It's first car time for my youngest. What to get musings.

G_Body_Man said:

Based on the Escape idea I'm gonna suggest a Ford Edge or Lincoln MKX. A bit bigger than an Escape, a bit nicer than an Escape, a bit safer than an Escape (the Escape flipped in NHTSA side impact testing) and doesn't suffer from the same magnitude of rot often seen in Escapes.

Thing you gotta know about my old buddy Ade is that he's had virtually every new Ford that they make over the last 10 years or so because he gets a company lease car that he changes often. Just from my memory, he's had an Edge, an MKX, a couple of Flexes, an Exploder Sport, a Focus, a Taurus X, an Escape, a couple of convertible Mustangs, and probably others I'm forgetting about. The only things he hasn't had have been a Fusion and an F-150. Or a Taurus, I suppose. So he knows from Fords.

And he's going to get a Ford. I think he's just trying to cover his bases with this thread. 

Adrian_Thompson said:

alfadriver said:

Slow, 4cyl, two seat pick up truck.  

No real chance of taking friends.  No performance to really worry about.  And so ugly that it's just transportation.  

Foolish as it may sound, I'm not worried about a back seat.  She's not really interested in boys..........yet.

 

Don't get to comfortable with that observation, or should I say, fantasy...

I think the Escape/Tribute/Mariner is the best bet in this situation. Only other suggestion that hasn't been covered is the C-Max.

I'm looking at 08-12 escapes for my wife. I can't seem to find anything I trust more in cuv size for the sub 5k price range.

When I worked in Detroit, almost everybody in the office with teenage drivers did the company lease for Avengers/Darts/Partiots or whatever was cheap since it included insurance and maintenance (I do not miss the Michigan insurance costs).  Does Ford have a similar program?  

I’ll offer a different perspective- The Honda Fit is a fantastic car for a young driver. Economical to run, reasonably fun to drive, big enough without being a yacht, pretty good in most weather with decent tires. It’s also a surprisingly safe car - My son was hit broadside in his by a mid-80s Buick going 50. The car gave its all, but it kept him safe. A little airbag rash and a bruised rib was it.  The passenger in the other car did not fare nearly as well.

The answer is always Polara.

Just another quick thought, what about a Matrix/Vibe? Most of the economy of a Civic, most of the CUV-ness of an Escape

 I'm a car person and don't care much for Boxsters either. (maybe a 718, but still rather have a Cayman).

 Saturn Vue can be had cheap. Shop carefully and you can score one with a Honda V6.  The 4cyl aren't bad, but some had CVT's so buyer beware.

Adrian_Thompson said:

She's seriously not a car person.  Cars are puerley a necessary evil to get from point A to point B.  She'd be far happier if we all road horses to work every day.

The question is does she really need a car if she feels that way?

The newest rav4 or crv you can afford. Keep the oil changed and forget about it.

Thinking about this thread and I saw a Lincoln MKX this afternoon. What are those based on? 

Hybrid Escape.

mazdeuce - Seth said:

Thinking about this thread and I saw a Lincoln MKX this afternoon. What are those based on? 

MKX is the jazzy, Lincon-a-fied Ford Edge.

stuart in mn said:

The question is does she really need a car if she feels that way?

Huh? She still needs to get around......

Thanks for all the replies peeps.

dean1484 said:

RAV4

LOL, can you block people on GRM for indicent behaviour?

Tom_Spangler said:

Thing you gotta know about my old buddy Ade is that he's had virtually every new Ford that they make over the last 10 years or so because he gets a company lease car that he changes often. Just from my memory, he's had an Edge, an MKX, a couple of Flexes, an Exploder Sport, a Focus, a Taurus X, an Escape, a couple of convertible Mustangs, and probably others I'm forgetting about. The only things he hasn't had have been a Fusion and an F-150. Or a Taurus, I suppose. So he knows from Fords.

And he's going to get a Ford. I think he's just trying to cover his bases with this thread. 

OK, I think you forgot a Mercury Mariner and a Lincoln MK-C and a second Edge, but damn, not bad!

jharry3 said:Don't get to comfortable with that observation, or should I say, fantasy...

Trust me, she's got an older sister who was interested in boys, trouble and everything else.  I am a grandparent don't forget.  No, this one really isn't interested in boys and she's a social introvert.  We (Spousal unit and I) are the ones who push her to socialize and go out more.  I literally have zero concerns here and it's not blinders.  BTDT with the prior one.

logdog said:

When I worked in Detroit, almost everybody in the office with teenage drivers did the company lease for Avengers/Darts/Partiots or whatever was cheap since it included insurance and maintenance (I do not miss the Michigan insurance costs).  Does Ford have a similar program?  

Actually that's what I get as a Management lease.  I know other companies offer that to all employees, but at Ford you have to be Management to get it. I can have two, my wife uses one and the eldest has the second (plug in C-Max) so I need to buy one for her.

Sanchinguy said:

I’ll offer a different perspective- The Honda Fit is a fantastic car for a young driver. Economical to run, reasonably fun to drive, big enough without being a yacht, pretty good in most weather with decent tires. It’s also a surprisingly safe car - My son was hit broadside in his by a mid-80s Buick going 50. The car gave its all, but it kept him safe. A little airbag rash and a bruised rib was it.  The passenger in the other car did not fare nearly as well.

Too small.  I am really concentrating on CUV's with AWD.  I work for Ford but have always respected Honda though, hence I mentioned the CR-V

stuart in mn said:

The question is does she really need a car if she feels that way?

Yes.  She's a senior in High School and will be attending college next year.  She has to get herself too and from school.  That and the stables she rides at are 40 mins away and on top of it all it's a PIA driving her to her job.  She needs a car, well as much as anyone needs a car.

mazdeuce - Seth said:

Thinking about this thread and I saw a Lincoln MKX this afternoon. What are those based on? 

Same platform as the Edge but priced slightly above in general.

Tactical Penguin said:

Hybrid Escape.

Now you are talking.  I went looking after you posted this and found this one.  Too early now, but it's certainly on my radar now you've brought it up.  Does anyone know about the longevity of the battery packs?  I assume they are as reliable as a Prius or similar.

From my reading on the hybrid Escape they were solid as rocks and an absurdly large percentage of them entered taxi fleets after their first owners. I was looking into them for kid#1 but they were expensive for what you got. You may or may not have the same ownership dynamic in your part of the world. 

In reply to Adrian_Thompson :

Three questions.  

How much spare time do you have?  She’ll come to you for everything, not just when it doesn’t run. But also when she doesn’t know if that sound is normal, how does this work? Is that supposed to be like that?  Etc. You’ll want to be there for her but in addition to the maintenance and repairs  there will be all those questions.  

How long do you want this to last? Better question, when will her need for transportation be over?  

How much ( in addition to your purchase budget have you allocated to neglected service work, worn tires, brakes, etc.  or you don’t expect to get a fully maintained car with brakes and other wear points in good shape do you? 

One  other point, listen to her.  She may not know a good car but she knows what she wants.   One like Suzy's For example.  What do you like about Suzy’s?  

Oh, it’s a real pretty blue, or it’s got a perfect place for my cell phone.  She may think, boys like it  but never say anything like that to her dad  

This is important to her and it will determine your future relationship.  She doesn’t want what we gearheads want. Or a well rated car.! 

Let her make a mistake,  kids learn a lot more from a mistake than they do, doing what their parents want.  

My one daughter took what was what I wanted her to have. The other daughter got what she wanted. Guess which I have a better relationship with. 

If you do go with an escape look very closely for rusty rear strut mounting points. This seems to be an issue here in Ohio so I'm sure that state up north isn't any better. Are you considering a fly and drive?

In reply to frenchyd :

Time.  I work 45-50 hours a week.  I have two cars, the Boxster for summer and the Volvo for winter so there is always a spare car around.  Yes I will be the one doing everything.  I expect a sound no rust heap, but I'm prepared for it to need something like brakes, tires, minor stuff.

What does she want?:  Nothing.  She'd rather we drover here around.  Not happening, she's getting a car even though she doesn't necessarily want one

gearheadmb said:

If you do go with an escape look very closely for rusty rear strut mounting points. This seems to be an issue here in Ohio so I'm sure that state up north isn't any better. Are you considering a fly and drive?

You mean like this?

At least they're honest in the CL ad!!

I like Swiss cheese on my sammiches, but not so much in structural areas of my vehicles.

1988RedT2 said:

I like Swiss cheese on my sammiches, but not so much in structural areas of my vehicles.

Hence why it took me a long time to find decent vehicles for my kids. I considered the fly-and-drive thing, but without someone to do some scouting and looking for me at the southern end, it's too much of a hassle. I was looking at $3-4k cars, and in that range you are dealing with Craigslist. Think about how reliable your average Craigslister is, then consider whether you want to invest in a one-way plane ticket to Atlanta or wherever, trusting that person that the car is what they say it is and will make it 700 miles home or whatever. Even if I were to take the Expedition and trailer down there and do my own scouting, you're talking several days off work, hotel and fuel costs, etc.

For a cheap car everyday car, it's just not worth it, IMO. For a project or something nicer, then yes, I'd be willing.

In reply to Adrian_Thompson :

If she likes the Hybrid Escape, it’s a good solid car. I spoke with the zone parts guy and he said in the 10 years they’d been out back then. Ford didn’t have to warranty any batteries and had only sold two for reasons other than accidents. One was replaced just because it’s time.  ???!? 

Acura MDX 04+ 
Pictured above is a facelifted 07+ model. 

Drives like a car.
Honda reliability.
Above average space.