my mother's car has apparently given up the ghost. (99 lexus sedan) i am not sure what exactly is wrong with it, but apparently it wont start and made some pretty horrible sounds the last time it did start. i suppose it could be repaired, but my sister and i have actually wanted her to get something else for a while now to get a built in navigator and onstar, and she doesnt trust this car anymore. i have never had any intention of buying anything like this before and my awareness of new sedans is limitted to the usual suspects (camry, accord, etc) so i turn to the experts at all things automotive for guidance! what she needs is...
NEW. has to be new. non negotiable. i know it goes against every fiber of my being, but it is the # priority for this purchase.
RELIABLE pretty much the reason new is a requirement. but we all know that new isnt always the same as relaible,
built in navigation system, onstar access would be awesome. (just in case she needs to be found!)
highest safety ratings and lots of airbags
4 doors,
leather seats,
$36,000 or less as purchased. probably at an end of the year sale with help from a great negotiator (not me).
she drives slow as molasses so performance isnt an issue per se. but good braking and a stable ride are important as she is getting older and unfortunately sometimes less attentive.(not driving through a farmers market inattentive mind you, just less attentive than she used to be.
so what say you?
jrw1621
SuperDork
9/30/11 8:52 p.m.
The On-Star requirement pushes you into a GM product.
You mention the part about her getting older so that leads me to think that the driver does not want anything too low to the ground.
With that in mind I recommend the GMC Terrain or Chevy Equinox which are higher than a sedan but not crazy climb up and into high like a pickup or full van
jrw1621 wrote:
The On-Star requirement pushes you into a GM product.
Kinda funny that as I was reading that and nodding in agreement I looked up at the television and saw an ad for standalone onstar
http://www.frys.com/product/6678924?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
And the Terrain/Equinox have excellent safety ratings.
However, as an older driver, she may do better with something that feels familiar: that is, roughly like the Lexus. An Equinox might not meet that need, so... maybe an Impala? It's tough to go more mainstream than that.
For what it's worth, my in-laws, now in their eighties, are very pleased with their Malibu. And with a new-generation Malibu just over the horizon, deals on current ones should be possible.
Sonic
Dork
9/30/11 10:29 p.m.
My first thought is a new 2012 Camry XLE 4cylinder. It will be very familiar to her in control placement and feel, be reliable as an anvil, has nav, and you can get OnStar as a standalone, and it will be well under her price cap.
I like OnStar for my parents car, particularly the automatic 911 notification of air bag deployment, phone too as they're not cell phone saavy... in fact I would demand it for safety sake at their age and their location out in the country.
I drove Dad's LaCrosse for a week and it really grew on me, comfort wise it was great, I felt pampered. Geez, did I just say that?
If you could wait, I would suggest a Buick Verano.
How big a car does she want/need?
Hyundai Sonata
Car of the Year BTW
http://www.hyundaiusa.com/sonata/
Top of the line Limited is $28,095
Vigo
Dork
10/1/11 9:03 a.m.
You could get a brand new CTS out the door for a little under 36k....
Cruze? Yes smaller but can still get leather, etc. Take your time and have her test drive several different cars. She may find a smaller car easier to handle.
Forget OnStar. Just get her an Accord EX and a decent cell phone. She'll never get lost or break down, but if she drives over a cliff, you'll be able to find her through the phone. Plus, she'll have an extra ten grand in the bank.
skruffy
SuperDork
10/1/11 2:06 p.m.
In the new GM cars you also get turn by turn navigation included with onstar, it just isn't the touch screen type. I actually prefer it to "real" navigation for most people as it's quite a bit easier to use. Just hit the button and tell the advisor where you want to go. The directions load into the car live and it gives you directions through the audio system and in the display under the gauges. You can check it out here.
I sold new GM cars for a while (I've since moved to a VW, Audi, Jag, and Porsche dealer and couldn't be happier), and elderly people always want touchscreen nav but they will NOT use it. The GM nav systems are also about the least intuitive systems I've ever seen and are difficult even for tech savvy people to use.
If you know someone who works for GM you can get about 7 grand off a new impala as well.
The new Hyundais seem awesome. Reliable. 10 year/100k warranty can't be beat either. Good MPG
folowing these suggestions i am inclined to think it is between the camry with safety connect and the lacrosse with onstar. what is the concensus on relaiabiliy for the new buicks?
i think the cadilac is out for past perception sake. i like them... but i think for her it would seem too ostentatious.
the accord is also likely out too unless the FMV version of onstar can be hooked in.
does anyone think another lexus or an infinity would be worthwhile? if so, which one?
May I suggest the most current Buick Regal? It's a midsize built on the Delta 2 chassis, and it's available with a turbo engine. The one I test drove felt like it was bolted together like a Mercedes. It seems like GM has learned their lesson on building their cars to feel solid.
awesome. thanks for all the suggestions. i have alot to look at now!
awesome. thanks for all the suggestions. i have alot to look at now!
I love my Fusion Sport and it has all the options that you listed minus the navi/onstar, but navi is available. They top out around the low to mid 30's.
