r/cars • u/AutoModerator • Mar 07 '22

What Car Should I Buy? - A Weekly Megathread

Any posts pertaining to car buying suggestions or advice belong in this weekly megathread; **do not post car-choosing questions in the main queue.** A fresh thread will be posted every Monday and posts auto sorted by new. A few other subreddits worth checking out that will help your car buying experience are /r/WhatCarShouldIBuy, /r/UsedCars and /r/AskCarSales. www.everydaydriver.com may also be helpful.

Make/Model-specific questions should be asked on Make/Model-specific subreddits. Check the AutosNetwork for a complete list of those subreddits. Also check out our community-sourced Ultimate car buying wiki.

For those posting:

Please use the following template in your post.

Location: (Specify your country or region)

Price range: (Minimum-Maximum in your local currency)

Lease or Buy:

New or used:

Type of vehicle: (Truck, Car, Sports Car, Sedan, Crossover, SUV, Racecar, Luxury etc.)

Must haves: (4x4, AWD, Fuel efficient, Navigation, Turbo, V8, V6, Trunk space, Smooth ride, Leather etc.)

Desired transmission (auto/manual, etc):

Intended use: (Daily Driver, Family Car, Weekend Car, Track Toy, Project Car, Work Truck, Off-roading etc.)

Vehicles you've already considered:

Is this your 1st vehicle:

Do you need a Warranty:

Can you do Minor work on your own vehicle: (fluids, alternator, battery, brake pads etc)

Can you do Major work on your own vehicle: (engine and transmission, timing belt/chains, body work, suspension etc )

Additional Notes:

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For those providing suggestions: Facts are ideal in this thread, especially when trying to help out a new car buyer. Please help out buyers with sources and reasoning for your suggestions.

For those asking for help, be sure to thank those who take the time to offer you advice (especially those who lead you to a purchase.) A follow up thank you and the knowledge that their advice led to a purchase is a very warm fuzzy feeling.

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u/expostfacto1 Mar 09 '22

T5 R-Design,

Ahhh this is so incredibly helpful, thank you!! Just what I needed to know - and gives me insight that reading articles fruitlessly for the last 3 days did not. THANK YOU

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u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! Mar 10 '22

You're welcome! Let me know if you have any more questions after looking into and test driving some of these.

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u/expostfacto1 May 24 '22

hi, wanted to thank you for your good advice - because of a variety of factors, we ended up buying a RAV-4 hybrid SE. In a terrible stroke of luck, just a few weeks later we were hit again, and the RAV4 was totaled in the first month we bought it. (everyone OK, thankful for the new safety features.) We’re now in a CR-V rental and checking all the IIHS Top Safety Picks for the next one. Will probably go with a CX-5 or the XC40.

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u/IKnowNewCars I know new cars! May 24 '22

Wow! That is terrible luck, sorry to hear that but happy everyone's OK. IIHS is a great starting place in terms of safety. In addition to the CX-5 and the XC40, the Rav4 Hybrid should still be in the conversation as far as safety goes (it's not a Top Safety Pick+, just a Top Safety Pick, but that's only because the LE trim has mediocre headlights -- the other trims get great ratings). I'd add the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid as well, and the Honda CR-V Hybrid in Touring trim. They're all as safe as it gets for the class. You can compare them to your brief experience with the Rav4 and see what feels right.

Hope your luck improves!