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We only have $7k to work with so I thougjt I'd mention it.
Ps, my mom loved her Santa Fe.
One of the main requirements is that it be a car or VERY low SUV, plus I'm sure that will be well out of price range with any version that is new enough to have assists.
I also should clarify nothing with air suspension, again I don't feel like dealing with it on this car/owner combo.
Well there are 3 D4 A8s within 20 min of me that hit all that plus ACC and massage seats but I don't trust her to listen and keep something like that nice. Plenty of W221s as well but same issue, I really don't want an air suspension car for her or anything overly complex because I know it will get trashed.
Well there are 3 D4 A8s within 20 min of me that hit all that plus ACC and massage seats but I don't trust her to listen and keep something like that nice. Plenty of W221s as well but same issue, I really don't want an air suspension car for her or anything overly complex because I know it will get trashed.
Take away the 360 cameras, what about an AWD RX with parking sensors?
Well there are 3 D4 A8s within 20 min of me that hit all that plus ACC and massage seats but I don't trust her to listen and keep something like that nice. Plenty of W221s as well but same issue, I really don't want an air suspension car for her or anything overly complex because I know it will get trashed.
Please understand everyone I'm not being heartless and mean but I have to ask.
If you help your sister find a car, will you then "be or feel obligated" to fix it every time it needs work- For Free at your expense of time amd money???
If the answer is yes can I please recommend she buy something new and basic with car payments and let her learn the responsibility of car ownership.
We pay either way.
Either a car payment or buy used and make repairs.
A $7k car WILL need work as we all know. 🫸🫷
Last edited by Margate330; Dec 22, 2025 at 04:18 AM.
I would also agree, since she hasn't gotten a license until she is 24 she's obviously not a car person. Something like an old S Class or A8 is way overkill and the complexity and unreliability isn't worth it for her. Get her something basic and reliable
Getting something decent and reliable for $7k is tough these days. I like Mike and Steve's suggestions of Subaru and Mazda.
I'm just throwing this out there. I don't think you like these lol but it does meet some of your criteria. My old G37 was super reliable and easy to work on and I'm nowhere near your level. Only thing I didn't like were the rear brakes, they are annoying. I only did a 50 mile radius search from me. I'm sure there's quite a few of these in Ohio.
Please understand everyone I'm not being heartless and mean but I have to ask.
If you help your sister find a car, will you then "be or feel obligated" to fix it every time it needs work- For Free at your expense of time amd money???
If the answer is yes can I please recommend she buy something new and basic with car payments and let her learn the responsibility of car ownership.
We pay either way.
Either a car payment or buy used and make repairs.
A $7k car WILL need work as we all know. 🫸🫷
Yes it will be invariably my issue to keep alive, there is no way she can afford a new car but I am willing to go through whatever she buys ONCE and not have to mess with it past oil for at least 50k miles.
Getting something decent and reliable for $7k is tough these days. I like Mike and Steve's suggestions of Subaru and Mazda.
I'm just throwing this out there. I don't think you like these lol but it does meet some of your criteria. My old G37 was super reliable and easy to work on and I'm nowhere near your level. Only thing I didn't like were the rear brakes, they are annoying. I only did a 50 mile radius search from me. I'm sure there's quite a few of these in Ohio.
Hmmmmm, that's a really good idea actually. Those are quite reliable as well and easy to work on as you said.
Crash performance seems adequate, small overlap isn't the best but it's not nearly as bad as I expected for the chassis age.
I totally blacked those out mentally because of the prickles usually have VQ infinities haha! These would be actually be a very good option if I remove my bias, I think I'll go look at a few with her and see what she thinks
Last edited by Striker223; Dec 22, 2025 at 08:14 AM.
I would look at something like a 2016-2017 Mazda 6 or Mazda 3. Both of these sedans get good ratings, I just came out of a bulletproof 2016 Mazda 6 with BSM, Traction Control, etc. 130K miles and had more to go. Inexpensive brakes and maintenance. Skip the AWD and get 4 real snow tires which make winter driving a dream even in a FWD car. Did it for years in New England. Spring for a 2nd set of winter wheels and you can swap them in your garage.
No Subies for me, far too many issues with oil consumption. I don't know how people drive these past 100K. No 4 cyl Hyundai or Kias either. They are the worst at A) admitting they have a recall issue and B) actually fixing it. Long checkered history of this behavior makes me sour on them.
I'm not dealing with multiple sets of tires for her, she is getting CC3s to use year round and the AWD is for idiot proofing application of power year round.
I don't want to have torque steer or front end spin out, or RWD pinwheeling/trunk to treeline action. That's the main reason that one of the musts is AWD, that crash performance, and being a car are the must haves.
From there I would like sonar, side assist, 360* cam in that order if possible because she leans on those systems in that order. She can drive without them but it's certainly easier with them
