- Dec 28, 2003
- 13,413
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Background: 25 years old, works in the city, 18 mile commute to work (one-way). Recently engaged, and we want kids in 3-4 years. Active lifestyle includes a lot of camping and road-trips. I live in Maryland, and we get our fair share of snow here. I need something comfortable, with 4x4 or AWD, decent amount of cargo room, automatic transmission (lots of stop and go driving), and comfortable to drive. I also like long walks on the beach, romance novels, theater, yada yada, yada. 
2008 Jeep Wrangler X
I have always wanted a Jeep Wrangler. I've always heard that they were reliable vehicles, and they've always had that "cool" appeal. They now come in 2 door and 4 door models. I test drove a 2 door model. The exterior looked great, as I've always liked the looks of the Wrangler. The interior immediately felt like a cheap econo-car. The materials were cheap and it just felt incredibly boring. I was disappointed while driving it as well. It was uncomfortable and boring at the same time. I couldn't picture myself driving it 40+ miles per day. Also, I've heard that owners have had problems with thieves ripping through the soft-top to get into the vehicle. I work in downtown Baltimore, and although I park in a secured garage, I also go out to Baltimore on the weekends a bit, and we park on the street. And there is almost no trunk space. After talking numbers with the salesman, I think I can get a 2-door automatic out of the door for $22K.
Likes: Looks have always been great in my opinion. New lifetime warranty is great. Great 4x4 ability.
Dislikes: Interior was incredibly boring. Power windows is a rare option on the 2-door model (I'm not even sure if it is an option on the 2-door model). Soft-top is a target for thieves. The ride is uncomfortable. Horrible gas millage. Completely impractical for the family man. No trunk space.
2008 Nissan Xterra X
Today, I test drove a 2008 Nissan Xterra. I like the looks of it. It looks rugged and it looks much bigger than a "small SUV" that it is classified as. It has plenty of trunk space, and a nice roof rack. Plenty of utility with this vehicle. I step in, and although there is a comfortable amount of space up front. I do not like the seats; they're this weird two-tone thing that I thought was ugly. The steering wheel was nice, and after test driving the Wrangler, this interior actually looked a lot better. It had a lot of power, boasting a v-6 engine with 261 HP, and 281 lb/ft of torque. Gas millage sucked, as expected at 14/18. I sat in the backseat, and it was surprisingly small. I'm 5'11 and I felt cramped back there. The dealer told me I could take an automatic 4x4 out of the door for $22K.
Likes: Bold, rugged looks. Fantastic power. More comfortable than the Wrangler. Lots of utility. Plenty of trunk space. Nissan reliability. Decent interior.
Dislikes: Ugly seats. Poor gas millage. Small rear seat.
2008 Honda CRV EX
After driving the Xterra, I believed that was the vehicle I would purchase. But I wanted to give the CRV a fair shot, even though it looks smaller and I knew it was underpowered at 166 HP. From the outside, it looks sleak and very nice. I first checked out the trunk space, and it was surprisingly not small at all; plenty of room, almost as much as the Xterra. So I sat inside and started her up. WOW. It was incredibly nice looking. All of the buttons and such were very easy on the eye, and it was also very comfortable. The model I test drove was the EX (without leather). It had the captain armrests and they worked well. It had a sunroof and I could immediately see myself driving it everyday through all types of traffic. This interior blew the Xterra's away; the Xterra doesn't even come close. The interior reminded me of my fiancee's Acura TSX. I drove off, and I could definetly feel that it was not as powerful as the Xterra. But it was much more smooth, and quite peppy. It actually felt like a little sports sedan, and not like a small SUV at all. Very smooth ride! After taking it onto the highway, I dove back into the lot, and parked it. I went into the back seat and it had much more room than the Xterra's back seat. Plus, the CRV's backseat can be adjusted as it mores forward and back. I talked numbers with the dealer and the EX model could be had around $23K, and the EX-L model could be had for about $25K. A little more expensive, but definetly worth it.
Likes: Smooth exterior looks. Alluring interior. Very nice materials and colors. Extremely comfortable. Decent gas millage 20/28. Honda reliability.
Dislikes: Underpowered.
I decided that I will be purchasing a 2008 CRV. I'm going to go with the EX-L trim with the leather, just because it looks and feels better. Going to probably purchase it next month.
2008 Jeep Wrangler X
I have always wanted a Jeep Wrangler. I've always heard that they were reliable vehicles, and they've always had that "cool" appeal. They now come in 2 door and 4 door models. I test drove a 2 door model. The exterior looked great, as I've always liked the looks of the Wrangler. The interior immediately felt like a cheap econo-car. The materials were cheap and it just felt incredibly boring. I was disappointed while driving it as well. It was uncomfortable and boring at the same time. I couldn't picture myself driving it 40+ miles per day. Also, I've heard that owners have had problems with thieves ripping through the soft-top to get into the vehicle. I work in downtown Baltimore, and although I park in a secured garage, I also go out to Baltimore on the weekends a bit, and we park on the street. And there is almost no trunk space. After talking numbers with the salesman, I think I can get a 2-door automatic out of the door for $22K.
Likes: Looks have always been great in my opinion. New lifetime warranty is great. Great 4x4 ability.
Dislikes: Interior was incredibly boring. Power windows is a rare option on the 2-door model (I'm not even sure if it is an option on the 2-door model). Soft-top is a target for thieves. The ride is uncomfortable. Horrible gas millage. Completely impractical for the family man. No trunk space.
2008 Nissan Xterra X
Today, I test drove a 2008 Nissan Xterra. I like the looks of it. It looks rugged and it looks much bigger than a "small SUV" that it is classified as. It has plenty of trunk space, and a nice roof rack. Plenty of utility with this vehicle. I step in, and although there is a comfortable amount of space up front. I do not like the seats; they're this weird two-tone thing that I thought was ugly. The steering wheel was nice, and after test driving the Wrangler, this interior actually looked a lot better. It had a lot of power, boasting a v-6 engine with 261 HP, and 281 lb/ft of torque. Gas millage sucked, as expected at 14/18. I sat in the backseat, and it was surprisingly small. I'm 5'11 and I felt cramped back there. The dealer told me I could take an automatic 4x4 out of the door for $22K.
Likes: Bold, rugged looks. Fantastic power. More comfortable than the Wrangler. Lots of utility. Plenty of trunk space. Nissan reliability. Decent interior.
Dislikes: Ugly seats. Poor gas millage. Small rear seat.
2008 Honda CRV EX
After driving the Xterra, I believed that was the vehicle I would purchase. But I wanted to give the CRV a fair shot, even though it looks smaller and I knew it was underpowered at 166 HP. From the outside, it looks sleak and very nice. I first checked out the trunk space, and it was surprisingly not small at all; plenty of room, almost as much as the Xterra. So I sat inside and started her up. WOW. It was incredibly nice looking. All of the buttons and such were very easy on the eye, and it was also very comfortable. The model I test drove was the EX (without leather). It had the captain armrests and they worked well. It had a sunroof and I could immediately see myself driving it everyday through all types of traffic. This interior blew the Xterra's away; the Xterra doesn't even come close. The interior reminded me of my fiancee's Acura TSX. I drove off, and I could definetly feel that it was not as powerful as the Xterra. But it was much more smooth, and quite peppy. It actually felt like a little sports sedan, and not like a small SUV at all. Very smooth ride! After taking it onto the highway, I dove back into the lot, and parked it. I went into the back seat and it had much more room than the Xterra's back seat. Plus, the CRV's backseat can be adjusted as it mores forward and back. I talked numbers with the dealer and the EX model could be had around $23K, and the EX-L model could be had for about $25K. A little more expensive, but definetly worth it.
Likes: Smooth exterior looks. Alluring interior. Very nice materials and colors. Extremely comfortable. Decent gas millage 20/28. Honda reliability.
Dislikes: Underpowered.
I decided that I will be purchasing a 2008 CRV. I'm going to go with the EX-L trim with the leather, just because it looks and feels better. Going to probably purchase it next month.