Right now I'm rocking a 1998 Honda Accord (oh baby) that is coming up on 175K miles. We're needing a second vehicle to replace it in the near future - the Accord will be the beater and the new vehicle will be used on "regular" family trips.

The car has to have four doors and comfortably seat two adults and two children seated in large car seats (we only have one kid now, but we keep our cars a long time so have to account for further additions).

Preferrably, the car would have a navigation system and leather interior, but those could be ignored if the right vehicle came along. Automatic transmission is a must, as is moderately decent fuel economy (25+ mpg highway but would prefer 30+ mpg). I would prefer to keep the price under $25K with all taxes and fees included (ie, if the car costs $24,999, that's too much).

The wife will be driving this regularly so it can't be a vehicle with a super-hard suspension nor can it sit too low. Obviously, from my side of things, sportier is better than plush (I'll take an Accord over a Camry any day), but hard-core vehicles are not a consideration.

To make it even more interesting, the cars can be new or used (less than three years old). Obviously, since we keep our cars about eight years, reliability is a BIG issue.

CLIFF NOTES:

Require a car (new or used) that:

1. Has at least four doors
2. Has an automatic transmission
3. Has a navigation system option
4. Has a leather interior option
5. Is moderately fun to drive but not uncomfortable for a family
6. Is very reliable and moderately fuel efficient
7. Costs less than $25K after taxes, title, and license

Don't all shout at once.

 

Duh...Accord or TSX. Great nav, and meets the other requirements. Accord over the TSX if you need/want more power (V6) and more backseat room. Otherwise, take the TSX. Friend of a friend just got an '05 TSX Nav with 20k miles on it for about $23k OTD. Finding an Accord with Nav might be the only hard part. A TL wouldn't be bad either, but then you need to go older to meet your $$ requirements.

 

The TSX is a great choice but it's quite difficult to fit two car seats inside - the car is pretty narrow side to side and front to back (in the rear). As you mentioned, the back seat is quite a bit smaller than the Accord and the cut of the rear doors doesn't allow an adult to lean in very well (to buckle in a kid), so that's tough to live with on a regular basis.

The Accord is definitely in the front of our minds right now. At $25K, we should be able to buy it new (four cylinder) without any issues. However, there is a redesign around the bend (fall 2007) that would probably be worth waiting for.

To be honest, I like the TSX over the Accord because I'm not taking a depreciation hit as soon as I drive it off the lot, plus it's quite sporty and has a nicer interior and a stronger (four cylinder) engine. Also, if we had a twin, we'd have to step up to a minivan or SUV and I don't want to lose my shirt on trade-in or resale - the TSX minimizes that as compared to a brand new Accord.

Lincoln LS is still in the back of my mind - I see V6s or V8s all day long for $21K or less that are only a year old. Old design and the navigation isn't as nice as Honda/Acura but it does offer xenon lights (not available on Accord) and RWD handling along with decent amenities.

 

You say "worth waiting for" I think "sweet deal on a leftover." I'd rather have a new last-gen V6 Nav leather everything car than a next-gen 4cyl EX non-leather at probably the same price

 

Right, but if we need the car within a month or two (as it may turn out), that doesn't really solve anything.

I'm with you - new with lots of options but "old design" is worth more than paying extra for the new design with less options, at least when it comes to a family car. I just don't know that we'll wait that long.

Could buy a second beater for $5000-$6000 until then, I guess, then grab a nice deal on a leftover 2007.

The new TSX comes out in fall 2007 as well. SH-AWD and 2.3T, hopefully.

 

You know my answer: 5th or 6th-gen Maxima.

 

What years would those be? Remember, this vehicle will probably be held onto for eight years, so anything over two years old (three, max) is going to be pushing the limits of reliability (time wise, much less mileage wise). We put 30K+ miles a year on our family car (that'll change a bit with two vehicles but not much) so it really gets a workout over those eight years.

 

How about something like this? No Nav but it can be added.

(Note: Found on a quick Autotrader Online search.)

2006 Cadillac CTS $23,900


Price $23,900
Body Style Sedan
Mileage 8,000
Exterior Color Sand
Interior Color Charcoal
Engine 6 Cylinder Gasoline
Transmission Automatic
Drive Type 2 wheel drive - rear
Fuel Type Gasoline
Stereo Compact Disc Player
Doors Four Door
VIN 1G6DM57T360207108

My parents just picked up a 2006 STS 6cyl. with 16,000 miles for $28,900 and it's pretty darned nice. Running a little over 70mph on the freeway I averaged 31mpg.

 

Something from Mazda? 3 or 6? don't know if the 3 will hold two big carseats

 

I'd suggest saving some $$$ on OEM Nav. and using an aftermarket one like the Nuvi instead. I just started researching Nav units, and was surprised how much more advanced the aftermarket is. Sure, it's not as blingin' as having it in your dash, but you get free on-line web updates (vs. expensive DVD's), more advanced features, and portability for a fraction of the cost. I have a Nuvi 360 on the way!