Lets talk about new vehicles

[Quattro Pete]

Just saw an ad on TV. for one of these AWD buggies. 40 MPG city! I Didn't know Yota revived the name :

View attachment 54851

Less room than RAV4, but costs more than RAV4 supposedly.

 

[Zee09]

A revitalised and now mid-sized Subaru Brat. IDK. Looks like a body shop custom nightmare; Something you do with a totaled SUV in your spare time to make a funky shop truck.
I see those Honda trucks on the road, they are pretty godawefully styled with the new gen - Like a chopped unit body CUV.

Yeah but looks don't bother me.
Handy for a homeowner especially older folks

 

[Zee09]

Less room than RAV4, but costs more than RAV4 supposedly.

I drove them in Florida
They actually are a good value

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Less room than RAV4, but costs more than RAV4 supposedly.

Not in my price range for this type of vehicle but can be had for low 30's. in the LE trim, Guess they are all Hybrid AWD.
My buddy bought a older gen, Venza used and he loves it. The Venza used to be a Camry Wagon of sorts.
He also has BMW 750 li TT V8 daily driver and a Benz SL500 for those sunny days.
Room is just one facet; I didnt need rear leg room, so that was not a determinator on me getting a Ecosport.
I just wanted good capacity behind the front seats and good front seat room and comfort.

 

[supton]

From what I understand, a Venza is a tarted up RAV4 now. Maybe it's a different chassis and all, but you get the idea. Less capacity on the inside, and no tow rating either. Going upscale has its downsides I guess.

I like Car and Driver's take: Slower and less practical than a RAV4, but more expensive.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Yeah but looks don't bother me.
Handy for a homeowner especially older folks

Funny thing, I was putting lumber in my lease VW Jetta. Ran it from the dash through the trunk pass-thru with the rear seats down.
about 15 Long boards and 2 bys fit in the car - nothing hanging out. Trunk closed Short bed trucks. Ain't gonna happen. But I'm not a mulch guy or a gravel or brick cement hauler or a Shrubbery hauler.
Ill rent the Store truck for an hour for 25 bucks for that stuff.

 

[supton]

I rarely close the tailgate on my 6.5' bed when getting lumber. Nothing falls out. If it's just a couple of 8' 2x4's they will often fit if I angle them. I do pull out some tiedowns but honestly stuff doesn't seem to shift around that much.

8' lumber does fit inside my car, if I rest it on the dash. I sometimes wonder about doing that, but eh. For just one or two pieces it's fine.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

From what I understand, a Venza is a tarted up RAV4 now. Maybe it's a different chassis and all, but you get the idea. Less capacity on the inside, and no tow rating either. Going upscale has its downsides I guess.

I like Car and Driver's take: Slower and less practical than a RAV4, but more expensive.

And that coming from a Camry Guy! Not for me or my spouse, but somebody may enjoy the 40mpg city rating.

I used to see "retirees" in this as a Avalon or Camry option.
Also in Florida in the mid 2000's they were all in the Lexus RX330 for a CUV

 

[Zee09]

From what I understand, a Venza is a tarted up RAV4 now. Maybe it's a different chassis and all, but you get the idea. Less capacity on the inside, and no tow rating either. Going upscale has its downsides I guess.

I like Car and Driver's take: Slower and less practical than a RAV4, but more expensive.

It was more nosier than I would have thought.
Seats are tight too, But I will say in the scheme of things it isn't really expensive at all.
But it ain't no real Venza of the past- shameful

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I rarely close the tailgate on my 6.5' bed when getting lumber. Nothing falls out. If it's just a couple of 8' 2x4's they will often fit if I angle them. I do pull out some tiedowns but honestly stuff doesn't seem to shift around that much.

8' lumber does fit inside my car, if I rest it on the dash. I sometimes wonder about doing that, but eh. For just one or two pieces it's fine.

Necessity is the mother of inventiveness I do have a blanket I lay out to protect the dash and seat fabric.

Whats the bed length on that Santa Cruz? 3.5' ? Just saying it doesn't look to commodious

 

[supton]

It was more nosier than I would have thought.
Seats are tight too, But I will say in the scheme of things it isn't really expensive at all.
But it ain't no real Venza of the past- shameful

I need to take a ride in a RAV one of these days. I could use the trunk space of the RAV for taking trash to the dump, and the occasional trip elsewhere; the hybrid has increased towing capacity too (go figure!). But the Camry was a real nice ride and most of my miles are single occupant, so 50mpg would be "swell" as they used to say. I'm sure any real car would blow it away. But after driving a 20 year old Camry for so long... everything's an upgrade!

 

[Zee09]

Necessity is the mother of inventiveness I do have a blanket I lay out to protect the dash and seat fabric.

Whats the bed length on that Santa Cruz? 3.5' ? Just saying it doesn't look to commodious

I thought they said 4 ft. I'll put up the video

 

[supton]

Necessity is the mother of inventiveness

Whats the bed length on that Santa Cruz? 3.5' ? Just saying it doesn't look to commodious

I find 52.1". So 4' and change. Not a bad size for moving bags of mulch, not sure what else. That'd be big enough for my trash hauling needs on trash day, but it's in the "not worth it to me" category.

 

[Zee09]

 

[KCJeep]

The front is not a lot different from your Mitsu or the Palisade. I guess I better get used to the look.

 

[Zee09]

I was the @AutoMechanic before he was.... 1982 picture-my new Datsun diesel King Cab
it would go through any snow. I put Vredestein Snow plus on it when I got it. 40 mpg all day-5

spd manual.

 

[AutoMechanic]

I was the @AutoMechanic before he was.... 1982 picture-my new Datsun diesel King Cab
it would go through any snow. I put Vredestein Snow plus on it when I got it. 40 mpg all day-5View attachment 54865spd manual.

Nice truck Jim. Matches both of mine as far as color goes. I vote buy another one of these if you can find one. My dad said anything made by Datsun was Rotsun because they rusted so bad

 

[Zee09]

Nice truck Jim. Matches both of mine as far as color goes. I vote buy another one of these if you can find one. My dad said anything made by Datsun was Rotsun because they rusted so bad

I sold this to my brother and he sold it at 400K miles same engine and trans
I loved the truck. In two years all the paint on the hood came off but I had a paint warranty and Rusty Jones on it from new.
Japanese paint and metal protection in the 80's was horrible. your dad was right.

 

[Zee09]

Nice truck Jim. Matches both of mine as far as color goes. I vote buy another one of these if you can find one. My dad said anything made by Datsun was Rotsun because they rusted so bad

Like I said I was you before you were you............lol

 

[Zee09]

This was the AMC Eagle SX4 4wd in 1981
That was my niece- now with 4 kids of her own