Need reomendations - crossover - decent MPG under 10k?

[ViviTheMage]

Sooo, got my new car, love it.

GF needs a new one. stick or auto, she can do both. We kind of like the escape hybrid, crv, tiguan.

Something we can use to go camping, take the dog, in the mud/snow/etc.

Is there something we are overlooking?

Question on the hybrid, how often are the batteries replaced, and how much do they generally run?

 

[vshah]

what, you can't fit a tent, 2 sleeping bags, and a dog in the 135? :awe:
add the subaru forester to your list.

 

[ViviTheMage]

what, you can't fit a tent, 2 sleeping bags, and a dog in the 135? :awe:
add the subaru forester to your list.

The husky sheds too much

the older foresters are too wagony, definitely no wagons. She has a 99.5 golf, but it's rusting out a bit, so we want to move up a little.

 

[Insomniator]

Too wagony? The forester is probably more capable for those needs than any of the options you mentioned.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Too wagony? The forester is probably more capable for those needs than any of the options you mentioned.

It is the one thing she does not want, a wagon...and a rav4.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Too wagony? The forester is probably more capable for those needs than any of the options you mentioned.

Its also butt ugly.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Its also butt ugly.

pretty much

 

[Dr. Detroit]

10K is a tough budget-

Saturn Vue (Bonus points for the V6, its the 3.5L Honda motor)
Ford Freestyle
Chrysler Pacifica
Escape/Mariner
Older CRV, Rav4 (They really hold their values well)

 

[Insomniator]

I'll never understand Americans' hatred of wagons. It is the superior vehicle type, and to say they are ugly and then mention a crv or escape..........

 

[Sidekicknichola]

CRV or Rav4

 

[Kelvrick]

I'll never understand Americans' hatred of wagons. It is the superior vehicle type, and to say they are ugly and then mention a crv or escape..........

I don't either. It really makes no sense. I love my wagon. I will say that I can see how the forester could be considered ugly. I think its just plain. Somehow people are buying monstrosities like the juke and various box cars though.

EDIT: Now to actually help the OP... I actually kinda like the tiguan. I don't know much about it though and at 10k, I'm assuming the typical VW maintenance costs.

Hmm, capable and you don't want the forester or the outback, probably the two most capable cars in that price range with ground clearance, low end torque of a boxer engine and an awesome AWD system (especially in manual since they're usually 50/50).

10k, Hmmm.... How about a nissan xterra?

 

[ViviTheMage]

It does make sense coming from a girl ... but I too dislike the old style forrester's...jetta wagons, AUDI SPORT QUATTRO, etc, just doesn't look right. I put them in minivan territory.

That is MY opinion though, I know a lot of people love them.

How are the hybrid batteries in the Escape? Costly to replace? Do they have a replacement cycle? I have a friend who works at a Ford dealer, so I might swing a decent price.

 

[cr2250]

protege5

but i'm biased because I own one

 

[jlee]

I don't like the first-gen Foresters, but the second-gens aren't so bad. And they're not slow, which outweighs any cosmetic issue they may have.