Conundrum

[CobaltFire]

Hey, I figured that all the old hands here might have some helpful input for me regarding an issue that is cropping up.

I currently have 2 vehicles: a 2007 Ford Escape (wife's) and my 2004 MSM. My wife is going back to work in January, and the MSM is quite small (as you all know). Also, my wife can't drive it (she refuses to learn to drive a manual), so it becomes a MAJOR pain for me if the Escape breaks down and she needs to go to work. On top of that, I'm hitting the limits of the MSM at least twice a week right now regarding being able to shop, take uniforms to work, etc.

Now, we have talked about getting a third car as a DD for me, and leaving the MSM for a weekend toy. The issue there is that I hate that idea due to costs (insurance, maintenance, etc). The other option we have come up with is to buy a 5-Door vehicle with some type of automatic that will satisfy me and be a useful second car.

I'm not sure what I should spend; my finances are honestly good for anything reasonable (new or used). I looked at a Honda Fit as a car for the third vehicle option, but they trade for too much used and I dislike the 09+ model. Another I have looked at is the Lancer Ralliart Sportback. I like that, but $30,000 is a good chunk of change.

Hope someone has some good input here, I'm at a loss.

[Titus]

The issue there is that I hate that idea due to costs (insurance, maintenance, etc).

Insurance for a 3rd car is really not bad. I just added a 3rd car to my insurance and even with full coverage, it added only $30 a month to my premium. Also, you should theoretically see no increase in maintenance costs. Maintenance costs are directly proportional to miles driven, and you would simply be dividing those miles (and cost) between 2 cars.

[goofygrin]

The ralliart sucks, so avoid it. For that price (well $4k less) you could have had my Evo. You can get Evo MRs with the same flappy paddle tranny for $30k and be plenty fast.

If the concern is that the 07 Escape is going to break down, then I recommend you do what I do... buy your wife a *new* car from a luxury brand (bmw, mercedes, infinity, cadillac, lexus, audi -- not in this order). If/when the car is in the shop, then they give you a loaner car.

My vote is, for the most pain free service experience is Lexus. Park Place Lexus and Sewell Infiniti have bent over backwards to make my wife happy. Classic BMW sales has the pricks on the inside and outside (although their service for friends of mine has been pretty good).

[Nails]

Sewell Lexus charges $100 for an oil change and they wash your car and give you a mint cookie! Can't beat that!

[POS Racing]

I got 4 cars with insurance the insurance after car #2 becomes almost a non issue.

How about a Kia Forte Koup (or Sedan) it is a better looking Civic with a lower price and a better warranty.

[OZMDD]

+1 on the 3rd car option. You'll never get your investment back on your MSM in trade, and you already like it.
There are a lot of great values out there in new or slightly-used cars. I'd take the Escape as your DD and let your wife pick-out the car she wants to drive. Major brownie points, no reliability issues (you have 2 cars to cover your situation), and they are practically giving away cars these days, with all the financing deals.

Toyota Camry's can be had for under $18K brand new all day long, and its a damn nice car.

[cwisenheimer]

TCB approach: get a cheap 3rd car you can live with and only carry liability. The maintenance costs don't actually go up (mileage based, see above) unless the 3rd car you pick is a lemon or is uber expensive to fix (i.e., Lexus, Mercedes, etc.). I've been shopping for a disposable car for my teen son and I'm amazed at the cars you can get for under $3K. Of course, if having too many choices is a problem for you, shopping in that end of the pool will be tough. How about an Acura Legend coupe or CL, a Lincoln or a Caddy? Add up what you'd pay in a year on a new car and you could own a used car for that, one with several years of good life left in it.

[CobaltFire]

I hear all of what is being said, and to be honest I've been running the multi-car approach for a few years now. I recently (before we moved here) sold 2 of my vehicles.

As far as buying the wife another car, the Escape IS what she picked. It's not mine, nor will I ever DD it if I have a choice. I rather dislike it, all told.

I hear everyone on the maintenance, but it never quite works out to be JUST mileage based. This is speaking from experience. I was commuting 100 miles/day in California to work, and just doing town driving otherwise, but I always seemed to have something cropping up with one vehicle or another.

Anyhow, onto other cars my wife and I have talked about: MS3 and MS6. Any inputs there?

EDIT: As far as getting out of the MSM for what I have into it, you may be surprised. I bought everything (minus DP) used, and got the MSM for 11,500.

2ND EDIT: A big part of this, I won't lie, is that the MSM needs so damned much work to make it what it SHOULD have been. I've got everything I need to sort the engine stuff out, but it still NEEDS suspension. The excuse that Mazda put under the car annoys me to no end. However, the car DOES put a smile on my face every time I drive it. That's one reason this decision is so hard for me. I haven't even owned the car 3 months!

[goofygrin]

A clean MS6 is VERY hard to find. Did they even come auto?

And MS3s, while nice cars... are FWD (and again, I don't know if they come with a slushbox).

[Titus]

A clean MS6 is VERY hard to find. Did they even come auto?

And MS3s, while nice cars... are FWD (and again, I don't know if they come with a slushbox).

I think the MS6 was available with an AT but not the MS3.

[Titus]

I take that back... Autotrader lists 252 MS6s for sale, all with MT, and only 4 in the Metroplex.

[dark shadow]

Autotrajics are not avaliable on either mazdaspeed. i do love my MS3 for a daily.

[CobaltFire]

Carmax in Ft Worth has a PRISTINE MS6 (Purple, Base, 30k Miles) that I just test drove.

Overall impression was that it was HEAVY. Reminded me of my BMW 5-Series, but with more go.

Yes, they are all manual. We talked a bit about that, and decided that it would be ok to do that. That main thing is that I need a car with more room.

On the way home though, everything that I love about my MSM hit home. If I do decide to give it up, it won't be easy...

[altiain]

If she's okay with you buying a manual, why not pick up a lightly used Mazdaspeed3? You can find nice used ones all day long for ~$16k, and it'll be just as practical as an Escape, and a lot more fun to drive.

[CobaltFire]

Ok, to make it clear, the Escape is going nowhere. That is her car.

I was just looking at Mazda Protege5's. Those look like a good bet to be a third car, and I can deal with an automatic in one of those. Saw a few good ones for ~$5-7 listed locally, but I'm sure I can get one for less if I wait and look.

Thoughts?

EDIT: Regarding the MS3, I thought about that. It would make a good swap for the MSM, but I honestly love driving that car. So, we are going to do like the people earlier in the thread suggested and look at our third car options. I do want something that won't put me to sleep though; I am not a fan of Lexus and the like.

[cam76034]

Any reason you are worried about a fairly new 07 vehicle breaking down?

[altiain]

Any reason you are worried about a fairly new 07 vehicle breaking down?

I was kinda wondering about that as well.

[POS Racing]

I was kinda wondering about that as well.

Sounds like a BS excuse to add another car to the fleet.

I like it!