We need a car. And we don't know anything about cars.

I used to sell new cars for a living, I've had both immediate and extended family in the car business for as long as I can remember. Take a look at my previous ask.me answers and you'll see tons of useful car buying advice. That said, I have some thoughts more specific to you. First thing, if you don't care about having a new car every three years or so, do not lease, buy. Furthermore, it almost never makes sense to buy a new car. It's just a huge waste of money and your budget is pretty much going to force into something used if you want anything other than a compact car (like the Honda Fit). You'll want to look for a two-ish year old (a little older would be good too) lease return or trade-in (or buy from a private party) but rental returns are also a good value. They'll have slightly higher miles compared to other cars of the same age but they're impeccably maintained. Without having owned a car before you won't really have an preferences and lots of different people with a family like yours buy lots of different kinds of cars to meet similar needs. Some will put a priority on fuel efficiency and value and buy something small like a Honda Fit. Others like the added height of a small SUV both for better visibility and because it makes dealing with the car seats easier. Some people are very active and/or take lots of road trips so they'll get something with more cargo space like the Subaru Outback or a minivan. You'd also probably be just fine with a mid-size sedan (Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevy Malibu, etc.). There are a lot of good suggestions here on what types of vehicles to look at and why and that should help narrow the field. If I were you, the first thing I would do is go someplace that has all the different types of cars (don't worry too much about specific makes/models yet) so that you can put the car seats in them, look at how much space is in them, sit in the seats, etc. Bring the kids so you can try getting them situated if that's feasible. Your goal is to narrow things down to small SUVs, minivans, sedans, compacts, wagons/crossovers, etc. The test drive is totally optional at this point but you might find out that, for example, you really like the higher ride height of an SUV or minivan or you might decide that you hate how big and top heavy they feel. Once you've got it narrowed down a little edmunds.com has a TON of great info on specific models. VERY generally speaking, you can't go wrong with a Honda, Toyota, or Mazda. Honda and Toyota specifically have a well-earned reputation for having bullet-proof reliability and Mazda isn't far behind. Most other makes are a little hit-or-miss and it often comes down to the specific model. Chrysler makes about the best value in a minivan and they are reasonably reliable but a lot of their other models are junk, as an example. Hyundia/Kia are a terrific value and while they might not be as reliable Honda or Toyota, they're not all that far off. Once you've got it narrowed down to a handful of models that will work on paper, you'll probably just need to go out and drive them all, back-to-back and on the same roads if you can, and just pick the one that you like the most. I can tell both from data and from personal experience that a LOT of people end up buying a car based on the salesperson they like the most. It's often subconscious to try to keep that bias in mind and stay objective. As long as you get a decent deal, you'll be a lot happier in the long-run if you buy the car that you like the most even if you hate the salesperson than if you find out later you didn't really like the car but the salesperson seemed more trustworthy (though there is no reason you can't find both). Don't be shy about asking questions, don't be afraid to be interested in a car, or doing whatever you need to do to test out the car. A car salespersons job is to remove all the obstacles and objections that you have to buying a car until you buy one. They'll be on-board with pretty much anything that facilitates that. This is quickly turning into a novel so I'll cut things off here. If you have any other questions feel free to memail me or post it here.

If you know nothing about cars & are about to be driving your kids around in the snow, I would 2nd, or 3rd or 5th some kinda subaru. They're decently fuel efficient, good in the snow, and everyone I know that has one (form car nerds to single moms) loves it. I really like the looks of the newish crosstrek but don't know anyone that has one yet. Regardless of what you get, I would suggest getting winter tires. People will say it doesn't really matter if you have an AWD car, but the people who say that have never used snow tires. All wheel drive doesn't help you stop. And really, snow tires are essentially free if you plan on keeping the car for a while, and here's why: 1) If you find a good local garage & buy them there, they should swap them in the spring and fall for free. Our garage even stores the unused sets for us, for free. So twice a year (with your oil change or something) they just swap the tires and thats that. 2) While you're using the snows, the summer tires don't get any miles on them. And vice versa. So you have to pay more now to get equipped with snow tires, but both the snows and the summers last longer because you don't use either of them for the full year. They are worth it. Also, ask your local friends/family to ask their local friends & family if they know of a good honest mechanic or shop. Ask them if they would recommend the shop to their mom. When you decide on a car to buy, pay the mechanic to go over the car & tell you if he has any concerns. Cars are great, good luck.

http://ask.metafilter.com/268702/We-need-a-car-And-we-dont-know-anything-about-cars#3901157 Generally, you'll get most bang for your buck if you purchase a late model secondhand car, i.e. 1-2 years old. The typical car loses 30% of its value in the first month. It depends on the local market, but when we were car shopping in the U.S. two years ago, that equation did not apply. First there was a dearth of late model used cars, and the used cars available had very high mileage. We ended up buying a new car, since there was so little difference in price between a new car and a 1-2 year old used car, especially with the insane miles on the ones available locally. And we are in a relatively large metropolitan area where people drive a wide range of car makes and models. (Oh, we ended up going with a Subaru Impreza.)

With kids, you want a minivan. Good combo of fuel efficiency and cargo. I know, minivan. Not cool. Just go with it. Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey. Anything else is second place. Don't worry about money down. Think instead of getting financing through a bank, and then going to a dealer with that info in hand. Got Costco? Use their purchasing service, which pre-negotiates a fair price. Or Carmax, AAA, same thing. Test drive your favorite, keep saying no to everything while test driving. Test drive the heck out of it. Keep saying no to whatever. When you decide, call a dealer on the phone or email (or call Costco), ask for the fleet manager. Do everything by phone or email. Don't bother with the dealer runaround in the office. Happy motoring!

My vote (as someone who has almost none of the same requirements, so take it with a grain of salt): Subaru Outback, used.

I don't recommend a minivan, though we have an old Honda Odyssey and loved it, because you aren't at the age of soccer teams and/or dance practices yet, and your resources are limited enough that you don't want to be spending so much money on gas right off the bat. You are not used to that (plus insurance and car upkeep) being a regular expense yet. Plus, just a weird thing you may not have considered, but not all vehicles and houses go together, so what is your new place in the suburbs like? My sister once really wanted a Land Rover (I know, why? But she did) and it turned out the model was too tall to fit in her garage! Maybe you have a really steep driveway, narrow road and people parking on the sides, a cul de sac requiring a tight turning radius. Factor that stuff in to your decision. The Honda a Fit is not going to be comfortable or roomy enough for two kids with car seats. Even if it were just the kids in the seats, that's a tight fit, but I'm a parent and though my kids have grown, I remember back to those days of strollers and diaper bags and toys followed by textbooks and science projects, and you are going to want more room. I think you'll likely want a sedan to start with, either a Honda Civic (I have one and LOVE mine), Toyota Camry (very similar to Honda Civic) or a little larger even, like the size of a Honda Accord. Subaru also has some nice midrange cars; I am not as familiar with the latest offerings but remember last time I went car shopping I was concerned at the limited visibility out the rear window and the resulting blind spot, but if you go with a new car, it will likely have a backup camera now. Honda and Toyota have a long history of reliability and customer satisfaction. Subaru--well, you either have a great experience or a terrible one with a Subaru. If the transmission doesn't go, it's all good, but that's their weakness and when a transmission goes it is beaucoup bucks to repair. Ask me how I know. I don't, on the whole, recommend new cars for many people. The car depreciates from day one and you are generally paying too high to begin with unless you know how to negotiate really well. In your case, though, as someone who plans to keep it for a good while and has limited cash going in, a new car with a good warranty, best safety features for the kids and regular monthly payments you can budget for might be your best bet. You aren't used to maintaining and servicing a car, and a used car would need more maintenance, too. So, if you do go new: Don't lease the car. It's like pouring half your money down the drain. Look into financing ahead of time with your bank or credit union. Sometimes the dealerships have good deals, but know your options. Do not let the dealership just strong arm you into taking their financing! You are going to want to buy a car on your first trip to the first dealership you visit. You will have to bring the kids or get a sitter, and you won't want to run all around town, so you'll just want it done already. I understand. Everyone feels this way. But that is the worst strategy going in. You need to have a really good idea of what each car you are considering is worth. So, Kelly Blue Book. That is your a Bible. You go online, look at a few models, figure out the ones you like and the options you cannot live without, and you enter it all in to get an accurate assessment of what you should reasonably expect to pay in your area. Then you are ready to face the dealerships! Test drive. Play one dealership against another. If you really do only have a day, that's not optimal, but you can still get a good deal if you know what you want and what it should cost.

With kids, you want a minivan. If you travel like an Everest expedition, perhaps. You'll actually be fine with a no-hassle smaller car with good mileage and reliability, because you're not accustomed to the suburban practice of travelling with a small house's worth of stuff. Whenever you take one of those occasional long road trips, rent something bigger. It will feel expensive to do so, but less expensive than paying over time to put miles on more car than you need, and the kids will love the fact that they get a special car for those long trips. For younger kids on short runs, you can actually get away with less space in the back seats in exchange for more boot space, because small people. Don't discount those small cars until you've tried them: a Fit or other small hatchback may actually work for you. If it doesn't, look at Civics or Corollas or Focuses or slightly-bigger Mazdas.

You need to budget for full insurance coverage. That adds to you monthly cost.

Obviously you'll want to chat with a credit union and use more exact numbers, but assuming a 3% interest rate (you can do better, but I want to be pessimistic), borrowing $17,000 for a five year term gets you to right around your $300 target. You can borrow less and shorten the term, or more and stretch the term, but that gives you a sense of scale at least. Add in your $2500, and remember that you will have to pay tax, title, and other licensing fees (which vary enormously by state, so ignore any non-local examples) and you might be looking for cars that sell for about $17,000, plus or minus a thousand. Playing with a basic car loan calculator will tell you a lot, and don't forget to add insurance (which can vary considerably by model -- run the models you are considering past your agent to check prices). Generally, you'll get most bang for your buck if you purchase a late model secondhand car, i.e. 1-2 years old. The typical car loses 30% of its value in the first month. I'm not sure that advice holds well at the lower end of the market any more (I think it still does for more expensive cars, though). My interpretation is that for cheaper cars (under $25k at least, maybe a bit more) the used and the new markets are increasingly disconnected. People with good credit and options are able to buy new at very low interest rates, and everyone else who can't qualify for those promo rates are locked into the used market. With that captive market (and lingering effects at the bottom end from Cash for Clunkers) prices are staying high for late model used cars, even with high miles. Your experience may vary considerably and there are definitely deals to be had, but it's not as simple as just looking used and seeing huge discounts. Regarding the test driving, I think the most important will be for you to bring the car seats (borrow some if you need to) and test fit them. Especially with rear-facing seats, in some vehicles there just isn't enough room.