moving to Maine for a year! Advice on car stuff

joeyl · #1 06-07-2008, 05:45 PM

we are going to live in Maine for a year, Portland or Augusta area. I am thinking of buying a new car when I get up there, since my beater has seen better days, and will probably not survice a 1400 miles trip. We would like a Subaru for the ground clearance and AWD, my wife is looking at Legacys and Foresters. How are prices on these cars over there? Here Subarus are rare and there are not many dealerships to choose from, so the prices are close to MSRP with no wiggle room, I am thinking that it may be better up north. I assume a Subaru is the car for snow, but if you have a different opinion, lemme know!!

Also what kind of deals are people getting from dealership these days since cars are not really moving from the lots as quickly as they used to?? Help me out! Would also like to hear from Mainers about all this!

thanks

jsbass · #2 06-07-2008, 06:07 PM

Get a Ford Bronco for snow. It will not let you down.

doktorfeelgood · #3 06-07-2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeyl

we are going to live in Maine for a year, Portland or Augusta area. I am thinking of buying a new car when I get up there, since my beater has seen better days, and will probably not survice a 1400 miles trip. We would like a Subaru for the ground clearance and AWD, my wife is looking at Legacys and Foresters. How are prices on these cars over there? Here Subarus are rare and there are not many dealerships to choose from, so the prices are close to MSRP with no wiggle room, I am thinking that it may be better up north. I assume a Subaru is the car for snow, but if you have a different opinion, lemme know!!

Also what kind of deals are people getting from dealership these days since cars are not really moving from the lots as quickly as they used to?? Help me out! Would also like to hear from Mainers about all this!

thanks

I live in Rhode Island but have been to Maine a lot to do gigs and visit friends...Maybe I can help. There is no shortage of Subaru dealers in these New England parts. Either one of the vehicles you mentioned should suit you very well in most parts of Maine. Portland is on the coast so it doesn't get quite as much snow as Augusta which is quite a ways farther North and inland. Portland is an old colonial sea-faring town with a lot of great history. One of my favorite city's. They do get a lot more snow in Augusta.
As far as price goes, since we're in a gas crisis and there's a premium on cars that get good gas mileage, I would not guess as to what the deals might be but I'll send you a link to a local Subaru dealer that sells a lot of cars. I've personally been lusting over one of those Turbo Legacy wagons. Really nice vehicle for these parts. Good to haul gear with and to haul butt, too.
I feel pretty safe saying that it's gonna be a LOT different in Maine compared to Loosiana...You'll love the lobster, though. )-(
http://www.pilgrimsubaru.com/default.asp

Lalabadie · #4 06-07-2008, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbass

Get a Ford Bronco for snow. It will not let you down.

Subarus are all right too, seriously.

joeyl · #5 06-07-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doktorfeelgood

I live in Rhode Island but have been to Maine a lot to do gigs and visit friends...Maybe I can help. There is no shortage of Subaru dealers in these New England parts. Either one of the vehicles you mentioned should suit you very well in most parts of Maine. Portland is on the coast so it doesn't get quite as much snow as Augusta which is quite a ways farther North and inland. Portland is an old colonial sea-faring town with a lot of great history. One of my favorite city's. They do get a lot more snow in Augusta.
As far as price goes, since we're in a gas crisis and there's a premium on cars that get good gas mileage, I would not guess as to what the deals might be but I'll send you a link to a local Subaru dealer that sells a lot of cars. I've personally been lusting over one of those Turbo Legacy wagons. Really nice vehicle for these parts. Good to haul gear with and to haul butt, too.
I feel pretty safe saying that it's gonna be a LOT different in Maine compared to Loosiana...You'll love the lobster, though. )-(
http://www.pilgrimsubaru.com/default.asp

cool, thanks! I did enjoy the lobster when we were briefly in Portland, it is different than New Orleans, and at the same time not that much: old port, seafood, and great people all over. I will miss the crawfish though, unless Mainers keep crawfish a secret. And most people in south loosy are from Nova Scotia, so a lot of things are similar. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. How about Patriot Subaru in Saco and the Subaru Mall in Portland, any dealings with them?

I would like to get a turbo Legacy too, but they are expensive. I don't quite the look of the new WRXs, and I would like to find a 2005 model, that would be kick ass.

WickedPissah · #6 06-07-2008, 11:41 PM

I dunno about cars, but Moxie is nasty. If anyone offers it to you, politely decline. You have been warned. It looks just like Coca Cola when it's in a cup, so make sure you ask what it is.

jsbass · #7 06-08-2008, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalabadie

Subarus are all right too, seriously.

Until a head gasket blows around 60k or so.

joeyl · #8 06-08-2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbass

Until a head gasket blows around 60k or so.

supposedly this has been fixed in the new models. But thanks for the heads up

joeyl · #9 06-08-2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WickedPissah

I dunno about cars, but Moxie is nasty. If anyone offers it to you, politely decline. You have been warned. It looks just like Coca Cola when it's in a cup, so make sure you ask what it is.

hmm, never ever seen Moxie, I guess I have to try

Ericman197 · #10 06-08-2008, 11:09 AM

How many miles a year do you plan on driving? Reason I ask is because due to the high gas prices, you can buy a gas guzzler for dirt cheap. My friend recently got an optioned out F150 for $18,000, whereas the MSRP was about $30,000. I'm not saying you should get a Ford pickup, but keep an open mind while car shopping. You might find that an SUV will be much cheaper. In the very long run, maybe not... but it depends what your plans are.

I'm actually trading in my 03 Camry for an 07 Mercury Mountaineer (Premier, V8, AWD) as we speak. We're negotiating around $8,000 down plus my tradein.

RWP · #11 06-08-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WickedPissah

I dunno about cars, but Moxie is nasty. If anyone offers it to you, politely decline. You have been warned. It looks just like Coca Cola when it's in a cup, so make sure you ask what it is.

You've been warned.

gold_member_321 · #12 06-08-2008, 11:16 AM

There are TONS of Subaru dealers in Maine, especially in the Bangor, Portland, and Augusta areas. Most dealerships around here will offer a bunch of incentives to buy. Most of them being money off, free oil changes, free tire rotations, free detailing, etc etc.

Subarus are a great car for Maine, and you literally see them everywhere. But look around, maybe even look into a small AWD crossover ( a small SUV).

gold_member_321 · #13 06-08-2008, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeyl

hmm, never ever seen Moxie, I guess I have to try

For your own sake, dont. haha.

IMO it tastes like molasses. Fizzy molasses...

WickedPissah · #14 06-08-2008, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeyl

hmm, never ever seen Moxie, I guess I have to try

No, I wasn't kidding. Don't even attempt it. So nasty...

joeyl · #15 06-08-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WickedPissah

No, I wasn't kidding. Don't even attempt it. So nasty...

Scarlet Fire · #16 06-09-2008, 04:04 AM

Sweet, I live just a few miles North of Portland.

There's no shortage of Subaru dealers up here, as has been said. You shouldn't have a problem finding a car that will suit you year round.

And I will reinforce the notion that you should never, ever, ever try Moxie. If death was liquified and mass-produced, it would taste like Moxie.

Phantopeth · #17 06-09-2008, 08:19 AM

I like Moxie

(on a once-or-twice-a-year basis)

A former roomate of my got his WRX serviced by both the South Portland and Saco dealerships. Why he switched from one to the other, I do not know, it may have just been a scheduling thing. I never heard complaints from him as far as their service goes.

My mother owned a Legacy wagon for a decade that was purchased and serviced throughout its life at Bath Subaru. It's a little out of the way from Portland: about 30-40 minutes up 295 and then Route 1. However, of all the dealerships she has ever dealth with, Bath Subaru has always been her favorite. Before she bought her new car (Ford Edge) last fall, she had been wanting to get another Subaru for years, and a lot of that had to do with the service at Bath Subaru.

I have spent plenty of time in Augusta, and lived in Portland for 4 years. I would really recommend the Portland area, as opposed to Augusta (gross

) , as it's a great town with a fun atmosphere (especially down on Fore St and Commercial St in the Summer

). Plenty of great restaruants, Sea Dogs baseball, and a great selection of local microbrews! I hope to relocate back to the Portland area in a few years.

Lalabadie · #18 06-09-2008, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantopeth

I have spent plenty of time in Augusta, and lived in Portland for 4 years. I would really recommend the Portland area, as opposed to Augusta (gross

) , as it's a great town with a fun atmosphere (especially down on Fore St and Commercial St in the Summer

). Plenty of great restaruants, Sea Dogs baseball, and a great selection of local microbrews! I hope to relocate back to the Portland area in a few years.

+ 1 million. Portland rules.

Also, relying on other people's word, I would recommend Bath's as well.