We need 2 new cars - please help - READ ONLY

Last post on Sep 23, 2009 at 10:06 AM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Fit, Subaru, Subaru Impreza, Car Buying, Car Comparisons, Hatchback, Wagon

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#1 of 1 We need 2 new cars - please help by overhear Sep 23, 2009 (10:06 am)
We're facing a dilemma. We have been planning on replacing our ancient Saturn sedan and just totaled our Audi a4 Avant wagon in our first accident ever. So we need one car right away and will need to buy a second car soon also. I'm a soccer mom with 1 child so my priorities are safety and cargo space for lugging around kids, gardening supplies, tall house plants, etc. My husband is a engineer who wants the smallest car possible, with a manual transmission. We both dislike SUVs for their bulk and styling, but we live in the northeast so we do face some snow days each winter. Given all that, we've been test driving AWD hatchbacks -- the Suzuki SX4, the Toyota awd Matrix (which we rejected outright due to poor sightlines), the Scion xB, and the Subaru Impreza and Forester. The Forester was too bulky for us, so we were leaning toward the Impreza 5-door, but then we test drove the Honda Fit. And the problem is, we both fell in love with it. Ironically, I love it for the cargo space and the 3-person rear seat -- which feels bigger and more versatile than the Impreza, whereas he's taken by its small size. So while we need 2 cars, neither of us is thrilled with getting "stuck" with the Impreza -- which is too big for him and too small for me. BUT, here are my reservations: Despite its stellar safety ratings, I do have worries about the safety of the Fit if it were to go up against a larger vehicle in an accident, and we still should have one AWD vehicle in the driveway for snow storms. If the old Subaru Outback wagons with non-SUV styling were still on the market, they'd be a natural for us and would complement the Fit nicely. But what to do now??? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

#1 of 1: We need 2 new cars - please help by overhear; Sep 23, 2009 (10:06 am)

We're facing a dilemma. We have been planning on replacing our ancient Saturn sedan and just totaled our Audi a4 Avant wagon in our first accident ever. So we need one car right away and will need to buy a second car soon also.

I'm a soccer mom with 1 child so my priorities are safety and cargo space for lugging around kids, gardening supplies, tall house plants, etc. My husband is a engineer who wants the smallest car possible, with a manual transmission. We both dislike SUVs for their bulk and styling, but we live in the northeast so we do face some snow days each winter.

Given all that, we've been test driving AWD hatchbacks -- the Suzuki SX4, the Toyota awd Matrix (which we rejected outright due to poor sightlines), the Scion xB, and the Subaru Impreza and Forester.

The Forester was too bulky for us, so we were leaning toward the Impreza 5-door, but then we test drove the Honda Fit. And the problem is, we both fell in love with it. Ironically, I love it for the cargo space and the 3-person rear seat -- which feels bigger and more versatile than the Impreza, whereas he's taken by its small size. So while we need 2 cars, neither of us is thrilled with getting "stuck" with the Impreza -- which is too big for him and too small for me.

BUT, here are my reservations: Despite its stellar safety ratings, I do have worries about the safety of the Fit if it were to go up against a larger vehicle in an accident, and we still should have one AWD vehicle in the driveway for snow storms.

If the old Subaru Outback wagons with non-SUV styling were still on the market, they'd be a natural for us and would complement the Fit nicely. But what to do now???

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.