Best vehicle for people like us?

Oooh, I love cars.  I drive a Subaru Outback.  It is relatively high, can carry quite a bit, and has AWD for your Canadian winters.  I also very much like the heated seats for my aging back.

It is not fast.  That will disappoint you.  But the 2020 Outback will have a turbocharged XT model with 260 horsepower.  That would likely satisfy your desire for speed.  If you have back problems, no matter what car you get, I would recommend one with heated seats and inflatable lumbar support.  The Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4 are similar vehicles, but not as good from my perspective.

I have driven a number of Grand Cherokees as rentals, and they are nice, but overpriced and they do not maintain their value very well.  But they are good in the snow and the new ones have many desireable features.  But honestly, I do not trust the quality of Fiat/Chrysler.

If you are looking for a used car, the issue is a bit more difficult.  It depends upon your budget.

  Of the earlier GM badged Isuzu utes . I have a lot of trouble with lower back and leg neuropathy. I find the Isuzu very comfortable. It doesn't hurt my back or ramp up my sciatica. It is not a speed machine but it has a 2.8 turbo charged diesel that gives me plenty of towing power and the power steering is easy on the arms. It is also quite fuel efficient. Ron.

JanJan63 said:

Thanks you guys, you've given

Thanks you guys, you've given me some ideas. It has to be used, we can't afford anything new. My Camaro has 305 HP so not much is going to equal that although I had a Chrysler 200 previously and it had close to that HP. My Camaro has heated seats and I'd never not have them. They are so soothing and I'm wimpy about the cold now so getting into a leather seat that's not heated up is miserable. I also must have remote start for the same reason. 

Jan

Yup, my 300 has heated, leather seats and love them as well.  I'm not so much about HP as I'm about a comfortable ride though.  My 300 is a V6 and has a lot of pep and still manage to get about 33-35 mph on the highway so I'm great with that number.  Let us know what you decide.  I'm anxious to see what you find.

Kim

I agree that Nissan Rogue is a very nice comfortable vehicle. I had one and loved it for several years.  They are pretty loaded with nice features. Ironically enough I eventually traded it in and got a Chrysler 300.  The Chrysler 300 was the only car I’d ever really notice in the street. When I turned 50 I decided to go buy myself a car ....for myself and by myself Finally. Came home with the Chrysler and have never regretted it.  As described leather warm up seats, very comfortable smooth ride, dont have to climb in and even though I’m only 5’2 the seats are so adjustable that to me it never even seems like I’m driving a bigger car. Overall though it can really go if you’re a faster driver and it’s built like a tank so I feel very safe in it. 

The Chrysler is my go to ride or die but the Nissan Rogue is a close second. The hub traded in a 2 yr old loaded Jeep Cherokee for his own Rogue after I traded mine in and couldn’t be happier. (I personally did not like the Cherokee especially compared to either the Rogue or the 300 and it was constantly having various problems ) I never had any significant mechanical issues with either car. (Lucky me ). My main criteria at the time was comfort, Safety, built in GPS, and all wheel drive. 

Good luck with your search.  I hope you find your “ultimate ride”.

JanJan63 said:

Thanks you guys, you've given

Thanks you guys, you've given me some ideas. It has to be used, we can't afford anything new. My Camaro has 305 HP so not much is going to equal that although I had a Chrysler 200 previously and it had close to that HP. My Camaro has heated seats and I'd never not have them. They are so soothing and I'm wimpy about the cold now so getting into a leather seat that's not heated up is miserable. I also must have remote start for the same reason. 

Jan

On the used side of the equation, you can probably get a pretty good deal on a domestic small SUV.  The Ford Escape has a turbo that should be plenty powerful.  The Chevy Equinox is also decent.  Both of these have poor resale values, so you could probably get one a year or two old for 50% of its retail value.  An Outback would probably be 90% of its initial value, so your dollar can carry you further in a less desireable but similar vehicle.  Rental fleets often sell their cars after a year or two at a significant discount.  It would be better to buy from an original owner, but there will be more selection from Avis or Hertz.

Bellesouth said:

My transportation solution

After my terminal diagnosis, when my car finally gave up the ghost I wanted a really nice car that would be super fun to drive. But I hadn't had a car payment in so long, I was in for a rude awakening. Then I had a brilliant idea... Leasing. The payments are affordable, and my family won't have to worry about what to do with it when I'm gone. I currently lease an Infiniti Q50 with all the bells & whistles including 300hp twin turbo blah blah blah. I named her Sexy Beast. With less than a year left on my lease, I'm already thinking about which vehicle to get next (which I shall call Sexy Beast 2.0). It's great getting a brand spanking new car every 3 years, and when I'm gone, my family just turns it in. I never considered leasing before, but it's the best option for me now. And I sure am having fun! 

That is an awesome idea.  You are right, buying a car outright means a good size down payment, and possibly a 6 year or longer loan.  That is perfect for someone getting what they like with a manageable payment.  This is a great option for anyone who isn't sure what car to buy in the long term.  If you like the car after the lease you can always purchase it and all the lease payments apply to the purchase (at least my husband's truck did two years ago).  Thanks for the suggestion.

Kim