Reccomend a car for my Mom - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Simpler=Better · #1 06-18-2012, 11:06 AM

She drives around 50 miles to work, up in Northern New York (aka Canadaland). Needs to do fairly well in the snow, and be able to source parts relatively easy. Sedan or wagon, so long as it's automatic. From what we can scrape together the target price is ~$9k, I'm putting aside $1k for brakes/ tires/ set of junkyard snow rims.

Won't touch a diesel, despite my suggestions.

I'm thinking some kind of a Subaru, in the 2000's. The boxer engine and AWD sound like nice features for her.

Stretch · #2 06-18-2012, 11:11 AM

A Honda

spdrun · #3 06-18-2012, 11:18 AM

Subaru, seconded. Make it a Legacy wagon, or Outback before it turned into a porky pig of a sort-of SUV.

Simpler=Better · #4 06-18-2012, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

A Honda

Accord? Civic? I've owned many small engine Hondas, but no cars....

iwrock · #5 06-18-2012, 01:17 PM

If she has pets, a Subaru Legacy Outback. Think mid to late 2000s should be in your price range.

If she has no pets, a Subaru Legacy Sedan. Once again, mid to late 2000s.

Stretch · #6 06-18-2012, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simpler=Better

Accord? Civic? I've owned many small engine Hondas, but no cars....

So far it seems like I'm going against the grain so far...

My reasoning for Honda instead of Subaru is mainly down to the experience of friends who have owned old / older ones. The spares prices very quickly become so absurd that the cars get scrapped earlier than the old Hondas do. Now I'm not saying Honda have cheap spares (anything but!) but there do seem to be more of them on the road over here...

I've owned two Honda Civics and they are great little cars if you just want boring reliable transport. They just go on and on. Put it this way I really enjoy pulling stuff to bits (just look at my W123!) but I had no reason to do anything of the sort for either of my Hondas - boring boring boring boring - nothing to do nothing to fix!

Although the information in the link below is European based the advice on the site is top notch - Honest John knows his onions!

Car Reviews | Honest John

Compare what he says about each of the Subaru products available (over here in Europe - well specifically the UK) and what he says about the Honda ones - may be it'll help.

aklim · #7 06-18-2012, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simpler=Better

She drives around 50 miles to work, up in Northern New York (aka Canadaland). Needs to do fairly well in the snow, and be able to source parts relatively easy. Sedan or wagon, so long as it's automatic. From what we can scrape together the target price is ~$9k, I'm putting aside $1k for brakes/ tires/ set of junkyard snow rims.

Won't touch a diesel, despite my suggestions.

I'm thinking some kind of a Subaru, in the 2000's. The boxer engine and AWD sound like nice features for her.

Mercedes-Benz : E-Class 3.2L Mercedes-Benz : E-Class 3.2L | eBay

Why even bother with junkyard stuff? I'd get a set from Tire Rack. It is fresh and new with no issues. Take on when snow, take off when no snow. Pretty much what I do right now.

I wouldn't touch a diesel either. Smart woman. Every fuel station sells gas. Not every one sells diesel. Then there are the smelly hands after touching the pump. The pump area is dirty. Anti-gel in cold winter. The list can go on. Thanx but no thanx. Unless I needed it for towing or long distance driving when we used to do 1000 miles a week or more.

Simpler=Better · #8 06-19-2012, 11:11 AM

The main killer for the diesel is that only one station carries it, and it can get down around -20°F in the winters up there.

JB3 · #9 06-19-2012, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simpler=Better

The main killer for the diesel is that only one station carries it, and it can get down around -20°F in the winters up there.

bah, I used to live in syracuse and go up to north country NY all the time. There is no shortage of diesel. Its in every freeway stop on 90 for example, and there are plenty of stations that carry it all over the state.

The cold is a concern, she would need a block heater for sure

rs899 · #10 06-19-2012, 12:06 PM

I get depressed reading Honest John to find out all the stuff we can't get our hands on.

Stretch · #11 06-19-2012, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rs899

I get depressed reading Honest John to find out all the stuff we can't get our hands on.

I'm sorry! I won't post that link anymore.

Forget him - we don't need him anyway! We can make up our own minds...

rs899 · #12 06-19-2012, 02:25 PM

Army-

Just curious- is there anything that we have here that you can't get and wish you had over there?

elchivito · #13 06-19-2012, 02:48 PM

Subaru. Or a late model AWD Honda Element. 2011 was the last year, sadly. Bulletproof, the both of them.

elchivito · #14 06-19-2012, 02:50 PM

Just saw your budget. 9K will get you an 03 AWD Element, if you can find one. Same with a Subie.

iwrock · #15 06-19-2012, 03:58 PM

2007 Subaru Legacy 2.5I