The wife and I have decided that with the arrival of bambino #2 next summer, and considering she can't drive a manual AND our solid new car savings + increased salaries, the time is soon approaching to upgrade to a new(ish) car for me. I love the Fit, but it's just not going to be a viable suburbanite family car. She'll get a new Odyssey soon... (her '02 Camry works well enough for now).

Believe it or not, I'm fairly infatuated with the 2013 Accord EX-L with the 4 banger and CVT. The mid-year hybrids might give me something else to consider.

On the other end of the spectrum is a CPO something or another, maybe a Volvo V50? BMW 328 wagon? I'd love to have a wagon, actually. If it was used it would need to be about half the sticker of the Accord. My rule.

No SUVs. No CUVs. No minivans.

Must get better than 30 MPG on the highway, and not even a CX5 SkyActiv gets that.

Must seat two adults and two kids in car seats comfortably (by that, I mean we can drive 500 miles and not want to genocide the planet), and maybe even one more person in the back (if they're small or canine), plus good trunk space for all the crap that accompanies small children.

Either approach, we're buying with cash or negotiating 0% APR so we can continue to make money on our savings, so our cap is around $30k.

Also looking at the Kia Optima SX, although friends and family who have Sonata turbos have had several problems, so maybe not. New Fusion is having problems, plus the styling is actually starting to bother me. I don't like the new Altima. Camry bores me to tears. Sorry. Personal preferences.

Thoughts?

 

If you're willing to dish out for a Volvo or BMW, I'd look into a Forester '09+ PZEV. I wouldn't touch the Optima... Personal preference... Good luck!

 

We're considering a Subaru, but in Texas AWD is totally superfluous. Decreases MPG and then there's the damned one tire dies, all 4 have to be replaced issue.

The 2014 should go toward fixing the fuel economy issue, at least in the Forester. We're more interested in the Outback for the "proper" family car that will replace the wife's Camry in a few years.

 

Big difference in grip/traction, with the TX rain.

 

Most "wagon" body types are so tall they get less than 30mpg highway. In fact, given the weight of most sedans, even they struggle despite better aerodynamics - most rely on drivability sacrifices, or outright lying about the mpg. The fact that you want enough space for two kicking kids, pushes for a larger car, and there's physics working against getting 30mpg.

Decent MPG wagons are Mazda5, Mazda CX5, and VW sportwagen. All of these have their own downsides, respectively dated quality, lack of power, and lack of reliability.

I would say you should choose between a wagon and the 30mpg. If you're going to be getting an Odyssey, there's no need for TWO wagons. The new Accord will get you your 30mpg highway, it'll be very comfortable, and you can fit your kids in the back. The new Mazda6 is coming out and will be stellar, but not sure if you can wait that long.

 

We're looking at doing this next summer when the baby is due, and hopefully later as the 2014 models roll out. I'd LOVE to get a 2013 Accord EX-L. My dad has a 2012 EX, and comparatively... they're totally different cars. The new one is much more a driver's car, especially for a mid-size sedan. The interior is also a MAJOR step forward. I think it's almost as good as an Audi. Almost. For $28,500 I could have everything I want in a car that should last us 15 years. I'm leaning that direction.

 

Are you keeping the Fit and Camry as 3rd and 4th car? I certainly would have a 3rd car, especially if it's already payed off.

I agree with fujisawa's statement regarding two wagons. Odyssey for the long trips and the big jobs. But if you must, then I'd go for the Prius or Prius V if fuel economy and comfort is your main concern. Or if you're keeping the Fit then there's your "wagon" and you can get a mid-sized sedan. Accord, Acura ILX / Hybrid, Optima SXL, new Camry. If longevity is your concern then I'd stay away from German cars. As much as I love them their problems and upkeep above 30K miles still persists today.

 

Accord Wagon. Wouldn't it be nice?

Really though, I think the Accord is your best bet here, I think the only one that hits your 30mpg+ requirement and I would trust to last 200k miles with the room that you need.

 

Wait, why are you looking at the low level BMW/Volvos? You're not going to gain any space over the Fit in those, if anything they are smaller than the Fit from my experience. A Fit is more than enough car if you only have two kids.

When my brother and I were small my parents had: Geo Tracker 2 door and Ford Tempo coupe.

 

Have you looked into a P2 (01-07) generation Volvo V70? Five cylinder wagon, turbo option, 4wd option, on the sleeper side, lots of upgrade options (more so than the V50). You'll want to look into a newer one since the first two or three years have transmission issues but the rest of them are pretty solid. I follow the Volvo scene a bit, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

 

My personal experiance:
(I'm a collision repairer/refinisher by trade)
Mazdas rust. Even ones that are a year old. Sectioning pillars and changing quarters has shown me this. I do live in snow 7 months of the year up here so that helps I'm sure.
European are generally a solid feeling car. Fixing them sucks.
I'm not into most domestic cars.
If you take care of your honda, your honda will take care of you. Go for the accord, a tsx, or an mdx(I know you said no SUV but they're nice.)
Picking out a new car is def a tough task, good luck!

 

It's kind of an anti-Fit, but have you thought at all about the Chevy Impala? Decent size, quite decent power, and quite decent milage in the real world, and actual visibility out the back. (It's also, so far as I know, the only remaining sedan available for sale in the US which can be had with a front bench seat.)

 

Well, my buddy at Motor Trend polled the office and almost everyone said get the Accord, dumbass. Then once the kids get bigger and we're carting around them and their friends and our neighbors to dance practice and soccer games, we can consider the Odyssey.

So it's looking like next summer, my little Fit will be on the market and we'll be shopping for deals on a 2013 Accord. Hopefully we can wait until the 2014s are out...

 

We've been recommending the Hyundai Sonata and Elantra; in your price range the Elantra. Besides a lot of features common to the Fit, it has a 10 year warranty worth having, and gets mpg equal to my Fit in spite of their 'error' in claims. Their money response has been quick and fair. Not in tgheleast, right now sales are a trifle behind due to the poor publicity. And a price tag barely abouve the Fit and more room, its a good switch.
If you need more 'stuff' and room the Sonata's not that much more and well under your price ceiling. Go look at them. So far, almost all of the buyers we recommeded have bought one.
Doesn't ghurt either to have Consumer Reports car history in agreement.
If you must stay with Honda, yes, the Accord is a good choice too.
If there's a CarMax in your arewa get them to appraise your Fit to find out what your wholesale value is against your newer vehicle wholesale and add as little profit as you can get away with to add to any loan value you have on your Fit to see what you will pay, plus tax, tag, and license.

 

2012 Toyota Camry XLE nice wife has one, priced at $28k got for under $25k leather was the only option that was not on the vehicle. Always willing to deal on these vehicles and rated 35 highway not sure if it gets that. I was looking at SE but wanted manual.

 

Can I just ask why when having a kid you're looking to spend unnecessary extra money? Generally kids aren't cheap.

 

Nobody's mentioned the Acura TSX wagon. EPA rated 30 MPG highway...

It's a European Accord, you know.




Heck, our '06 CRV (with AWD) gets 30MPG in highway cruzin', and the EPA highway rating is only 25...

 

I would be all over that if it came in 6MT

Over OP's 30k cap, but if he didn't mind spending an extra few K I think it's an outstanding option.

 

Me too. But BMW wagons are no longer sold with manual trannies, either.


That's why I'm keeping my CR-V until the wheels fall off...

 

Saw one parked today. Dealer tags still on. Looks nice.