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Any Car Advice?


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On 12/18/2016 at 6:19 PM, zelticgar said:

I just bought a 2016 Jeep Cherokee which is in the same small SUV/ compact crossover category as the RAV4. It is a good segment with lots of options: 

  • Toyota RAV4
  • Honda CRV
  • Nissan Rogue
  • Jeep Cherokee
  • Ford Escape
  • Mazda CX5
  • Suburu Forester

Hyundai and Kia both have options as well but the names escape me (Kia Sportage maybe?). If you are looking at a pre-owned model I would probably stick with the Toyota or Honda models. Nissan would be the next best option but some of the 2012/2013 models of the Rogue had transmission issues with the CVT Transmission. Most of the companies have worked out the kinks. I test drove the RAV4, CRV and Cherokee and thought the Cherokee was way nicer looking and offered just as many options and features. The downside of the Cherokee is the depreciation and market perception. It is not perceived as high a quality vehicle as the Honda/Toyota but that is never going to change so i went with what i thought was a better looking car. I've been with Hondas for 20 years so it was time for a change. Personally I dont think you can go wrong with any of these models. i think this segment has a great balance of roomy vehicles, gas milage and power. 

A couple of general reminders when buying a car - don't buy anything until you know exactly what model you want. Once you have that get your financing handled outside of the dealer (Credit Unions are generally the best options for rates). Getting pre-approved ahead of time gives you the power to let the dealers know you will buy immediately for the right deal. If you try to negotiate and tell them you'll get back to them tomorrow you will never get a true price. I generally negotiate over email and the phone and try to get prices from a few different places so i know what the range is. Used cars might be a little more tricky. I tend to buy new cars which is a little easy in respect to figuring out the market price for cars. If you are only driving 10,000 miles per year you may want to consider leasing. 

 

I am wary of Jeeps as I have a Jeep Guy friend (you know the type) and every time he finishes stroking his shifter to completion he has to shell out $750 bucks to fix something. Right now the lights are failing one by one. And my sister has a Compass that looks and drives fine, but she's reported transmission problems only a year after buying (admittedly used, but it's only like an 08).

On 12/18/2016 at 5:33 PM, Squab said:

My partner and I have a 2010 Rav4 and its perfect for what we use it for. No issues to speak of. There was a factory fix in the last year to do with seatbelts in the back, I think. Toyota sorted that for free (not sure what the fix was but can look it up if you cannot find it on line). The clearance is a bit low if you want to go on soft sand like dunes or getting onto a beach, hard sand and unsealed roads fine.  The spare wheel on the back gives you more room in the trunk/boot but it limits what you can do for a bike rack if you want one of them.  There is more than enough room for a baby seat plus a booster but you would have trouble getting three kids seats in it. We have taken it camping on gravel, mud and dirt roads but never anything too difficult as I wouldn't trust it as a specialist 4WD (even though it gets close in many respects), ground clearance being the biggest issue for me. I've only crossed very shallow streams and never an actual creek. I've never towed anything with it either. Hope that helps.

I've decided to move back to Colorado and would like at the very least the option of going on one of the gentler trails in the mountains, find a shady spot to die or something, you know. Clearance is a bit of a concern, and I want the ability to tow :( Thanks for your input, I will address these issues to the dealer if I still have a Rav4 on my list by then.

On 12/19/2016 at 1:20 PM, DemiNymph said:

Rav4 is a good car. One thing to note is you must not turn at high speeds, it has a tendency to turn turtle. 

That actually might be good for me, I have a tendency to want to go fast. :P

On 12/19/2016 at 2:13 PM, Kalbear said:

Consider not getting a crossover then. Things like the Toyota Venza might be better for you, or the Honda Fit if you can deal with carrying a bit less stuff. 

I like Toyota quite a bit - they are absurdly well-designed and engineered - but I also recommend against getting a crossover unless there is a specific need for a crossover. Rav4s are built on the Camry frame and then built up - they're not super stable. 

How much room is in that Toyota Fit? I'm freakish big. The Venza is simply out of my price range.

8 hours ago, DireWolfSpirit said:

Get a F-150 or F-250 with a Supercrew cab.

Can I get an amputation at the neck instead?

4 hours ago, The Great Unwashed said:

I've heard nothing but good things about Hyundai, but I've personally sworn off Nissan. I've had two Nissans in the past (a Sentra and an Altima) and neither one made it past 150k miles even though both of them had been maintained well. The catalytic converter failed on both cars.

Wow. I'm crossing Nissan off my list then, I'd been considering the 2011 Nissan Rogue.

2 hours ago, zelticgar said:

I was sitting next to a Black Hyundai Tuscon last night and it looked pretty badass. At first I was not sure what make it was and then I realized it was a Hyundai :) 

Anyone who remembers them from the late 80's probably still perceives Hyundai and Kia as being crappy cars but they have really improved their look and styling over the last 15 years. I cant speak for the quality as I have no experience with it but they seem to be catching up to the other automakers and probably surpassing some at this point. 

I test drove the Genesis in 2014 before settling on the Scion Tc for about the same price, regretted it ever since. I couldn't get over the Hyundai, even though they didn't even put the logo on that model.

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4 minutes ago, WinterFox said:

I am wary of Jeeps as I have a Jeep Guy friend (you know the type) and every time he finishes stroking his shifter to completion he has to shell out $750 bucks to fix something. Right now the lights are failing one by one. And my sister has a Compass that looks and drives fine, but she's reported transmission problems only a year after buying (admittedly used, but it's only like an 08).

 

I really struggled with getting a jeep for the exact reason you mentioned. I've been driving Civics for the last 20 years and I just wanted a change. I basically threw caution to the wind and purchased on looks alone :) I have to make a decision on whether to get an extended warranty soon. 

Just out with my brother this week and he has a Ford Escape. It was pretty nice. Ford has a pretty nice technology package and screen interface. He has had it for a couple of years and really likes it. 

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2 hours ago, zelticgar said:

I really struggled with getting a jeep for the exact reason you mentioned. I've been driving Civics for the last 20 years and I just wanted a change. I basically threw caution to the wind and purchased on looks alone :) I have to make a decision on whether to get an extended warranty soon. 

Just out with my brother this week and he has a Ford Escape. It was pretty nice. Ford has a pretty nice technology package and screen interface. He has had it for a couple of years and really likes it. 

I don't buy from Nazi sympathizers.

And mostly I don't think my relationship with my father could withstand such a decisive blow.

2 hours ago, Kalbear said:

Jeeps have incredibly shitty maintenance records, and continue to do so.

As to the Honda Fit, they were roomy enough for me but I'm 6'. As with all cars I'd recommend trying it first. 

Hmm, I'm 6'2". I'll give it a look, hows it handle?

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21 minutes ago, WinterFox said:

I don't buy from Nazi sympathizers.

And mostly I don't think my relationship with my father could withstand such a decisive blow.

Hmm, I'm 6'2". I'll give it a look, hows it handle?

Damn, not sure about the Nazi - Jeep connection but I think many of the european and japanese manufacturers have ties to the war effort. 

Thumbs ups on the Fit BTW - I'm pretty sure that is what I am going to buy for my daughter when she gets her license. I test drove one when I bought my last civic and liked it. It was just a little too small for me at the time. 

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8 minutes ago, zelticgar said:

Damn, not sure about the Nazi - Jeep connection but I think many of the european and japanese manufacturers have ties to the war effort. 

Thumbs ups on the Fit BTW - I'm pretty sure that is what I am going to buy for my daughter when she gets her license. I test drove one when I bought my last civic and liked it. It was just a little too small for me at the time. 

Wasn't Ford a big fan of Hitler? That was a joke anyway.

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13 minutes ago, WinterFox said:

Wasn't Ford a big fan of Hitler? That was a joke anyway.

aaah, yes. Thats true. Forgot about that one. I don't like Fords for being forced to drive from Boston to Florida while sitting in the back of a Pinto in the 70's. God damn child abuse I tell ya!

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1 hour ago, WinterFox said:

Hmm, I'm 6'2". I'll give it a look, hows it handle?

I got a Fit when it first came out, so I'm not sure if the current models are the same, but my guess is that the performance of the current models are similar.  Performance is good in city and on flat terrain.  But it really struggles to accelerate and maintain speed when going uphill.  I had to completely floor it just to maintain 70 mph when driving uphill in the mountains.  If you are going to be driving in the Colorado mountains a lot, not sure it's the right car.  Plus, it was annoying to always have to put on snow chains in the winter when there was any snow in the mountains.

I've got a diesel SUV now that has a ton of torque.  Tows great, accelerates great even in the mountains, handles well on road, and I can take it offroad.  Also, I usually don't need to put on chains when it's snowing in the mountains, unless conditions are really bad, in which case I'd be staying home anyway.  Mileage is also good; I get over 30 mpg on the highway.  I'd have recommended it but for an ongoing emissions scandal.  

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I'm on my 3rd Toyota Tacoma and highly recommend anything them. I sold the first 2 to family members and they are both still in perfect shape. It's like you can't wear them out. I never once had to pay for any weird repairs or replacements.

 

Also echo that Jeeps sucks. Except for Wranglers, they are fun at least.

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3 hours ago, DunderMifflin said:

I'm on my 3rd Toyota Tacoma and highly recommend anything them. I sold the first 2 to family members and they are both still in perfect shape. It's like you can't wear them out. I never once had to pay for any weird repairs or replacements.

 

Also echo that Jeeps sucks. Except for Wranglers, they are fun at least.

I'm loving the Jeep Cherokee so far. I've only got 2,000 miles on it but it runs great, looks nice and is more comfortable than my old Hondas. Time will tell I guess. 

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On December 22, 2016 at 3:51 PM, WinterFox said:

Wasn't Ford a big fan of Hitler? That was a joke anyway.

Can I get an amputation at the neck instead?

I would think so, if that was a goal or something ? Anyyways whatever sins Henry Ford harbored and diseminated a century ago have long since been moved away from by the current Fords. The Ford Foundation has funded billions to humanitarian causes around the world, there great sin nowadays has been owning the Lions.

Anyways I suggested a F-150 or F-250 under the assumption that you might have an interest in a proven model that routinely gets over 250,000 miles http://www.cheatsheet.com/business/stock-news/10-toughest-suvs-and-trucks.html/?a=viewall

^^^If your only considering a model that will get you 3-4 years in Colorado type conditions then disregard  the models listed in the link. But if you want something that will last for years and years, the smart money's on these mile eating machines. I love shit that lasts forever.

 

 

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  • 3 months later...

Thread resurrection! 

So I'm *almost* sold on a 2017 Forester.  I want a small SUV with AWD. It snows and snows here. I can't fit the snow tubes or my kid's upright bass in my car. I'm also going from manual to automatic transmission for the first time. I've driven the Subaru Crosstrek and the Mazda CR-5, but the Forester was my favorite.  Anything else you love that I should try? I hate to shop for cars and I'm about at the line of telling husband just to bring me home something if he drags me to one more dealership or forwards me one more Car and Driver Article. ;)

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My parents have a newer Forester, it's great.  I test drove it, the Honda CRV, and the RAV4 when they were getting it and liked the Subaru the best.  I have a 1998 Impreza hatchback and as far as a vehicle that's safe in the snow, it's tough to find one better than a Subaru awd.  I liked the crv the next best but it felt a little flimsier.   Scoobydoos are  kind of the perfect car for the Northeast.  

I drive mine from the Hudson up 1,100 ft over 20 miles 6 days a week in the winter and with new snow tires the commute is fun no matter how bad the roads are.  Only vehicle i felt safer in the snow was my 1994 f450 dually because but that was because it was freaking huge.

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I have always liked both foresters and outbacks. I have owned a pickup for almost 10 years (first a Nissan and now a GMC) and I get a good bit of use out of them so I'd like to keep one around no matter what, but if I add to the household motor pool I would look at an outback or forester for sure.  Good reputation, all wheel drive, good utility, can handle passengers, don't look too goofy.  I'd drive one.  

I have to say though, if you don't have to haul around too many people, truck life is where it's at.  I love my truck.  Can carry 5 people comfortably, haul anything I might ever need to, can see over most traffic, and rides like an old man car.  

When I was a kid my grandpa had a crown vic.  Cruising in my truck reminds me of that.  Like being in a roomy pod, riding on a cloud.  #usa

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On 4/21/2017 at 7:32 PM, larrytheimp said:

My parents have a newer Forester, it's great.  I test drove it, the Honda CRV, and the RAV4 when they were getting it and liked the Subaru the best.  I have a 1998 Impreza hatchback and as far as a vehicle that's safe in the snow, it's tough to find one better than a Subaru awd.  I liked the crv the next best but it felt a little flimsier.   Scoobydoos are  kind of the perfect car for the Northeast.  

I drive mine from the Hudson up 1,100 ft over 20 miles 6 days a week in the winter and with new snow tires the commute is fun no matter how bad the roads are.  Only vehicle i felt safer in the snow was my 1994 f450 dually because but that was because it was freaking huge.

 

On 4/21/2017 at 7:50 PM, Inigima said:

I've never driven a Forester but I used to have an Outback. Subarus are fucking awesome. Do it!

 

On 4/22/2017 at 1:41 AM, S John said:

I have always liked both foresters and outbacks. I have owned a pickup for almost 10 years (first a Nissan and now a GMC) and I get a good bit of use out of them so I'd like to keep one around no matter what, but if I add to the household motor pool I would look at an outback or forester for sure.  Good reputation, all wheel drive, good utility, can handle passengers, don't look too goofy.  I'd drive one.  

I have to say though, if you don't have to haul around too many people, truck life is where it's at.  I love my truck.  Can carry 5 people comfortably, haul anything I might ever need to, can see over most traffic, and rides like an old man car.  

When I was a kid my grandpa had a crown vic.  Cruising in my truck reminds me of that.  Like being in a roomy pod, riding on a cloud.  #usa

You Subaru types have me looking at late nineties options. Does anyone know how many miles they can handle?

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