car buying help!

[baileyandmikey]

We decided we just have to trade in our 2001 Dodge Durango... it is really nice, but a HUGE gas hog... so I hate it and I spend at least 550 on gas a month for it alone, dh drives a very small car and he spends a max of 120 a month on gas... see the difference? Anyways, we were looking at smaller cars,and bam I found out I am pregnant. So, now we want to look into a mini van with good gas mileage. Anyways, my credit is a little crappy, I have a bankruptsy on there from 2003... anyways, should we take out a line of credit on our home, which we own totally, or try for a loan ? I am afraid that the loan would have a very high intrest rate, kwim? Help!

[SuzyLee]

First, see what you can sell your Durango for. With the price of SUV these days, I wouldn't be suprised if you have a really hard time selling it. See what the difference is between the mileage of a van and the SUV and calculate how much money you will save. If you will save 200$/month on gas, it is not worth having a 300$/month van payment.

Seriously I doubt it is worth it to switch cars unless you are getting something really fuel efficient like a prius.

It is generally a bad idea to use an appreciating asset (your house) to pay for a deprecitaing asset (a new car). That said, we would have to know each interest rate to really advise you.

But again, I don't think you should buy a new car. I would stick with what you have.

[MamaMonica]

I agree with SuzyLee. Run some numbers and see if it makes financial sense to buy a different car. Even though $550 a month in gas seems like a lot, it might be even more expensive to sell an SUV now and finance another car.

[msjd123]

If you're still open to other options, I would strongly recommend taking a close look at a Nissan Versa hatchback. We got one a few months ago, and WOW, that thing is huge inside! It has a shocking amount of space in the back for the kids, even for 3 in car seats.

[kerc]

Can you act like a one-car family for a while? See if you really need that big car? Does dh drive less than you do?

I can do three radian carseats in the back of my honda accord with room to spare.

[SuzyLee]

With 1 baby bucket and a radian car seat on each side, you can probably fit 3 across most sedans. Have whoever is driving less take the durango, and the other person drive the sedan.

If your DH's car is so tiny it can't fit car seats in the back, sell his car and get a versa, honda fit, etc.

[happyfrog]

Originally Posted by SuzyLee

With 1 baby bucket and a radian car seat on each side, you can probably fit 3 across most sedans. Have whoever is driving less take the durango, and the other person drive the sedan.

If your DH's car is so tiny it can't fit car seats in the back, sell his car and get a versa, honda fit, etc.

i agree with pp.

also very unlikely your car will be too small to hold 3 carseats.

my dh has 2000 model 2 door toyota echo. we fit 3 carseats in there. 1 radian rear facing, 1 radian forward facing, and a forward facing scenera.

radian really are trim and yet roomy weird but true.

pita though to install rear facing - i'll warn yuo about that, though also if your child is less than 14 lbs it may be difficult to get teh straps tight enough til child grows a bit more. (had my 2week old 11lb child in that seat).

we did nickname his car the clown car though because it was most amazing how a family of five all fit in there.

bettyann
ps i know i'm voice of dissent though - i just LOVE my minivan. and gas mileage in that is not that bad - around 26 - 29 mpg - dodge grand caravan - we had to use the small car because of a car accident damagin my van prett y bad

nak sorry about typing - newborn keeps kicking at the keyboard while i feed her and attempt to type at same time. ..

oh and i have a car payment - it's around $200 month/60 months . . . but we keep our cars forever. only reason we got rid of my old car - subaru outback impreza was because it really was hard to fit a third car seat in the middle and also, at the time we traded in for a new used van, i was pregnant with twins so we needed more space. . .

our family plans are to have 4 living children, which will fit well in a minivan - and so we decided that was good long term decision. . .

[miss_sonja]

Try selling the car yourself, you'll get much more than a trade in.

Unless you have plans to drive carpool etc., you don't *need* a minivan. I can get three carseats into my Acura Integra (same size as a Honda Civic), and it gets 30 miles to the gallon, even though it's a 1990. If we had another, I'd keep my car, no question.

[Jilian]

I agree, minivans don't get that much more gas mileage than suvs. I just traded my Odyssey and it was getting 20 mpg city and 23 mpg hwy if we were lucky. We're in a Civic now and getting over 30 mpg city plus we lowered our payment. I doubt you'll get much at all for a trade-in on your SUV and I'm not sure it would sell in a provate sale either. Do you owe anything on it? Are you willing to take a loss on it to gain in gas mileage?

[holidaymama]

Keep the SUV...if you don't have a car payment you'd be crazy to trade in and have a car payment!

Unless you got say 5K for the SUV and found like a honda civic for 5K oh but you need a van...sorry!

Let's say you got the 5K for the SUV, I am sure you could find a minivan for 5K...

especially like a dodge, mazda, chevy, or hundai...I can always find something super cheep in those makes...I have been looking forever! the insurance may be cheaper as well.

But you probably wont get that much better mpg...like maybe a couple miles better...might not be worth you time in looking and hassle of selling and buying.

Maybe you could think about changing your driving habits a little? 550/month is quite a lot isn't it? Do you commute somewhere? We only get an average of 20mpg...and that IS with a car...and during the school year we commute about 30 - 40 miles a day and we spend $400/month...

Durangos are pretty sweet...I would keep it!