BACK IN THE CAR BUYING MODE ONCE AGAIN - TORTURE!

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The torture is not form the Dealers, it's from Mrs. Chief38!! Buying my wife a new car is more painful than a tooth extraction- LOL!! She won't buy even the best car in its class if she doesn't love the grill. CRAZY! She always wants what is offered on another model not in the one she is looking at. The Dealers just roll their eyes - LOL!

We have started the search looking at mid size SUV's in Toyota, Honda, Lexus & Toyota and Buick brands. Some of our friends said we should also look at the Genesis and Hundai brands as well.

My wife is now pestering me to get into the shower and get dressed so she can start the torture!! Wish me luck fellas, this is gonna be a tough day - and it's only the first of many I fear. I see a big glass of Bourbon on this evenings menu HA HA HA !

She currently drives a Buick LaCrosse which has been one of the best cars ever! She has had mostly Cadillac's in the past but this Buick has blown all of them away and has been an absolutely delightful, comfortable and reliable car to drive - can't rave enough about it! At close to 100K on the clock, it's time to update. She also has warmed up to owning an SUV now which probably suits her better as her hobby is shopping and returning - HA! :o
 
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Ha hah hahhhh... I sympathize with you, chief38! Ya know, the grille is the face of a car; in some ways it defines personality. It can make a high performing car unpalatable. I don't know why ugly guns that shoot well aren't in the same boat, but it is what it is.

Best course of action is to buy her what she wants. Happy wife, happy life! Or more correctly, unhappy wife=unhappy life.
 
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From what I have seen of Buicks a 100k on the odometer would not scare me if nothing major hadn't already showed up.
What year is it and where do you live?
 
With today's cars, 100K miles is just getting broken in.

My sentiment exactly. Go through the car, change all the belts, hoses and fluids. New plugs an filters, tires if needed and get it aligned.

Next have it detailed by a top notch guy.

Your car will appear new, and you can keep 45K in your pocket. Furthermore, the grille is already approved
 
Keep it!

No one makes a more handsome waterfall grill than Buick.

100K miles ain't nuttin.

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I have a Buick Enclave, (the full size one), they make 3 sizes. I had previously a Toyota Highlander, it was a great car, but the Buick is the most comfortable and reliable car I have owned probably ever. Since I don't drive all that many miles a year any longer, it may be the last car I ever own. The Enclave is a big SUV, 3 row seating. The mid size one is nearly as big as my previous Highlander.
 
Quick and Painless with SWMBO

SWMBO is driving a 2007 Ford Escape.
Like most of us, it has seen better days.

Local dealer had a 2008 Ford Expedition online that we wanted to look at.
Arrived apx 3:15
Dealer had closed at 3 PM - Que Sera, Sera

Went to the dealer next door.

2016 Grand Caravan SE with 66k miles in Exceptional Condition

SWMBO drove and LOVED it!

Less than an hour later we had made the deal.

Bekeart



.
 
I think the '39 Ford, I think it was that year, that Ford had one of the most distinctive grills you will never find.
I think that title belongs to the Ford Edsel.

As we are at the stage of our lives where most of our driving is within 20 miles of home, any car that runs is adequate for our needs, no matter its age or appearance. Our last new car purchase was 12 years ago (a Mazda 5 which has never given us any trouble). There probably will never be another. Especially at today's new car prices.
 
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I’ve owned two vehicles since 2000: a 1990 Toyota 4runner and a 2000 4runner.

The first was totaled when a yahoo made an illegal left hand turn into me. It had 250,000 miles on it. The 2000 4runner now has 224,000 miles on it and I have no intention of replacing it.

The only non maintenance mechanical expense I had with the 1990 4 runner was for a water pump and alternator. The only issue I’ve had with the current 4runner is also replacing the water pump and alternator.

To summarize:I’ve driven Toyota 4 Runners for the last 490,000 miles or 33 years spending less than $1,500 in repair costs.

I can’t imagined thinking that a suv with 100,000 miles is time to replace that with vehicle (of course, you’re talking about domestic vehicles).

The time I imagined that a new car would get me the girls is long gone! I’d rather spend the money on guns, hunting and fountain pens.
 
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The torture is not form the Dealers, it's from Mrs. Chief38!! Buying my wife a new car is more painful than a tooth extraction- LOL!! She won't buy even the best car in its class if she doesn't love the grill. CRAZY! She always wants what is offered on another model not in the one she is looking at. The Dealers just roll their eyes - LOL!

I would love to know what the OP's definition of "the best car in its class" might be.;)

I can sympathize with Mrs Chief to a degree. There are some seriously ugly SUVs out there these days. Yes, I get that you cannot see the grille when you're sitting in the vehicle, but there's that time you look back in the car park or go into the garage and say "Why the heck did I that ugly thing?"

Then there is the features not being in the model you do like, or worse, the model that looks great having a "no sale" feature. In my case that's adaptive cruise that cannot be switched to regular cruise.

It's the same with many consumer items. Digital cameras are among the worst for this. My Panasonic FZ Lumix series cameras have fantastic lenses and great manual controls, but an accursed "constant filesize" JPG algorithm. It's maddening.
 
Good luck, Chief! Remember what they say..."If it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger".
As for vehicles, your list is full of winners. Of course, I can't speak to the attractiveness of the grills. However, the Genesis 80 is stunning, IMHO.
 
We had been a Ford Family for a long time…FIL had retired from a Ford plant in New Jersey….After serious Safety issue recalls with my 2015 Lariat, I bought another brand…Our Daughter was finishing up her second year of Med School and 3rd and 4th Year consists of going to satellite campuses and working at different Hospitals and Dr.’s Offices….I needed to replace her 09 Fusion..with something more reliable. Stopped at an Audi Dealer and they had their Service Loaners for sale…These Cars are loaned to New Car Customers who bring their Cars in for Warranty/Service….When they get close to 5 thousand miles on them ,they’re pulled for extensive service and sold with an extended warranty and Service plan…. They showed me an A4 S line that had 4 thousand and change on it….

It’s now due for 60k service (2018) and other than a set of Michelins and a Battery, it’s been good to go…30 plus mpg and accelerates like a Jet on Takeoff with the Turbo..I have no doubt it’ll get her thru Residency….Starting 5th Year in July….puts a smile on Her face every time She drives it.

We were so happy with the difference in reference to Quality and Reliability, we got a a Q5 SUV for the Wife…Had gone thru the Exhaust debacle with the 2013 Explorer….It too has been flawless and gets close to 30 mpg.
 
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In snow country we took the the Subaru Forester(no TV screen dash yet!) >$40K, Subaru Outback >$45K. we also have a 16 outback now but the 23's and on have touch screen dash controls so we took the Premium Forester. (didnt want to use touch screen to operate heater etc,)
Easy in/out, can shut off the auto start/stop mandated "feature". Visability is great. We are older and these features were important to us.
Mrs Chief will get what she wants-Smiles, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
Happy hunting, Mike
 

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