We are shopping for a car.
Not shopping like going around to car dealerships to be haggled by combed over men in bad suits letting them run our credit, but shopping like I spend every morning building my car on random car maker websites.
And blatantly ignoring all of the emails Dumb Dad sends me featuring pictures of ridiculously priced, insanely fast, shiny sports cars he likes.
But will never own.
Ever.
A lot of research goes into this whole thing because not only is it a huge investment, but we need to find something reliable that is pretty we can all fit into and afford.
I have to say that while there is a whole bunch of pretty on the market, not much of it is big enough for a family of five (3 of which will one day be man sized teenagers) with a 70lb dog to comfortably travel in (we don’t fly as a family much, but we like to go on plenty of summer road trips). Not much that’s also affordable anyway.
Currently I drive a Honda Pilot.
I love her so, SO much.
She’s roomy, sort of affordable to buy and to drive, and pretty in that girl next door sort of way we all know and love.
She’s like, um, the Jennifer Aniston of cars. Cute, and relatable, and nice, and exactly what you expect her to be.
But she is also old and filthy and old and ready to be upgraded.
Plus, we are on this complex buying-a-car-rotation-plan that requires us to purchase cars on a certain schedule for maximum long term affordability based on other expected finance related events we anticipate occurring in the future.
Yeah, budgeting is a science, that’s why it’s confusing.
But basically I’m saying that we determined many years ago which years we would purchase certain high dollar items so that we could plan and save and go with quality. So, if we want to ensure that our next major purchase is affordable and attainable, we need to buy a new car at some point in 2012.
The question is which new car.
My natural inclination as someone who, in my older, more crotchety state, doesn’t seem to appreciate change as much as I used to, tells me to just buy a new Pilot.
Jennifer Aniston is still making movies…
It fits the family. It gets good gas mileage (you know, to be a road beast). It’s 10 times cooler than a minivan (no offense, van drivers, but no matter how much swagger they put in that wagon I’m not gonna be buying one). And, it’s relatively affordable (if you think dropping nearly 40 grand on something you can’t live in affordable).
But then, my head gets turned by all of the pretty that is out there.
Since I became a member of TWIN (Toyota Women’s Influencer Network) I’ve spent an obscene amount of time drooling over researching the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Seriously that thing is gorgeous.
It is the Angelina Jolie of family cars. And I totally want to be Brad Pitt up in here!
I bet it smells like fresh peaches inside!
Or leather.
Either way, I know that, once we make it to the haggling phase of this car buying journey, I am so willing to swap a day at the Porshe dealer with Dumb Dad for a day at the Toyota dealer so I can drive that Land Cruiser at least one time.
I can just see myself in that thing looking all Mom Awesome!
And small (I like looking small, so cars that provide me that optical illusion get a thumbs up in my book!).
I only see two main drawbacks:
- It’s too pretty for my children. They ruin things. With their dried fruit snacks and juice boxes. And, no way could I let them do to my Sequoia what they have done to my Pilot. It looks like I slaughtered a deer inside of it. And, for the record, I would never.
- It’s nearly $70k. Maybe if someone wanted to gift it to me? I’d totally go all Demi-Moore-Robert-Redford-Indecent-Proposal for it. I wouldn’t require a million bucks to leave
my husbandWoody Harrelson for Robert Redford (maybe not today’s Rob, but 1993’s Rob, for sure!), all I’d need is a Toyota Sequoia to seal that deal.**
I’d like to say that when The Dudes are all grown up and kicked moved out I will drive a Land Cruiser, but I’ll probably drive something adorable and planet friendly like a Mini or a Prius.
After years of Dude and dog hauling I guess I’ll owe it to the planet to destroy it less.
Until then, back to SUV shopping…
*pBd Admits She Hangs Out With These People. But they aren’t paying me. I am a member of TWIN, so I am privy to plenty of free INFORMATION about Toyota and their vehicles. They are not paying me for these posts and they didn’t give me a Land Cruiser either so these opinions are all my own.
*Calm down I wouldn’t leave Dumb Dad for either of those men. I’m not THAT shallow. I’d seriously have to take a beat though if it were, say Justin Timberlake or Ryan Gosling. Probably wouldn’t even require the truck thrown into the deal for that!
You know I love you, but you’re breaking my heart with the Honda and Toyota talk. Living in Michigan, and having a husband who works for the Big 3, you can guess what kind of cars we drive.
I actually drive a Chevy Suburban. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my ‘burb. Did I say love yet?
Oh HOW I LOVE a big ole Chevy truck! YAY for you!! :-)
Good luck with the car shop! We’re still mini van-ing it these days.
Your ride? Much more slick than our’s!
Seriously, it is not about swagger, it is about having the children’s loud mouths further than 27″ of your ear. We are in a small SUV that I love. It is safe and handles well. But it is just too small, and for fuel economy and the space so I could drive when we go places with friends, we are going to have to find a van we can get into the drive without scraping.
We are planning on using Carmax (not Carmex) [when the day comes], as we have friends who’ve used them and gotten a good deal. We follow the advice that says to buy a car that’s two years old so the depreciation doesn’t cut-us-off-at-the-knees “the moment we drive it off the lot”. Hey, how much dos a two year-old Land Cruiser cost? Have you checked with Consumer Reports Car Buying Guide? It led us to our last purchase. Toyotas always rate highly.
The only thing stopping us right now? Both vehicles are paid for.
We are car shopping too. We too have to buy a vehicle this year but after May. And it makes me cry to admit this but we are probably getting a mini van. It sucks so bad. I mean I didn’t ask for twins! I was on the pill for goodness sakes! WTH? A mini van? I swore this day would never come. *SMH*
I feel your pain!!! :-( We should go out for a (soft)drink or something! LOL
Admitting you have to get a minivan IS what a dog must feel like on the way to the vet to be neutered. I fought, kicking and screaming all the way to the dealership. But I have to say, doors that open at the touch of a button, heated seats, some serious trunk and storage space, and a dvd go a long way to making me feel better about it, because they just make life a little more easier and pleasant. I didn’t think they would affect me as much as they did, I even told my husband that one of the doors sticking and having to be manual would be ok on one model we were looking at. But now I see what a difference it makes, and will probably not go back until they are all leave the house.
Have fun car shopping. Hope you find something you love as much as your Pilot.
I fought the minivan too. And I still don’t have one. Except now, I WANT one. I want comfort and convenience. And space! The five of us smashed into this VW Touareg is so beyond tight. My dream SUV (b/c I can’t imagine driving anything smaller) is a Land Rover. I have loved them forever and ever amen. We had a Jeep Commander for a few years and I ADORED IT.
Good luck w/your search. When our first Touareg was totaled, there was no doubt we’d simply get another to replace it. We looked at a Toyota Highlander but the salesman was clearly high w/the price he refused to negotiate. The Pilot is high up on our list, neck and neck w/the VW Routan (I’d rather seat 8 than 7 though).
oh car shopping…i’ve never actually gone, nor owned a brand-new car before, and i’m almost 30. ludicrous i tell you! so i have no advice for you, other than i hope you test drive some of those small, fast sporty cars your hubby is sending to you to check out ;)
We need a new car.. And I would LOVE a pilot, but the husband says that’s not necessary right now with o kids… But, we are planning on going from a Civic to an SUV.. So that the puppy learns to sit in the cargo area before we have children.. So hopefully this year we’ll be getting a smaller SUV.. either a CRV or Rav4… and the Pilot is my dream car for when we have our second! :)
I read the post, but I’m still stuck on the fact that you guys plan which years you’ll make what purchases…I am so impressed and awestruck that I’m not even heading to the garage to lovingly caress my brand spanking new Grand Caravan to make sure her feelings aren’t hurt by this…
but anyway..I can’t even figure out dinner most nights, let alone when to buy stuff…
you know, unless it’s clothes or shoes for me, because then anytime is good…
Oh a girl after my own heart …. how I love that $70 Land Cruiser! (Out of my budget though.) I also have to say that as a Toyota gal myself, I think you’d be very happy. I purchased my 3rd new Toyota last year (a 4Runner) and am once again thrilled with my purchase. And while I bet the 4Runner would be too small (I’m only hauling 1 toddler), the Sequoia would probably be super comfy for your crew. My husband drives a Tundra and wanted me to check out the Sequoia, but it’s just a little too big for what I wanted right now. Have fun shopping :)
We are so much alike it’s scary. I just sold my Honda Odyssey last night and got a BMW X5 with a third row seat. It’s so gorgeous it’s obscene. I have a heart attack every time my kids climb in. I think I”m going to start making them walk everywhere.
thank for coming by my blog. i will be reading your blog more often i love to find moms that also has three boys lol
This topic is very near and dear to my heart. Reason being, I LOVE SUV’s! I don’t currently own one. But I DO love them!!!
Taking you back a few years. We use to be a “one child” family. So there was no need for a vehicle bigger than the cute little, candy apple red Honda Civic hatchback that we use to own. Then my nephew came along (we gained custody of him at the ripe ole age of 7 days old. And he stayed with us until he was 12 years and 3 months…but who’s counting?) ANYHOO…when he came along, we traded in the cute little Civic for a Isuzu Rodeo. THIS was my first taste of the SUV’s. And ever’since, I’ve been hooked. Never do I want to own a car. However, I do enjoy driving my husbands super fast Nissan Maxima. THEN…we got pregnant with my now 10 year old. And of course we had to upgrade as we were about to become the parents of a 16.5 year old, a 6 year old and a newborn. SO, needless to say, it was time yet again to “move on up”. We traded in the Rodeo and purchased the Creme’ De La Creme’ (in my book, anyways)…the Chevy Tahoe. OH. HOW. I. LOVE. a Tahoe!!!
I was intimidating in that vehicle. NObody messed with me. We even had the ghetto fabulous rims on that bad boy! It was GORGEOUS, I tell ya…GORGEOUS!!! So roomy! Leather HEATED seats! Sun/moonroof! And a radio that worked! LOVED it!!!
THEN…I got knocked up again when my now 10 year old was 14 months old. A quick decision had to be made with regards to finances. As I was probably gonna have to quick working sooner than we had planned. Me and the mister hooked up after work the day we got the new baby news. Took the Tahoe to the nearest Nissan dealer. And traded MY Tahoe for a…for a…ahem…for a Nissan Quest minivan! OH the HORROR!!!
Long story short…I wound up miscarrying 3 days later and after a few days of grieving, wondered if the Nissan dealer still had my Tahoe…cuz I wanted it back!!! No dice! :-( Good news- we paid off the Quest in less than a year (hubbys Max had been paid off earlier that year). We we have no car payments. But we DO have a…a um, minivan.
I said ALL of this to say…don’t get me wrong. The soccer mom-4 soccer ball magnet-cute little stick people family stickers-school magnet wearin’ minivan serves it’s purpose. It’s paid for! It’s (pretty good) on gas. And gets us from point A to point B in record time…not in style…but in record time. SO WHAT I haven’t washed it since 2008! :-)
ANYWAY…my vote would be SUV! But know this…if you get a Chevy Tahoe…AND post a picture of it…I will slit my wrist with a glue stick…I SWEAR I WILL!!! :-D
Good luck!!!
JDaniel would totally coat any car’s seats with mud as he climbs into his carseat. I think I will have to stay with my old car until he stops dragging in dirt. I know it will be years until I get a new car.
Last year was our year for major purchases–we bought 2 new cars in a matter of months! We picked up a VW Jetta Wagon with a turbo diesel engine for my husband to commute in and a Toyota Highlander for Mama to haul the boys in. I’m with you on the whole swagger wagon thing, and with Boy #3 on the way, we needed a 3rd row of seating. So far so good with the Highlander, I’m optimistic it will be a good family car for us for years to come. And someday Mama will happily chuck it in favor of something a little sexier and less practical…
I’m from Michigan, too, but I drive the Toyota Highlander now. She’s the bomb! All leathery and cushy. I love the seat warmers and buttons to automatically open and close the back. I can haul the massive jogging stroller and groceries. And she’s a pretty blue. Her name is Latoya Toyota. :-)
The Jennifer Aniston of cars – that is great! I am stuck on that detail now. There should be a follow up to that – like what kind of car would you be if you were a car?
Okay…. you just need to get down on the ground right now and thank your lucky stars that you don’t drive what I drive! And I’m linking it up here just to provide a refresher in case you missed it…
http://momof6.com/stuff-i-love/sharons-favorite-things-the-right-car-for-a-large-sized-family/
It’s a full-sized 12-passenger Sprinter van! You think a Mom has a tough time puttin’ the swagger in a minivan? Ha- there is no swagger for my bad boy… a waddle, maybe…. Swagger- um, no.
But it rocks a road trip let me tell you. And I can fit my entire family and a few extra members of the soccer team too when necessary. So in case you need are thinking you need me to hook-you-up with a test drive… I’m sure we’ll figure a way to work something out! (Kids…. wanna road trip to the Dudes?)
First off thanks for visiting my blog! We’re looking for a new vehicle as well, although we will most likely be getting a mini-van. I never ever thought in my life, that I would drive a mini-van but there’s no avoiding it. I figure I can just pretend that I’m the babysitter :)
Oh, pretty cars. I dream about the day we move back to the States and I can drive a pretty SUV. Right now I drive the French equivalent of a mini-van which is tiny and boxy and not even like the Jennifer Aniston of cars. So sad. ;)