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Wheels.26
Buying new car	Topic Home Topics Forum Home Forums Home Search Settings Help Exit

{Wheels.26.166}: 89 Mazda 323, 19 Ford T.Connect {patrice} Mon, 19 Nov 2018 22:56:47 CST (28 lines)

I liked your article, Jil, but what you call bug eyed
older model, i call the better looking.  I dearly wished
I could have found a low mile 2013 cargo that had the
recall engine work done, and found one near me, but the
distance and shipping, coupled with mechanical
unreliability in engine AND transmission on those in a
cargo van (so many have been abused by carrying too much
weight and towing wiyhout the factory tiw package which
includes a transmission cooler) made it an unattractive
option.

I liked the height of the 2010-2013 TCs-- a full 5 inches
taller.  While I cannot stand in 54", it is better than
49. And I actually am not a fan of the sleeker 'cookie
cutter' styling of post 2014 but I accept it.  If they
couldnmake it look like a VW breadloaf I would be more
thrilled ;-p

Still, 2019 brought the first real changes since the
2014-18 models, so I look forward to seeing how they play
out.

I understand your concern about the road noise in the
them that you tested--that might have more to do with it
being a cargo van like I will be getting, as the
passenger van with 7 seats in the back was a very quiet
ride ... but I was warned the empty cargo model would not
have the insulation and seating to dampen sound.

{Wheels.26.167}: Jil {rabbit} Tue, 20 Nov 2018 07:35:57 CST (26 lines)

<<What you might not understand is my skepticism regarding
t Ford dealership's honesty and motivation to sell me a
thoroughly sound vehicle vs just selling me the vehicle
they got for me, figuring if it had, say, a leak
somewhere>>

There are always a couple of bad apples, but overall, that's not how
dealerships work. The vehicle comes in new from the factory and is
sold that way, the same way as if you go to a store and buy any other
type of merchandise. It's been quality-checked at the factory before
it's sent out. They don't do an inspection on it beforehand as they
would on a used vehicle because it hasn't been used.

They got you another vehicle in what's known as a "dealer trade." Not
every dealership has every vehicle in stock. If they order you one,
you have to wait for the truck to get into the system, get built, and
then get shipped over, and that can take months.

So they check around (the factory maintains a database) to see if
someone else nearby has the vehicle you want in stock. They then do a
"trade," either paying for the vehicle or sending over a model they
have that the other dealer wants.

The cargo van is noisier than the passenger van. It's still not going
to be as quiet as most cars, but the seats and insulation soak up a
lot of sound.

{Wheels.26.168}: 89 Mazda 323, 19 Ford T.Connect {patrice} Tue, 20 Nov 2018 22:45:30 CST (11 lines)

I understood most of that already, but it is reassuring
to hear that it is normal/routine/no red flags.

And I am less likely to notice even the road noise in the
empty cargo van, as I am used to a base model 1989 Mazda
323 hatchback as my point of comparison, not a big old
Cadillac (my Mazda still gets 32 mpg highway, but it
really is a tuna can with wheels and seat belts ;-)

Next time I post I will have the van and post a selfie
with it!

{Wheels.26.169}: Jil {rabbit} Wed, 21 Nov 2018 07:34:55 CST (1 line)

Cool!

{Wheels.26.170}: Bianca R. {lily1} Tue, 31 Dec 2019 09:23:59 CST (2 lines)

Just checking in here - Patrice never did post that picture!  What
happened?  Did the deal not go through?  Is Patrice ok?

{Wheels.26.171}: Ford F150 {fvehafric} Tue, 31 Dec 2019 10:00:54 CST (2 lines)

You can friend her on FB - Patrice Okanogan - she hasn't been on the
cafe in a long time.

{Wheels.26.172}: Bianca R. {lily1} Tue, 31 Dec 2019 10:04:54 CST (1 line)

Oh, ok.  All is well with her?

{Wheels.26.173}: Ford F150 {fvehafric} Tue, 31 Dec 2019 16:15:39 CST (1 line)

Except for the beavers that keep flooding her property, yes.

{Wheels.26.174}: Bianca R. {lily1} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 09:43:03 CST (22 lines)

Not buying a new car yet, but looking.  Our Volvo V70, a station-wagon
design, is 10 years old now, so thought it might be time to look
around a bit.  Went to the D.C. Autoshow yesterday and looked at a
bunch.

Looked at and sat in several, including Volvos, an Acura, a couple
Infinitis, Subaru Outback and Forester, Nissan Murano, VW Tiguan.
Tried to sit in a Land Rover but it was too high for me.  Didn't try a
Jeep, as they were in a different section and I was tired by then.
Audi wasn't participating in the show, unfortunately.

And there was NOTHING I would have been excited about buying.  I
really, really want another station wagon type of car, and they just
aren't on the market anymore.  The Outback comes closest.  The Acura
was the most comfortable and had a clever design in back with 3 hidden
compartments under the rear cover.  The Murano had a beautiful
interior.  But really nothing made me think "oh yeah, definitely an
excellent fit for what I need."

Looks like we will be keeping the Volvo for as long as it runs.  Or at
least another 50,000 miles or so, which would be four years or more
for us.

{Wheels.26.175}: Jil {rabbit} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 09:49:12 CST (1 line)

On Monday I'm picking up a Volvo V60 for a review.

{Wheels.26.176}: Bianca R. {lily1} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 09:57:59 CST (12 lines)

Oh that will be fun!  I'll be interested in seeing your review.  See
if you think you could get a dog crate, two large suitcases and two
carry-on bags into it.  ;-)

Also see if you are comfortable reaching the seat controls to adjust
them when the front door is closed.  I found the left armrest
uncomfortably close; my arm felt a bit squished reaching down to
fumble around with the seat buttons.

My current favorite Volvo is the small one, the XC40, but it's not
entirely practical as long as we still have our dog and make the
twice-annual pilgrimage between VA and NC.

{Wheels.26.177}: Bianca R. {lily1} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 10:13:55 CST (4 lines)

Jil, you probably know the answer to this.  Next time around, I would
definitely consider a hybrid, but is it safe to have one if parking is
just under a carport, not in a covered garage?  If the car is being
charged and the weather starts raining and blowing, is that safe?

{Wheels.26.178}: Jil {rabbit} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 10:16:47 CST (12 lines)

That whole armrest-in-the-way of reaching the seat controls drives me
nuts. A few automakers put the controls closer to the top of the door
and it's much easier.

The short answer is that I've charged plug-in hybrids and fully
electric cars in the driveway, in all kinds of weather. We have a
carport but the plug's in the garage and the cord doesn't always
reach, so I've charged them when it's raining or snowing directly on
the vehicle.

I'm not sure if you're not sure, or just the term you used, but a
hybrid cannot be plugged in. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) can be.

{Wheels.26.179}: Bianca R. {lily1} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 10:45:51 CST (3 lines)

Oh, I used the wrong term then.  It was the Subaru Outback that comes
in a PHEV version and I spent a long time talking with the people
there about it, but forgot to ask that crucial question.

{Wheels.26.180}: Jil {rabbit} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 10:49:11 CST (9 lines)

Yes, they can be plugged in with any weather. It's all grounded and
shielded.

I didn't know the Outback came as a PHEV. We just got the Crosstrek
PHEV in Canada but only in Quebec -- and that's because that province
has a zero-emissions mandate and automakers pay penalties if they
don't offer such vehicles.

"https://driving.ca/subaru/xv-crosstrek/reviews/first-drive/first-drive-2020-subaru-crosstrek-phev"

{Wheels.26.181}: Bianca R. {lily1} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 11:01:31 CST (12 lines)

Oh, maybe I was confused which one it was.  I had been looking at the
two Outbacks on display and then the woman convinced me to sit in the
Forester as well (nice but a little too small for what we need), then
I asked if Subaru offered a hybrid version (meaning "of the Outback,"
but maybe I didn't specifically say), and she said "yes" and then went
on and on about how great it was, and the other attendant brought up
the cord and the carrying case to show me and all, so I thought that
was all part of the Outback, but sounds like it was for the Crosstrek
then, which I didn't even look at.

Auto shows can be confusing, especially with my wonky hearing and all
the noise around us.  I do miss some details sometimes, no question.

{Wheels.26.182}: Jil {rabbit} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 11:24:47 CST (7 lines)

Oh, absolutely. They're noisy, they're usually jammed, there's music,
it's all overload.

I just looked up the Subaru US website, because we can often get
different models in Canada. They would have been talking about the
Crosstrek. I'm pretty sure it won't work for you, because the battery
takes up a fair chunk of the trunk.

{Wheels.26.183}: Jil {rabbit} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 11:25:44 CST (0 lines)

{Wheels.26.184}: Bianca R. {lily1} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:06:16 CST (4 lines)

Ah, for sure not.  Even the regular Crosstrek is too small.

Honestly what I think I would like is the Audi Allroad, but at that
price would look for a used one a couple years old, probably.

{Wheels.26.185}: Ford F150 {fvehafric} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:07:33 CST (6 lines)

I'm going to keep my Volt for another three years then start shopping
for a used model 3, assuming that there isn't anything better and more
affordable out by another manufacturer at that point.

Have you considered electric? Quiet, smooth, fast, fun to drive, very
reliable.

{Wheels.26.186}: Bianca R. {lily1} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:14:02 CST (8 lines)

I would consider a hybrid if the size worked for us, but not a fully
electric for our main car.  We make the 270-mile trip between our two
homes several times a year, so finding a place to plug in and the time
required to charge it would be an issue.

Far as I know there aren't any fully electric cars that would fit our
dog crate plus suitcases plus the random stuff we transport back and
forth.  We need something station-wagon sized.

{Wheels.26.187}: Ford F150 {fvehafric} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:36:20 CST (2 lines)

My friend's model 3 has 320 mile range. But it wouldn't work for the
dog crates. Model X would but they are hellishly expensive, IMHO.

{Wheels.26.188}: {fvehafric} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:39:15 CST (0 lines)
{erased by fvehafric Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:39:34 CST}

{Wheels.26.189}: Ford F150 {fvehafric} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:40:33 CST (6 lines)

The charging thing though, Tesla makes it pretty easy, and for a trip
like your beach to Virginia drive, you don't have to fully charge
enroute, if you just wanted to add forty miles range as a safety factor
you could literally do that in the time it takes you to pee and buy a
cup of coffee. Not trying to talk you into anything, there are just a
lot of misconceptions about electric cars.

{Wheels.26.190}: Bianca R. {lily1} Sat, 01 Feb 2020 13:19:27 CST (11 lines)

Ok.  The size is the most crucial thing, has to take our dog and our
stuff.  Price comes in second, but anything over $50,000 would give me
severe heebie-jeebies.  Would prefer to stay less than $40,000-ish.

We don't put a lot of miles on our cars, about 10k a year or less on
each of the two, so it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend big bucks
on something that wouldn't make a huge difference in our gasoline
spending or even our car emissions anyway.

We sometimes stop at a rest stop outside of Williamsburg, so if they
ever got fitted out with charging stations, that would be a plus.

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