used car recommendation?

PhantomOG

Ok, looking for some input for a used car. My parents are looking for a used car, something ~$20k. Top concerns are ride/comfort and of course reliability. My dad has always typically bought from the Big 3, mostly Ford, however, I think he's finally reached a tipping point and is ready to consider foreign manufacturers for hopefully better reliability. (He's really pissed that the POS Taurus he's trading in is worth about 50% of the money he's thrown into its repairs over the past year).

Right now, he's looking at a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis LS with 12k miles on it. I honestly don't know much about those types of cars (big comfy sedans), so I have no idea what other cars to tell him to look at.

I'm really just looking for ideas of other cars I should tell them to look for and test drive (same type/class as the Grand Marquis). Thanks.

MikeC78

How about a Toyota Avalon or a Honda Accord? I believe the accord is the larger sedan?

PhantomOG

I'll definitely tell them to look at the Avalon. They'll have to look at one with a bit higher mileage to get into their range but it maybe worth it.

I'm not sure about the ride of the Accord... soft enough to compare with the Grand Marquis?

MikeC78

I don't know? I do know my new 2008 Honda Odyssey rides really smooth and the build quality is impecable to anything else in its class,IMO. Toyota a close second.

devani

camry or Avalon would be better compared to Grand Marq.

accord is bit firmer than both but tell him not to get another Grand Marq. At least tell him to go for a test drive

MKZ

I think Honda has rigid chassis than others. How about Lexus ES or LS? They have very good ride comfort and reliability.

Knucklehead

yeah, you cant go wrong with the Toyotas and Hondas, My dad has always driven the Crown Vic's and Marquis, He's never really had any issues with them, i mean geez they have been building that chasis for a long time now so I think they have it pretty much figured out.

PhantomOG

devani wrote: »

camry or Avalon would be better compared to Grand Marq.

accord is bit firmer than both but tell him not to get another Grand Marq. At least tell him to go for a test drive

They don't have a Grand Marquis but they like the one they test drove. I just want to get them to test drive some other options before they make the final decision.

Serendipity

Honda Accord, Nissan Maxima, or Toyota Avalon would be some alternatives.

Otherwise, the Grand Marquis is a good car too, IMO.

sucks2beme

PhantomOG wrote: »

Ok, looking for some input for a used car. My parents are looking for a used car, something ~$20k. Top concerns are ride/comfort and of course reliability. My dad has always typically bought from the Big 3, mostly Ford, however, I think he's finally reached a tipping point and is ready to consider foreign manufacturers for hopefully better reliability. (He's really pissed that the POS Taurus he's trading in is worth about 50% of the money he's thrown into its repairs over the past year).

Right now, he's looking at a 2008 Mercury LS with 12k miles on it. I honestly don't know much about those types of cars (big comfy sedans), so I have no idea what other cars to tell him to look at.

I'm really just looking for ideas of other cars I should tell them to look for and test drive (same type/class as the Grand Marquis). Thanks.

The Grand Marquis was selling around Dallas brand new for under 20k
last year. That's about as cheap as you can buy any new car.

wz2p7j

The Buick LaCrosse is a great choice and better quality than the aforementioned foreign rivals. Chris

PhantomOG

Thanks, the LaCrosse seems like something they would like.

SKsolutions

I have the new Camry, and it's very comfortable, even on the roads here. I thought that the Accord looked better when it came out shortly after, but now I think it's a toss up.
It was my first 'foreign' car, and had the ride that i was most used to. It's extremely easy to drive, and the 6cyl is worth the price as mileage is only a couple of ticks off the 4 which is a bit uderpowered. The leather has held up nicely too, much better than the fabric. Ford/Merc latest offerings look fantastic, and the build seems as good or better Toy/Hon IMO.

CaligulaPolk

buy used corvette.

Disc Jockey

Take a look at the Acura TL, great car and very reliable. I was pleasantly surpirsed with the LaCrosse also.

doggie750

Toyota............rules

Music Joe

Black Crown Vic

ttomp

I'd say older ls430 certified , right now you can get one really close to 20k , best car for the money.

shadowofnight

Lev Andropov: It's stuck, yes?
Watts: Back off! You don't know the components!
Lev Andropov: [annoyed] Components. American components, Russian Components, ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!


Throw Japanese in there too


Actually, It's really the luck of the draw ....with components and sub assemblies coming from what looks like a United Nations check off sheet. If the guy throwing your transmission together in mexico was treated well by his wife the night before...you get a good one.

Same goes for the assembly of those components and sub assemblies into the complete vehicle...you can ruin a lot of good parts by reckless assy. So if the team in Canton , Mississippi was hung over putting my Titan together ...I see the end result of that down the road. ( Luckily so far they did good...just turned 75K )


Pick the car that fits your needs...looks good...and meets your budget. Sure do a little research first for trends.....I have seen a friends Accord blow the radiator at 10K and my wifes Accord go 167K without a peep...my moms oldsmobile delta88 go for 120K then the speedomer ( Miles driven too ) cable broke and she drove it for another 5 years without issue...and dads oldsmobile ( Whatever it was...it was silver ) couldnt go 5K at a time without something breaking.


Each car is an individual .....just hope for the best....get what works for you.

edbert

My grandparents went from a Town Car to a used Avalon and love it. It still has pretty good size, power and some nice features. They have really enjoyed it over the past year or so that they have owned it. I personally would look at a Maxima, but that is just me.

Shizelbs

The Avalon is very nice. I tend to lean towards Honda though. I'm on Honda #4 and I am still a happy Honda camper.

audiobliss

I would also suggest taking a look at the LaCrosse.

venomclan

I 2nd the Accord. My wife's 03' has had no issues large or small in the 6 years we have had it. The ride is very nice. My dad the Grand Marquis and feel the Honda is just as smooth. Plus, the Accord is built in Ohio.
Venom

Polk user

1979 AMC Pacer. Nuff said.

bobman1235

Polk user wrote: »

1979 AMC Pacer. Nuff said.

My first car was a '79 COncord. HA!

PhantomOG

jeez louise.... at what age was it that I became the one who looked out for my parents instead of the other way around?

They bought the Grand Marquis this morning.... specifically after I warned them last night on the phone that they needed to take their time and do their research. Anyways, I've been emailing them some links to some other used cars local to them that you guys are suggesting, and I get the phone call that they signed for the car. The problem? They agreed to pay $2k over the asking price listed by the dealership on their website!!!!! They thought it was a good deal because it was still $2k off the big sticker on the window. :rolleyes:

Ughhh.... Is this what its like to have kids? If so, I'm definitely not ready for that frustration yet. Anyways, thanks for all your help guys.

Lowell_M

Ha! My parents just got rid of their POS Taurus also. The actually came to me for advice before actually spending money. They found a 2007 Altima with 9000 miles on it. Dealership was asking $17,500 on the window and offered it to them for $16,300. I told them they could get it for under $14k easy (trade in value of the car) and they worked them down to $13,500.

This is their first non-GM or Ford and they absolutely love it.

Danny Tse

You did your best....

I drove my gf and I in a Crown Vic (basically same car as Grand Marquis) to Reno, NV and back last May and thought the car was OK. More fuel economical, but less powerful, than I expected. As a consolation, the current Honda Accord has a horrible design on its center console....not good for anyone, especially older folks.

Still have memories of my dad's 1971 Grand Marquis....the ultimate land barge. Except for his 1973 Ford LTD station wagon.

goingganzo

i will give you the hook for olny 8k a totaley slamed olds alero 2001 with 40k miles. it has carbonfiber cowl hood with air ride and rooling on 18 in rims and a smoking hot sterio with ppi power series 4 channel and a alpine mrx 1000 for the 15 in custom sub. tinted windows. slow and low that is the tempo

goingganzo

check out lexus a cetifed used es 350 should be around 20-25k

i rool in a 07 is 250awd

nooshinjohn

Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas 2004 or 2005... These are far and away the best cars in the world for the kind of money you are looking to spend, and quality for the past several years is on par with Lexus