My '02 Impala has served me well for five years. It had 113K miles when I bought it. I recently past 185K. Standard maintenance until now. On Monday I'll sink a bit more into it in a single repair than I like, but it's safety related, cracked sway bay, bushings and can't recall what else. Much to my annoyance, the problem has been there long enough to cup the tires, which will need replacement by next year according to the mechanic. Then again, I've had that set of tires on the vehicle for 7 to 8 months a year for the past 4.5 years (studded tires go on it for the winter months). No major rust, which is amazing in this state which over salts/calcium chlorides its roads in the winter.

However, from past experience with GM vehicles, it's reaching the point, where it's going to start costing major $$$ if I keep it. In addition, I've got a younger brother down on his luck, who currently drives a '95 Buick that isn't going to pass inspection this coming December. This Impala as is (after Monday) would buy him a few years. Then again, he's gotten 3 more years out of that Buick then I figured he would. But first I need to find something to replace it.

It's my second Impala. My first was an '82 wagon/land yacht which had been the family vehicle that was handed down to me my senior year at uni. I drove that thing for 6 or 7 years, including moving everything I owned to grad school in West Texas and back. Engine blew on the Maine Turnpike with a full load of scouts (including the rear-facing rumble seat). Despite the blown engine, I was able to maintain highway speed for 3 miles to the next exit before it gave up the ghost. The mechanic who looked at it and declared it toast didn't believe me. He said that was impossible as I only had 2 working cylinders left (out of 8). I quipped back: Well GM must have known how to build engines in '82.

I hate car shopping. I'm also "allergic" to car payments. I've had bad luck with cars if a car payment is involved. I paid cash for my current car. I hope to do likewise this time around. It's not like I can't afford a car payment. I do make enough and have good enough credit that I could probably walk into a dealership and drive off with a new car and not a compact one at that. I just don't want a monthly payment.

Trouble is, that while I have more saved up then the last time I bought a used car, used car values are higher then they were five years ago. I would need about $8K to get something of similar age (8 to 10 years old) and mileage (100K) as the last time I was car shopping. I'm a little short of that. I could probably swing $7K. Problem is, there isn't anything locally in that price range. The big dealerships don't carry hardly anything under $10K these days. The little independent sellers are the same or they're selling vehicles as old as I'm driving now.

I'd love to have a wagon again. Except hardly anyone makes one. Subaru--too small, unless you buy a brand new Outback. Even those a few years old are too small for my long legs. I know, I went and looked at one tonight. Alas, with their high resale value, the one I looked at was 9 years old (LL Bean Edition Outback). I had to put the seat so far back to fit in it that there would be no room for anyone with legs to sit behind me. This is a problem as a scout leader who transports scouts now and then.

I don't like SUVs. My brother drives a smaller one, a recent (last 3 or so years old) RAV4. Nice vehicle, but I didn't like it when he let me take it for a spin.

At this point, I'd be happy to have another Impala. But they're very popular up here. People hardly part with them. When you can find one it's either got 200+K miles on it and is as old as my vehicle or it's a rental trade-in that's too new and five figures. Those in the '05 to '07 range don't seem to exist on the market.

Now, if GM were to bring back the wagon version of the Impala, I'd actually consider a car payment again.

My wife drives an '00 Ford Taurus Wagon. Nice car, but again, I don't comfortably fit in it. I've had to drive it on long trips before when the car I owned before the Impala was in the shop but work needed me to travel that day. It's not comfortable for me. And those are VERY RARE to find anywhere these days as around '06 or so, they went from a wagon to a cross-over SUV with it.

I'm not sure what else to look at that has lots of leg room, isn't a gas hog and I could afford. It would help if I actually had time to car shop right now, but I don't. Oh, well, we'll see. It's not an emergency yet, but I would prefer to find something before it became an emergency.