Best Used Cars for Road Trips in Stafford, VA

 

Whenever I would jump in my friend’s car for Spring Break and head down to Virginia Beach for the week I would be strictly told I could not drive. Everyone knew the two and a half hour drive was a breeze for me. No stops, no bathroom breaks, just clear and open road…well, until the Chesapeake Bay Bridge where one friend always claws at the glass screaming “I’m claustrophobic!!!,” as you wait for an accident to clear. True road trips are where seven hours is the first pit stop and you check your location every state line. The question is, what kind of car do you buy for these cross country road trips?

 

If you are looking for the best road trip used cars in Stafford, Va we at the Buy Here Pay Here lot at Airport Auto Sales have a checklist of requirements.

 

First and most important is reliability. We looked at all of our cars and which ones were most likely to make a 3,000 mile trip without a hitch. Next we looked at comfortability. There is nothing worse than cramming three adults, two kids, and a dog into a Toyota Prius for a trip to Maine. Not much room to stretch. We also looked at safety, price, and fuel economy. It would be too easy to choose used luxury cars so we only looked at cars that were affordable for the family. In the end, we ended up with three very different choices that all have their own pros and cons to consider when shopping among used cars in Stafford, Va.

Our first choice from our Buy Here Pay Here lot at Airport Auto Sales for long road trips was the Chevrolet Impala. The Impala has a reputation for giving its passengers comfort and luxury without the price tag. The Impala is a large sedan which provides ample room for three adults to sit in the rear seat if they have to. However, the middle passenger might get a little grumpy with the center floor tunnel between their feet. The trunk space is huge as far as sedans go with 18 cubic inches or more so all of your luggage should be able to stay out of your seating space. The Impala’s ride is quiet and comfortable with capable handling and breaks. The fuel economy gets a reputable 18 city and 29 highway mpg for its large size. The Impala is our most fuel efficient choice but can be limiting in space for larger families.

Our next choice is not the most exciting or flashy choice, but the Toyota Sienna can be one heck of a road trip companion. There’s a reason that soccer moms love these vans. The whole team and then some can fit with a seating capacity of eight. There are ample cup holders and snazzy sliding doors that make for a quick escape when you finally reach the rest stop. The third row is large enough for three adults to sit comfortably. Cargo space is fairly decent until you start to max out your passengers. I’ve used the Sienna for a cross country trip and found it comfortable enough in leg room, but I wished i could have packed a bigger bag. The Sienna gets an admirable 20 highway mpg making it one of the larger fuel efficient options on our Buy Here Pay Here lot at Airport Auto Sales and among the used cars in Stafford, Va.

Our last pick for long distance road trips may get a sneer from the fuel economy category for having 14 city and 18 highway mpg, but the space and comfort trade off is worth it. Often referred to as the kings of the SUV class, the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL will get you zero complaints on legs being cramped. After all, if you are considering an SUV for  cross country road trips you should just go for it and get the most space and comfort you can. The whole Brady Bunch can fit in this SUV as well as the family dog, all of their luggage, a kayak through the middle, and even a camper on the back if you don’t want to stop at a hotel. This has by far been the most comfortable ride I have used on 3,000 miles. Just make sure to budget for the gas pump or you’ll find the family has less to spend on souvenirs when you get to your destination.

Whatever car you are looking at purchasing for long distance road trips, ensure you have picked a vehicle among the used cars in Stafford, Va that looks to be in great condition. Even if you don’t know a lot about cars, take a look to see how clean the engine looks. An engine that looks like it has seen better days with dirt and corrosion on it will probably not make a good partner on the long road.