Okay mustachians, I need to know whether this is a good idea or if I need a punch in the face!
After almost four years of marriage and two kids, I think it's time we get a second car. We've been able to be a one-car household while my husband takes the other car to work, which leaves the kids and I at home without a car. This worked until my son was born six months ago. Son has special needs and we have bi-monthly visits to his specialist and to a hospital that's 90 minutes away. Not having a second car has meant that I get up at 4:30 am, bundle the kids in the car, drop husband off at the train station, drive back home, drive 90 minutes away to son's hospital, drive back, and the drive back to the train station (20 minutes away) and back to pick up husband at the end of the day. Ridiculous, right?
Oh, and husband is now in an outpatient treatment center for some addiction problems, so for the next 6 weeks it won't be possible for me to drive him at all (he goes to the treatment center after work). It might be possible to rent a car for the next six weeks, but I think it might be time to bite the bullet and actually BUY a car (used, obviously!).
I'm looking at two options from private sellers - a Honda CRV for $12,400 and a 2003 Honda Pilot for $12K, both have under 60K miles. I've only heard good things about hondas, so that is a plus. The pilot seems laughably big, but it gives us room to grow if we have more children, and it has ample storage space in the back, which is nice because we anticipate my son having a wheelchair when he is mobile (he has Spina Bifida). (it also has a DVD player for those loonnnnng trips up to the hospital, just saying! lol.)
I'm thinking I will negotiate at least 20 percent off of either vehicle we choose to purchase, and pay in cash.
What say ye? Am I making a totally stupid decision? is a Honda Pilot a total waste of space and money? I am having trouble finding a used honda or toyota (my favorites) with less than 100K miles on it, for less than $5k. So this seems like a good alternative to me, but I'd like to get some input. Thoughts?