[LeeM]

We are planning to buy a new car ... Would it be easier to take the one we currently own with us and later buy a new one in Florida or
better to get the purchase done and out of the way before moving?

Also we plan on one car and two carts. We are not sure if a sedan, SUV, sporty 2 door, or something else will be best. Any thoughts on that?

[baustgen]

If you are going back and forth like a snowbirds, get an SUV. Your wife will be moving lots of clothing back and forth. One car and one golf cart is all you need in the Villages. Take it from someone who has two golf carts.

[MikeV]

We sold my wife's coupe and drove our All Wheel Drive SUV down from NY. Since we no longer want to drive back to the frigid northeast we sold the SUV and got a new sedan. We have 1 golf cart and that seems to fit our needs very well.

[justjim]

If you are planning only a Village home, I would definitely wait on buying a new vehicle until I made the move. My main reason is that you need to develop a good relationship with a local dealer in order to enhance your "service".

The type of car/SUV/Mini Van is strictly personal preference. Good luck with your move.

[Chatbrat]

a car with a good size trunk and folding rear seats are the way to go. Most people get cars that don't fit them and if you have to get out of Dodge for a while hauling capacity comes in handy--my personal preference is a station wagon.

[CFrance]

Will you be picking kids and grandkids up at the airport? Are your interests the same in that you will mostly be going to the same places together? Do you plan to take auto trips?

We find we need two cars as our interests are a bit different, and one of us volunteers a lot in Leesburg and the other goes up to 441 for physical therapy and shopping.

We have two pets (one large and one in a bird cage) that need to be accommodated while traveling, so we need at least one station wagon or SUV.

It depends on your lifestyle.

[spofford]

Put the miles on the car already owned, why put the miles on a new car when you get to Florida. No winter weather either.

[outahere]

One thing that totally caught us by surprise was having to pay Florida sales tax on a vehicle we had purchased just a few months before moving here. According to the DMV, if you register a car in Florida that you purchased in another state less than 6 months prior, you have to pay any difference in the sales tax. They needed to see the actual sales contract to determine the amount (glad it was in the glove box). Since the sales tax in Sumter county is 7% and we moved from Mass. where the sales tax is 6.25% we had to pay the difference. They did tell us we could wait until it had been 6 months to register the car here, but that would not have met the "30 days to register a car" law.

[rjm1cc]

Buy in Fl
.
Avoid registering old car in Fl.

Be sure your insurance carrier is approved in Fl.

[kcrazorbackfan]

We purchased a new Ford Escape in KC the 1st of January; our F150 would only fit in the garage if turned in at an big angle. We wanted a small SUV to navigate around TV and to take an occasional trip to Louisiana and back to KC so we swapped our 2012 F150 Supercrew Lariat for a 2015 Titanium Escape. The trade was straight up so there was no FL. sales tax to pay and we licensed it by mail in FL. instead of MO. It will be in TV full time starting 3/1.

[JoMar]

Sold one car when we got here, kept the SUV for more flexibility, purchased two carts and works just fine. We use the car if going out of the dome otherwise use the carts and we have different interests so two carts are needed for us.

[bimmertl]

Nobody mentioned Florida's "dealer fees". One of the biggest rackets used by Florida dealers. They range from around $500 to $900 are aren't negotiable. So once you decide on a car, you can check with some of the local Florida dealerships and ask them for the amount of their fees over the phone and compare them to the fees in your state and get a better picture of the overall cost of buying in Florida versus your home state, or some state on the way down.

Here's a link to state dealer "doc" fees. It's from 2011 but it gives you an idea of the fees.
Average Dealer Documentation Fees by State

[asianthree]

SUVs are hard to give up

[Rango]

If you purchase new car out of state with out of state tags you will be paying tax in your current state, and a tax or fee again when you register it in Florida.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by asianthree

SUVs are hard to give up

That' score sure. I want mine back!