https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:02:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car/page/2#post-1756770 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 09:30:25 +0000 snowjewelz 1756770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Price, gas mileage, dependability, whether it fits my lifestyle... </p> <p>For example, we bought a Honda CRV last year b/c it fits our budget, we trust the brand and safety ratings of the car, it has good gas mileage while being an AWD which we needed, and it would be good for having our soon to arrive baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car/page/2#post-1756746 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 09:25:08 +0000 LuLu Mom 1756746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Safety, high ratings, decent gas mileage, AWD (winters can get dicey here), heavier (I prefer SUVs), also heated leather and hands free calling are a must. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car/page/2#post-1756726 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 09:19:46 +0000 aegie 1756726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: I need a car that has the kid proof car doors - the kind where you press on a latch on the back seat door so that they can't open it from the inside. Until my kids are old enough to get in and out by themselves, it's been a fear of mine that they'll open the door accidentally while the car is in motion. I also need a car that has memory seats. My husband is 6-2 and I'm 5-2. It's such a pain to keep adjusting the seats. I love that my car knows who the driver is based on which car alarm unlocks the car. </p> <p>I look fair mph rates, large trunk space, tall enough to accommodate my husband if he ever needs to drive my car, good turn ratio (my previous acura TL has TERRIBLE turning ratio), and heated seats. OMG, winters are brutal in NY and heated seats are a lifesaver. </p> <p>I'm assuming air bags, and the top safety features are included since they come pretty standard with almost all cars these days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car/page/2#post-1756423 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 07:23:05 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1756423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AmeliaBedilia: did you have to order yours?</p> <p>@LovelyPlum: depending on what model as year you're looking at, you might have to order. The 2015 imprezas are taking 3-5 months to come in. That's what our dealership just told us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car/page/2#post-1756408 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 07:12:51 +0000 LovelyPlum 1756408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMcD: it is not so much the act of parallel parking-it is more that there aren't specific spots on our street, and finding one for a big car is a PITA :)</p> <p>@AmeliaBedilia: thanks for the feedback! Subarus are definitely high on our list.</p> <p>@NCSUchick27: glad to hear! I'm excited to test drive one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car/page/2#post-1756059 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 20:50:16 +0000 skibobrown 1756059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Safety first.<br /> We have 2 cars -- for one we were looking for something with AWD for winter driving. The other we were looking strictly for high MPG, since I have a 120 mile round trip commute to work.<br /> Also, both absolutely had to have heated seats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car/page/2#post-1756051 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 20:45:34 +0000 deactivated_account 1756051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: If its parallel parking that is making you think you need a small car, consider a rear view/backup camera. Or maybe even just sensors that "beep beep beep" when you are getting close to things. I have those on my car and it is amazing how much they help me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car/page/2#post-1755464 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 13:42:24 +0000 Modern Daisy 1755464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in the market too! I want an SUV that is energy efficient, good in the snow and won't constantly break down or have mechanical issues. My older siblings both have the Honda Odyssey, Iknow that is a minivan not an SUV, but they absolutely love it due to the storage and cool features. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car/page/2#post-1755451 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 13:35:58 +0000 NCSUchick27 1755451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: I like the way our Elantra drives. It definitely isn't sporty, but you could go with a different trim level or the Elantra GT (hatchback) if you want something sportier. The GT is really nice, but the sedan fit our needs better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car/page/2#post-1755323 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 12:04:53 +0000 AmeliaBedilia 1755323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: For safety, snow, and gas mileage, you can't go wrong with Subaru. To echo my earlier post, I can't believe I am this in love with a car. Small cars can be safe too. All subarus are top safety picks- I remember that they are the only car company that can say that, and have for the past 3 years. My Impreza sedan with a CVT has 27 city/36 highway officially. I do a lot of highway and usually get 32MPG, except in the winter, it's usually 29 (winter gas and I have snow tires- totally paranoid). The Forester is Consumer Reports best small SUV, and the Impreza is CR best for compact car. I know some of them have a backup mirror which can help with parallel parking. I am blown away at the value- the cars I was comparing to with similar features were 10,000-25,000 more. Subaru also has a bunch of member organizations that can give you a discount and a credit card that gives you 3% towards a car, service, or accessories. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755316 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:54:08 +0000 Turd Ferguson 1755316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Safety, reliability, longevity, 4WD (winters in MN!), towing (we have one car for our family and DH has a boat). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755303 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:48:14 +0000 LovelyPlum 1755303@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loveisstrange: wow, that is surprising! The things you learn :)</p> <p>@avivoca: that is exactly why I am interested in a hatchback. They are actually really roomy! We would also get roof rails installed, so we could have extra storage when we travel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755302 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:47:21 +0000 LovelyPlum 1755302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swedishfish: no, it doesn't. I've never had a car with AWD, even though I've lived in snowy climates for almost my entire life. If we went with the Fit, we would be buying snow tires for sure! The reason the new Fit is so appealing is that they redesigned it for 2015, and the backseat is so big now! If we hadn't been in the accident, this would be our top choice, hands down. But I'm gun shy about safety with small cars now, because it was a bigger car that hit us :bummed:</p> <p>@Mrs.Someone: thanks! I saw the Crosstrek, too. I may have to look at that one as well!</p> <p>@Silva: your reasons are exactly what appeals to me about the Outback. The gas mileage is a bummer, though.</p> <p>@NCSUchick27: thanks! We had a Sonata, and it was a beast. When it died, we had well over 200,000 miles on it, and it was still going strong. I agree, the trunk is also gigantic! My only hesitation is that I rented a new Sonata a few years ago, and I hated how it drove. Hyundai was so good to us, though, that we are going to give the Elantra a shot!</p> <p>@Katrocap: good to know about the durability! We want that, for sure! </p> <p>@MrsMcD: we escaped relatively unscathed, thank goodness. I have a concussion and bruising, but it could have been so much worse. And mercifully, LO wasn't with us!</p> <p>@spaniellove: good call on bringing the seat with us! No sense in getting a car that is hard to install the seat with. I heard rumors that it is really hard to install carseats tightly in the Forester, so that is a strike against that model if the rumors are true. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755288 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:39:24 +0000 loveisstrange 1755288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>MPG, reliability, looks. Yes, that last one is not that important but I hate ugly cars. lol!</p> <p>Surprisingly, the best car I ever drove in the snow was my 97 Mustang. That thing was a heavy metal beast and handled snow and ice like a champ. So, cars can always surprise you with that. I know I was shocked at how well it did after everyone told me how bad RWD would be in the snow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755285 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:33:14 +0000 Mrs.Someone 1755285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: I have an Impreza hachback and I love it :) It does great in the snow (though we don't have much around here). My biggest priority at the time was a hachback because I love how functional it is for carting around stuff. Unfortunately, the gas mileage isn't great, though they did just come out with a hybrid Crosstrek that is similar (just a bit taller). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755275 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:25:47 +0000 swedishfish 1755275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: my sister had a Fit a few years ago. I loved it but does it have AWD? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755273 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:23:59 +0000 LovelyPlum 1755273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all so much for your responses. Part of the reason I ask is that I'm torn on the size. We live in the city and have to parallel park everywhere. We also do a lot of highway driving and would like good MPG. Both of these point to smaller cars. On the other hand, we got well over 100 in of snow last year, and bigger cars do well in crash tests. So conflicted!! </p> <p>Right now, we are looking at the 2015 Honda Fit, the Hyundai Elantra, and three Subarus (Forester, Outback, Impreza). If we go with a bigger car, this will ne our main car for the foreseeable future, and we will later get a second smaller car. If we get a smaller car, we would eventually have to get another, bigger one, at which point, the one we are buying now would become our second car. We obviously need room for LO, and we also have a dog. I just dont know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755264 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 11:19:05 +0000 MrsKoala 1755264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Safety, mpg, space since we are all tall, driving comfort, and price. We live in the burbs in New England. Winter handling is important. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755234 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 10:55:07 +0000 MrsH 1755234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in Michigan and mainly drive to work and around town.</p> <p>1) AWD<br /> 2) Fuel economy<br /> 3) Cost<br /> 4) Leg room and head room (DH is tall)<br /> 5) I will now be looking at how easy it is to get LO in and out of the carseat because it is such a PITA with my car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755229 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 10:50:22 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1755229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AmeliaBedilia: we just bought a new impreza and love it! I'm surprised how much room it has. Our 03' was like a sardine can! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755171 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 09:59:31 +0000 AmeliaBedilia 1755171@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In relative order of importance<br /> 1. AWD. I started requiring this after we hydroplaned while driving under the speed limit.<br /> 2. safety- should be a top safety pick<br /> 3. reliability/cost of repairs<br /> 4. gas mileage<br /> 5. I look at where it is made.<br /> Everything else is bonus, but I really do like heated leather seats and that my phone links with the stereo system. </p> <p>FWIW, I drive a Subaru Impreza and I LOVE it! AWD, top safety pick, great gas mileage, sunroof, awesome tech package, heated leather seats, GPS, fold down back seats that recently allowed me to fit my kayak in the car (VERY cozy but the trunk did close). :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755161 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 09:46:41 +0000 reyorra 1755161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was looking for a new car, I wanted something with cargo space even with a car seat installed. It was also important to me to have rear air controls because I felt like sometimes I took the baby out of my sedan and she was really warm because air didn't flow back there. On a personal note, the car needed cruise control because my previous car didn't have it. We ended up with the Dodge Journey which I love! It has rear air controls because there's a third row of seats (this option wasn't found in most vehicles without the third row). We've used the third row a few times (and it's pretty comfortable), but mostly I keep the third row down so I have plenty of cargo space. We are leasing the vehicle, because our needs might be different two years from now... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755149 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 09:31:58 +0000 Greentea 1755149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I need tall clearance- for the snow, but also for my back! I always sit next to LO to get her out of her seat since I hurt my back in the newborn days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755114 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 08:53:46 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1755114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: just the lift gate! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755113 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 08:52:32 +0000 mrs. bird 1755113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: your doors can open themselves or just your liftgate on the trunk?? i would loooooove it if my doors opened &amp; closed themselves! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755098 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 08:43:29 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1755098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LovelyPlum: 4WD, space, safety.</p> <p>I drive a ford edge. </p> <p>I've learned that I love my automatic door openers. I love pressing a button and making my hatch pop open. Ridiculously convenient when I'm carrying a kid and groceries. Not necessary but definitely an added bonus. </p> <p>Space for sure. We travel a lot and need space for two kids, luggage, toys, strollers, etc.</p> <p>Fuel economy would be nice. I used to drive a focus and got 34mpg and loved it. Now I get 16-17mpg and it's brutal. It evens itself out because I drive less (20k miles in 3 years on my car) but it's expensive to fill up and I wouldn't want to do it weekly.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755097 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 08:42:50 +0000 mrs. bird 1755097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>safety, room for 3 carseats/boosters, leather (easier to clean), AWD, comfy heated seats, sunroof, remote liftgate</p> <p>next time i'll pay better attention to fuel economy, i get 14/mpg &amp; it makes me crazy, i have such guilt over that. also, i want a backup camera, i can barely see behind me &amp; when i bought an after market one &amp; tried to have it installed, they told me it would void my warranty, so i'd make sure there weren't any options missing that i might want. i live in a med sized city in new england, but i have off street parking, i drive mostly around town, but some highway </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755066 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 07:45:36 +0000 blackbird 1755066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Reliability, safety, cargo space, comfort-a lot of small suvs are made for drivers under 6 feet tall. So...no dice. I also wanted gps and 4WD. I live in the Midwest and have a Honda crv. It's a mix of highway and town. I fill up every other week for about $40 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755061 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 07:37:03 +0000 Charm54 1755061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3rd row , backup cam, built in Sirius XM, roomy, 4WD/AWD, leather for easy cleanup (we have a drooly dog and a messy kid)</p> <p>We bought a Nissan Pathfinder last year and :heart: it</p> <p>We live in a snowy climate, rural/suburbs </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-car#post-1755041 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 06:56:15 +0000 spaniellove 1755041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Fuel economy, room in the back seat for car seats (take your car seat, don't just assume it fits) with room in the front seats for legs. And if you have to parallel park, some kind of assist, like our cars have a feature where they beep the closer you get to an object and the mirrors tilt down in reverse. </p>