Considering that maintenance costs here are high , I would rather pay a couple of K s up front in order to have reduced mileage .
Have you tried filtering SUV s lesser than 100K kms and see what you get in your budget .... I am assuming Saturn Vue or similar should come up ... Hondas or Toyotas though better car makers .. but I am assuming trouble free service till 300K kms.
Of the above I would suggest Honda Pilot - the reason being that it was an under rated model due to its boxy shape and the company has re designed it totally recently ... You might get a bargain there ...
When every thing else fails try TK's mantra of low balling with half the asking price .. As per BPF's seconding that , of 10 -15 , you might get one willing to come down to your price ... in which case you may be able to look and bid for low mileage and less aged Hondas. 
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Fido.
Quote:
Originally posted by sumjo
How about Toyotas, which are supposed to be great vehicles, with very low maintenance/running costs? Some of the review says that you can practically run them to the ground, with just regular oil change and other minor periodic maintenance.
Thanks
Quote:
Originally posted by hchheda
10-15 year old cars with so much mileage on odometer will be a maintenance nightmare - I would strongly suggest against it. I wouldn't look for any beyond 5-6 years with less than 100,000 km on it.
I understand your motivation is the price in such cases - but remember that 10 years or older premium SUVs like ACURA cost a lot in parts and repairs - many times the diagnosis has to be done by dealer only due to computerized control center. A $4000 SUV with an estimated repair bill of $1000 becomes a catch 22 situation - you cannot decide.
Sorry, not able to offer any advice on the models you quoted above.
Hiren
Many car dealers now a days offer 0% interest for as high as 7 years. Not sure what is the interest rate on used vehicles. You may as well make use of this since the monthly payments may not be that high. Many new vehicles now come with several added safety features as standard that the used vehicles may not have and the fact that you don't have to worry about maintenance costs certainly helps. You need to check with the dealer and compare both the options for new and used vehicle. If you are planning to keep the used vehicle for say about 5 years, even one minor repair may offset your savings.
Quote:
Originally posted by sumjo
Hi CDs,
I am planning to buy a used full SUV (not a CUV). This is going to be the second vehicle in the household, mainly aimed for wife & kids usage. I was thinking of going in for a sedan, but the accident that wiped out a whole family in New Market a couple of week earlier made me rethink. I feel occupants in an SUV has a better chance of surviving from that kind of an impact than an ordinary sedan, although fuel consumption would be more.
I have short-listed these SUVs, now I need inputs from CDs in terms of their reliability & maintenance cost:
a) Acura MDX |2001-2005 model |7 seater – average 2,00,000 kms
b) Honda Pilot |7-8 seater – average 2,20,000 kms
c) Toyota 4Runner – average 2,50,000 kms
** The only reason Toyota 4Runner is listed as my last option is because it doesn’t offer a 7-seater version, or else it would have been my 1st choice.
Thanks so much!!
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THE MDX. Anything over SEVEN Years ought to be given FREE.
http://www.canadianblackbook.com/used-car/vehicle/2001-Acura-MDX/id/73113691/contact/1?gclid=Cj0KEQjwkqKxBRCIrK_riNm13Z8BEiQAdzdVkHSUzTcWXSSPOojqKvawWbfvh1pFHK5bRdxej7ppm_gaAvyO8P8HAQ
After FIVE YEARS most of these junks are a write off for the dealers. So, just to keep them in their fold, they will provide you with a reconditioned WARRANTIED Buggy with 2.9 or less in interest and 72 month term. For them it is like milking you for the full price of a new car, but you are only getting a junk. But it will look good and still run. Remember You need ONE tire each year, a muffler once in FOUR, a Battery once in Five, a tune up each year and an oil change every quarter and the list keeps on going as it gets old. So, you are the money bags who pays for all of the repairs that the original owner did not do. He enjoyed it at your expense.
I drove a 2011 HONDA Pilot, great to drive, I sat in the PIT or you can call it the pillion seat. For me I felt that I was sitting in a cardboard box tied down with a 'Russi' .It is only for the kids and it is only good for short rides. That was a SEVEN SEATER. (You had to empty the rear cargo portion off, by removing the carpet and the impact mat.) 160,000 klicks on it. The cost 20K plus the HST. Mileage very poor. You might get 26 m.p.g. /42km/g. Not a nice car to fix also, if you are a DIY guy.
FH.
I am still driving my good old HYUNDAI Sonata. GREAT CAR.
Location: Brampton, Ont, Canada
Posted on: 23-10-15 09:24:20
Whatever you do . do not buy brand new car... go with one or two year old car... u will save lot.
medium budget : Dodge Journey or Nissan Murano is good options ( do not buy 4 cylinder - dont get into trap for cheap gas on 4 cylinder speech)
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'Some goals are so worthy, it's glorious even to fail.' (Param Vir Chakra awardee Lt. Manoj Pandey)
Quote:
Originally posted by gktaurus
even one minor repair may offset your savings.
Correct . In India , repairs are cheap , they are very expensive here .
I would not hesitate paying $2 - $3K extra for the same make / model if I can have substantially lesser mileage upfront .
Ideally I would look for < 100K regardless of the make / model .
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Fido.
Very true! My new car which I bought 8 yrs. back and still runs like new, has a depreciated value of only 45% of the original price that I paid to the dealer. 
So I will never buy a new car again, for sure!!
Quote:
Originally posted by Blue_Peafowl
Whatever you do . do not buy brand new car... go with one or two year old car... u will save lot.
medium budget : Dodge Journey or Nissan Murano is good options ( do not buy 4 cylinder - dont get into trap for cheap gas on 4 cylinder speech)
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sumjo
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 26-10-15 15:26:16
Quote:
Originally posted by sumjo
Very true! My new car which I bought 8 yrs. back and still runs like new, has a depreciated value of only 45% of the original price that I paid to the dealer.
So I will never buy a new car again, for sure!!
If your 8 year old car runs like new and you are happy with it, I am assuming you will continue to keep the vehicle for several more years. Value of the car is relevant only if you intend to sell.
I am driving a 12 year old Chrysler SUV (yes, unlike a Japanese car, American cars must be junk...or so goes the theory....) with 288,000 km. But so far, it's running on original batteries and original headlights (this...I am truly mystified).
I intend to keep the vehicle until the clunker self-destructs, my son grows up to be a proud young driver owner of a hand-me down, or I decide on a charitable donation far down the road. By that time, value of the car means nothing to me as I have gotten enough out of it.
Anyway, I am surprised you still have 45% value on your car
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Dimple2001
