What car - older female edition

Neve thought I would be doing a "What car thread" and this one is very different than most but I have faith in the GRM group to give me some info.

It is time for the wife to get a new car so I am dealing with a 60+ year old very opinionated female. She has been driving Buicks since 1981 and the current one is a 2000 LeSabre. It must be a new car and have room for 5 adults for the monthly 300 mile shopping trip. It must have all the "bells and whistles" with the exclusion of a sunroof(doesn't like them). Budget for the car is ~$30K =/- $5k.

We started by going to the local Buick/Hyundai dealership to se what they had. Results are:

2012 Buick Verano - too small - didn't even test drive
2012 Buick Regal - same as Verano
2013 Buick Lacrosse - test drove, didn't like it at all(neither did I, felt more cramped than my Focus)

2013 Hyundai Sonata - test drove and is a possibility (I like this one)
2012 Hyundai Azera - test drove and she likes this one (very nice but I think it may be too big for the garage, will have to check that out)

Then we went to the Nissan dealership:

2013 Nissan Altima - test drove and is a possibility but the only one they had was a base model. Will probably go back when they get a loaded one in.
2012 Maxima - No test drive, she didn't like the looks of it.

What else should we go look at? I know this type of car is not the usual GRM type but I also know that the car kinowledge on here far exceeds that on any other forum.

I guess the Genesis sedan would be too big?

I'm not a huge fan of crossovers, but your comment about having concerns about the Azera fitting in the garage started me thinking that way. What about a Hyundai Tucson (or I think it's the smaller of the two Santa Fe's now)? We rented a Tucson once and I was ready to buy it when I returned it.

Maybe a Fusion (wait for the restyle, the new one is stunning)?

Honda S2000?

No but seriously, maybe a Subaru Legacy?

Dodge Charger. With a Hemi.

My aunt was a bit older when she made the transition from a Buick Regal GS (I think part of that purchase was a "charming" salesperson) to a Subaru Outback...the Legacy-sized wagon. But then, she lived in upstate N.Y. and made trips, year-round, to Vermont to visit her daughter, so the AWD was a definite plus. The only other car I heard her admire was an Audi (not sure if it was an A4 or A6).

Kia Optima - kissing cousin to the Sonata.

Honda Accord

Go try out a new Subaru Outback, Legacy, and Forester.

I have my mom hooked on them living up in western MD. No problems, get around REALLY well in the snow, hold up well in accidents, hold their value really really well.

Seriously, give Subaru a try.

Honda CRV, Toyota Venza, Rav4, New Ford Escape.

If it has to be sedan then Toyota Avalon which is about the nicest "buick" you can buy.

It's sad that even a dedicated Buick owner can no longer get a Buick she likes. What about a Chevy Impala?

What about an Equinox/Terrain (or an Enclave/Acadia, although that pushes the budget a bit unless you get a demonstrator or something)? If she's 60+ now and keeps her vehicles for 12 years (and if her shopping buddies are the same age or older), the higher hip point of a crossover may be more comfortable over the years.

There's a new 2013 Acadia, apparently, so deals on a 2012 may be out there.

Thanks for the ideas, we will probably be checking out some of them tomorrow. Totally forgot about the Optima and the dealership is just a couple blocks away from the Hyundai place.

Sorry I left out the fact that she is not interested in anything that even looks like a "station wagon". I did say she was very opinionated , didn't I.

Do plan on checking out the new Fusion when it gets here. Her sister rented one for a vacation trip. Said the car drove nice was roomy. etc. but she hated the looks. So it may take some convincing.

I have been shopping similar for my near 80 yr old M-I-L.
A good bargain right now is left over Mazda CX-7's. The replacement, the CX-5's' have hit the lots and they are dealing on CX-7's.
I made an online inquiry about a CX-7 Grand Touring (which means flat out loaded) and the sticker of $34,500 was reduced in the first email back to me by $4,500 or a price of $28,000.
In addition, Mazda Finance is doing 60 months 0%.

Compared to the Sonata, the Impala is a numb feeling barge.

I've driven both for over 3000 miles each and the Sonata is twice the car. Highway fuel economy in the Sonata is unreal in a good way. Impala has great range thanks to its huge fuel tank, but the fuel sipping GDI in the Sonata more than made up for it.

Optima is a bit more edgy style-wise, but the Sonata is actually a bit lighter. You can get either with a 6 speed manual

jstein77 wrote: It's sad that even a dedicated Buick owner can no longer get a Buick she likes.

Actually, that's probably a GOOD thing for Buick's cars, if not for Buick as a company.

The Fusion really doesn't fare well in a comparison with the Sonata, and the Sonata is thousands cheaper.

Just remembered that a coworker of mine picked up an Optima Hybrid not long ago. He likes it a whole lot.

Stepdad had a Sonata, real nice little car. A bit buzzy (four banger) but that was my only complaint. He traded it on a Genesis sedan program car. I haven't ridden in it, but he really likes it.

akamcfly wrote: Optima is a bit more edgy style-wise, but the Sonata is actually a bit lighter. You can get either with a 6 speed manual

Was that 'either' supposed to be a 'neither'? You can't buy a new Sonata with a stickshift.

Don't know much about newer fords and how they stack up with sonatas, optimas and azeras, but I like the aston martin look of the new fusion in the promo pics/illustrations

Hmm, if she's a Buick die hard and wants "loaded" cars I really, truly, don't think the Fusion, or any of the Nissans and Mazdas mentioned will actually "do it" for her. It sounds like she likes class, elegance, comfort, and some space. So, here's some other options:

• Cadillac CTS (starts at $35K)
• Cadillac ATS (should be out very, very soon, but smaller than the CTS)
• Hyundai Genesis (starts at $34K)
• Kia Optima (check out that brand-new Limited spec, it's loaded to the nines and is $34K, it's going to be your best features-for the-buck here as almost all of the other cars are the "base" spec)
• Audi A4 (starts at $32K)

Personally, I think the winner will be:

• Chrysler 300 (the V6 Limited is $32.7K and loaded)

Acura TL.

Edit: Dang, they've all got a moonroof. Never mind.

ReverendDexter wrote:

akamcfly wrote: Optima is a bit more edgy style-wise, but the Sonata is actually a bit lighter. You can get either with a 6 speed manual

Was that 'either' supposed to be a 'neither'? You can't buy a new Sonata with a stickshift.

Maybe just in Canada?

EDIT!

Looked on Hyundai USA and the 2012 is available with a 6-speed, but the 2013 isn't. Hyundal Canada isn't showing the 2013 Sonatas yet.

Subaru? Seriously? LOL.

The Sonata Limited is available with the 270+ HP turbo powerplant and I'm pretty sure the wifey got hers for around $26k. It's got everything but nav.

No sunroof? Can you even buy a "luxury" car without a sunroof nowadays?