Car Buying - What Features Do You Look For?

[Shooby]

  Our son is in the market for a new car.  Or, new to him car.  We were looking at some new Honda Civic Hatchbacks.  There are several trim lines of that.  The base model is nice, however, it does not have fog lights.  I personally think that is an important feature, it does get foggy around here.  To get fog lights you have to go up to the Sport Model or the EX.  The Sport model is very cool , however, it has larger 18 inch tires (which will then cost more to replace when new tires are needed), and gets a bit less gas mileage 30/36 rather than 31/40 of the LX or EX.   The Sport has a slightly bigger engine so good pickup especially for zipping around the city.  The EX has 17 tires versus 18in in the Sport.  The EX also has some other upgrades, remote start, better radio, bluetooth, etc  and a side lane camera . I have a side lane assist camera and find that extremely valuable.  However the EX also has moon roof which cuts down the head room a bit for a tall driver, aka my son.  So, if you were choosing what factors would you find important?

[billisonboard]

I will not own a vehicle that does have cruise control.

[chapeau]

Since DH and I are always switching cars, I realized that I need the driver’s seat to have positioning controls, not the bar below the seat you have to raise and it clicks into a slot to move it forward and back (no idea what that’s called this morning). I don’t need one that remembers my setting, but I find the preset slots very limiting. I’m short. FH is taller than I am, so the seats are always getting moved around, and his car doesn’t have the buttons, just levers.

OTOH, when I was single and didn’t share/switch cars, this was not a big deal.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

No matter how nice a car is, we will not buy one with a sun/moon roof. Just a nightmare should a seal fail.

We also will not consider a vehicle with cloth seats. We find leather far more comfortable the older we get. Also, like Bill, cruise control is a must.

I would really love to get a hybrid, but just not sure if it would be practical for using the electric right now. Where we live, I just don't see the infrastructure in place yet to make this a convenient option.

We could care less about media center/wifi connectivity. We want to drive a car, not a computer/internet. That said, I am looking forward to our 1st long trip in the new-to-us 2016 F250. I am hoping I can figure out how to connect my iPad via bluetooth to the vehicle media center so we can hear audio books better through  the vehicle stereo system.

DH is really liking the back-up camera on his F250. We have had that feature before when we rent a car, but haven't owned one yet until now. I tend to forget the feature is available, which is okay, because one should still be predominantly reliant on mirrors/windows to back up.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Jun 26, 2018 4:59:41 GMT -5 chapeau said:

Since DH and I are always switching cars, I realized that I need the driver’s seat to have positioning controls, not the bar below the seat you have to raise and it clicks into a slot to move it forward and back (no idea what that’s called this morning). I don’t need one that remembers my setting, but I find the preset slots very limiting. I’m short. FH is taller than I am, so the seats are always getting moved around, and his car doesn’t have the buttons, just levers.

OTOH, when I was single and didn’t share/switch cars, this was not a big deal.

This is a really big one for us too. DH really missed this feature on his Sport Track which he just traded in for the F250.

Not to mention having to fiddle around with the mirrors every time there is a driver switch. 

ETA: I hated driving his Sport Track because there was no option to raise and lower the seat like in my Explorer. Since I am also short, being able to raise the seat makes a HUGE difference.

[bean29]

Jun 26, 2018 5:09:45 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Jun 26, 2018 4:59:41 GMT -5 chapeau said:

Since DH and I are always switching cars, I realized that I need the driver’s seat to have positioning controls, not the bar below the seat you have to raise and it clicks into a slot to move it forward and back (no idea what that’s called this morning). I don’t need one that remembers my setting, but I find the preset slots very limiting. I’m short. FH is taller than I am, so the seats are always getting moved around, and his car doesn’t have the buttons, just levers.

OTOH, when I was single and didn’t share/switch cars, this was not a big deal.

This is a really big one for us too. DH really missed this feature on his Sport Track which he just traded in for the F250.

Not to mention having to fiddle around with the mirrors every time there is a driver switch. 

ETA: I hated driving his Sport Track because there was no option to raise and lower the seat like in my Explorer. Since I am also short, being able to raise the seat makes a HUGE difference.

I agree. That was a must have for me when I bought my last car. DH just bought a truck...I don’t know if it has a power seat or not. My son took it home (DH drives a toy in the summer). I will buy a new car in a year or so. I actually think having the mirrors reset to my preference would be nice. When DS uses my car, everything is changed around and it drives me crazy. (Old age, I don’t like big changes).

[Shooby]

  None of us car about Moon Roofs.  However, they seem to come on the models that have the other things we want so we usually wind up stuck with one because Honda pretty much makes their lines of cars a certain way and you get whatever options come on that model.  But, yes, if I could take off the moon roof, I would.

[resolution]

I would really like a car with all wheel drive.  I need to be able to get up a hill in snow and to be able to drive on some rough dirt roads.  I would also like one a little higher off the ground with better visibility than my current vehicle. 

[zibazinski]

Back up camera. My next car if I can swing it is going to be a convertible. No point of living in a warm area and not living like I do. I miss my convertible.

[Shooby]

Jun 26, 2018 6:28:50 GMT -5 resolution said:

I would really like a car with all wheel drive.  I need to be able to get up a hill in snow and to be able to drive on some rough dirt roads.  I would also like one a little higher off the ground with better visibility than my current vehicle. 

We always just by AWD now.   Which in a way helps limit my choices so makes shopping easier!  lol  But the Civic is for my son who is living in VA so he doesn't really need AWD so much.   However, they seem to drive like maniacs around there so more cameras seems a plus! Especially the lane camera.

[wvugurl26]

Jun 26, 2018 6:44:03 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Jun 26, 2018 6:28:50 GMT -5 resolution said:

I would really like a car with all wheel drive.  I need to be able to get up a hill in snow and to be able to drive on some rough dirt roads.  I would also like one a little higher off the ground with better visibility than my current vehicle. 

We always just by AWD now.   Which in a way helps limit my choices so makes shopping easier!  lol  But the Civic is for my son who is living in VA so he doesn't really need AWD so much.   However, they seem to drive like maniacs around there so more cameras seems a plus! Especially the lane camera.

If he's anywhere near DC yes, they drive like fools. So the lane blind spot thing is a good thing to have.

When I bought my first Mazda 6 Bluetooth was my biggest requirement. When I got the second one I wanted satellite radio and a sun roof. The second also has blind spot. Both had back up cameras. When I bought the first one my neck had been injured in a wreck so it was a huge help.

[countrygirl2]

I don't like a black interior and my new one has it.

I liked my small Cadillac a very nice car, but I started having little quirks with the electrical
in it, then the map, gps went out $1600 to repair, it was 4 years old.  I got worried and hubs
hated the car anyway.  Also it did not have 4 wheel drive so I traded it.

I am a bigger person though I'm shrinking, LOL.  And we like comfort so I bought a truck again,
had one before.  I love it.  Mine is an LT so lower end but I still have power windows, only the
driver seat is power, you can set different adjustments for different drivers but we don't.  It has less
electrical, still a backup camera though. It has fog lights and mainly its pretty.  Dark blue and I added chrome mirror, door, light frames, window edging etc so now it looks higher level for way less money.  Even a chrome tailgate opener cover! Yes, I get compliments about it a lot, even hubs does with his old one. I like pretty vehicles, hubs has always teased me about that.
His Lincoln truck is still a looker and we take care of it, its a 2006.

My truck also has the bigger tires, I also do not like a V6, mine is a smaller V8 but still has enough 
power for what we need.  Also like the chrome steps to get in.  I have had leather seats before but seems
like blue jeans leave blue on them so this time have cloth and I really like that.  But again, all black interior is a pain to keep clean and I don't like that.

[Shooby]

Jun 26, 2018 7:01:49 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Jun 26, 2018 6:44:03 GMT -5 Shooby said:

We always just by AWD now.   Which in a way helps limit my choices so makes shopping easier!  lol  But the Civic is for my son who is living in VA so he doesn't really need AWD so much.   However, they seem to drive like maniacs around there so more cameras seems a plus! Especially the lane camera.

If he's anywhere near DC yes, they drive like fools. So the lane blind spot thing is a good thing to have.

When I bought my first Mazda 6 Bluetooth was my biggest requirement. When I got the second one I wanted satellite radio and a sun roof. The second also has blind spot. Both had back up cameras. When I bought the first one my neck had been injured in a wreck so it was a huge help.

Yeah.  he's in Hampton Va at Langley.  And, we were just down there last week and if you have to change lanes, nobody is going to let you in unless you ram your way in,lol.

[busymom]

My current SUV has a backup camera.  Now that I've owned one, I wouldn't want to do without it.  It has saved me a number of times from pedestrians who don't notice your backup lights, and cars who fly though a parking lot.

[swamp]

leather seats, back up camera, AC, power windows, heated seats, 6 cylinder engine.  

I've driven the beater with no AC, crank windows, and no options. Nope, nope, nope. Never again.  

[countrygirl2]

I do like heated seats, I would have had to pay a lot more and move up to get them so not this time.

I will survive.  The truck is in the garage at the house anyway and not that cold out there, so not bad.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Jun 26, 2018 9:10:47 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

I do like heated seats, I would have had to pay a lot more and move up to get them so not this time.

I will survive.  The truck is in the garage at the house anyway and not that cold out there, so not bad.

In FL, we don't need heated seats, but DH uses it when his back is giving him some trouble. It helps a little bit.

[countrygirl2]

Yes, that's what I generally used it for too, it really helps me in the winter for that.

[imawino]

So I bought  a used car in January and I've been riding around listening to my new xm satellite radio.  Set all my favorite artists and it would tell me when they were playing on any station so I could always listen to my favorite songs. Awesome! Well, as of yesterday I suddenly have no xm radio service!! I guess the subscription the previous owners had ran out? Or they finally realized they were still paying? LOL. So apparently satellite radio is now on my list of must have - preferably with someone else footing the bill.   My commute is less than 5 miles, so while it would be an extraordinarily silly and wasteful move to pay for that service, I think I might!

But to the main point, I like all the options!  4wd is important to me. 

[TheOtherMe]

I love my satellite radio.  To me, it's worth the money.

[countrygirl2]

Yes we are toying with doing without Sirius.  However, we have it in 2 trucks and a separate one hubs uses on a Bose in the garage and in the motorhome.  So about $382 a year, yes, its wasteful, but intend to budget it in.  We all like it in the vehicles. Used to be I think you got it for a year, now its only 6 months.

[bean29]

Jun 26, 2018 6:13:06 GMT -5 Shooby said:

  None of us car about Moon Roofs.  However, they seem to come on the models that have the other things we want so we usually wind up stuck with one because Honda pretty much makes their lines of cars a certain way and you get whatever options come on that model.  But, yes, if I could take off the moon roof, I would.

Lol, this was my thought, when I bought my CRV, I think if I wanted leather seats and heated seats, and prob AWD, I got a Sun roof too. Imho, sun roof is useless. The conditions never seem to be right to have it open.

[alabamagal]

I totally did not understand why anyone paid for satellite radio. But when DH bought his car 2 years ago ( low end model) it had a 3 month subscription. And we went on vacation with 14 hour drive. We are hooked. Only have it on his car though, he now dives for Uber so in the car a lot, and we use his car for trips. My car (29 minute commute per day) has satellite radio but we don’t subscribe.

[nittanycheme]

I love my satellite radio.  My commute is about 45 min, and we also tend to do weekend trips.  I have one of the higher end plans so I can listen to it on my phone, so I tend to listen to it when I'm doing chores/yardwork in addition to in the car.  I actually listen to a couple of the talk radio channels in addition to a bunch of music channels - Doctor Radio is one of my favorites.  They've got a bunch of really informative shows.    I also like my heated seats, my backup camera, height adjustment on my driver's seat and my cruise control.  Its even better now that I have adaptive cruise - it adjusts to the speed of the car in front of me.  The road I drive to work on has a lot of traffic so that is helpful.   

I have fog lights; I can't always tell if they help or not, but I'm on curvy country roads when I'm off the highway so that may be why.  My mom's car didn't have height adjustment on the driver's seat.  Initially not a problem, but when she started shrinking due to osteoporosis, it became a huge issue.  Almost caused her to get a new car - but then she got sick and couldn't drive anyway.    I used to get moon/sun roofs, but with a lot of the newer models the roofs seem to be too far back in the car for short people like me to actually be under them.   They only seem to serve the people who sit in the back seat of my car - which is hardly anyone since I don't have kids.

[zibazinski]

Jun 27, 2018 21:27:16 GMT -5 nittanycheme said:

I love my satellite radio.  My commute is about 45 min, and we also tend to do weekend trips.  I have one of the higher end plans so I can listen to it on my phone, so I tend to listen to it when I'm doing chores/yardwork in addition to in the car.  I actually listen to a couple of the talk radio channels in addition to a bunch of music channels - Doctor Radio is one of my favorites.  They've got a bunch of really informative shows.    I also like my heated seats, my backup camera, height adjustment on my driver's seat and my cruise control.  Its even better now that I have adaptive cruise - it adjusts to the speed of the car in front of me.  The road I drive to work on has a lot of traffic so that is helpful.   

I have fog lights; I can't always tell if they help or not, but I'm on curvy country roads when I'm off the highway so that may be why.  My mom's car didn't have height adjustment on the driver's seat.  Initially not a problem, but when she started shrinking due to osteoporosis, it became a huge issue.  Almost caused her to get a new car - but then she got sick and couldn't drive anyway.    I used to get moon/sun roofs, but with a lot of the newer models the roofs seem to be too far back in the car for short people like me to actually be under them.   They only seem to serve the people who sit in the back seat of my car - which is hardly anyone since I don't have kids.

Something I need to think about since I’m short too

[thyme4change]

Keyless entry. No more digging around my purse looking for my keys. When my kids move out, I will put a lock pad on my door so I wont have to find my keys to unlock that either.

[swamp]

one of my friends just bought a car with air conditioned seats.  Those rock. 

[chiver78]

any car I'm considering has to be a manual, unless I'm getting a screaming good deal on the car. 

my current car was purchased with the need of transporting a growing puppy and for very long commuting, all highway. I didn't realize how much I would come to love some of the bells and whistles in the loaded model I picked up (end of model year deals, yay!) and even if I didn't love some others, I still have grown to somewhat rely on them. the blind spot lights on the side mirrors, for instance. I've gotten a loaner from the dealership that's the stripped down version of my car, and the lights aren't there. it's jarring! 

[NoNamePerson]

Jul 17, 2018 9:58:23 GMT -5 swamp said:

one of my friends just bought a car with air conditioned seats.  Those rock. 

 I hate to admit it but my mind went into the gutter instantly!