Who Makes The Best Suv For The Money ?
- Thread starter crazyoildude
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2 of our vehicles are SUVs - wife drives a Escape with almost 110k and no issues so far. I drive a RAV (because of work commute time/mileage) coming up to 165k and no issues so far.
I had a hard time getting used to the RAV at the start but now it would be kind of hard to change. Guess I got used to a small SUV.
A buddy drives a Subaru and leaves town most weekends - he really likes it.
I had a hard time getting used to the RAV at the start but now it would be kind of hard to change. Guess I got used to a small SUV.
A buddy drives a Subaru and leaves town most weekends - he really likes it.
Subaru Impreza hatchback. It's smaller on the outside and won't kill her on gas. Small = beautiful on a college campus where many inconsiderate or late drivers park without regard for others. A smaller car will fit into spaces that a larger car won't dare touch.
Originally Posted By: sciphi
Subaru Impreza hatchback. It's smaller on the outside and won't kill her on gas. Small = beautiful on a college campus where many inconsiderate or late drivers park without regard for others. A smaller car will fit into spaces that a larger car won't dare touch.
That actually is a great alternative. Still AWD, but safer overall than a small SUV.
Subaru Impreza hatchback. It's smaller on the outside and won't kill her on gas. Small = beautiful on a college campus where many inconsiderate or late drivers park without regard for others. A smaller car will fit into spaces that a larger car won't dare touch.
That actually is a great alternative. Still AWD, but safer overall than a small SUV.
A Forester would be a good choice. It's reliable and has good crash test ratings.
If you buy a new one, they aren't terribly expensive and the new ones have decent fuel eonomy, which you cannot say for our '09.
Subaru is like Honda now, in that the small price premium for a new one over a late model used one makes a new one a smarter buy.
If you buy a new one, they aren't terribly expensive and the new ones have decent fuel eonomy, which you cannot say for our '09.
Subaru is like Honda now, in that the small price premium for a new one over a late model used one makes a new one a smarter buy.
We are looking for brand new
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Who makes the best and longest lasting mid size suv for the money
So far everyone around here likes Hyundai and Kia...
The 10 year old Hyundai and Kias I see are rust buckets. I'll stick with something with a better track record.
Who makes the best and longest lasting mid size suv for the money
So far everyone around here likes Hyundai and Kia...
The 10 year old Hyundai and Kias I see are rust buckets. I'll stick with something with a better track record.
I don't know that there are any really "bad" ones. They all have strengths and weaknesses.
Pre-owned, dollar for dollar, the best bargain would probably come down to the '07+ Suzuki XL7 and the '02-'09 Kia Sorento.
Neither has a nameplate known for it's resale value so you can save money there.
The Suzuki is built on the GM Theta platform at CAMI in Ontario. It's the same platform as the GMC Terrain, Saturn Vue, and Chevrolet Equinox.
The Kia Sorento is a traditional body on frame SUV with either a Hyundai 3.5 or 3.8 V6. They are quite nicely appointed for the price and perform surprisingly well off-road (when 4WD of course)
If you need to go cheaper? Cherokee 4.0 or Blazer 4.3.
Better mileage? virtually every maker has a crossover with a 4 cyl. I like the looks of the Patriot and the Tribute.
Maybe, instead of an SUV, what you really need is a small hatchback. They are good on fuel, vastly improved in passenger safety, easier to park, have useful cargo areas (especially with the seats down or reconfigured in the Fit), can be fun to drive, and many look really good. The Fit is the champion of cargo areas. The VW Golf is pricey, but has a fiercely loyal following. The Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent are attractive and better than their predecessors by a mile. The Mazda 2 and Ford Fiesta are well rounded and represent their parent companies very well. The Chevrolet Sonic may well be the first really good subcompact hatchback from GM. The Toyota Yaris seems to be greatly improved. The Impreza can be a little pricey too but has AWD and a following that may actually be more fierce than VW's
The VW and Subaru actually are a bit bigger than the others. Subaru has an excuse. They do not make the inline engine Justy anymore and I read that they were going to cease making Kei cars for Japan. Volkswagen has the Polo but will not market it here. Many believe that is a shortcoming for VWoA but that's another argument entirely.
Pre-owned, dollar for dollar, the best bargain would probably come down to the '07+ Suzuki XL7 and the '02-'09 Kia Sorento.
Neither has a nameplate known for it's resale value so you can save money there.
The Suzuki is built on the GM Theta platform at CAMI in Ontario. It's the same platform as the GMC Terrain, Saturn Vue, and Chevrolet Equinox.
The Kia Sorento is a traditional body on frame SUV with either a Hyundai 3.5 or 3.8 V6. They are quite nicely appointed for the price and perform surprisingly well off-road (when 4WD of course)
If you need to go cheaper? Cherokee 4.0 or Blazer 4.3.
Better mileage? virtually every maker has a crossover with a 4 cyl. I like the looks of the Patriot and the Tribute.
Maybe, instead of an SUV, what you really need is a small hatchback. They are good on fuel, vastly improved in passenger safety, easier to park, have useful cargo areas (especially with the seats down or reconfigured in the Fit), can be fun to drive, and many look really good. The Fit is the champion of cargo areas. The VW Golf is pricey, but has a fiercely loyal following. The Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent are attractive and better than their predecessors by a mile. The Mazda 2 and Ford Fiesta are well rounded and represent their parent companies very well. The Chevrolet Sonic may well be the first really good subcompact hatchback from GM. The Toyota Yaris seems to be greatly improved. The Impreza can be a little pricey too but has AWD and a following that may actually be more fierce than VW's
The VW and Subaru actually are a bit bigger than the others. Subaru has an excuse. They do not make the inline engine Justy anymore and I read that they were going to cease making Kei cars for Japan. Volkswagen has the Polo but will not market it here. Many believe that is a shortcoming for VWoA but that's another argument entirely.
For brand new, in my opinion, it would be the Toyota 4Runner.
Still body on frame, reliable 4.0 V6, and still lots of off-road capability.
Still body on frame, reliable 4.0 V6, and still lots of off-road capability.
Also, an AWD CX-5?
JTK
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Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
4 wheel drive v6 good on gas reliable automatic.. Its for a 23 year old girl going to school.. Also good crash tests
Hyundai Santa Fe's are big, very safe and are one of the least expensive vehicles to insure (or at least have been). Excellent 23yr old chick car.
What a Dad.. Buying their 23yr/old a new vehicle! I could only wish to have the resources to do that for my my four.
Joel
4 wheel drive v6 good on gas reliable automatic.. Its for a 23 year old girl going to school.. Also good crash tests
Hyundai Santa Fe's are big, very safe and are one of the least expensive vehicles to insure (or at least have been). Excellent 23yr old chick car.
What a Dad.. Buying their 23yr/old a new vehicle! I could only wish to have the resources to do that for my my four.
Joel
JHZR2
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Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Who makes the best and longest lasting mid size suv for the money
So far everyone around here likes Hyundai and Kia...
Everyone? You must be joking.
IF I truly wanted an SUV, Id go for an MT mazda CX-5 or a Honda CRV, or a chevy equinox 4 cyl.
Who makes the best and longest lasting mid size suv for the money
So far everyone around here likes Hyundai and Kia...
Everyone? You must be joking.
IF I truly wanted an SUV, Id go for an MT mazda CX-5 or a Honda CRV, or a chevy equinox 4 cyl.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
4 wheel drive v6 good on gas reliable automatic.. Its for a 23 year old girl going to school.. Also good crash tests
Dont see any reason for a 23 year old to be stuck with the cost of v6 and 4wd gas mileage.
I would rather she learn to respect physics and economical driving, and get a larger, safe vehicle that gives you FWD for traction and economy.
A 4 cyl, MT accord sounds like it fits the bill well. Doubt the 23 year old girl will be doing towing and she likely doesnt understand winter driving well enough to do it safely with the "confidence" OF 4WD.
4 wheel drive v6 good on gas reliable automatic.. Its for a 23 year old girl going to school.. Also good crash tests
Dont see any reason for a 23 year old to be stuck with the cost of v6 and 4wd gas mileage.
I would rather she learn to respect physics and economical driving, and get a larger, safe vehicle that gives you FWD for traction and economy.
A 4 cyl, MT accord sounds like it fits the bill well. Doubt the 23 year old girl will be doing towing and she likely doesnt understand winter driving well enough to do it safely with the "confidence" OF 4WD.
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
4 wheel drive v6 good on gas reliable automatic.. Its for a 23 year old girl going to school.. Also good crash tests
So other than the usual "she'll cry at me if I don't give her an SUV with 4x4" is there any reason a 10 to 12 year old large Oldsmobuick with a 3800 or a 4-cylinder Accord or Camry wouldn't be a better choice? Does it have to have fancy leather seats so she has to wait 10 minutes before driving it in the summer too?
Maybe a Vovlo XC would be a good choice? They're not cheap, put it should meet all of her needs and be very safe. Really, it doesn't cost too much (for the weight) to run one if you get some skills going with gluing the front bumper fascia back on.
4 wheel drive v6 good on gas reliable automatic.. Its for a 23 year old girl going to school.. Also good crash tests
So other than the usual "she'll cry at me if I don't give her an SUV with 4x4" is there any reason a 10 to 12 year old large Oldsmobuick with a 3800 or a 4-cylinder Accord or Camry wouldn't be a better choice? Does it have to have fancy leather seats so she has to wait 10 minutes before driving it in the summer too?
Maybe a Vovlo XC would be a good choice? They're not cheap, put it should meet all of her needs and be very safe. Really, it doesn't cost too much (for the weight) to run one if you get some skills going with gluing the front bumper fascia back on.
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I guess the question is money an issue or not? I can't really see a student really caring which new SUV they end up with. Maybe find the cheapest one where a sunroof is available? 4cyl, 6 cyl, how the AWD works is pretty irrelevant. Hopefully the practicalities of tow ratings, fitting car seats, strollers and the dog are a few years away...
Buy her a 4 cylinder Ford Fusion/Chevy Malibu/Toyota Camry/Nissan Altima. All have good reliability, excellent crash scores and good fuel economy. Plus, among younger folk SUV's aren't that "cool" anymore.
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
4 wheel drive v6 good on gas reliable automatic.. Its for a 23 year old girl going to school.. Also good crash tests
I missed this post earlier. Disregard the 4Runner.
Does she really need 4 wheel drive? Is she likely to take care of the vehicle or do you just need something that can stand up to a 23 year old girl who doesn't care about her car?
4 wheel drive v6 good on gas reliable automatic.. Its for a 23 year old girl going to school.. Also good crash tests
I missed this post earlier. Disregard the 4Runner.
Does she really need 4 wheel drive? Is she likely to take care of the vehicle or do you just need something that can stand up to a 23 year old girl who doesn't care about her car?
There is one issue about getting a 4WD. How well do you know her boyfriend/significant other?
'Cause chances are fairly good he's going to take it mudding. He doesn't care about the vehicle. It's not his.
You'll get a call in the middle of the night with some contrived story about how they were "run off the road" by some maniac. You'll find the SUV 3/4s of a mile from the nearest roadway in a mud-bog.
I've seen it before. Usually it's daddy buys "little girl" a nice sporty car...lets say a BMW 335i. Dirtbag deadbeat boyfriend (and you know your daughter can do better than this beady eyed mouth breather who does work out enough to have good abs but does not seem to do anything else except use your daughter's credit card to get bad tattoos) anhialates transmission doing redline neutral drops.
'Cause chances are fairly good he's going to take it mudding. He doesn't care about the vehicle. It's not his.
You'll get a call in the middle of the night with some contrived story about how they were "run off the road" by some maniac. You'll find the SUV 3/4s of a mile from the nearest roadway in a mud-bog.
I've seen it before. Usually it's daddy buys "little girl" a nice sporty car...lets say a BMW 335i. Dirtbag deadbeat boyfriend (and you know your daughter can do better than this beady eyed mouth breather who does work out enough to have good abs but does not seem to do anything else except use your daughter's credit card to get bad tattoos) anhialates transmission doing redline neutral drops.
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My first choice would be the Honda CR-V, my family has had three of them and we have never had a problem. I think they only come with 4 cylinder engines though.
If you really want a 6 cylinder, test drive the Honda Pilot. Its reliable, comfortable and reasonably priced. She probably won't be driving more than 12k/year I'm guessing.
You can lease the Honda Pilot right now for 3 years/36k miles no money down for about $350 a month. Tough to beat.
If you really want a 6 cylinder, test drive the Honda Pilot. Its reliable, comfortable and reasonably priced. She probably won't be driving more than 12k/year I'm guessing.
You can lease the Honda Pilot right now for 3 years/36k miles no money down for about $350 a month. Tough to beat.
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