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Can you please suggest some suitable used car make and models?
I'll be moving to California soon, from overseas, and I will need to purchase a second hand family car (2 small kids and 2 adults).
I am ooking for a small to mid size SUV, AWD or 4WD. Preferably a SUV with capability to switch from 2WD to Auto or 4WD.
*I don't really want to go older than 2006. Prefer 2008 models or newer.
*Safe and reliable.
*Reasonable torque
*Fuel economical
*Reasonable towing capacity e.g 2 tonne
*Cheap parts if something goes wrong.
*Is it cheaper to buy American models? Ford? What other brands?
*Can you pleas give me names i.e Ford Territory etc
In Australia I currently have a 2006 Nissan Xtrail 4WD and I love it. You guys don't have them in USA, do you?
Is Nissan regarded as a good/ok brand? I also had an AWD Subaru Outback wagon and it rocked! Great for active, outdoorsy people.
I don't have a price range as yet. Just need a standard car for a suburban mum, but the family likes a bit of adventure sometimes, so ability to go on different terrains is important.
Well, I like my "Surburban Mums" to be a comfortable ride, with good upholstery, excellent economy, able to cruise at a good pace but can really hammer it when the time comes. Doesn't need to be too spacious but not a compact either. Power on all 4s is a must.
Hints of sportiness and a willingness to get down and dirty in the woods when the opportunity arises is a definite bonus. Eager and responsive.... oh, and a manual.
Sounds like a Jeep Grand Cherokee would be a good fit, but there is the standards like Rav-4 and theCR-V . Bit bigger would be Pilot, Explorer, and Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade
Volvo wagon, Subaru, Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram 1500 - all with 4 doors. Maybe even a Dodge Charger AWD witht eh big v-8 they call a "Hemi" engine (except it is not a hemi - still a powerful engine). Dodge Durango. Even an Unlimited Jeep Wrangler - especially fun for California since you can remove the top and even the doors if you desire. Wranglers are not that great on the road though, but they hold 4 tow ok and are fabulous off road (plus the whole convertable thing).
As you are in Cali I suggest any 10 yr old Toyota or Honda sedan or mommy box. Avoid any and all SUVs as they are expensive to own, operate and maintain. You do not need AWD in LA. Take the difference in price betwen new and used and put it toward a paint job (CA sun is brutal on car finishes) and new shocks, suspension bushings and rebuilt brakes. A new uncratched windshild is also very nice.
Remember you are buying safe transportation not the neighbor's social approval.
Watch out with the light duty crossovers here. In the US, tow ratings tend to be very low compared with the same/similar vehicle overseas. If you want a 1 ton (2000 lb) rating, some crossovers will be below (1000 or 1500 lbs) and some right at the limit (2000, but in the real world less due to overall Gross Car Weight Ratings). So definately research the specs and be sure it will really tow what you want.
That said, I love our Outback which I see you have had experience with. I do not think you could go wrong there. For similar money, IMO, it offers more room and comfort than the smaller CUV's of other brands, a higher tow rating without having to buy more expensive optional engines (4 banger for 2010+ I believe is 2700 lbs), and they tend to be very reliable and durable.
Thats not to say there are not other good SUV's out there. Ford Escape's seem popular and durable, but base engines may not tow what you want. Also, I find them cramped in back, so see if they fit your size needs. Something like a Honda Pilot, newer Ford Explorer, maybe a Toyota Venza would also probably fit your needs.
I would recommend a Honda Pilot, by most accounts the best SUV out there for under $35K.
You certainly don't need AWD here in LA.
A Volvo station wagon would also suit your needs and preferences quite well.
You can check them all out at http://www.cars.com; I'd use zip code 90703, home to http://www.cerritosautosquare.com, the world's largest cluster of automobile dealers, and some 20-25 minutes southeast of downtown LA.
Where in California makes a big difference. Are you going to be along the coast or in one of the valleys where it never snows, or up in the mountains where it snows from November to April? If the former, do you plan to make frequent excursions into the latter?
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