WTF should I buy (A consolidated list of bad decisions)

[HAULN-SS]

Test drove some shit today. The CX-5 is the best handling of the bunch by far. It's also generally the cheapest. Caitlin says she doesn't like the seating position much, fucks with her back (she sits with a car seat nearly straight up, and the headrests are angled forward and not adjustable, so, maybe). It does have a weird ergo thing where the cupholders are at like your elbow. Dafuq?

There is a 2017 CPO with 9k miles, and the premium package which gives you the heads up display, rear heated seats, heated steering wheel, and probably something I forget. Browns in Chantilly literally thinks that is worth $300 less than a 2018 with no miles, because they gave it an extended warranty? Fuck'em.

Also went to oursville in rockville. They actually had the best price, and the best internet prices, but the guy at Brown's says "oh, but they have more fees..ours are only $695", which, fuck that. Anyway, I didnt have time in Rockville to go through the full song and dance, but they are on the table to see if I can get one for like $29k out the door.

Also test drove a Rav4 because of reasons. It is the most expensive of the bunch. The one we tested was a mid-level with leather. It drove the worst of the test drives. It generally had nice looking seats, but the tech was lacking: no active lights, no heads up, dated looking center stack (unless you go up a trim level $$$), generally less tech package shit. Worst MPG of the bunch. Of course the random-ass one we picked out of the lot had a two tone grey/burnt orange leather that looked pretty good, and Wow'd the wife. Fuck.

Didn't drive, but looked at a Forester. Had generally OK level of tech, looked decent, but the interior just felt cheap. Miles of that lizard-skin plastic shit, everywhere. Expensive when you get into optioning out. Do subarus actually have the best AWD?

Surprise of the day: 2018 CR-V. I guess these were recently updated, and we randomly decided to check them out. Cheaper than the Rav4, more expensive than the CX-5. Decent level of tech, a turbo 1.5l that has slightly more power, and better MPG than any of the other options. Already has carplay/android auto (which is coming soon to CX-5, even already sold ones, according to two dealers). Had a decent looking interior,nice screen, pleated seats, etc. I wonder if I can find one CPO somewhere? Maybe a compromise if I can't get her off the Rav4.


Other discussions taking place: Should we just go older, but up-market? Seems like maybe we can, for example, get an RX350 for a lot less, approximately 2015 model, which may have some of the same features that 2018 of cheaper brands are getting. Are any older, "luxury" CUVs worth looking at?