For a friend.

I told them to get the newest AWD Toyota Highlander they can afford.

Thoughts?

2/20/2014 10:07:49 AM

....that's broad. But, solid choice.

I'd go for a Tahoe, myself.

2/20/2014 10:44:14 AM

Are they looking for compact, mid-size, or full-size SUV? Do they need 3rd row seats?

2/20/2014 10:48:00 AM

Tahoe is too big. Highlander is definitely large enough, and they'll consider smaller SUVs. No 3rd row needed. And forget offroad capability. She just wants to look over traffic.

[Edited on February 20, 2014 at 12:38 PM. Reason : don't even bother suggesting anything truck based]

2/20/2014 12:37:36 PM

puke, why bother with thread?

2/20/2014 1:17:21 PM

What makes you say that a Tahoe is too big? Every Tahoe I've driven has been just about as easy to park/maneuver as a smaller SUV like a Highlander.

2/20/2014 1:45:25 PM

Come on man, its fucking huge. They want a car-based SUV, the Tahoe is miles from that.

[Edited on February 20, 2014 at 2:04 PM. Reason : .]

2/20/2014 2:03:58 PM

^^^

^^They want a glorified sedan. Plus the person that will primarily be driving it can't park very well. Also a Tahoe's gas mileage is horrendous (compared to car based options).

^thanks DTR

[Edited on February 20, 2014 at 2:04 PM. Reason : k]

2/20/2014 2:04:33 PM

Lexus RX series. It is much nicer inside/outside. Go 2-3 years older than equivalent highlander and price is the same. IMO, it is worth it if you are in it daily.

2/20/2014 2:13:56 PM

BUBUBUBBU

I love this thread

2/20/2014 2:57:15 PM

^^They won't go for that, since a Highlander is already older than they want to buy anyway.

^BTW I already told her not to buy an SUV

2/20/2014 3:20:36 PM

2012 kia sorento

2/20/2014 3:23:52 PM

Rav4
CRV
Tucson
Sportage

2/20/2014 3:50:26 PM

fx35? rogue?

2/20/2014 5:14:13 PM

Quote :

"since a Highlander is already older than they want to buy anyway."

if they want almost new and in that price range, their options are korean or ford escape

2/20/2014 6:47:50 PM

Quote :

"She just wants to look over traffic."

Tell her that's dumb; learn to drive, buy a car. Cars make better cars than SUVs do.

2/20/2014 7:26:40 PM

maybe, and just maybe (I hate saying it) she wants to have a vehicle with an actual upright seating position, and not actually a 'tall' vehicle.

2/21/2014 7:13:03 AM

cars with upright seating positions are called crossover SUV's, which is what they are already looking for

2/21/2014 8:44:26 AM

I'd look at one of the V6 Rav4s. I've been told it was the fastest car in Toyota's lineup for a couple years and seems like a nice ride.


also Buick Encore (aka Opel Mokka), b/c WTF is that even supposed to be? Might be just over 20K though, not sure



[Edited on February 21, 2014 at 9:05 AM. Reason : I think Camry with same engine was slightly faster than the RAV4]

2/21/2014 9:03:41 AM

^isn't that the same chassis as the chevy captiva?

Fiance has a Captiva, solid ride. 3.0 v6 fwd, averages ~21.5mpg mixed city/hwy, I maxed it out on an OBX trip at ~26.5mpg for 700miles or so.

2/21/2014 9:06:11 AM

^I'd never even heard of a Captiva before, but Wiki is telling me the Captiva is based on the Opel Antara:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Antara

and the Encore is based on the Mokka:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Mokka

That picture might be a little deceiving, I think the Encore is even more compact than the Captiva!!!

2/21/2014 9:16:59 AM

hmm, article from last year saying the Captiva was primarily being sold as a fleet vehicle due to some of GM's restructuring shenanigans. Kinda interesting that you don't see more on the road.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/01/automobiles/autoreviews/a-chevy-so-exclusive-that-you-can-only-borrow-not-buy.html?_r=0

[Edited on February 22, 2014 at 2:48 PM. Reason : .]

2/22/2014 2:35:10 PM

fiancés Captiva was a '12 model purchased 5/13 with 11k on the odometer... not sure if it was a fleet vehicle or what (chrome wheels, dual exhaust, body matched bumpers). There are a ton of them around Iredell county, I see 1-2 per day when I'm out.

TBH, I hated it at first, but it's growing on me...serves its purpose.

2/22/2014 6:20:14 PM

The Captiva was also sold, for at least a little while, as the second-gen Saturn Vue. So that might be what you're seeing.

Personally I find them unattractive, though I know very little of their merits as a vehicle.

2/24/2014 7:35:50 PM

Quote :

"The Captiva was also sold, for at least a little while, as the second-gen Saturn Vue. So that might be what you're seeing."

I see them both, actually - I'm very good at car model identification. Sounds silly, I know, but it's true.

2/25/2014 7:25:35 AM

I don't find it silly at all. I'm one of those folks who has lots of useless car trivia stored too--but not everyone who is a gearhead is going to notice trim differences like that. Hence my assumption.

2/25/2014 9:06:53 PM

particularly for those, the hood emblem is easily noticed in the Saturn (red), not so much on the Chevy.


Anywayyyyy

2/25/2014 9:22:35 PM

I went on vacation for a week, so I have no clue what the person in question has done in the meantime.

2/27/2014 12:39:40 PM

They bought a used Nissan Rogue with 25k miles (I think it's a 2012, don't remember). Not something I would have recommended, but the recent theme among my car illiterate friends seems to be ignoring my advice.

2/28/2014 8:13:39 AM

2/28/2014 8:26:01 AM

My initial reaction was to say NMSJ, but I refrained...and instead just bashed the CVT transmission.

2/28/2014 9:28:51 AM

All my friends and family do the same thing.

Pick my brain for hours on a car and then buy something completely different because they fell in love with the sunglasses holder or something completely stupid like that.

2/28/2014 10:52:19 AM

I could use a nice sunglasses holder, as I am currently at a loss as to the location of my two pair of Oakley sunglasses. What year, make, and model is that you speak of?

2/28/2014 1:42:22 PM

My sister had a 2004 Accord coupe and she wanted to replace it with a mid sized sedan. I made several suggestions to her. I was also happy she made no mention of wanting an SUV since her husband already has one (FWD Chevy Equinox). 1-2 months go by and I didn't hear anything back from her.

I went home for Thanksgiving and sitting in her garage is a GMC Acadia FWD. W.T.F.

2/28/2014 3:02:01 PM

You could buy a Jeep Cherokee for every day of the week.

2/28/2014 8:34:35 PM

Quote :

" She just wants to look over traffic."

no offense, but I hate her

I like to see where the fuck I'm going when I drive, and I won't be able to do that if this bitch's SUV is roaring along in front of me

2/28/2014 8:52:07 PM

I didn't ask if it's FWD or AWD. But $50 lafta bucks says it's FWD

3/3/2014 8:44:24 AM

I think we are in the SUV market in the not too distant future. We have an 8 week old and 2 dogs and packing all that into a sedan just isn't cool.

I'll likely get something 2-3 years old and really haven't focused on anything other than we ain't got the dough to go luxury. I was intrigued by the new diesel options in the Grand Cherokees but fuck they tacked on a huge premium. Is there any reason to even think about this if power isn't high up on the want list? Especially with gas prices having cratered recently while diesel prices seem a bit stubborn to follow suit?

I'm also thinking about a truck for these purposes. What do I gain/lose by going this route over a big SUV? We end up driving 3hrs to my in laws and 5 to my folks so a decently plush ride is high up on the list.

[Edited on January 3, 2015 at 3:28 PM. Reason : .]

1/3/2015 3:25:58 PM

4Runner.

1/3/2015 3:40:42 PM

Count me in the same market. Got a kid on the way in June. I'm insisting that the the SUV needs to get 23+ MPG and be AWD. I'd like to get 2012 or newer.

1/3/2015 7:34:58 PM

your suv won't be any bigger than a ford escape. get a minivan or a wagon

1/4/2015 8:04:13 PM

Forester XT?

[Edited on January 4, 2015 at 9:39 PM. Reason : ]

1/4/2015 9:38:50 PM

My parents raised 3 children using volvo station wagons. Not sure when people started to automatically assume they need some 4000+ lb beast of an SUV to raise 1-2, even 3, kids.

1/5/2015 9:15:10 AM

to be fair though, the car seats and strollers that we grew up with are tiny compared to the mountains of shit you need today to safely transport and carry a child.

1/5/2015 11:38:42 AM

recently bought an 05 crv, but would have much preferred one of the v6 rav 4s....

CRV is just underpowered for its weight even with a manual.

1/5/2015 12:23:44 PM

^^Good point. Though (and I could be quite wrong about this) a lot of that shit seems like overkill.

1/5/2015 12:49:40 PM

You guys remember the comparisons showing that a BMW 5 series wagon had more interior room than an X5? Also the Volvo V70s are huge inside. I still keep one around, have transported a beds, washer/drier, concrete, refrigerator. Just last month I took it on a 1000 mile road trip, averaged over about 35mpg..

I also like small mini/micro vans, if you don’t have a desire to look badass. Mazda 5 is interesting, Subarus are good choices as is something like a Mazda 3 hatchy wagony thingie. Why go for something way heavier and bigger (outside) than you need? There’s also cars like the Kia Soul.

1/5/2015 6:52:09 PM

I overall agree with you. However I'm 95% certain that the "5 Series has a bigger trunk than the X5" comment no longer holds true with the current versions of both vehicles.

1/6/2015 8:52:53 AM

There is also the issue of car height when you have children. It is a lot more comfortable to put things/children/etc into the car and take them out if you don't have to bend down.

Not saying that that should be the deciding factor, but I am sure it plays a role in many people's decisions to get an SUV over a wagon. Mainly though, SUV = cool, tough, fashionable, good looking, and wagon = grandpa-ish, uncool, awkward looking... that's what I think most people think. I, for one, love wagons, especially Audis, Volvos, and Mercs. And the new XF is looking hot too.

1/6/2015 6:13:47 PM

Quote :

"4Runner."

+1

I'm on my second 4runner. Drove an '04 SR54WD from 2005 until this past september. it was still going strong at 160k. The only repairs I had to do were catalytic convertors. Otherwise just normal scheduled maintenance. I'd have kept it longer, but with a 2nd child, we often found ourselves needing a 3rd row, and we are not minivan people.

the '04:


the '14:

1/7/2015 10:42:29 AM