[infotech58]

as i understand that safety is one of the primary concerns here; why not go with Volvo (safest cars in the world). new Volvo XC60/70/90 shall be between 33k-40k.

[Akshay1234]

Sahil IMO a lease would be the way to go, because then they guarantee a buyback after a certain period of time. Also they may take care of maintenance. Unfortunately I don't have details about leasing over there, but tell your sister to check it out. It will definitely be better than buying a car, and then selling it later.

Also the driving conditions being very different from here, it may make sense to get aids like lane change warning, adaptive cruise control, etc. The Volvo XC60 makes the most sense here, it looks pretty good and has all the safety features.

[nitin.rai]

Boston & snow; we are talking of an SUV with a high rollover rating.

Refer to these sites for your analysis -
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/
http://www.safercar.gov/

[VCheng]

Female Student + Boston + Need for a vehicle = Subaru.

(new or old depends on budget.)

That is a pretty robust formula I think.

[Sahil]

Rav4 offer best bang for the buck but I am not confident with the build of Jap cars. Would feel more at peace in terms of safety with a german.

Subaru doesn't appeal much either.

Priorities are as below to be more clear:
Safety > Maintenance > Feature > Brand > Resale > FE > Price

The resale is largely dependent on what stage of it's lifecycle is the car. I'd prefer buying a recent launch or atleast a facelifted one.

Folks with experience in snow driving, does one need to change to winter tyres or having all season are good enough?

You guys think I should consider AWD sedans such as the new 3, A4, C, etc? My only reason for not considering is the ground clearance is an issue during snow, SUV is easier to drive and I think SUV's are better built to handle highway mishaps.

Originally Posted by akshay1234

Sahil IMO a lease would be the way to go, because then they guarantee a buyback after a certain period of time. Also they may take care of maintenance. Unfortunately I don't have details about leasing over there, but tell your sister to check it out. It will definitely be better than buying a car, and then selling it later.

Also the driving conditions being very different from here, it may make sense to get aids like lane change warning, adaptive cruise control, etc. The Volvo XC60 makes the most sense here, it looks pretty good and has all the safety features.

Great inputs akshay.Safety features of the XC60 are the only reason why it I put it in the list. Do any other car markers offer blind spot removal etc kind of features?
I forgot to mention that such driving aids are also important as I want to equip the car with as many such features as possible for her.

Leasing is a great option but I have always heard it lands up working out more expensive albeit it gives you peace of mind.

Originally Posted by VCheng

Female Student + Boston + Need for a vehicle = Subaru.

(new or old depends on budget.)

That is a pretty robust formula I think.

You formula is robust for most of America but Boston international student scenario is quite different. Female Student + Boston + Need for a vehicle = BMW/Audi/MB. Whereas Male Student + Boston + Need for a vehicle = RR sport, AMG, ///M.

Boston international student crowd = spoilt brats

[VCheng]

Originally Posted by Sahil

...............
You formula is robust for most of America but Boston international student scenario is quite different. Female Student + Boston + Need for a vehicle = BMW/Audi/MB. Whereas Male Student + Boston + Need for a vehicle = RR sport, AMG, ///M.

Boston international student crowd = spoilt brats

Ah yes, thank you for that correction; I had obviously forgotten about the "international" aspect of the formula.

That being recognized, an ML550 (or even the ML63) would do the job quite nicely, with the Q7 S-line being a good choice if 7 seats are needed to carry around more friends.

[Sahil]

Originally Posted by VCheng

That being recognized, an ML550 (or even the ML63) would do the job quite nicely, with the Q7 S-line being a good choice if 7 seats are needed to carry around more friends.

Firstly thats not the kind of cash I am looking to shell out. Secondly the last thing I want an addition to the brat pack. Lastly my sole reason for choosing a German is safety and quality not the snob value. Thus looking for a modest german.

Now lets get back to some unsarcastic suggestions

[VCheng]

Originally Posted by Sahil

Firstly thats not the kind of cash I am looking to shell out. Secondly the last thing I want an addition to the brat pack. Lastly my sole reason for choosing a German is safety and quality not the snob value. Thus looking for a modest german.

Now lets get back to some unsarcastic suggestions

I was not being sarcastic, I assure you Sir. I was merely trying to suggest.

I personally don't like the looks, but a BMW-certified old shape X3 would be a good choice that would offer good value and perhaps meet your criteria quite well. (Older MLs tend to have reliability problems.)

[pjbiju]

Originally Posted by Sahil

...
Folks with experience in snow driving, does one need to change to winter tyres or having all season are good enough?

You guys think I should consider AWD sedans such as the new 3, A4, C, etc? My only reason for not considering is the ground clearance is an issue during snow, SUV is easier to drive and I think SUV's are better built to handle highway mishaps....

Sahil, AWD sedans with all season tyres should be good enough. I spent one entire winter there (which was one of the really bad winters seen then) and all we used were AWD sedans. We did not really face any issue in driving around including our trips to the white mountains. On really bad snowy days, we just had to stay indoors or crawl along the roads. With the way they clean up the roads, if you are driving along regular roads, you do not need 4WD or SUVs.

But as it is a lot of ladies there drive SUVs and not sedans. May be they feel safer in them or that they are more utilitarian!

[Akshay1234]

Originally Posted by Sahil

Great inputs akshay.Safety features of the XC60 are the only reason why it I put it in the list. Do any other car markers offer blind spot removal etc kind of features?
I forgot to mention that such driving aids are also important as I want to equip the car with as many such features as possible for her.

Leasing is a great option but I have always heard it lands up working out more expensive albeit it gives you peace of mind.

Well the XC60 has Volvo city safety etc, where if the car goes too near to a person or another car it applies brakes automatically, etc. Small things like that help reduce the chances of a small mishap. I don't think any of its competitors come close when it comes to safety features. And the XC60 isn't as boring looking as most Volvos.

Over here we are used to going pretty close to other cars, cutting lanes, etc so just having these features will help your sis get used to the style of driving there. Also being the same age and having seen some of the chicks my age drive around, I'd fully spec the damn XC60 and have peace of mind.

Leasing may be more expensive, but a few grand more maybe is probably better having everything taken care of then.

As for sedans, I think AWD sedans would be fine too, but then SUVs offer better visibility and also less care needs to be taken over small bumps (I hear Boston doesn't have the best roads) since most of them have a more robust suspension.

[Sahil]

Originally Posted by akshay1234

Well the XC60 has Volvo city safety etc, where if the car goes too near to a person or another car it applies brakes automatically, etc. Small things like that help reduce the chances of a small mishap. I don't think any of its competitors come close when it comes to safety features. And the XC60 isn't as boring looking as most Volvos.

Over here we are used to going pretty close to other cars, cutting lanes, etc so just having these features will help your sis get used to the style of driving there. Also being the same age and having seen some of the chicks my age drive around, I'd fully spec the damn XC60 and have peace of mind.

Leasing may be more expensive, but a few grand more maybe is probably better having everything taken care of then.

As for sedans, I think AWD sedans would be fine too, but then SUVs offer better visibility and also less care needs to be taken over small bumps (I hear Boston doesn't have the best roads) since most of them have a more robust suspension.

The city smart is useful and comes standard however it only works at very low speeds, I think < 15km/hr. It actually is probably more useful in India. For American driving their optional features such as blind spot alter and cameras for the side are more useful, each of these additions costs 800$ but I rather opt for it.
I can't seem to find many used XC60 as I don't think it is that popular and old enough. Is there a facelift due soon?
My father will be in Boston mid-may and hence he will finalize the deal then so I can wait for 2 months if there are new launches expected. the Q5 was launched in a 2L version only last year, I am hoping Volvo get a smaller engine for the XC60 too, that would be ideal and cheaper. The 3.2L is too much power for a young girl.

Boston roads aren't the best, I have learnt the hard way by busting my cousins CLS63AMG's tyres there once

[teamveevee]

Ford Escape
Jeep Liberty
Jeep Wrangler
Jeep Patriot/Compass.
Mazda CX%
Dodge Nitro....The list goes on in addition to the already mentioned cars.

As a person familiar with the place, If it is for my sister, i will go with Subaru Forrester/Impreza(hatchback) or Jeep Wrangler (hard top) and last in my list will be Rav4.

[NinadJoshi]

NAJ, few quick questions for you before I can make recommendations:
(1) Your duration of stay (short term ~1yr, mid-long ~1-3 yrs, long >4).
(2) Your expected commute.
(3) Seating expected (family of 3? 4? 2?)
(4) Expected usage (will you use your cars for long distance pleasure driving or rental ones?)
(5) Cash on hand =10K, but whats your budget for both cars combined? The cheapest cars will cost in the mid to high teens...are you ready to sell out 40K for both cars in one shot?
(6) Your spouse's driving status (licensed to drive in the US?)
(7) Have you had any previous car purchase in the US, from previous trips?
(8) Do/will you have an SSN?
(9) Your priorities: Power/performance/fuel efficiency/amenities etc.
(10) DO you have a brand bias?
(11) Timeframe of purchase.
(12) If possible your location of stay.

[NinadJoshi]

Sahil, your requirements post is rife with misconceptions, but I'll try to give empathetic suggestions to your post as I do understand that you want the best for your sister.

German SUV's are, contrary to your belief, some of the most unreliable and expensive to maintain vehicles around. You really do not want your sister to spend time at dealerships instead of classrooms

One does not need a 4*4 for Boston winters...its about the driver, not the drive. A safe driving course comes highly recommended for your sister, after which she should be able to navigate in a menial Toyota Corolla more adeptly than the guy in the Cadillac Escalade.

SUV's are not inherently fuel efficient (compared to cars). If fuel expense is a concern (it was $4.25 a gallon on my corner gas station today, and they are predicting a $5+ summer this time), then cars come recommended over SUV's.

If safety is a concern, then again SUV's are relatively less safer than cars. Being in a bigger taller vehicle has no bearing on being safer in it.

Having said all that, I'd say take a look at Infinity EX, Acura RDX and Lexus RX if you want luxury with performance and features in a not so big size. These SUV's perform about as well as their German counterparts, with wayyyyyyyy better reliability and lower maintenance.

If these are prohibitively expensive, then give a second look to Mazda CX7, Ford Edge and Kia Sorento. They are quite capable vehicles that come with many options and features, and are not letting people down form an ownership perspective.

Leasong v/s owning is another can of worms that can keep spilling a long way. My principle is simple. Lease if you cant or don't want to get under a loan.

In your sisters case, her drivers insurance is already going to be sky high (below 25 is considered a high risk driver). One more point to consider.

[chevelle]

Originally Posted by amitoj

Time for me to get active on this thread.

Will be looking to buy a car in the New Hampshire area (tax free, yoohoo ) by June/July of this year and i am absolutely confused what to do. Finance or lease? New or used? Sedan or Suv or (just for being crazy) pickup truck with a crew cab?
BMW 328i xdrive
And also the A4 Quattro
And also the Toyota Tundra

We'll probably need two cars though. But the first buy will be a car that will be the main car.

So, lots of confusion. Lots of fun!

I would suggest one main car as a reliable Japanese car. You can go with a European one for the second car.
Buying a car would be better than leasing. There are simply too many small discrepancies while leasing. Not worth the effort imho.
Used or new is something which only you can answer. But used-car market is awesome in USA and you will never feel wanting for a new car.

Pickup truck/crew crab are simply not worth the time and money for your use. Stick to sedans/suvs/xovers. While it may seem practical provided you keep moving or are into that kinda business, they are very crude in other sense. The only sense of family/luxury feeling will come when getting an Escalade EXT. Picking up a pick up truck, you will to consider following things - suspension, efficiency, living with interior, not too useful bed and then some more. I drove Tundra for brief period of time and its economy sucked like anything, 10-15 mpg was all i could manage but then it had a v8 in it so i can feel the pinch. With gas rates touching $5 soon, i would have to thinking not twice but thrice before plonking in big money in those trucks.

If you are considering BMW 328xi, consider its japanese competitors - infiniti G37, lexus is350 and acura TL. Similar FTD experience, more interior room for children at back, peace of mind and lower maintenance cost. CTS-V/CTS is a good pre-owned option if you can live with its interiors which honestly are not worth the money. Also when i sat inside, i got this feeling of being older than what i am. May be that's how Cadilllac's image is projected atleast in my area. CTS-V is a different beast altogether but it may not be a good buy for first time considering financial and initial family scenario.

Also you will have to be ready for higher APR if you are first time buyer for used sedan. In that case a new one makes sense as you will get lesser APR without any issues. Fellow bhpian Raju bought Mazda3. You can get in touch with him about rates he got a new first time car buyer.

Originally Posted by naj

Hi!!

I have been told to relocate to Midwest Illinois

small town and considering that I will need two cars , one for me and one for the lady.
not fancy but some thing practical. I dont mind leasing /buying with a loan. As the corporation I will be working for actually feeds/runs that and the neighboring counties , so getting loan should not be a problem as told to me.

Cash at hand 10k for the cars.

Please guide me!!

Cheers

The cash you have can go into down payment for two cars. If you need both cars immediately, you will have to split that in 5k each. That is good enough to get you good quotes and good prices.

Some options that you can consider are - Nissan Versa (sunny in India), Honda Fit (Jazz in India), Ford Fiesta hatchback/sedan, Hyundai Elantra. These are around $15k brand new. GM Sonic is the new hatchback but i don't like it somehow. It is a good car but i would prefer fiesta hatchback or fit. VW Jetta is also similarly priced but it has lost its interior quality for that price and that may be a deal breaker. For me it is.

You haven't mentioned how long you will be staying there. I guess since you are getting new ones, you are in for long haul. Otherwise consider used one if you are not staying for long. Less painful while selling, less heavy on pocket and can easily sell once you are done with it.

Originally Posted by amitoj

What are the normal bank rates these days? And there is no difference in bank rates whether you go for used or new, like here in India? By used, i mean certified cars.

Bank rates vary from 0.99% to 20%. Used car(Certified or not) rates are higher than new. A new car can be had for as low as 0.99% to 5.99% most of times. While used cars usually start from 2.99% and go to as high as 20% depending on model of car, miles and your credit. Go for Credit Union banks. Most of the times they have the best rates.