2 cars, 3 years, looking to minimize final cost...What's the best way to go?

[ocho]

Hi all,

here's the deal:

- need 2 cars (one for me, one for the mrs)

- 1 car needs to be "small suv/wagon", with AWD (for the mrs/baby) (been looking at Outback/Rav4/CRV/Venza... maybe crosstour now?)
- other car could be sedan or a hatchback (been looking at Impreza, Matrix...)

- have flexibility to pay cash for both

- most likely moving away from canada in 3 years, so would sell both at that point, goal would be to minimize the final cost, but we're not interested in buying two old/cheap cars.  2004 would probably be the cut off from a used POV.

- Safety/Reliability would be the 2 main draws


that's the story.

Any advice on what would be the "cheapest" option given those parameters would be greatly appreciated.

So far I can't seem to get enough info to sway me one way or the other.  It seems like one day I find info that shows buying used would be my best bet... the next day it looks like leasing... Buying New seems to be the only definite "no", but then when you factor in warranty and some deals to be had out there, maybe it's not so clear...

feel like I've "researched" myself to a stand still.  Need/Want to get it done asap, but at this point i really don't know which direction to go.

HELP!!!

[Careener]

for the hatchback I suggest a used Mazda3. They lose a lot of value in the first 3-4 years.

[TopGun]

I don't have a lot of time for "minimizing final cost" decisions...that's just not inherent in our car-person DNA.

You've figured out that there is no obvious response because while (a) NEW means less risk in terms of warranty...(b) it's more expensive.  The free movement of the marketplace ensures that.

If I were in your spot, I'd lease.

[Thinking Out Loud]

Toyota Matrix AWD for mom and Toyota Corolla for dad.

or

Suzuki SX4 AWD Hatch & Suzuki SX4 Sedan.

or

Hyundai Tuscon / Hyundai Elantra Wagon


If you are buying two cars and are ambivalent about specific desires, you are likely to do better negotiating two cars at the same time from the same dealer, if going new.

Toyotas hold their value well come resale time, too, Suzuki is always tryng to sell.  Hyundai is only going up!

[The Mighty Duck]

I'd agree with TopGun and say leasing is going to be the easiest (although maybe not the cheapest) option. No stress worrying about "will it sell before we move", either.

As ToL says, you might get a better deal negotiating two cars at once. I'd go with the two Hyundai and lease them with zero down. Walk away at the end of the lease.

[Julie]

Agree with both TopGun and Demos that lease is "easiest", and probably what I'd do, but it's not the least expensive.

Least expensive (theoretically) would be to get two cars, 2-3 years old (and thus past their greatest depreciation) that are very reliable, and re-sell them 3 years later.  More hassle.

If you know you're going to leave in 3 years, buying new leaves you with the vulnerability of something happening to either of the two cars, greatly depreciating the value (car accident, etc.)  With a lease (of a new car), you still pay for that depreciation, but if the car has lost its value, it becomes the manufacturer's problem. 

[safristi]

...OCHO............................one word answer......................RIOS...........................

[mmret]

I've never leased but who knows what they might try to screw you for when the lease comes up...one does not need that headache. Plus lease terms are a bit inflexible depending on whether you need to leave in 36 months...38 months, 42 months etc.

I'd go with the gently used route. If you can somehow get over the border a used ~06 RAV4 and a ~06 Mazda 3 or something can probably be had for a song.

edit: typo