Got the wife a new car...

[vi edit]

Lease on my Mazda5 is up. Not going to buy it out for a couple reasons. So I'm just going to take over driving her Malibu Maxx. We wanted something that could tow a little trailer if needed and was decent in the winter without being an absolute pig on gas and to park.

Found a very clean '06 Equinox. It's AWD, has leather, heated seats, XM, MP3 compatible CD player, sunroof, and GM Certified.

Has 62,000 miles and got it for right at $13,000. I'm pretty happy with it. A decent car and options for the $$.

Here's a link to the dealer pics of the car:

It's a white LT w/ the deep tint. Looks pretty sharp in person IMHO.

http://tkcarsites.homenetinc.com/BobGrimm/vehicles/G2746(2).jpg
http://tkcarsites.homenetinc.com/BobGrimm/vehicles/G2746(4).jpg
http://tkcarsites.homenetinc.com/BobGrimm/vehicles/G2746(5).jpg

 

[Dr. Detroit]

I like the Equinox - to me I think it has a roomier and better interior than the Rav4. Only issue I have with the Equinox is the giant slab of plastic called the dashboard.

The 3.4L V6 should last a good long time!

 

[vi edit]

Yeh, the interior space is very well thought out. The back seat legroom is pretty crazy. Between this and the Maxx, we have two cars that rival limo's in back seat legroom.

Very nice for when our kids in carseats and we have all that space in front of the seat to toss diaper bags, backpacks, ect.

The dash is a bit of a drag. I really wanted an '07 because it took on the newer corporate design that is much nicer looking. But I couldn't find any '07's similarly spec'd out like this one for anywhere within $3,000 of what I paid. But this one still rides very well and there isn't a rattle or squeak to be had. And we were driving in 20 degree weather. So if there were going to be any, we'd have heard them.

The Equinox get's poo-poo'd by a lot of people. But it's a comfortable, roomy, understatedly reliable car with decent gas milage for it's category.

I also have to say that I was one of the naysayers that thumbed their nose at the 3400 series under the hood. But's it's a surprisingly capable engine that is very well matched to the 5 speed AT. It really does not feel overstrained like I thought it would be. It easily feels like it has 50 more HP than it does.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Wow, very nice deal indeed. Warranty till 100K since its certified right?

My Mom has one and it's very competent.Nothing super special in any one way, but it does all its supposed to for a good price. Then again my Dad bought new like a dumbass, just so he could get 0% on BOTH of their new cars. Sheesh.

 

[vi edit]

It's 5/Year 100k from in service date. It went into service in 10/05 so I've got less than a year for that warranty. But it does have an all inclusive 12 month/12k mile B2B. Still worth $600 or so over a non certified car. I'm happy with the deal, especially given how clean the car is for the miles.

 

[LTC8K6]

The new 4 cylinder almost matches that V6's HP...

 

[fbrdphreak]

The V6 has been around since the early 90's, late 80's in some form. The newest ones of course make more power with fewer emissions and better fuel economy, but in the end its still the good ol' 3.4L OHV V6. The difference between the V6 and the I4 is that the V6 has a shitload more torque down low. Peak numbers are one thing, average torque values are another

 

[LTC8K6]

I think that's the Chinese built 3.4L LNJ V6 in that Equinox.

 

[fbrdphreak]

It is, which according to Wikipedia is just a modified version of the original 3400 series.

 

[GoatMonkey]

I still can't bring myself to call SUVs cars, even if they're built on car platforms. That's a nice truck you have there though.

 

[vi edit]

Eh. I don't get caught up in names/categories. It's a wagon as far as I'm (and the insurance company is) concerned.

I actually like the 3400 setup in this much more than the 3.3L we had in a previous Highlander. Toyota has a horrible throttle tip in that has a hesitation and then a jerky whiplash from a stop and it's power curve is sort of...rubber bandy feeling in nature as it revs up.

With this you just push the gas and it goes. No drama, just a nice linear acceleration. It's quiet and smooth. No complaints at all.

 

[zoiks]

Does using the blinker lever feel like you're breaking a chicken leg?

 

[HannibalX]

Nice car, the AWD should help with those Peoria winters.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Nice mini-van.

 

[Koing]

Congrats!

Looks very tidy and clean!

Koing