I Need An Affordable Car For The Family And My Big Dog Named Hank! What Should I Buy?

Lincoln lives in metro Detroit and is looking for a more spacious replacement for his ’94 Toyota pickup. His family is a one-car household and they need something that is comfortable for two adults, one kid and a big pup named Hank. With a $10,000 budget what car should they buy?

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Here is the scenario.

Quick Facts:

I live in Detroit with my wife, daughter, and a Pit/Lab/Mastiff puppy named Hank. We are a one car crew. I mostly bike commuted when commuting was part of my life. We mostly use the car for getting around town, but also enjoy gardening and camping. We previously had a 1994 Toyota Pickup that we really loved. We would love to have something a little bigger that also has more storage capacity. We also would love to get something that we can drive for a long time. We try not to update cars very often and really want to run this next one into the ground. I don’t have a lot to spend so I am trying to keep it under $10,000.

Budget: up to $10,000

Location: Detroit, MI

Daily Driver: Yes

Wants: Space, longevity

Doesn’t want: Something too small

Expert 1 – Tom McParland: Be A Van Man

Image: Craigslist

You are probably already aware that finding something in the sub-$10,000 market with the purpose of keeping it for a long time is going to present a bit of a challenge as most of these cars have substantial age and/or mileage. So we need to work with what we’ve got and find something that will do the job for as long as possible, hopefully without draining your wallet in the process. If you are into gardening and camping and want plenty of space for a pup that is bound to increase in size at a rapid pace, get yourself a van.

While Siennas and Odysseys are slim at this budget, there is a decent selection of Dodge and Chrysler vans that, if well-cared for, can keep chugging along. Here is a 2011 Town & Country with a new motor that has only 93,000 miles on it. The rest of the car is looking at almost 200,000 miles of wear, but other than some minor cosmetic flaws, the owner seems to have maintained it well. As long as Michigan winters haven’t deteriorated the frame, this one could be value at only $3,500. This van will hold all the garden supplies you could ask for, serve as a makeshift camping rig, and offer plenty of space for the dog.

Expert 2 – Owen Bellwood: Get Some Swedish Style

Photo: Saab

Lincoln, this is a pretty fun challenge to try and solve, and I think we got off to a great start with Tom’s suggestion of a van. However, while I’d usually be the first to recommend swapping an old pickup for a lovely van, I’m not sure that’s the perfect option for you today, simply because I’ve uncovered something excellent not too far from you.

Lincoln, you need a Saab. Specifically, you need this magnificent 2006 Saab 9-3 wagon. It’s simply fantastic. You want space? You’ve got space in this excellent family hauler from one of the greatest automakers there ever was. You want longevity? This bad boy is already 12 years newer than your outgoing car, and has also done just 70,000 miles. That might sound like a lot, but Swedish cars are notorious for lasting on and on and on, with some examples of this very Saab managing double that distance over their lifetime. On top of that, it looks great, especially in this red color, comes with a surprisingly tidy interior and comes with the kind of Swedish build quality that even a dog and a child can’t mess with. Lincoln, you might have to do a dash of haggling on this one, but I’m sure it’s the right choice here.

Expert 3 – Ramblers, Let’s Get Rambling

Hank is an amazing name for a pit mix, I should know as my first pit mix was also a Hank. He was great at flushing out pheasants from the overgrown empty lots in Detroit. He was a good boy who turned me into a dog person and is the reason I have three (!) big square-headed, no-thoughts, spoiled pitties of my own right now.

Since you have excellent tastes in dogs, you must have excellent taste in cars as well. Being that you are living in the Motor City (or thereabouts) I think the only option for you at this point is to embrace the culture and cast aside the Toyota brand. Lucky for you, our local Facebook Marketplace is resplendent with large, comfy vehicles that serve as both interesting pieces of history as well as excellent family haulers. Right now, for instance, I’m drooling over this $9,000 1963 AMC Rambler Classic 660 Cross Country out in Portland, Michigan.

This Rambler comes with the V6 unfortunately (a V8 was an option way back when) and though it was Motor Trend’s Car of the Year in 1963, it was never considered a cool car in its heyday. But now? Brother, this thing is lit. You’ve got space for days, a ton of hauling space to stick gardening supplies and those fabulous bench seats that put living room couches to shame. Car camping? You could put a full-size mattress in the back. Hank will be able to stretch out while still leaving plenty of room for your daughter. And talk about longevity! This is a car that has survived for almost 60 years and it’ll probably survive for 60 more thanks to just the mechanical simplicity of an older car. No worries about an automaker suddenly ending its over-the-air support for your adjustable seats in an AMC. The Rambler was even built local (kinda) in Ontario.

The owner says it just need a tune up, some new tires and probably a little love in the interior. It could also use a little love on the outside, but patina is so hot right now, so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. This vehicle also has the added bonus of never getting lost in a crowd, as the Rambler Classic is rarer than crow’s teeth even in the D. Be cool. Be an old wagon man.

And of course, I gotta pay the dog tax. Just look how happy they are knowing they’re mama chose a wagon!

Photo: Erin Marquis

Expert 4: Collin Woodard – Just Getting Started

Photo: Nick Mayer Westlake

You’ve gotten some solid suggestions so far, and while I’d probably go for the Saab myself, Erin’s Rambler suggestion is absolute perfection. You just know it would kick ass to own one. As a second car. I’m not so sure about making a 60-year-old car your daily driver in Detroit Fucking Michigan.

To be clear, I love Detroit. If I hadn’t run into health issues, I’d probably still be living in the same Park Shelton apartment, doing shots with Erin at Bronx Bar and basically living the dream. Winters can just be rough, and old cars like to break down at the most inconvenient times. If you’re a one-car family, as cool as the AMC is, you’re probably going to want to skip it in favor of something more modern. Like a Lexus RX 350.

Is the Lexus RX 350 the newest, most exciting crossover you can buy? Not at all. The one I found you is a 2008 model that costs just under $10,000. Here’s the kicker, though — It only has 106,595 miles on the clock. This thing may be 15 years old, but trust me when I tell you this thing is just getting started. I saw this generation RX absolutely everywhere in Vietnam, and many of them had some serious mileage on them.

So you get your best shot at a durable, reliable car that will be infinitely more comfortable, actually offers modern-ish safety features and should have room for your whole family, including the dog. What more could you want?