new car suggestions for first time in the US
Nov 9th 2018, 4:12 pm
#31
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Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
Thanks for the advice, it’s clear I’m going to have to test drive some shortly to get a better sense of it.
meanwhile I found this https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/...s-for-families
Adds a few extras to consider.
honda cr-v
ford edge
audi q5
id take a q5 but think it’s probably not financially wise for first time car so while keeping in mind I will try to find the most cost effective option, which isn’t too compromised and too expensive on insurance.
was thinking about the weather, awd and so on. I think i’ll be ok without awd. Picking an SUV would be for space and practicality not for snow or off-road abilities. I can deal with a little snow in any half decent 2wd, fwd is fine handling wise when it’s slippy out.
I know it can snow a lot, but it’s a few weeks a year and I can work from home on the worst days, where going out (awd or not) is not much fun and best avoided. Anyway, will be buying after snow season of 2019 and could always change car before the next if I had to.
thanks for the help so far.
meanwhile I found this https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/...s-for-families
Adds a few extras to consider.
honda cr-v
ford edge
audi q5
id take a q5 but think it’s probably not financially wise for first time car so while keeping in mind I will try to find the most cost effective option, which isn’t too compromised and too expensive on insurance.
was thinking about the weather, awd and so on. I think i’ll be ok without awd. Picking an SUV would be for space and practicality not for snow or off-road abilities. I can deal with a little snow in any half decent 2wd, fwd is fine handling wise when it’s slippy out.
I know it can snow a lot, but it’s a few weeks a year and I can work from home on the worst days, where going out (awd or not) is not much fun and best avoided. Anyway, will be buying after snow season of 2019 and could always change car before the next if I had to.
thanks for the help so far.
Nov 10th 2018, 5:48 pm
#32
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,383
Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
Why not lease each car for a weekend and test drive for a few days. The dealer test drive is not long enough to really give you the ins and outs of a vehicle.
Nov 10th 2018, 7:59 pm
#33
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Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
When I arrived here I rented a few cars, for interviews etc, the usual mix of Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, Fords, Cyrysler, Nissan.................etc, my personal opinion is...........US cars suck, Korean good but feel a bit cheapy inside, and The Japanese boring but comfy and reliable.
So I went to Mazda, Toyota and Nissan to check out deals, remembering I had zero credit and armed only with a temporary Cali license and a Job offer.
Mazda 6 real nice but 17% APR, yeah kick rocks!!
Toyota Camry okish (but I do like the new model)
Nissan Altima, comfy for a 6'4 guy, a little boring but economical, I'm currently commuting 90 miles a day, oh and 1.7% APR, deal thank you very much!!
45000 miles later still happy with my Nissan, other than oil changes and a duff battery all has been good.
So I went to Mazda, Toyota and Nissan to check out deals, remembering I had zero credit and armed only with a temporary Cali license and a Job offer.
Mazda 6 real nice but 17% APR, yeah kick rocks!!
Toyota Camry okish (but I do like the new model)
Nissan Altima, comfy for a 6'4 guy, a little boring but economical, I'm currently commuting 90 miles a day, oh and 1.7% APR, deal thank you very much!!
45000 miles later still happy with my Nissan, other than oil changes and a duff battery all has been good.
Nov 12th 2018, 11:04 pm
#34
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 119
Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
I rented cars here pretty much every day for 2 years, so I’ve tested a lot of those mentions!
I will likely get a Nissan Maxima soon. Was fun to drive, comfortable and very spacious. I love the look of it too!
Also, you mentioned a manual (stick shift here).
Have you driving an American one yet? Not as easy as you might think. Best sticking to an automatic.
I will likely get a Nissan Maxima soon. Was fun to drive, comfortable and very spacious. I love the look of it too!
Also, you mentioned a manual (stick shift here).
Have you driving an American one yet? Not as easy as you might think. Best sticking to an automatic.
Nov 13th 2018, 2:10 am
#35
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Nov 13th 2018, 2:36 am
#36
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Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
In ny experience driving an American stick shift is no harder than driving a UK one. A few moments of attempting to change gear or deploy the hand brake in the driver's door pocket soon pass, and the pedals are the same with the clutch under the left foot. Our younger son, who has done all his driving here in Pennsylvania, took his test in our automatic but took to driving my manual VW Beetle like a duck to water. As steveq says finding a manual transmission car might be the tricky part of the equation.
Nov 13th 2018, 1:48 pm
#37
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
In ny experience driving an American stick shift is no harder than driving a UK one. A few moments of attempting to change gear or deploy the hand brake in the driver's door pocket soon pass, and the pedals are the same with the clutch under the left foot. Our younger son, who has done all his driving here in Pennsylvania, took his test in our automatic but took to driving my manual VW Beetle like a duck to water. As steveq says finding a manual transmission car might be the tricky part of the equation.
Nov 13th 2018, 1:53 pm
#38
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Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
I second this. I've always driven manuals in the US and never had a problem -- apart from initially reaching for the door handle rather than the gear lever once or twice! And steveq is right -- I had to search a little while for my latest manual transmission pickup, but then got a great deal on a lightly used one because no one wanted a stick shift vehicle.
Nov 13th 2018, 2:00 pm
#39
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
I'm on my second Nissan Frontier. I've seen them pooh-poohed around here, but they work really well for me and I've been happy with them. I don't need the size of the big Fords or Chevys. My first was the four door with a real back seat; the current one is a two door with two fold-down seats that are a total joke for anything other than six-year olds -- but they fold up and I have a dog bed that fits perfectly in the space! Both have been four wheel drive, which is an essential for my driveway, and I feel very confident in the bad weather.
Nov 13th 2018, 2:06 pm
#40
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Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
I'm on my second Nissan Frontier. I've seen them pooh-poohed around here, but they work really well for me and I've been happy with them. I don't need the size of the big Fords or Chevys. My first was the four door with a real back seat; the current one is a two door with two fold-down seats that are a total joke for anything other than six-year olds -- but they fold up and I have a dog bed that fits perfectly in the space! Both have been four wheel drive, which is an essential for my driveway, and I feel very confident in the bad weather.
Nov 13th 2018, 2:17 pm
#41
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
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Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
My OH has a 2009 Rogue, which continues to perform well for him and is excellent in the snow.
Nov 13th 2018, 8:44 pm
#42
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Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
furthermore, I’ve tended to find you reserve a type of car by its class. But never sure what you’ll actually get on the day, depends what they have and what’s available, etc.
Am I missing a trick?
Recent stay in U.K. we had the Qashqai (rogue) as mentioned, latest 2018 model with pano roof and all the bells. Was quite nice, which got me thinking, but with all the extras the top of the line new model is probably a bit pricey for a essentially modest family suv.
Nov 13th 2018, 8:48 pm
#43
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Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
I rented cars here pretty much every day for 2 years, so I’ve tested a lot of those mentions!
I will likely get a Nissan Maxima soon. Was fun to drive, comfortable and very spacious. I love the look of it too!
Also, you mentioned a manual (stick shift here).
Have you driving an American one yet? Not as easy as you might think. Best sticking to an automatic.
I will likely get a Nissan Maxima soon. Was fun to drive, comfortable and very spacious. I love the look of it too!
Also, you mentioned a manual (stick shift here).
Have you driving an American one yet? Not as easy as you might think. Best sticking to an automatic.
I find adapting rhd/lhd not too bad.
I drove a LHD lancia delta integrale for years in the U.K., same issue in reverse. Never an issue for me.
Although it seems easier to find auto in the US and I suppose cheaper to insure also (anyone able to confirm that?).
Nov 14th 2018, 12:40 am
#44
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,383
Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
I like this idea however car rental in NYC (avoiding travel to the airports) can be a bit pricey.
furthermore, I’ve tended to find you reserve a type of car by its class. But never sure what you’ll actually get on the day, depends what they have and what’s available, etc.
Am I missing a trick?
Recent stay in U.K. we had the Qashqai (rogue) as mentioned, latest 2018 model with pano roof and all the bells. Was quite nice, which got me thinking, but with all the extras the top of the line new model is probably a bit pricey for a essentially modest family suv.
I would rent from Enterprise Car Rental on 233rd Street and Webster Avenue in the Bronx ... right at the Metro North Train stop. I didn't consider it pricey and I specified which vehicle I wanted. They were great to work with.
Nov 14th 2018, 2:56 pm
#45
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Re: new car suggestions for first time in the US
As for standard shifts (column shifts?), yes, you can buy them in the US. Not the preferred transmission but they are available. Daughter's new Toyota back in the 90's was a standard and she purchased that new in Florida. Of course, the timing chain snapped 2 blocks from the dealership after signing the paperwork. Hubby's bought a new truck in Westchester County (Mamaroneck) and it was a standard transmission. It was an Isuzu. I had an older Subaru that I loved and it was a standard transmission. So it is possible to purchase them but the resale value (since that is important to many people here) is not great since few people know how to drive them.