Quote:
Originally Posted by slowmover
Maybe I missed it, but, hey there's not only a husband, but an elderly mother to factor in. The latter is a big deal if we are speaking of someone who needs doctor appointments, waiting times in car for such (So LA is too hot for anything but extended idling in re air condtioning even in winter some days) and other duties as such.
And what type of driving is being done? Southerners tend to like road trips to relatives over nearly every other group around. Highway mpg might actually matter then . . it sure doesn't otherwise as I'd rate the needs of an elderly relative higher than any other factor (having had my share of same).
It's hard to beat a minivan in this case. HONDA ODYSSEY, in point. Can tow a respectable trailer as well (Airstream-sized).
And stick with a color that stands out in the rain.
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I'd like to apologize for TOTALLY missing this post.
Good points, all of them.
Like all car buyers, my dad wants my mom to buy a car for 99-100% of uses particularly his uses that he should be using his van for, but would prefer to use her car. My mom would like a Miata, but is compromising WAY away because of A) my grandmother (Miata isn't going to work) and B) my dad. I do like the Odyssey a heck of a lot, my favorite new car salesman gave her a heck of a price on a brand new 2013 Odyssey ($24k) but when I brought up the fact that the Odyssey is the same area as several vehicles that she completely refused to drive (and I insisted that she test drive on at least 10 miles before purchase as well as anything she wants) it was out. I'm not sure if that was the best move on my part or not.
Back to the driving types, Real world, she does 50% around small town for groceries and what not, 35% across medium city to see/ deal with my grandmother and 15% highway (100+ miles). But if you ask her, she does 80% highway 100+ miles. And often tows.
I probably shouldn't worry so much about towing / economy, her last 3 vehicles saw 8,000~10,000 miles per year towed maybe once, and were totaled in 3~5 years each. BTW: I've been quietly watching safety ratings of everything and all are fine in my book.
The only reason the Focus car racked up 9,000 miles in so little time is that my dad's 2011 Ford E-350 is also a pile, blown head gasket, leaky oil cooler, leaky A/C evaporator, front left wheel didn't have a cotter pin in the castle nut (I lucked the hell out and caught that at Jazz Fest when we ran over a MIG nozzle and the tire went flat in the middle of a massive traffic jam and I realized the wheel was being held on mainly by the brake caliper I spun the castle nut back on and cotter pinned it in with some wire), tie rod was loose (that issue has been common to his last 3 Ford E-350's, and a friends 2011 E-550 RV as well).
Probably shouldn't have shared all of that, rough day here.
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