SIL bought one of the first Prius available; 400,000 +/- miles later, she traded it in for another Prius. To really appreciate it, understand that she works literally on the other side of the mountain, so daily driving (45 miles each way) involves going up, up, up and across to down, down, down on a twisty road that makes me carsick every time I drive it -- to the point that I will go out of my way by 80 miles just to avoid that nasty 20 mile stretch of mountain driving. DH has a Honda which has been a jewel, I have a Toyota and wish I had gotten a Prius. No, what I really wish is that Mazda had kept on making a *little* car because the one I got lasted almost 200,000 trouble-free miles before hitting the nickle&dime stage -- which these days involves hundred dollar bills instead of coins. In your moccasins, I'd keep the Jeep until the third major repair (transmission, radiator) but if the pennies were available, I'd put it in the second stall for local use, and buy a Prius for any trip not involving 4-W drive. If Prius was beyond the budget, then a small Honda. IMO, a well-designed front wheel drive is as good as most 4-Ws, just lower slung so they don't do ravines too well, and deep mud is the sole area of superiority for 4_Ws. BTW, you are likely not to find crank windows anymore... I think I bought the last one :). Also BTW: check into the commonly installed in-built GPS... if you want it, great, but I suspect you'll have my opinion [1984] so be aware that the new cars mostly have it.

The best tool for buying a new car is the computer.Because you can research to see what people are really paying.But you can check dealer stock.You can locate the vehical you want and know the window sticker price and options before you arive.Forget the cars direct online deals.Deal with the dealer and go to several and the one you want to buy from should be your last stop. Never mention financing or trade ins until you get there best price.Forget the salesman you will more then likley have to intertain him.But remember he is nothing more then the monkey.He has nothing to do with the price you can buy the car for anyway.All he is there is a host or waiter runner middleman.He has to get everything approved by the salesmanager or owner anyway.So why even mess with him.Let him know you want to deal with the guy who is giving him all his answers. Ask for the invoice.It will be higher then the online invoice from places like Edmunds. Alway take a calculator and either a hanky or a small towel. Get there best price at a few dealers where your least willing to buy.No need waisting to much of there time or you own.Your just feeling the water to get an idea what there price will be.They will realise your not likley going to buy anyway.Because your 50 miles away from your home town. After you have gotten a few quotes.Its time to get serious and pay a visit to the dealers you want to buy from.Let them know you have been looking around and have recieved a few qoutes.Tell them you decided to give them a chance and say you operate just like the state.Lowest bidder wins.When they ask what kind of prices you were quoted.Say pretty good offers and leave it at that.Say you would rather buy local if they could beat there offers. There prices will be within a few hundred dollars.But dont let them know that.They might even be several hundred dollars less.But even so say you have to do better then that. You already know what it can be bought for because of Edmunds invoice.But you want a better deal and already have that figure memorised.Example $22.500 is the what others are paying.He is giving you a price of $24.250 and he is within a few hundred dollars of the other dealers.But you say Your wayyyyyyyyy off!He saids where do we need to be?You say under $22000 knowing your more then likley going to have to pay $22500.Thats where the calculator comes in.Before giving him the answer punch a few numbers.You might not even have it turned on.But let him know your keeping track. He will give you the line.Oh but our advertisising costs are higher thats why our invoice is higher.Thats when you hand him the hanky or small towel.Seriously I have done this.Had the salesmans rolling on the floor in tears.When I handed the 70 year old owner a towel to cry on. Never let them think your ancious and never mention financing until its a done deal.Let them know you will go elsewhere.Whenb they give you there so called best price.Example $23000 but you know it can be bought for $22500.Say $22000 take it or leave it.Stand up and say when you come to your sinces call me.Shake his hand and head for the door.He will either stop you or call the next day.Saying $22500 and thats where you want to be.Try for $22000 and if not.You just bought it for your price you set out to get it for.Congradulation you just beat him at his own game.Works for me.

No great words of wisdom for you, but a couple of thoughts. For my older boys we bought the older one a subaru wrx and middle one a used saab 9-3. While they both have been amazingly trouble free, when they do need work the things that are wrong need to go the dealer and it's been expensive. In particular with the Saab - they don't sell them anymore so parts are pricey and hard to come by - some impossible. That said, son #3 now has his temps and I've decided he can only buy American or Honda or Toyota. Looking at a several year old Ford Escape with AWD - not real sexy, but safe and functional. I personally love a new car, and have leased my last two vehicles. I drive them three years and take them back! My DH is a drive to the ground guy, actually takes pride in how many miles he can get out of a car. I believe BMW includes all the maintenance on their cars so you have to factor in those fees you'll also have to pay on a different car that probably will need some work. I'd keep the BMW, cancel the collision insurance on the Jeep since it's so old, and buy the girls a decent enough car that it will last at least 6 years. I think the 2010+ Fords are all good quality, and reasonably priced. I like the Ford Fusion. I also am a huge fan of Honda Accords and Civics. You should be able to find a fairly decent one for under $10,000. Goodluck, teen drivers are not for the faint of heart.

We haven't bought a new car in many years. Always buy a 'last year's' model with a long dealer warranty. We put on very few miles, so it's the years on the warranty that count for us. Had our last car almost 10 years/42K miles. We've had some 'loverly' cars that a first owner took a big hit on for us. (My favorite was a white V-12 sedan.) Very happy with our current Jaguar X-Type 3.0 It's beautiful leather inside, small, great traction and pep, good mileage too, but with the little we drive that's not a major consideration. I'm so sorry it's been discontinued. I guess it was much too nicely priced for them to make enough profit on it. Have no idea what's next for the Jaguar brand now that it's owned by an East Indian firm: Tata.