SPECIFIC VEHICLE RECOMMENDATIONS - Large All Purpose Cars:
These can be either business, all purpose, or luxury cars. All carry four large people in comfort for trips. Great trunk room. Around town mileage is so-so, but highway mileage is good. Most require regular gas.
Toyota Avalon - Nicest and most economical in this class. Silky (regular gas) 6 cyl is as smooth and powerful as other V8s and faster, too. Smaller outside than other large cars, but has comparable interior and trunk room. Also more American than others, including the “American"" cars. Front wheel drive 6 cyl. Built on same platform as Camry and three other Toyota/Lexus cars and SUVs.
4 - Quite spritely 3 - Takes 120 to 125 ft to stop. Good for non sports car. 3 - 20 to 24 mpg on regular or 22 to 26 on premium fuel 4 - Comfortable for 4 on trips 5 - Best there is. More reliable as a used car than many new cars 3 - Good trunk space 2 - Can tow a small trailer - 4X7 Uhaul/motorcycle/jet ski trailer 1 - Not for hauling 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
Mercury Grand Marquis - Same platform since the dark ages. Not particularly efficient or refined, but solid and good. Rear wheel drive V8. Not as reliable as the Toyota, but less gremlins than most other American cars. Great value for this much interior and trunk space.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 3 - 20 to 24 mpg on regular or 22 to 26 on premium fuel 4 - Comfortable for 4 on trips 3 - Decent reliability for long term ownership 3 - Good trunk space 2 - Can tow a small trailer - 4X7 Uhaul/motorcycle/jet ski trailer 2 - Hauls large boxes, but you have to fit them into the trunk 2 - Can get out of its own way
Buick Lucerne - GM’s specialty. GM’s large cars are significantly better built than their small cars, and although less luxurious than Cadillac cars, the large Buicks are significantly more reliable. 6 cyl front wheel drive is more economical and less powerful than Ford’s rear drive V8s, but a Cadillac V8 is optional and still uses regular gas.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 3 - 20 to 24 mpg on regular or 22 to 26 on premium fuel 4 - Comfortable for 4 on trips 3 - Decent reliability for long term ownership 3 - Good trunk space 2 - Can tow a small trailer - 4X7 Uhaul/motorcycle/jet ski trailer 2 - Hauls large boxes, but you have to fit them into the trunk 2 - Can get out of its own way
Ford Taurus - Larger and shows better quality than previous Taurus'. Styling is far improved, and interior and trunk space are larger for about the same exterior footprint. Seating, controls, and trim quality are also better. Seating is taller than the previous Taurus. V6, front or 4 wheel drive.
3 - Adequate for most situations 2 - Takes 125 to 130 ft to stop. Average for today's cars. 3 - 20 to 24 mpg on regular or 22 to 26 on premium fuel 5 - Comfortable for 5 or 6 on trips, more around town 3 - Decent reliability for long term ownership 3 - Good trunk space 1 - Don't do it 2 - Hauls large boxes, but you have to fit them into the trunk 3 - Has a decent chance of avoidance
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