Need two cars in 2023/24 - any ideas?

[thriftymom]

Hey everyone. My husband and I were planning to buy a second vehicle in the spring to commute our toddler to preschool and playgrounds while my husband works. Unfortunately his car was rear ended by an elderly lady on his way to work and although he is fine, the car is a total loss so it looks as though we will need to buy two vehicles, and one on very short notice.

We have about 20k in savings set aside for this car, but we recently learned this week we will need a new home roof which is quoted for 17k. So no matter how well we were doing a month ago it seems as though financing is on the table. So I’ll eat that I guess.

So I need advice for what cars to buy. Hubby is nervous around older cars (<2018), I’m not, both of us like hybrids. Maybe a SUV or sedan. Need something big enough to take two toddlers and possibly three kids in the back seat. We were using a 2011 hybrid Toyota Camry (midsize sedan) as our car but it was a tight fit for me in the back with the two carseats.

What’s a good car model to buy today?

[parkerk]

Car recommendations - if you were using a 2011 hybrid Toyota Camry there's no reason you couldn't replace it with another one as long as it's been well-cared for. 2018 is an absurd limit for what you define as "older" cars. Toyotas and Hondas hold their value well for a reason, there's no reason not to get something 10+ years old as long as its got low mileage and good maintenance history. I've got a 2002 Honda CRV that's a classic "owned by old people who only drove it once a week" and it hasn't needed anything beyond a new battery in the two years I've had it.

Non-car recommendations - I know you didn't ask for advice on this front, but this is MMM so you're getting it anyways  :D  Does your husband actually need a car to commute? Do you? How far and how often are you driving? What kind of area do you live in? How much of your commutes and/or daily errands could be replaced by biking, walking, or transit? I know most people can very easily justify the "need" for a car and I'm not going to say you're necessarily wrong, but if you've been getting by with one car and you have another big expense coming up then do you really want to buy two cars? Tell us more about your specific situation and needs here and maybe we can help you brainstorm ways to avoid the second car!

[maisymouser]

I agree with Parkerk. I don't have any specific recommendations but that choice should ideally be influenced additionally by your income and expenditure ratio, what the next few years look like with regards to that ratio, your husband's job stability, etc. Also how many miles you would expect to put on a vehicle annually - even though hybrids are gas efficient, if you're not needing to drive too many miles it could make sense to buy a used ICE. Definitely give us more information, we love chewing on these kinds of problems :-)

[neo von retorch]

we recently learned this week we will need a new home roof which is quoted for 17k.

How did you learn you needed a new roof?

Please try to get 3+ quotes so that you can get both more information, and also a better feel for the companies. We live in a somewhat expensive area, and while a door-to-door place quoted $15-20k, local companies all quoted $9-11k for our roof.

Hubby is nervous around older cars (<2018)

I'm sorry, I may have misheard you. Did you say that cars over 5 years old are old? That's got to be a joke, right :-)

I've driven cars made in the 80's to 160-190,000 miles. Cars built from 2000 onward are often good for 250-300,000 miles unless submitted to extreme conditions.

[firemane]

My roof a few months ago was 17k… but it is a fairly large and complicated roof, and i got category 4 hail resistant shingles which are $5k extra and most people do not opt for and insurance agreed to it. Agree with others for more quotes. I once was quoted $25k to remodel a bathriom, ended up paying $5000. I got ripped off once before not getting multiple bids and overpaid on something, and vowed never again… it’s not just about the money, it made me feel like a sucker for a long time

[GilesMM]

Is the insurance company proving you with a rental until they settle your claim for a replacement car? 

[reeshau]

Hubby is nervous around older cars (<2018)

I'm sorry, I may have misheard you. Did you say that cars over 5 years old are old? That's got to be a joke, right :-)

I've driven cars made in the 80's to 160-190,000 miles. Cars built from 2000 onward are often good for 250-300,000 miles unless submitted to extreme conditions.

The average age of a car in the US is now 12.5 years.  This has been steadily increasing for many years.  DH will want what he wants, but think about the very small pool of possibilities you are limiting yourself to, while others are not.  That exclusivity will cost you.

SUV's, and all trucks, are the hot, contested market.  Again, a preference that will cost you.  You asked for suggestions; for a hybrid kid hauler, I have to say I love my Chrysler Pacifica.  It's not the only hybrid minivan anymore, but they are a good choice.  The only thing you lose compared to an ICE minivan or a truck is towing capability.  I routinely get 55+ mpg when mainly around town, and have no range anxiety for summer road trips.  Given the volatile used car market, do consider new pricing net of the Federal subsidy.  I go5 mine in 2021 under a better deal, and with a factory rebate.  It ended up costing the same as a 4-year-old model with 60k miles.  Battery warranty life matters, too, as that's a $10k maintenance item at 10 years old.

[SmashYourSmartPhone]

Unfortunately his car was rear ended by an elderly lady on his way to work and although he is fine, the car is a total loss so it looks as though we will need to buy two vehicles, and one on very short notice.

Is it still drivable?  "Totaled" anymore doesn't take much.  If you can buy it back from insurance with a salvage title, pound out the dents (find your local redneck for how to do this with a chain hoist and sledgehammer), and go on your way with it for a while, that buys you time to search.

...but we recently learned this week we will need a new home roof which is quoted for 17k. So no matter how well we were doing a month ago it seems as though financing is on the table.

How complex of a roof is it?  That seems steep for a strip-and-shingle, unless your house is really large.  Though admittedly I don't know what modern prices are.  My circles just tend to wrangle a few friends and do it themselves for a couple grand in materials.

Hubby is nervous around older cars (<2018)

That is just absurd.  A 5 year old car, as noted, is not even half the US average fleet age, and that attitude towards cars leads to "Lease a new car ever 3 years so you have something reliable" behaviors, with the often associated flushing sounds of cash leaving your bank account at a high rate.

Cars start to qualify as "older" when they're old enough to legally drink the perfectly good alcohol we mix in our gasoline.  And many here drive even older than that.  Our newest vehicle is a decade old, with the rest being a good bit older (a small fleet of 20 year old motorcycles, mostly).

Need something big enough to take two toddlers and possibly three kids in the back seat. We were using a 2011 hybrid Toyota Camry (midsize sedan) as our car but it was a tight fit for me in the back with the two carseats.

Ok... wait.  How many kids do you have, and what are your typical driving distances?

Both cars fitting three carseats is just buying a pair of huge vehicles for no good reason.  If one of the cars is dominantly a commuter, buy a suitable car for that, and then something that the whole family can fit in.

Also, if you can charge at home, a used Volt is a good general option if you don't have exotic driving miles.

[SmashYourSmartPhone]

I've driven cars made in the 80's to 160-190,000 miles. Cars built from 2000 onward are often good for 250-300,000 miles unless submitted to extreme conditions.

Or extremely incompetent drivers.  I've seen cars trashed far earlier by people who don't take care of them, don't understand that some maintenance is not optional (timing belts on an interference engine comes to mind), etc.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

If you want to put 3 kids in a back seat, whether or not they are all in car seats, be aware that MANY vehicles that have 3 seatbelts actually have overlap between the seatbelts, meaning that it is not safe to use all 3 at the same time. You might check out The Car Seat Lady or Car Seat Safety for the Littles to find out more on particular models.

[Laura33]

First, ask whether you actually need two cars.  You've been getting by with one; can you continue to do so while you get the roof fixed and save up some more?

Second, if you decide you do need two cars and are willing to pay for them, focus on the specific use each one will get.  Your DH needs a commuter vehicle.  OK, he can buy a small, fuel-efficient vehicle (hybrid or no, depending on price/availability/type of commuter).  Look for the cheapest 2018 reliable small car you can find.

You, OTOH, need a kidmobile.  And that is called a "minivan."  You know what a SUV is?  It's a minivan wearing a suit in a cow pasture:  it's popular because it tries so hard to look cool, but at the cost of practicality.  You end up paying a lot more for a lot less.  Be smart.  Put function ahead of fashion.  Buy an old minivan (after all, you're not the one fixated on 2018 or newer, and this is your vehicle) so you can get the kids where they need to be at the most cost-effective price.

I imagine you are not particularly happy with this advice.  I imagine your DH would not be particularly happy driving around an old minivan on the weekends.  Examine for yourself why that is.  Are they too ugly?  Do they send a signal that you can't afford better?  Guess what:  you can't afford better.  You have two small kids, one job, and $20K to cover two cars and a roof.  This is the time to suck it up, put your pride and your list of wants aside, and do the smart thing.  Going into debt for a fancy depreciating asset is, in a word, stupid.  It's sometimes unavoidable when you're just starting out, but you're further down the road -- you have the ability not to do that.  You have the $ to buy what you need, just not the $ to buy what you want.  Be smart, buy only what you need, and postpone the wants until you've got a bigger financial cushion.

[Dicey]

IMO, the only people who don't love minivans are people who have never driven one. They're incredibly versatile.

[Laura33]

IMO, the only people who don't love minivans are people who have never driven one. They're incredibly versatile.

LOL.  You know I'm a car guy.  I hate anything that drives like a boat, no matter how nice they are inside.  ;-)

[GilesMM]

IMO, the only people who don't love minivans are people who have never driven one. They're incredibly versatile.

Minivans can carry just about as much stuff, people and animals as you like in style, comfort and economy.  They only thing they don't do real well is go off-road, but something like 1% of all SUVs ever go on so much as an unpaved road.

Look at the new Kia -

[zolotiyeruki]

Tell your husband to justify/quantify/rationalize his bias against pre-2018 cars.  I'll bet he can't.  The fact of the matter is that you can't afford to make five-figure financial decisions based on vague, irrational feelings at this point in your life.

Laura33's response is spot on.  Three kids?  Just buy the darn minivan.  I highly recommend 2006-2010 Honda Odysseys (we currently own two, one of which has >220k miles).  In my opinion, they represent the pinnacle of automotive function. Around me, you can find such vehicles with 150k-ish miles for <$5k all day long.  Minivans are superior to SUVs in all ways except two: towing and off-road.  Minivans hold more people, use less gas, cost less, hold WAY more stuff*, and are much easier to get kids in and out of.  Get one, and you'll totally understand the five stages of owning a minivan.

For your husband? A subcompact.  Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, anything Scion, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, or Prius.  Pick one, it doesn't matter much which.  Around me, $3-4k will get you a 150k-mile 2007-ish Corolla in good condition.  Maintain it, and it'll last you forever.  Shortly before DW and I got married, we bought an 8-year-old Corolla.  At the time, I said "I want our kids (not yet conceived) to learn to drive this car."  That was over 20 years and 160k miles ago.  Two of our kids *did* learn to drive in it, and the third would be learning to drive in it now, had the car not been totalled in a rear-end collision.

Of your $20k budget, that leaves you with over $10k, plus whatever the insurance company pays you for your husband's old car, to cover the cost of your roof.

[roomtempmayo]

Hey everyone. My husband and I were planning to buy a second vehicle in the spring to commute our toddler to preschool and playgrounds while my husband works. Unfortunately his car was rear ended by an elderly lady on his way to work and although he is fine, the car is a total loss so it looks as though we will need to buy two vehicles, and one on very short notice.

We went through the process of buying used car for around town, low mileage (~4000mi/yr) use last spring.

Given the prices on used economy cars, we ended up joining the Old Beater Volvo Club.

For $3000-4000, you should be able to find a well maintained S60/S80 sedan or V70/XC70 wagon from the mid to late oughts with 140-160k miles with maintenance records and a good body.  (Edit: After reading about the possibility of a third kid, it's worth mentioning that the XC70 and XC90 both had a third row jump seat option, giving you seating for seven.) The big things these vehicles have going for them are massive depreciation, original owners who tend to keep them and maintain them, high build quality, and the best crash test ratings out there.

Volvos do cost a little more to maintain than a base Corolla, and their gas mileage isn't great by today's standards.  You'll need to find an independent Volvo mechanic to work on it because a random neighborhood shop won't know what to do with it, and the dealers think very highly of their labor.

However, if you don't plan to put many miles on it and you have a good mechanic, joining the Old Beater Volvo Club can be a good move.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

First, ask whether you actually need two cars.  You've been getting by with one; can you continue to do so while you get the roof fixed and save up some more?

Second, if you decide you do need two cars and are willing to pay for them, focus on the specific use each one will get.  Your DH needs a commuter vehicle.  OK, he can buy a small, fuel-efficient vehicle (hybrid or no, depending on price/availability/type of commuter).  Look for the cheapest 2018 reliable small car you can find.

You, OTOH, need a kidmobile.  And that is called a "minivan."  You know what a SUV is?  It's a minivan wearing a suit in a cow pasture:  it's popular because it tries so hard to look cool, but at the cost of practicality.  You end up paying a lot more for a lot less.  Be smart.  Put function ahead of fashion.  Buy an old minivan (after all, you're not the one fixated on 2018 or newer, and this is your vehicle) so you can get the kids where they need to be at the most cost-effective price.

I imagine you are not particularly happy with this advice.  I imagine your DH would not be particularly happy driving around an old minivan on the weekends.  Examine for yourself why that is.  Are they too ugly?  Do they send a signal that you can't afford better?  Guess what:  you can't afford better.  You have two small kids, one job, and $20K to cover two cars and a roof.  This is the time to suck it up, put your pride and your list of wants aside, and do the smart thing.  Going into debt for a fancy depreciating asset is, in a word, stupid.  It's sometimes unavoidable when you're just starting out, but you're further down the road -- you have the ability not to do that.  You have the $ to buy what you need, just not the $ to buy what you want.  Be smart, buy only what you need, and postpone the wants until you've got a bigger financial cushion.

This is pretty close to what my husband and I have! We have a kid hauler- a 2022 Toyota Sienna that has the car seat installed. And we have the Work Car- a 2011 Fit.

We also take the Fit any time we need to parallel park and don't have baby along (our other kids are preteens). Admittedly the van is less manueverable for small spaces.

For us both cars are shared because we take turns going to work and staying home with baby. But having a car that comfortably fits our whole family is great. It is a big stretch for us financially (it's financed) but especially with kids who are old enough to have an opinion, it's a big deal to have a vehicle that feels good to go out in.

[Tester]

Just writing down what I read, hopefully it will help.
You have 20k for a car but now the roof will cost 17k. If the quote is without tax I would say you are put of the whole 20k.

So you have kind of 0 for two cars.

Now for cars, minivan is the best kid hauler for me. Some you can get woth awd or plug in hybrid, unfortunately not both. You can get a hybrid awd (Sienna) but only almost new so costs a lot.
For a commuter, just get a small efficient cheap car.

Still, the two cars will cost at least 20k even if ypu go for older ones so you have a hard decision.

[Dicey]

Just writing down what I read, hopefully it will help.
You have 20k for a car but now the roof will cost 17k. If the quote is without tax I would say you are put of the whole 20k.

So you have kind of 0 for two cars.

Now for cars, minivan is the best kid hauler for me. Some you can get woth awd or plug in hybrid, unfortunately not both. You can get a hybrid awd (Sienna) but only almost new so costs a lot.
For a commuter, just get a small efficient cheap car.

Still, the two cars will cost at least 20k even if ypu go for older ones so you have a hard decision.

Except it isn't really a hard decision. Getting more quotes for the roof will probably result in a lower cost. Then spend a little bit spiffing up the existing vehicles and keep driving them.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

Just writing down what I read, hopefully it will help.
You have 20k for a car but now the roof will cost 17k. If the quote is without tax I would say you are put of the whole 20k.

So you have kind of 0 for two cars.

Now for cars, minivan is the best kid hauler for me. Some you can get woth awd or plug in hybrid, unfortunately not both. You can get a hybrid awd (Sienna) but only almost new so costs a lot.
For a commuter, just get a small efficient cheap car.

Still, the two cars will cost at least 20k even if ypu go for older ones so you have a hard decision.

Except it isn't really a hard decision. Getting more quotes for the roof will probably result in a lower cost. Then spend a little bit spiffing up the existing vehicles and keep driving them.

One car has been totalled and the other doesn't exist yet. Sounds like it is to expand the radius of a SAHP who is more or less trapped with a toddler and wants to take them places. So you could try to suggest that they think hard about whether they need a second car (I would find it incredibly hard to do without one, even though I also have an ebike) , but they can't just "spiff up" a car that's been totalled!

[lutorm]

You, OTOH, need a kidmobile.  And that is called a "minivan."  You know what a SUV is?  It's a minivan wearing a suit in a cow pasture:  it's popular because it tries so hard to look cool, but at the cost of practicality.  You end up paying a lot more for a lot less.  Be smart.  Put function ahead of fashion.  Buy an old minivan (after all, you're not the one fixated on 2018 or newer, and this is your vehicle) so you can get the kids where they need to be at the most cost-effective price.

Preach it!

[Dicey]

Just writing down what I read, hopefully it will help.
You have 20k for a car but now the roof will cost 17k. If the quote is without tax I would say you are put of the whole 20k.

So you have kind of 0 for two cars.

Now for cars, minivan is the best kid hauler for me. Some you can get woth awd or plug in hybrid, unfortunately not both. You can get a hybrid awd (Sienna) but only almost new so costs a lot.
For a commuter, just get a small efficient cheap car.

Still, the two cars will cost at least 20k even if ypu go for older ones so you have a hard decision.

Except it isn't really a hard decision. Getting more quotes for the roof will probably result in a lower cost. Then spend a little bit spiffing up the existing vehicles and keep driving them.

One car has been totalled and the other doesn't exist yet. Sounds like it is to expand the radius of a SAHP who is more or less trapped with a toddler and wants to take them places. So you could try to suggest that they think hard about whether they need a second car (I would find it incredibly hard to do without one, even though I also have an ebike) , but they can't just "spiff up" a car that's been totalled!

You know what, LBF? You're completely right. I mixed this thread up with one where the poster is calling two sub-100k cars "beaters". My apologies.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

Just writing down what I read, hopefully it will help.
You have 20k for a car but now the roof will cost 17k. If the quote is without tax I would say you are put of the whole 20k.

So you have kind of 0 for two cars.

Now for cars, minivan is the best kid hauler for me. Some you can get woth awd or plug in hybrid, unfortunately not both. You can get a hybrid awd (Sienna) but only almost new so costs a lot.
For a commuter, just get a small efficient cheap car.

Still, the two cars will cost at least 20k even if ypu go for older ones so you have a hard decision.

Except it isn't really a hard decision. Getting more quotes for the roof will probably result in a lower cost. Then spend a little bit spiffing up the existing vehicles and keep driving them.

One car has been totalled and the other doesn't exist yet. Sounds like it is to expand the radius of a SAHP who is more or less trapped with a toddler and wants to take them places. So you could try to suggest that they think hard about whether they need a second car (I would find it incredibly hard to do without one, even though I also have an ebike) , but they can't just "spiff up" a car that's been totalled!

You know what, LBF? You're completely right. I mixed this thread up with one where the poster is calling two sub-100k cars "beaters". My apologies.

LOLOLOL I didn't see that one but YEAH. In that case I would agree with you!