Help me choose a car! (Parents opinions needed!)

[cheapie]

As I stated my thread re: my new job, I get to order a new car. I have narrowed my options down to the following three vehicles. Please read my comments and help me decide what I should get. Keep in mind that I am NOT paying for any repairs or fuel so quality and fuel economy should not rate very high.

2006 Dodge Charger SE.
3.5L V6 250 HP
http://www.kollbec.com/06photo/dodge/charger4dr-se.jpg

Positives:
Big car, smooth ride.
Plenty of room in the back in case we have a third kid in the next year or so.
Aux jack in the radio for an MP3 Player.
Very cool styling.
Big Trunk.

Negatives:
Slow
Rearwheel drive - likely bad in snow.
Low windshield obscures vision a bit.
Big heavy car.
Sits low compared to truck/van


2006 Jeep Liberty
3.7-Liter V6 210 HP
http://www-5.jeep.com/vehsuite/vimg/us/eal/size5/41/CC06_KJTH74_2TB_PRH_APA_XXX_XXXT.jpg

Positives:
4WD.
It's a Jeep.
Great towing capacity

Negatives:
Slower than Charger
High center of gravity coupled with short wheelbase makes me a bit nervous
Almost no dashboard
Backseat would be very difficult to get three kids in.
Sits pretty high

2006 Chrysler Town & Country LX
180-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 engine
http://www-5.chrysler.com/vehsuite/vimg/us/eal/size5/45/CC06_RSYH53_2DF_PW1_APA_XXX_XXX.jpg

Positives:
Stow-and-go seating
Plenty of space for customers, kids, family, bikes, camping equipment, etc.
Sits higher than Charger

Negatives:
It's a freakin' van. I've already got one and don't really want another one.
Probably slow. Couldn't bring myself to test drive it.
Did I mention it's a van?

[psycho-]

I think you can get the Charger (or is it the 300c) with AWD, right?

[cheapie]

i think the 300 C or one of the higher level Chargers. Not the SE

[ufcrusher]

I would find out what the cost difference would be between what they are willing to give you and what the AWD version would cost. Then I would probably try to see if the dealership could work the deal for you to make it as close as possible.

Personally, I have owned RWD's in the snow and if you know what you are doing/how to drive it, you can control it even in bad weather. Although, I have had the back end fish tail out before. It wouldnt be my first choice for safety with a family IF you will see lots of snow.

I would probably think this way...if snow/inclement weather is the number one concern and something you will run into a lot, the Jeep is the way to go. But you have to realize that you are sacrificing comfort and gas, for that peace of mind.

If family practicality is your main concern, then its the mini-van. HOWEVER, you already have one. Unless you are planning on copying another member of the board (who I wont name, :) ) There is little chance you need 2 mini-vans. The only concern would be if the other one is a circa 1985 Dodge on its last rim. Otherwise, why worry.

This leaves you with the charger. Yes, its not AWD and would be the worst in the snow. However, you said that the back is large enough to accomodate your brood, you enjoy its appearance, and the back seat is large enough to create the 3rd one in. :naughty: As I originally said, I would find out what the difference in cost is. There is no way I would offer to pay the difference, as you will never see that money again since its the companies. But if you can prepare a good rationale why you should get the AWD version and the price isnt that much more, you might convince them.

[cheapie]

unfortunately i can't upgrade any of the features.


All vehicles on this Selector List have been adequately equipped. Driver Paid Options and/or Model Upgrades will not be available.

[Butch]

Call it a hunch, but your decision is already made up . . . you're just looking for a little bit of 3rd party reassurance . . . so, fine, go for the Jeep ;)

(From a guy who knows NOTHING about cars)

Edit: there ya go . . . your justification ;)

[cheapie]

lol. i'm actually hoping to justify getting the liberty.


and wondering how a charger will look with a bike rack. guess i could get the kind that hooks onto the trunk.

[ufcrusher]

unfortunately i can't upgrade any of the features.

Well then, you have your answer. 4wd vs. Rwd = the decision. Sounds like you want the Jeep....so go for the jeep. It has 5 drs, so getting into the back seat shouldnt be that difficult.

[cheapie]

yep. but the problem is i don't think i can fit a booster seat and two car seats in the back seat of the liberty.

lol. see what i mean? the freakin' van keeps saying "pick me! pick me!"

but i don't wanna! :bawl:

[speedracer120]

Eh you can have your big boy sit in your lap, forgo the carseat!

Hahaha. Please don't take the above seriously and file suit against me later. Haha.

[bachviet]

Out of those 3, the Charger is the best choice.

[Jihforce]

pointless to get a van when you alrady got one. I'd go with 4x4 in snowy weather over RWD any day. So its a bit smaller, its ok, take your van if the whole family is going out.

[attgig]

get the T&C. trade the nissan in for a convertible.

[cheapie]

get the T&C. trade the nissan in for a convertible.



that's a decent idea. the trading in part....not the convertible part.

we thought about getting the van and trading the nissan quest in for a honda pilot or something. but i would want to drive that more than the company car which would negate the benefit of free gas for the company vehicle. :heh:

[Jeffbx]

Yeah, you're never going to squeeze 2 car seats & a booster in the back of that Jeep. But ask yourself - how many times will you need to do that? I got a Grand Prix specifically because I can fit all 3 kids in the back seat with their various car seats & boosters. In two years that I've had that car, I've done it exactly twice - and both times I probably could have come up with a way not to have to do so.

I say get the Jeep anyway & don't worry about the back seat - probably your best choice of the 3.

[IrishSS]

Michigan... Snow...

Duh. The Jeep.

[Markel]

I'd probably opt for the Jeep.

[gear02]

Jeep too, just because of the snow.

But I don't envy you, I don't think I would like any of those cars and making a forced decision on them.

Still congrats about your promotion. I might me PMing you soon to talk to you about the automotive industry since I'm looking at a marketing job at Ford.

[attgig]

Yeah, you're never going to squeeze 2 car seats & a booster in the back of that Jeep. But ask yourself - how many times will you need to do that? I got a Grand Prix specifically because I can fit all 3 kids in the back seat with their various car seats & boosters. In two years that I've had that car, I've done it exactly twice - and both times I probably could have come up with a way not to have to do so.

I say get the Jeep anyway & don't worry about the back seat - probably your best choice of the 3.


i agree. the only time you may need the jeep is if you get 6+ inches of snow, and you MUST get the whole family somewhere. otherwise, you'd just stay in, or just use the minivan....

shrug.

and if you get gas for free...no brainner.

[Sirrich3]

Go with the Charger!

[mechmike0034]

Drive the Liberty before choosing. I know you're leaning towards it, but the only one I drove was the roughest riding, tippiest, clumsiest lane changing beast I ever had the displeasure of driving. After putting 30 miles on one, I wouldn't take one for free.

The 4WD is nice, but is it worth living with the other 300 days of the year? Even in MI?

[cheapie]

Drive the Liberty before choosing. I know you're leaning towards it, but the only one I drove was the roughest riding, tippiest, clumsiest lane changing beast I ever had the displeasure of driving. After putting 30 miles on one, I wouldn't take one for free.

The 4WD is nice, but is it worth living with the other 300 days of the year? Even in MI?



ding ding ding. and the best answer goes to...



lol. i rented one a couple months ago and thought "how could jeep release something this terrible?"

last week i thought "maybe it was an anomaly and they aren't all really that bad. i'll try it again."

wrong. it still sucked. the only redeeming factor was that it was 4wd and a jeep. if you stomped on the gas, it got louder but didn't really accelerate between 40-65. i don't know if i could change that with a chip or something but :shrug:

[cheapie]

i think i'm going to get either

http://www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/vimg/us/eal/size4/7/CC06_LXDH48_2DE_PA4_APA_XXX_XXX.jpg

or

http://www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/vimg/us/eal/size4/44/CC06_LXDH48_2DE_PRH_APA_XXX_XXX.jpg

or

http://www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/vimg/us/eal/size4/26/CC06_LXDH48_2DE_PW1_APA_XXX_XXX.jpg


opinions?

[gear02]

red

[cheapie]

here's those colors in real-life...not photochopped

http://www.autobase.com/photos/large/02033460.jpg

http://www.autobase.com/photos/large/01948067.jpg

http://www.autobase.com/photos/large/05189790.jpg

http://www.autobase.com/photos/large/02037373.jpg

http://www.autobase.com/photos/large/05216086.jpg

[mechmike0034]

The silver-grey or white will be easier to keep clean...

[Cubsfan]

I love that blue!

[gear02]

Ooooo Blue!!!!!!!!!!

[cheapie]

seriously? the blue does nothing for me.

silver, red, white are my favorites in order of preference.


The silver-grey or white will be easier to keep clean...



the company will pay for car washes. however, in the winter i don't think i can keep the salt grime off of it w/o washing it every day so good point.

[bachviet]

Silver

[Markel]

the company will pay for car washes.
Man, this is sounding more and more the the car plan I had at DEC. I paid $30/week (less anything I spent on gas, washes, etc.) - unlimited driving (by employee and spouse). I even drove my company car on vacation down to Florida.

[cheapie]

just ordered the top one. now i gotta wait 8 weeks or so to get it. i believe they give me a rental in the meantime tho'.

markel...that's funny. i pay the same amount but the expenses go on a corporate amex.

[speedracer120]

Good choice. Silver is always a winner with cars. When my car is dirty, it still looks clean, when it's clean it downright looks brilliant.

[cheapie]

i went and looked at a silver one on the way home from ski patrol last night. :thumbup:

[Markel]

When we ordered a car, we were allowed to pay for additional options. However, if we ended up turning the car in (there was an option to buy it at the end of the period) we would get no credit for the options we bought. I ended up putting about $260 in options in my (cruise control, block heater, and something else - maybe a cassette deck). After I had it a few years, DEC revised their car plan (vastly reducing the number of employees that qualified), so I ended up buying the Taurus from "them" (probably GELCO, the leasing company).

[Jihforce]

i believe silver and red oxidizes faster. good thing you aren't paying for it. heh

[ShawnLee]

Nice. Still, I was looking at the options and kept thinking to myself...
"Slow, slower, and probably slow... That's not cool."

[cheapie]

:stupid:

exactly what i thought as i drove them. but i was also thinking "free. free. this one's free also."

[JaQnAbOx]

white

[cheapie]

finally got this yesterday!

http://www.littleboyinc.com/uploader2/files/charger/charger.jpg

[Markel]

Hah! In just a few years, he's gonna want the keys! :heh: