Quick help-buying a new car today

[Cristina]

I just posted this under a guest because I forgot my login info. Sorry for the duplicate:o
I am buying a used car today.
We are looking at Altima, Sentra, Accord, Civic type cars. 2004 and newer.
I have my 20 month old DD rearfacing in a Britax Decathlon.
I would like to put her in the middle seat.
I guess I just want opinions on how well & how easily my seat installs in these cars.
Do any midsize/affordable sedans allow center seat LATCH.
If not which is easiest to use the seatbelt in the middle seat?
Or, which allows for the most front passenger legroom if she is behind that seat/
Thank you so much for any advice or input

[joolsplus3]

Fords and GM's typically have LATCH in the center (or 'approved if the carseat approves it' anchors, at least). German and Japanese cars have been slower to join that trend :(. But you can use the center belt and the seatbelt lockoff with just a touch more effort. I think any 4 door sedan fits an uprightish RF Britax in just about any position... just take your carseat to give it a try if you are worried, though :)

[Wineaux]

Now for the car buying advice...

Having sold cars before, I can offer you a few tips vis-a-vis getting a good deal:

Purchase your vehicle as close to the end of the month as possible. The dealership is trying to make quota's and is always more apt to give you their best deal then as opposed to the first of the month when they have all the time in the world to make those quota's.
Go test drive and purchase your vehicle when the weather is bad. Rain, snow, etc. means that there aren't many people at the dealership at all, so moving a vehicle on those days is much much harder. This too makes them more inclined to cut you a deal.
Buy you vehicle at the end of the physical year, or at least at the end of the model year. At the end of the physical year, taxes must be paid on vehicles still on the lot.
If you can combine any combinations of numbers 1, 2, and 3 then you will get the best possible deal on your vehicle. ;)
When buying a used car, there is almost always at least 3-5K built into the used price of the vehicle for late model used vehicles. Don't hesitate to offer 5K less than their sticker price. All they can do is say no.
Be prepared to walk away from a deal at any time. Trust me, if they really want to sell you the vehicle they'll either stop you before you drive off the lot, or will call you sooner than later (Provided you gave them a valid phone number.).
Once in the finance office, all bets are off and the entire deal is in play again. NEVER buy to a note. If you can't afford the vehicle, you can't afford it. Buying to the note will stretch you out so far you'll be so upside down you'll never get out from under it.
Leases are called Fleece's for a good reason. For most consumers, Leases are a sucker's bet.
GAP insure is GOOD!
Extended warranties are GOOD if you live in very hot climates where air conditioners are a necessity. Trust me, your AC will go out after the vehicle's regular warranty, and before the extended warranty ends. The extended warranty is always cheaper than fixing an AC problem. Always...
If your credit sucks, then it may be a whole lot cheaper to wait a bit and fix your credit, than it is to take it up the ying-yang with an "alternative financing" deal. Instant gratification does not always make financial sense. ;)

[Cristina]

Thanks for the advice ladies.
So, I think we have decided on a new Civic. With the new car financing rates it ends up being the same monthly payment as a 2004 Accord with 50K miles.
The accord has a big backseat.
My question now is...
Can I put a Decathlon rearfacing behind the front passenger's seat and still have legroom for my 6' tall hubby?
Or...is it super easy to get it in well with the car seatbelt in the center seat in back? Does the top of the DC kinda fit well between the front seats?
Thank you so much

[Wineaux]

Pssst...

Not a lady here, albeit I have been known to utter the phrase, "Well slap me on the arse and call me Edna!" before...

;)

[Cristina]

Pssst...

Not a lady here, albeit I have been known to utter the phrase, "Well slap me on the arse and call me Edna!" before...

;)

:doh:
Sorry about that Mr. Edna ;)
It's force of habit, my other boards are all women.
Thanks for the buying advice, wish us luck...we are trading in an SUV, which is apparently not in our favor considering the market for them these days.

[Patriot201]

I have a 2006 Civic and am able to RF my BV without any problems whatsoever.

Here are some photos of a few different seats in my Civic:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/S8000766.jpg
(Scenera FF and Parkway FF)
Please ignore the bags on the seat. Those were just set down for the photo. They DO NOT usually "ride" there.


http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/DSC_1975_edited.jpg
(BV RF)


http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/DSC_2398.jpg
(BV RF and Scenera RF)


http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/DSC_2392.jpg
(BV RF and Scenera RF)

[Cristina]

I have a 2006 Civic and am able to RF my BV without any problems whatsoever.

Here are some photos of a few different seats in my Civic:


http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/DSC_2398.jpg
(BV RF and Scenera RF)

Awesome pics, thanks so much.
What recline to you have in the Boulevard behind the front passenger's seat? It looks so upright.
This is DD currently, not sure what the recline is exactly, but it looks further than yours, right? I wonder how she would feel about that? I've got it tethered to recline it, I could loosen it and drive around today and see what she thinks.
And how is legroom up front?
Thanks much
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w56/elenacarseat/DSC08184.jpg

[Patriot201]

Awesome pics, thanks so much.
What recline to you have in the Boulevard behind the front passenger's seat? It looks so upright.
And how is legroom up front?
Thanks much

The recline was too upright in a few of those pictures. At one point, my BV was 29-31*, which is the absolute minimum recline. USUALLY, the seat was reclined to 35*, which worked well for a RF toddler.

There was PLENTY of legroom for both the driver and the passenger. I am 5'9", with long legs, so I need lots of legroom. I never had any problems at all. :)






I will go take more photos. I need to reinstall the BV in my car and then I will take some pictures for you. :)

[Patriot201]

I just did a QUICK installation of the BV in my car, so I did not attach the RF tether.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/DSC_0157-1.jpg
(Please note that the tether is INCORRECT here. It should either be attached to the D-ring OR stored in the pocket. This was a quick installation and I did not bother with the tether).


http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/DSC_0156-1.jpg
(Please note that the tether is INCORRECT here. It should either be attached to the D-ring OR stored in the pocket. This was a quick installation and I did not bother with the tether).


http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w95/patriot20171/Carseat%20stuff/DSC_0158-1.jpg
(This one is of the space between the driver's seat headrest and the back of the seat).

[Wineaux]

:doh:
Sorry about that Mr. Edna ;)
It's force of habit, my other boards are all women.
Thanks for the buying advice, wish us luck...we are trading in an SUV, which is apparently not in our favor considering the market for them these days.

Yeah... Good luck. Some dealerships are no longer accepting SUV trades now. :( Keep in mind that used SUV prices have been falling faster than Edmunds and Kelly's Blue Book can keep up with, so be prepared for some reverse sticker shock. Possibly more than you are wanting to hear.

On a side note, a number of major corporations, in an effort to help promote a "greener" image, are offering pretty large incentives to their employees if they buy hybrid vehicles. This money is reimbursed to you by your company, and not the dealership, so it would behoove you to check with your employee benefits department to see if your company is offering deals of this nature.

[Patriot201]

Did you get your new Civic?

Which color? What do you think of it so far?

I LOVE my Civic. Mine is a 2006, but it is basically the same car as the 2007 and 2008. :)

[Cristina]

Yeah... Good luck. Some dealerships are no longer accepting SUV trades now. :( Keep in mind that used SUV prices have been falling faster than Edmunds and Kelly's Blue Book can keep up with, so be prepared for some reverse sticker shock. Possibly more than you are wanting to hear.

On a side note, a number of major corporations, in an effort to help promote a "greener" image, are offering pretty large incentives to their employees if they buy hybrid vehicles. This money is reimbursed to you by your company, and not the dealership, so it would behoove you to check with your employee benefits department to see if your company is offering deals of this nature.

We looked at all of those places, so we were prepared. Then we headed to Carmax so we could look at a bunch of different cars.
Carmax offered us like $200 over what we were really prepared to take.
Downside is that the only new cars they sell are Toyota.
Anyhow..we were prepared, but it still made me a little sick knowing what I had to be prepared to take and also what I paid for the car new 2 years ago.
So sad.

But Honda has 2.9% on new cars, which is much better than the 7-8% that Carmax quoted us on used. So, we will have a brand new Civic for the same monthly payment as a 4 year old used Accord with 50K. And our payment is cut in half...and we go from 17mpg to 30-40mpg and that is what really matters.
Thanks for the help (and the warning). You're too nice, which I assume is why you are no longer in car sales:p

[Cristina]

Did you get your new Civic?

Which color? What do you think of it so far?

I LOVE my Civic. Mine is a 2006, but it is basically the same car as the 2007 and 2008. :)

Thanks for the awesome pics this morning. That is totally what I wanted to see, you are awesome for doing that for me. I appreciate it so much.

No car yet. Tomorrow we go for real. I like tan interiors which only come in the red and white cars...So I'm thinking we'll probably get boring old silver or that medium grey color.
I'll be sure to post pics of my install for you all to critique!

Thanks again

[Patriot201]

No car yet. Tomorrow we go for real. I like tan interiors which only come in the red and white cars...So I'm thinking we'll probably get boring old silver or that medium grey color.

Honda must have changed their color options. My car is "Eternal Blue Pearl," and was available (in 2006) with either a gray or tan interior. I got a tan interior. :)

Things have defintely changed in the past two years, though. Leather was not available in the Civic in 2006, but now it is. :)

[Cristina]

I rocked it at the dealer thank you very much. Got a great deal and got a few THOUSAND more for my trade in than I was prepared to take.
I only got all "girly" when it came time to choose color. I totally couldn't decide so I just closed my eyes and pointed.
This is what I got

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j241/skinnypups/2008_Honda_Civic_ext_1.jpg

The seat fit behind the passenger seat with room to spare. I didn't try it center with seatbelt because it was about to rain and I wanted to get it back in my car before we got soaked. I'll try it at home, but I'm fine with leaving it outboard because that was so easy and fit so well.
Soooo, thanks to you all for all the advice and the awesome pictures.
I don't "hang out" on this board much, but you all are always so awesome and quick to help.
THANK YOU!!!

[sunnymw]

Oooh pretty!!

The only thing i had issues with in my GMIL's 07 Civic is trying to hook in the latch... I have the BV, and for some reason there was something in the way, or the clip was too thick for me to get it to click in there... ended up using seat belt in the center. But I had no problem with the Graco CS, the latch things are smaller I guess.

Thinking back I may have been able to turn the clips upside down and click them in *blush* but I was in a hurry, we were late, so I just belted it (like always... we don't have latch in our car).

:)

I hope you enjoy it! I'd love one!!!!

[Patriot201]

Looks great! :)