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What exactly is his hold up? Finances or finding the right features?

I would focus on just one car at a time. Yes both need replaced, but making just one major decision at a time is easier.

Are you expecting to get any money for trading in any of your cars? If you get trade in values from Kbb.com and maybe take one or both or your cars to the dealer to see what they are willing to offer... could help 'set-up' the possibility of a purchase. Do you know if you are going to put a down payment? Do you know what your credit is? I know when I bought our last car, I wanted to pay down my credit cards and then have my credit score re-scored so that I would be getting the best interest rate as possible. It definitely took time to prepare myself into buying a car.

Also, I would check out car payment calculators. Lay it all out. Tell you DH if you put $ down, our car payment will be X.

Oh, definitely check out your credit score. I know one of my credit cards gives me my credit score every 3 months (I think), so I was able to know my credit score without having to pay or request it on my own.

I think if you do some of the preparation and work ahead of time, that might help him wrap his head around it.

I've never purchased two cars at once, so I would think it's better to buy one car at a time. I have heard that some people can trade in two cars to buy one car... so it might be good to get their trade in values.

By shopping do you mean online or in person? IMO a day of test driving may be a good motivator.

We are impulsive for big decisions. We talked about getting a new SUV and a few days later it was in our driveway. We only test drove one car at one dealership. The whole process took 2 1/2 hours including the test drive and paperwork. It does not have to be an ordeal. Interest rates are low.

ETA- I see you have been test driving. Bleh- sorry.

@Corduroy: Oh, nice. Wonder what he is waiting for... unless he is waiting for a huge car bill. A battery might not be big enough for him to warrant a new car.

Oh, maybe call the dealership and see if there are any sales coming up. I never knew this but my local Toyota dealer said they have a 20% sale on prius on black friday. I was never in the market for a prius but I was surprised to learn about their sales on that day. Maybe they'll have a sale like that on Christmas or New Years.

@Corduroy: wow, you poor thing. I just have no advice for you if you have gone as far as to test drive 5-7 times each!!!

The only thing I can think is to just get real - "I'm not going to wait until we have to pick one out of desperation when our car breaks down. There is no such thing as a perfect decision, and we have more than vetted our options. These our the final two I am pleased with for my vehicle - do you have a preference?"

Eh, I bought my own car. If your DH is on board with you buying it, and you can make a decision, you might as well do it since it's a need. Maybe phrase it as, "I'm planning to buy X. Thoughts?" I know my husband didn't care what I drove, so I mostly left him out of the decision, lol.

@Corduroy: Dude then this is for sure the ultimatum! Like, you can get fired for this! (Ok you won't, but if he doesn't make a move, then yeah mabybe!!)

ETA: Would he totally blow up at you and cause a huge fight if you really went and got the cars yourself?

I don't think buying a car on your own is wrong at all. I've always bought my own cars, by myself. And they are only in my name. It's my car so it's my decision. (after discussing finances, etc.)

If I were you, I'd let him do him and just buy YOUR car. If he's happy to be a turtle and drive his car into the ground, let him. Your time is worth money too and (not to sound mean) he's wasted enough of both of your times with all that test driving, researching, etc. and not buying. I'd figure out what you want and just get it done.

I think if you know what car you want, go and get it. You can tell your DH that you'll be heading to the dealership and he can either come with you or stay home.

If/when his car breaks down, he can deal with his own car! Or you can again tell him that you're heading to the dealership and he can either choose to come along or stay home.

Can you just buy a car for yourself on your own? Two at once would overwhelm me too, but it sounds like you need them and can afford them. Maybe if you have a nice new car that isn't breaking down, he'll get on board and want to get himself one!

@Corduroy: Congratulations!!!

@Corduroy: I just read the update. Congrats!

@Corduroy: exciting. That's what we got too

My husband works in finance so all large purchases are very thought out. I usually have to give him time to do his own extensive research and give him time to come to terms with spending the money. This used to frustrate me because I am very much an impulse spender but I have had to realize that his conservativeness and responsibility with money is the reason we have a nice house and nice things because he is much smarter than I with money.

To answer your particular question, it would really frustrate me and I would probably narrow down your interests and say on "Saturday I'm going to look at xyz and I would like your input." Perhaps that would work.

My husband and I are similar but we also HATE
car shopping. Like the whole process. Which adds to the stress bc we just drive our cars until they are dead. So I picked a van I wanted (we bought a certified used Sienna with all the bells and whistles), saw that it was a competitive price, and showed DH that this is what I wanted. We were in and out in under two hours. With his fuel efficient commuter he wanted a plug-in Prius so he could get the HOV lane sticker but couldn't commit to buying a newer tech so we decided to lease it and get the state cash rebate (same whether you buy or lease) and then if he still wanted it we could buy it cash at the end of the lease. He loves it and we have one year left on the lease and he will buy it I think.