees.
beans
Dork
3/15/14 3:13 a.m.
Tell them they need to start caring about the most advanced, sub $30k, 4000lb piece of machinery they drive daily. There's no excuse. If they can clean a toaster out, they can fix a car.
Fr3AkAzOiD wrote:
Heaven help me, I spoke to them tonight and their coworker is trying to convince them to get either a VW or a Subaru.
No specific models mind you, just any car from either of those manufacturers.
Exactly why I hate trying to help sometimes. Good luck.
Best forester $15k can buy?
beans wrote:
Tell them they need to start caring about the most advanced, sub $30k, 4000lb piece of machinery they drive daily. There's no excuse. If they can clean a toaster out, they can fix a car.
Don't get me wrong they do take their cars to the dealership or an independent mechanic regularly it's just they can't do ANYTHING themselves. They get taken advantage of by those working on their cars and are complete pushovers.
Had the Kia to the dealership 3 or 4 times under warranty and whatever the dealership did would fix it for about a month then the tranny slipping would come back. After all that they made the wrong choice and decided to just live with it.
SlickDizzy wrote:
Vibe/Matrix is a good choice especially because of the timing chain motors.
ZZ motors do NOT like neglect, the first place they sludge up is the piston oil return holes, then it burns through whats left of the 4 qt sump and dies of oil starvation. Wonderful (good enough for Lotus) engines if kept full of synthetic and changed before it turns to goo, running it on dino juice and changing it whenever it comes to mind, wont last a year.
