Thinking about buying a car? We want to help!

Drop us a line about what kind of car you have now (including year, make, and model), saying what you love and hate most about it. Let us know what car you're looking for, how much you're willing to spend, and anything else that will factor into your decision (size of your family, gas mileage, trunk space, etc.).

If your story is a fit, our experts will make suggestions as to which vehicles (new or used) you might want to take a look at. (Must be willing to have a photo in the magazine.)

Thanks!

Is there a specific email we should send it to? We are totally looking for a car- and would love suggestions! Thanks!

Sorry about that!

Just reply to this message with your info -- what you're looking for, etc. -- and we'll do the rest.

Great! We have a 2004 Lexus RX 330. We need to get a car that will be more accommodating for three carseats and a triple stroller(for the twins and incoming baby #3). I don't know how much we want to spend. We would like smaller car payments- and think we can probably get a good deal on a new car due to the economy- and everyone else seems to be downsizing to smaller cars. So somewhere around 25-30k?

What I love about the Lexus:
-It looks sporty and not even close to comparing to a mini-van.
-It rides like a car and has great gas mileage.
-The automatic back hatch has been a lifesaver!
-Same with the DVD system.
-And I love the leather seats for their wipe-ability.

What I don't like about the Lexus:
-It may be a bit too "nice" for a family. I freak out when a sippie cup gets spilled. And my stroller wheels mess up the back- not made for messy people!
-Now that it's getting older, I worry that any small repairs will be really pricey just because it's an upscale brand.
-It feels so tiny- even when it was just the twins.

We have been looking at the Saturn Outlook/GMC Acadia. We want something that will be large enough and very reliable. I simply don't have time for something that needs repairs all the time. Oh, and I am a very passionate anti-mini-van chick.

We have a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. Love the gas milage, acceleration and over-all sporty look, but it's a bear to get an infant seat in and out of when the seat is installed in the middle (as recommended by the manufacturer), and, since we'd like another child, it just doesn't have the room we need. Also, the doors open too wide. It's difficult to get them all the way open to pull out a car seat without dinging the car next to you.

We need something larger, still with acceleration, and lots of space. We would like the "extras" such as built-in storage, DVD, leather seats, and great trunk/back space. We are also concerned about how wide the doors open. We want to be able to open the doors all the way to get children in and out without worrying about dinging doors next to us...So it needs to fit in an average parking space with ample room for the doors to swing open. Of course, it needs to have a good safety rating, ABS, and would love back-up assist or a back-up video camera. If we could get all that in under 20 - 25K, that would be even better

We've looked at a Murano and various mini-vans but want some more ideas.

I have a 2003 Honda Civic. I love it because it is a dependable workhorse. However, it has 63K miles and I just got in an accident (I commute to nyc for school). A truck hit me so I am thinking I want a car where I feel a bit more protected. However, I also do not want to trade off environmental consciousness. So, I am thinking a Subaru Outback. Just not sure we can afford it.

I would love vehicle suggestions. I have been looking at every vehicle I walk by in the parking ramp for ideas. I currently have a 2001 Impala and my husband has a 2009 Impala. We like that we can fit our 5 year old's booster seat in between the car seats for our 2 year old twins. They fit better in my older model than in my husband's new car. I also like how the huge trunk can fit my double stroller and other assorted bulky items. It gets good gas milage too.

I would like a vehicle that has room for our family of 5 in the front two rows, but has optional third row seating if we want to bring someone else along. Mini vans are ok, but then I probably have one child alone in the back and not as good of gas milage. My car has been paid off for years, so I would be looking to get a used vehicle and not incur too much of a payment. So far all I've seen that fits the bill is out of my price range - at least until it's 10 years old!

We currently have a 2003 Kia Spectra (very small but great gas mileage).
We also have a 2000 Dodge Caravan with over 130,000 miles and beat up to say the least. Do we complain, nahhh, HOWEVER, we are a family of 6 and another on the way. Our problem, we have 3 under the age of 3 so they are all in car seats and infant carriers plus we will have another infant carrier. Our children are ages 8, 2, 1, 3 months, and another on the way in 9 months! Then there is me and my husband. We're maxed out with space. We don't have very much money since my husband lost his job in September 2008 so it's only my small income and of course our credit has gone to crap since he was laid off and the recession!

Now I would love to see someone work with that without the runaround, because I've already tried it. I don't think there is a car out there that will make the complete package (seating/room, pricing/LOW, horrible credit ok, no down payment) for us! Nope, so we are happily making do with what we have, thankful, and not complaining. We are just blessed period and thankful for God's blessings!

Currently we have a 2000 Subaru Impreza. It has great gas mileage and lots of storage room in back. The back seat folds down to create extra space too! Drawback: Not much room between back row and front row.. when we had rear-facing baby seats in we couldn't move our seats as far back as we would have liked.

We are looking to get a larger vehicle. We will probably spend right around 5,000 (give or take 1,000 or so). My husband will only buy a car that we can pay for upfront. The most important thing to us with our larger vehicle (we will keep the Subaru too) is having enough room for all our kids (2 here, 1 on the way and likely at least one more) and all our stuff. (And of course a safe, reliable vehicle).

The vehicle we are both admiring right now is a '99 Dodge Durango.
There are three rows of seats, and the back seat folds down for extra storage in the back, if/when you need it.
And even without the backseat down there is lots of room in back.

We love the look of it - we can have a kidmobile in style .

We have found a couple GREAT deals from owners, so the price seems reasonable from what we have found so far.

Drawbacks: Gas is expensive and it is a bit top heavy.

I figure these are both drawbacks you are bound to get with a larger vehicle, though.

I have a 1994 Toyota Corolla. It has good gas mileage but not quite enough room. I would like to get a newer but used Subaru -- either SUV or wagon -- so we could have more room.

Safety is an important issue, as is the environment. I don't want a large car payment.

I do mostly city driving. Drive my son to school and then come on to work. Very few extended length trips. It needs to be an automatic. I don't want to deal with a manual transmission.

The Toyota has been incredibly reliable. We have really only had the usual issues -- batteries, tires, alternators -- and want something incredibly reliable which I imagine the Subaru would be. I want to be sure though.

There needs to be enough room in the back seat for my six year old in his booster seat. Only one child but need enough room to accommodate picking up cousins and friends too.