Vehicle Choices..

We bought a new car last year. Our chief concern was safety and with the fuel rates these days, fuel economy and whether it took regular vs premium was a huge concern for us. Because we didn't have a car with any cargo space, we looked primarily at cars in the "small SUV" range that I would be comfortable driving since I would be the primary driver. We tested the Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe, Honda CRV, Subaru Outback and Subaru Forester. I loved the ride for both the Vibe and Matrix but the Vibe's dash configuration was a little strange to me and the cabin felt a little cramped to me. The CRV was an amazing car with great features but I didn't feel comfortable in it on the highway (it felt too big for me and I didn't like taking it around corners on the freeway ramps). The Outback was great but I'm young and it felt too "soccer mom" for me at this stage of the game. Ultimately we settled on the Subaru Forester. I love it! It's small and maneuverable and has decent cargo space with fold-down rear seats. I love the HUGE sun roof which is nice for extra light into the cabin during the dreary winter months. It has heated seats and heated windshield wipers too! I sit up high enough too that I have a great view of the road and none of the concern about tipping over that you hear about in some of the larger SUVs. It has HUGE side mirrors which are big plus because I can see more of the road with them too. It's also great with gas mileage and the biggest plus is that it has top marks from the Institute for Highway Safety for it's class. Because we live in a snowy/icy area, it's been really nice to have a vehicle that handles well in the elements and with a higher clearance off the ground than my old Chrysler Sebring, it means I don't have any troubles backing out of my parking space when the snow is deep. It also is AWD which is a nice plus too. I also love my Subaru dealership. I have a dedicated service tech and they have been great when I've brought it in for all the scheduled preventative maintenance (every 3750 miles). They also have an online site where you can keep track of all your service reports and mileage. Ultimately, you need to do the research and test drive the cars that interest you for their features (safety and fun stuff!) and make the decision based upon what you can afford and what you feel most at home driving....after all, you'll want to have the car for quite some time so it's a decision worth taking the time and effort to make.

I would be more concerned with fuel economy and safety. I don't need a flashy car. I think my next car will be 4-wheel drive. But I don't need something big like a truck or SUV, as there is just my husband and myself. I'm thinking about looking at Subaru cars when I next look for a car.