It would be the car my wife drives every day, and would haul our kids around (our minivan is shot). My kids are elementary and junior high aged.

I don't like to buy new. I feel like as soon as you drive it off the lot you've lost money. But I also like to get a car in very good condition so I can drive it for a very long time and not have to start fixing things immediately — I'm not looking to get a project.

For those of you who have owned Chevy trucks/SUVs, what would you look for in terms of model year and mileage when trying to balance quality and condition with price? Looking for good value here.

Reasonable viewpoints appreciated — would love to understand the thought process behind your recommendations.