Car Brands

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Anyone have any experience with Volvo’s. Thinking about buying a used 2011 S60. Got a friend who swears by them, but I’ve never had one and no one I know has either. I see some people say they are bulletproof. What say this forum. It’s for my son, my guess is he won’t put 30,000 miles on it over the next 4 years (starting UNc in the fall).
I’ve had cause to drive both an XC60 and XC40 recently and was really impressed by both.
 
I've had a couple of trucks to reach the 300K mark and 2 cars to reach the 200K mark.
My Dad has only solely owned and driven 4 vehicles in his life (he and my Mom shared a vehicle the first 8 years):

  • 1960 - their 1st joint vehicle; a VW Bug
  • 1964/65 - sold the Bug and bought a fire engine red Plymouth Valiant station wagon; Slant 6 engine; they definitely got 100k out of it; but that was mostly the Mom vehicle/family vehicle
  • 1969ish? Dad got tenure and bought his first HIS car……a white Datsun 2000. Sweet as hell 5-speed convertible. Loved that car. Dad loved that car. My brother loved that car. My brother didn’t know it had an oil gauge; it didn’t have an oil light. He shattered that engine and hood all over US 1 b/t Raleigh and Sanford. That engine pretty much exploded. Dad put 125k on it.
  • 1979 - Honda Accord Hatchback - easily 250K……maybe 300k
  • 1991 Acura Integra -300k
  • 2015 Acura Sedan - it’s at 169
Change the oil. Get maintenance done.
 
Anybody have experience with Prius or Camry? Checking on them for someone in the market for a hybrid.

From what I read, their batteries seem to last. And they also seem to have gone from a 5 year, to now a 10 year warranty, along with getting gradually less expensive to replace.
 
Anybody have experience with Prius or Camry? Checking on them for someone in the market for a hybrid.

From what I read, their batteries seem to last. And they also seem to have gone from a 5 year, to now a 10 year warranty, along with getting gradually less expensive to replace.
Depends on priorities. I’ve owned a 2nd and 3rd gen, and a Prius V. Collectively, I have about 150k driving experience in them. If frugality is your goal and you drive a lot of miles, good chance it’ll be a fit. The hatches also offer quite a lot of utility. If comfort is a significant priority, very suspect, IMO, and the Camry is a better choice. Priuses tend to be rattle traps, and have high road noise (limited insulation for weight saving, low to the ground, and high efficiency tires), including my friend’s top of the line 2019 Prime limited. I’ve never had an issue with the batteries. I had the 2nd gen until 2022 and even at nearly 15 yo and 160k I was getting 44+ mpg.

Toyota makes tremendously reliable hybrids, and you can moderately follow maintenance schedules and still expect factory performance, but you’ll also get a lot of plastics, cheap brackets, and loose wire harnesses. I’ve disassembled the entire dash and hatch covers on each of the vehicles to suss out dozens of rattles.
 
Hondas were already ridiculous before the tariffs went into effect. I can't imagine what they're going to be. I had a 2022 leased Pilot. When I went to turn it in, the 2025 Pilot with the same features was $10K more than the 2022 cost. The lease was $200 more a month than what I paid for the 2022. I had leased one every three years since 2013 and the lease only increased by $50 a month between 2013 and 2022. I ended up buying out the Pilot, but I'm thinking about selling it and leasing a Hyundai Palisade. The 2025 with the same features is the same price as my 2022 Pilot was when it was new.
 
I think it’s time for us to buy a minivan. We have a Subaru Outback but it’s still cramped with a 7 and 3 year old, especially when carpooling and when my wife picks up our 1 year old niece.

Seems like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are the clear leaders, any reason to choose one over the other? Seems like a recent model in decent condition for either is going be at least mid-30s.
 
I think it’s time for us to buy a minivan. We have a Subaru Outback but it’s still cramped with a 7 and 3 year old, especially when carpooling and when my wife picks up our 1 year old niece.

Seems like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are the clear leaders, any reason to choose one over the other? Seems like a recent model in decent condition for either is going be at least mid-30s.
Can't speak to the Sienna, but we have a 2020 Odyssey and have had no issues or complaints. Paying it off next week.
 
I’ve had cause to drive both an XC60 and XC40 recently and was really impressed by both.
We had an XC60 a few years ago. It was a great car, but we had some mechanical issues just before the lease was almost up. The car broke down leaving us stranded on the side of the highway on 2 different occassions, so we wanted to end the lease early and sign a new lease for a new XC-60. The dealer wouldn't do anything. I couldn't believe how poorly they handled it. So we left the car at the dealership and walked next door and leased a Honda Passport.

I would give Volvo another chance, but my wife disagrees.
 
I think it’s time for us to buy a minivan. We have a Subaru Outback but it’s still cramped with a 7 and 3 year old, especially when carpooling and when my wife picks up our 1 year old niece.

Seems like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are the clear leaders, any reason to choose one over the other? Seems like a recent model in decent condition for either is going be at least mid-30s.

2021+ Siennas are the better vehicles. Also pricier and harder to get. I believe there are wait lists if looking at new ones. Sienna also has an AWD config if that's important. Keep in mind they are all hybrids

The Odysseys are very good vehicles, don't get me wrong, but they potentially come with issues from the variable cylinder management that can lead to oil consumption (or worse). Though I would assume the newer engines won't have as many issues as the 2010s models did

With that said, it's hard to go wrong with either. Some friends of mine have gone through about 2 of each van over the last 20 years with no clear preference or issues with either model
 
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Found a 2006 LX 470 with around 90,000 miles. California car so zero rust, completely stock, and a well kept interior

VERY impressed with how comfortable the LX rides on the stock, almost 20 yr old suspension. Took it on a 8 hour trip to Chicago and it performed great. Barely felt the stretches of tore up toll roads across Indiana/Ohio

It has the active height control (AHC) system which is hydraulic. It allows for automatic leveling depending on vehicle load, four levels of damping adjustment from soft to hard, and most importantly allows you to raise or lower the vehicle by 2"
 
My Dad has only solely owned and driven 4 vehicles in his life (he and my Mom shared a vehicle the first 8 years):

  • 1960 - their 1st joint vehicle; a VW Bug
  • 1964/65 - sold the Bug and bought a fire engine red Plymouth Valiant station wagon; Slant 6 engine; they definitely got 100k out of it; but that was mostly the Mom vehicle/family vehicle
  • 1969ish? Dad got tenure and bought his first HIS car……a white Datsun 2000. Sweet as hell 5-speed convertible. Loved that car. Dad loved that car. My brother loved that car. My brother didn’t know it had an oil gauge; it didn’t have an oil light. He shattered that engine and hood all over US 1 b/t Raleigh and Sanford. That engine pretty much exploded. Dad put 125k on it.
  • 1979 - Honda Accord Hatchback - easily 250K……maybe 300k
  • 1991 Acura Integra -300k
  • 2015 Acura Sedan - it’s at 169
Change the oil. Get maintenance done.
I have owned

1966 Pontiac Lemans - which was a poor man's muscle car back in the day
1970 Toyota Celica - the only new car I have ever owned .loved that car. drove for well over 100k before someone rear ended me and totaled the car
1968 Dodge Charger - which was my muscle car:cool:
1980 Toyota Tercel - had no AC which finally motivated me to trade for a
1984 Toyota Camry - loved that car, put almost 200k on that car, and eventually gave it to my daughter
1992 - Lexus 400 LS - put over 200k on that car and it lasted until 2010 before the AC gave out which motivated me to trade for a
2006 -Lexus 430LS - which I drive today and with 115k on the odometer, I am expecting it to be the last car I own:)

My bottom line advice :

never buy a new car
buy a used Toyota that best fits your budget
buy a used Lexus that fits your budget and you will never buy a different brand again(y)
 
1992 - Lexus 400 LS - put over 200k on that car and it lasted until 2010 before the AC gave out which motivated me to trade for a
2006 -Lexus 430LS - which I drive today and with 115k on the odometer, I am expecting it to be the last car I own
Looks like you're only putting 5K miles a year on it, should last awhile...
 
2006 -Lexus 430LS - which I drive today and with 115k on the odometer, I am expecting it to be the last car I own:)

Nice! I have a 2005 LS with 95k on it

I don't see myself ever getting rid of either, unless it's for a nicer LS

Toyota truly peaked with that car
 
Looks like you're only putting 5K miles a year on it, should last awhile...
I'm trying to put 5k miles on my car. My last 110k maintenance visit was last May. Right now I have 113k so I'm reluctantly having to take the car in before the scheduled 115k routine maintenance.

My battery has gone dead in the past and my Lexus rep has advised me to drive highway miles for at least 30 minutes weekly. When my better half asks me where I'm going, I tell her I'm going to exercise my car 😜

At the rate I'm going this car should last me until I'm 90 years old at which time someone in my family should probably step in and take away my driver's license;)
 
Nice! I have a 2005 LS with 95k on it

I don't see myself ever getting rid of either, unless it's for a nicer LS

Toyota truly peaked with that car
Earlier this week I was making my monthly visit to fill up my gas tank, and a car pulls up behind me. The driver approaches me and says he wants to buy my car ( which is in immaculate condition ) .

My response was that I have not even thought about selling my car. He then asks me, "at any price ?" I said a new Lexus goes for around 80k so I would be willing to sell mine for 50k. He smiled and then got back in his car.

Once you buy a Lexus you will never settle for another brand... and the bonus is the treatment you get taking your Lexus in for service. What I really like is that they will send someone to your home, pick up your car, leave a loaner, and then after the service return your car.
 
Earlier this week I was making my monthly visit to fill up my gas tank, and a car pulls up behind me. The driver approaches me and says he wants to buy my car ( which is in immaculate condition ) .

My response was that I have not even thought about selling my car. He then asks me, "at any price ?" I said a new Lexus goes for around 80k so I would be willing to sell mine for 50k. He smiled and then got back in his car.

Once you buy a Lexus you will never settle for another brand... and the bonus is the treatment you get taking your Lexus in for service. What I really like is that they will send someone to your home, pick up your car, leave a loaner, and then after the service return your car.

And the $80k modern Lexus won't be any more quiet or comfortable. I mean how could it be?

I'm not rich enough for the Lexus service experience ;) but that sounds quite nice

I don't mind self service though and fortunately these cars don't need much. My new old LX on the other hand will be a lot more demanding
 
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