We are deciding on a new car. I would rather have a root canal but it needs to be done.
Priorities are: super quiet, comfortable seats, memory seats and mirrors, easy to use info center,
compact. AWD would be nice. Assuming a 2018 or low mileage 2017 and a Sedan but will consider an SUV.
I would love to hear about your car and likes/dislikes.
This is a luxury item and I will be the main driver. Super quiet is an absolute as I have hearing loss.
Road and tire noise is very fatigueing. Expecting high $30,000 to mid $40,000.
I have purchased our last two cars by internet. Many, many hours of work. I managed to get really
good prices. First car was a Subaru and second a Hyundai.
I just spoke with a broker and have mixed reactions. Have any of you used a broker?
I also am considering using internet sales again.
Our short list is Lexus, Audi, or Mercedes. I would get a Hyundai Elantra if they were just quieter.
I’ve been driving one of our employer-owned vehicles quite a bit lately, and it’s super quiet compared to everything else I’ve driven. It’s a Prius. Still weirds me out that it is completely silent when you turn on the engine!
I have a Volvo sedan…it’s quiet, has memory seats and outside mirrors, and is very comfortable. It comes in AWD, and we have friends who have that option. I really like my car.
The Volvo XC60 is their small SUV and I’ve had it as loaner more than a few times (my dealer gives loaners for regular service visits). If I wanted to spend almost $40,000 on a car, I would buy it in a minute.
I really like my 2018 Volvo XC60 (new design in 2018). Even my husband, who is NOT a car person (he’s a functional Honda guy) really likes the Volvo. It’s VERY comfortable (we just did a 13 hour road trip in 1 day, and neither of us complained about discomfort at all. It has the memory stuff (so it’s quick to change drivers mid-trip). Mine has special 20 inch tires that are designed specifically to be extra quiet.
Subaru was the only other car I was considering, and once I drove the Volvo, I couldn’t go back. (I’ve previously owned both Volvos and Subarus).
Let us know what you decide.
I’m very interested in following this thread. We’re also car shopping, but quit for now.
We just stopped our search for a small quiet (but not quite as expensive) car. Hated every minute. Never found an acceptable car in our price range. Due to specific cargo needs, we wanted SMALL, but functional with a flat bed when the rear seats folded. Most new models have a definite bump or slope when you fold the rear seats. Small SUV’s are no longer small. They keep getting larger. And the glass area keeps getting smaller so visibility is awful. Yes, there are rear cameras, but I like being able to also see around without one. And the smaller cars we once liked (Honda Fit, for example) even shrunk in the interior space. I had to laugh at the HRV. When I asked the salesperson to sit in the back seat, (this was the mid range model which only comes with a moon roof), he actually hit his head it was so low.
Tried the ‘internet route’ because it worked so well for our last purchase, but that was 6 years ago. This time, I had to call direct and ask for the email of the internet sales mgr. Couldn’t find any posted online links. More often than not, the receptionist was confused, and simply sent us to a floor sales person. If we did find an internet sales link, we were bombarded with multiple general replies trying to get us to come into the showroom. We would request their lowest out-the-door price, and rarely received more than a sales amount that we often could see on their website.
Tried the Costco route, and became confused. We still received different prices from different dealers on the same cars. Sometimes it was obvious differences due to options. Other times, they gave us different Costco discounts.
So, we’ve put it on hold, and are now thinking lease. While we used to buy and hold for a long time, car technology is changing so fast, there will likely be significant differences in 6 years – maybe even self-driving models. We still have to find the right car, and negotiate, but some of the pressure of selecting just the right car will be reduced if we only have a 2-3 year commitment.
FYI, the Toyota Prius and the Lexus CT 200h are essentially same car with different badges and shape, plus a few more gadgets for the extra $$$. If you don’t mind the shape, then I’d buy the Prius and save money both on the purchase price and future service.
We recently test drove a Prius…unless something has changed…the seats were very uncomfortable…in our opinions. And we drove the high end model because we were told the seats were more comfortable.
@sushiritto I will agree…the car is quiet! But not so sure about seat comfort.
Guess the best way for @oregon101 is to try it herself.
@thumper1 For someone that desires more comfort, I’d agree. I know someone else with Prius with a bad a back and they’ve complained about the seats. They’re pretty basic seats, but the Prius is pretty cheap car. The seats don’t bother me. The Lexus CT would obviously have more comfortable seats.
Thanks!
I have wanted a Lexus for two decades! But the newer ones are not exciting me. I simply hate the
front grill. They consistency get bad reviews for the ease of use of their technology center (H will no
doubt get involved and forget to drive). I loved our first new car --a Volvo wagon. So perhaps we will
put Volvo on the short list.
Prius has a reputation around here as not being very good in the rain. Our S has one and a number of
friends and there is consensus about this. Funny–the first time I drove one I could smell the battery.
FIL had the first model and it really bothered me. I doubt that is an issue any longer.
I just learned that all Audi’s are premium gas–so they are off the list.
Has anyone used a broker? The guy I talked to today comes highly regarded but he reminded me
of every salesperson I have ever worked with buying a car.
Amica Insurance and Costco can be helpful but, I am learning, not going to give the best price.
Eight years ago I used internet sales by signing up with Cars.com. I made it very clear that if any salesperson called me that I would not buy from them. The day I decided it was time to buy I posted that information. I had not taken my hand off of the keyboard and the phone rang. It was then neck to neck between two Hyundai dealers. They were $500 apart. We went back and forth for a short while and the one 5 miles from me said he would match the lower price. I was in his office 30 minutes later signing. He offered me an internet sales job with him (and was serious). I wonder if I can manage this again. Problem is I no longer enjoy the process. If I do jump in I plan on setting up a gmail account and using an old office phone that still has a working number.
LOL on the Lexus grill. My wife also really hates it. I think the design is supposed to appeal to “younger” people, which is why we hate it. I test drove a Nissan Leaf and really liked it. Very quiet, because it is all electric.
Last time we bought a car (2009) I did a lot of research so I knew what a good price was. We used a broker at AAA, and he gave us a great price (I didn’t have to negotiate, he just gave me the price. Due to my research I recognized it as a great price), and he delivered the car to our driveway and took my personal check.Also, he found the exact car we wanted - color and options - while dealers we visited really wanted to sell us what they had in stock. I would use him again, but I would still do research to make sure I was getting a good price. We had several unpleasant experiences visiting dealers, but you have to do it if you want to test drive.
Be sure you are going to be willing to pay for any expensive parts/repairs when going with a luxury car.
On the last day of school, my son was driving my SUV on a narrow street (one way street, only way to get out of school parking lot). I NEVER let him drive my large SUV to/from school precisely b/c there are constantly people sideswiping cars on that street but D17 had just gotten home from college and wanted to use their shared sedan (she hates my large SUV). I didn’t need my car that day so against my better judgment, let S19 take it to school. About 100 feet from his school parking lot, the passenger side view mirror tapped an illegally parked Lexus SUV - his side view mirror hit the Lexus’ side view mirror. He was only going about 10 mph. There was a tiny crack in the plastic encasing, but no damage to the mirror itself or to the mechanical function of the mirror. It was purely an aesthetic fix and could not be seen unless you looked for it (it was on the inside of the encasing, not the outside). $1000 to replace it. Original quote was $1100 so that’s what we paid her but she, an elderly woman, later sent us a $100 check b/c when she paid the bill, it ended up coming in at $1000. Insane.
No advice on a quiet car - I drive a Toyota SUV and dh has a Jeep Wrangler. We’ve had Acuras in the past (my kids share an Acura sedan). I would love to trade in my large SUV for a smaller Acura SUV. Dh had one in the past. I love the way our old one handled. But I will be driving this Toyota into the ground and I have no idea if the new Acuras fit the bill as being quiet.
Add me and jym to the list of Lexus grill haters. My husband calls them “biggest bug catchers ever.” Try to wash insects out of those grills! That said, the seats are comfy and cushy and there is additional insulation from road noise compared to the comparable Toyotas in the Lexus cars.
So this is partly a function of tire and wheel size. Priuses come in various option groups from II-V. The higher end models IV and V come with larger wheels and tires. More tire contact with the road, in combination with the higher quality tires available in larger sizes, means less, if any, wet traction issues.
I recently had a brand new Camry as a rental…and it was really terrific. Quiet, comfortable. I don’t know about the auto mirrors…i was driving the LE model. Maybe the higher end one has that feature. Worth a look see if you want comfy and quiet.
I’m buying a new car-this fall. It’s the Mercedes GLE 550e hybrid SUV; it’s a small SUV. You can also get a small hybrid sedan–Mercedes 350 C-class.
I have a 2009 Mercedes ML350, which is a small SUV. It’s got 200K and I could probably push it for another 50K, but given that I can get a hybrid I decided to go with the GLE. Mercedes is very quiet, heavy, and easy to drive.
How much does a broker cost? I don’t think you need one. Go do some test drives, but tell them you aren’t interested in buying at this time (even if you are). Also, you can take a test drive without the salesperson if you like. If you want them along, fine, but we like to drive ourselves first so there’s not a lot of talking. If they won’t let you drive alone, start walking out, and they will quickly change their tune!
Basically, the “invoice” price is a fake number. The invoice price has become so inflated that the consumer really doesn’t know what invoice is any more. The dealer knows exactly what is posted all over the internet, and they are making a healthy profit at what we are shown as invoice.
While not a compact sedan, I think it would be hard pressed to find a quieter vehicle than the Lexus ES 350. I have looked at them at the auto show. It was super loud at the venue, however, got in the 350 closed the doors and could not hear a sound of the loud environment occurring outside. Plus the seats were super comfy. The driver’s seat is a 12-way power seat I believe.
Disclaimer: I will say I am biased when it comes to Toyotas. My 14 year old Toyota looks and runs better than most cars half her age.
I suspect the Audi, Volvo, and Other high end cars also require premium gas. I know my Volvo does, but I got the bigger engine. I don’t know if the other engine or whatever would require regular.
That said, the seats are comfy and cushy and there is additional insulation from road noise compared to the comparable Toyotas in the Lexus cars.