I need to buy 2 cars, what do I get?!?

We have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GT for SWMBO and a 2005 Saturn Vue 2.2 for me. The GP needs too much work and doesn't jive with our needs (hatch/wagon, high MPG) and I rear-ended somebody with the Saturn just to get it out of my life (not really).

SWMBO had been shopping an original Prius 3rd Gen (2010-14) as it meets all of her needs, can be had in budget, and was okay to drive. I always said I'd just go buy another Mazda5. However, the Prius actually makes more sense for me (LOTS of stop-and-go, I'm a sales rep), and a bigger hatch/wagon makes more sense for her (primary caregiver for 4yo SWMBO Jr and 8mo Javelin Jr) because strollers and crap.

Both have to be 06 or newer, $15K or less, 4/5 door, fit 2 rear-facing kid seats, and cloth. Hers has to be an auto, I prefer a stick but I can be swayed. Prefer 2010 or newer and under 75K miles on both. I prefer a moonroof. We both like Mazdas and the Prius. Absoberkinglutely NO GM's at all period the end.

And, go!

One standard Prius for you, likely used, as your business, heavy miles car.

A full sized minivan for her. This recommendation makes the assumption that she really does not drive that many miles per year (like 10k or less) so big mpg really won't give her a big payback.
For the Minivan, maybe a recent, used Kia which may benefit from more depreciation than the Japanese counterparts.

Now, you have one small/medium, high mpg machine and another large, spacious, 3500# tow machine.

When you all travel together you can then decide if you want tight and high mpg or spacious and low mpg.

Keep the Javelin as your source of automotive entertainment.

The Javelin stays unless my dad decides to sell me his 69 AMX!

I just stole a 14 versa note from a dealer for peanuts. They wanted it gone because it was a 5mt. Im told thr cvt is junk, but it seems inoffensive enough for a commuter soec car, and they will pay you to take them lightly used.

Edit- ive been following hyundai sonatas and their ilk as well. I prefer mazda 3s myself, and used ones can easily go your way price wise. They will accommodate 2 seats, as ive done it in mine. They do cut off a bit of room if they're rear facing however.

I second the Versa note, it's an appliance but they are cheap and relatively durable (don't know about the CVT though). Also agree with the Minivan recommendation for SWMBO, those small folk grow fast and the amount of crap you have to tote around does not shrink the larger they get. Get a 08-up T&C or Caravan or whatever and don't look back, they are really great people movers and make road trips with the family at least comfortable.

Um...two P71s.

So tell us the dets on that note!

So, just to clarify; a Miata is NOT the answer here?

Not sure if it will fit child seats comfortably, but one alternate to the Prius (if you think it's too much of a penalty box) is the Sonic hatch with the 1.4T. Can be had with a manual trans and easily within your price range. I test drove one before buying the FR-S and liked it quite a bit. It was a far more practical choice, but I have LSJuan fantasies and the FR-S keeps them alive...

singleslammer wrote: So tell us the dets on that note!

14 versa note. Manual. As stripped as it gets. Crank windows even. Got it for 8500? Dealer even threw in oil changes and a warranty to get rid of it. Buying a car on nye has its advantages. Turns out they dont like aged stock. And it turned a year older, tomorrow.

secretariata wrote: Not sure if it will fit child seats comfortably, but one alternate to the Prius (if you think it's too much of a penalty box) is the Sonic hatch with the 1.4T. Can be had with a manual trans and easily within your price range. I test drove one before buying the FR-S and liked it quite a bit. It was a far more practical choice, but I have LSJuan fantasies and the FR-S keeps them alive...

He said no gm forever. Sonic....is out.

I love all the suggestions, but no compact will hold rear-facing car seats unless I cut off my legs. I know for sure, I've measured, and SWMBO isn't giving up her preferred bunkers, I mean seats. So no Versa, Fiesta, Focus, Mazda3, or Sonic.

I like the minivan for her idea, but that was shot down. She likes hatches or wagons. Maybe a really car like crossover.

mndsm wrote:

secretariata wrote: Not sure if it will fit child seats comfortably, but one alternate to the Prius (if you think it's too much of a penalty box) is the Sonic hatch with the 1.4T. Can be had with a manual trans and easily within your price range. I test drove one before buying the FR-S and liked it quite a bit. It was a far more practical choice, but I have LSJuan fantasies and the FR-S keeps them alive...

He said no gm forever. Sonic....is out.

You sir are correct, my short attention span completely forgot that by the time I read the last post before mine...

Javelin wrote: I like the minivan for her idea, but that was shot down. She likes hatches or wagons. Maybe a really car like crossover.

How about minivans disguised as wagons?
Ford Flex or earlier Ford Taurus X ?
Chrysler Pacifica.

Heck, any crossover. Mazda CX9s seem highly overlooked in the used market (could be depreciated more than most).

Javelin wrote: I love all the suggestions, but no compact will hold rear-facing car seats unless I cut off my legs. I know for sure, I've measured, and SWMBO isn't giving up her preferred bunkers, I mean seats. So no Versa, Fiesta, Focus, Mazda3, or Sonic. I like the minivan for her idea, but that was shot down. She likes hatches or wagons. Maybe a really car like crossover.

Ford cmax? I see em all over in florida. They seem like a stretched focus. Sort of like a domestic mazda5. And the damn things are basically unheard of, so.....cheap?

C-Max is actually an excellent idea. They took a massive depreciation hit over the whole "doesn't get anywhere near 52 MPG" thing, and they would be great for my commute. Hmmm.

Ford C-Max (terrible depreciation from the MPG scandal) and 08-10 Mazda5 (old nice looking body plus 5-speed auto instead of 4, Aux input, etc) are the 2 front runners. Easily found semi-locally for under $10K!

Nissan Leaf is a rogue outlier, as is a CX-7 (turbo!). SWMBO is pretty set on her Prius.

CX7 turbo has a horrible reliability record. https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/learn-me-mazda-cx-7/108215/page1/#post1944189

How about a cx-5 and a Prius or Prius v? If your going to go the cx-7 route, no turbo. Nothing but bad things.

Too bad about the no GM thing, you can get it all in a Volt, 2013, less than 30k miles, for under 15k...

Saab 9-3 for you and Ford Flex for her. She needs the space and you need the economy. But sitting in a penalty box of a car isn't good for your personal satisfaction either. So get cheap, safe, comfortable, orphaned Saab and enjoy it's "euroness"

Why do you need two rear facing car seats? A 4 year old should be in a forward facing seat at this point...

Prius for you. Ford flex for her.

In reply to docwyte:

Rear facing until 40 pounds is what's recommended, and she's a tiny little string bean at 30 lbs.

CX-7 is definitely out.

I like the Volt, but my wallet hurts too much to risk another GM.