Time for a new family vehicle

[CrimsonWolf]

When I bought a small SUV a few months ago it came down to the Chevy Equinox or the Toyota RAV4.

The Equinox has the nicer interior of the two, and overall feels nicer. But it's no speed demon. They definitely put the emphasis on gas mileage. Even the V6 felt sluggish, so IMHO don't bother with the V6 if you go with the Equinox. I think it takes a pretty big gas mileage hit too.

The V6 powertrain is what sold me on the RAV4 (never thought the powertrain would sell me on a Toyota 😵). It's very quick for a small SUV and gas mileage is almost as good as the 4-banger, plus everything else about it was nice enough that there weren't any deal breakers. It can tow 3,500 lbs with the tow prep package, which I think every V6 RAV on the lot had.

Think about giving them both a test drive. If you are good with the four cylinder in the Equinox, I'd go with that one. If you want more oomph, go with the V6 RAV4. That's my two-cents as far as those two go.

I also looked into the Kia Sorento. It looks like a great redesign but it's brand new for the 2011 model year. Buying in the first model year of a new generation has me a bit shy. Not a dig at Kia, but just generally speaking. Might just be my paranoia though. Hyundai/Kia have stepped it up so I wouldn't worry about those.

 

[Sinanju]

This statement alone means you do not know jack about cars or any other sort of automobile. Please GTFO, thanks.

well other than the vette, or the cruze being decent. what would someone recommend that completely blows away all other imports in the same class? (the cruze doesn't even come close though)

hard plastics,
underpowered engines,
shit-tastic interiors,
horrible past reliability,
low resale value,
sub-100k mile problem,
$40k+

vehicles need not apply.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Look at the big 3 for trucks. You can get a crew cab for $25-$30K that gets close to 20 mpg highway. Probably 18 or 19 mpg highway, but it is not that bad. I think Ford is the one I saw today that offers a small engine in a crew cab model for about $26K.

Your best option might be to buy an older truck for like $7K and spend $23K or so on another vehicle.

I'm on a similar path. Have a van and a truck. next purchase will be a small efficient car and I'll keep the truck for when I need it.

EDIT:
Ford XLT super crew w/5.5 foot bed and 3.7L V6 is $32K. The 6.5 foot bed requires the 5.0L V8.
You could get an extended cab w/ 3.7L V6 w/6.5 foot bed for $30K. XLT trim of course.
If you get a lower trim level you could spend a heck of a lot less.

 

[Zivic]

This statement alone means you do not know jack about cars or any other sort of automobile. Please GTFO, thanks.

well thanks for your elaborate insight into how great the vehicles are that GM produces. At least I listed reason I wouldn't buy one AND I gave alternatives to consider.....


You must own a shop and know the ins and outs of every vehicle on the road. You must be Marlin's business partner

edit:

I see you live in eagan.... head out to some Z get togethers this yr (assuming you actually still have your '09 Z listed in your sig). I'll take you for a spin in my boosted Z and maybe then you 'might' realize I am not a complete idiot when it comes to cars. Not saying I know everything, but I am decently versed in at least a couple different applications.

 

[kornphlake]

GM doesn't make a good vehicle

My 15 yr old Saturn with 200k miles disagrees, my 10 yr old Astro with 100k miles disagrees as well. Have they needed maintenance? Yes. Have they needed repairs? Yes. Has it been more than average? No, the GM vehicles I've owned have had average or better reliability. The Toyotas I have owned have been more problematic than the GM vehicles I've owned.

I wouldn't say anybody should only consider GM, but I wouldn't automatically say nobody should ever buy one either. GM has made and continues to make some bad models, they've gotten things right on a few models here and there as well. Who cares who the corporate investor is rather it's the US Gov't or the Gov't of Elbonia? If the vehicle is a good vehicle then it doesn't really matter.

 

[Elfear]

well other than the vette, or the cruze being decent. what would someone recommend that completely blows away all other imports in the same class? (the cruze doesn't even come close though)

hard plastics,
underpowered engines,
shit-tastic interiors,
horrible past reliability,
low resale value,
sub-100k mile problem,
$40k+

vehicles need not apply.

CTS
CTS-V
G8 (RIP)
Vette

To name a few. I'm sure there are others but those are the classes I pay attention to.

In regards to reliability, looks like GM is doing pretty well. :hmm:

 

[Sinanju]

My 15 yr old Saturn with 200k miles disagrees, my 10 yr old Astro with 100k miles disagrees as well. Have they needed maintenance? Yes. Have they needed repairs? Yes. Has it been more than average? No, the GM vehicles I've owned have had average or better reliability. The Toyotas I have owned have been more problematic than the GM vehicles I've owned.

I wouldn't say anybody should only consider GM, but I wouldn't automatically say nobody should ever buy one either. GM has made and continues to make some bad models, they've gotten things right on a few models here and there as well. Who cares who the corporate investor is rather it's the US Gov't or the Gov't of Elbonia? If the vehicle is a good vehicle then it doesn't really matter.

but have you had to replace the engines or trannys on your imports?

 

[Sinanju]

CTS
CTS-V
G8 (RIP)
Vette

To name a few. I'm sure there are others but those are the classes I pay attention to.

In regards to reliability, looks like GM is doing pretty well. :hmm:

while those are nice they dont make it past most of the restrictions.

the CTS/V(while very nice don't get me wrong) gets destroyed by ANY german lux car for the same amount of money when factoring in the complete package of german cars sorry.

the G8 doesn't even come close to blowing away its import competitors. The death of pontiac only solidifies this statement. Pontiac had only one amazing car.. the Firebird

the vette is awesome as well and beats most of their competitors (not all). But for the price the interior is trash rivaling that of a mid range honda.

in all honesty i wish dodge & jeep could step their game up like ford has. i used to hate ford with a passion but there is no denying the major improvements they have made.

Chevy needs work too and needs to stop using the vette ( or HUURRR DURR MAX POWER sport cars in general) as their crutch.

 

[DivideBYZero]

while those are nice they dont make it past most of the restrictions.

the CTS/V(while very nice don't get me wrong) gets destroyed by ANY german lux car for the same amount of money when factoring in the complete package of german cars sorry.

the G8 doesn't even come close to blowing away its import competitors. The death of pontiac only solidifies this statement. Pontiac had only one amazing car.. the Firebird

the vette is awesome as well and beats most of their competitors (not all). But for the price the interior is trash rivaling that of a mid range honda.

in all honesty i wish dodge & jeep could step their game up like ford has. i used to hate ford with a passion but there is no denying the major improvements they have made.

Chevy needs work too and needs to stop using the vette ( or HUURRR DURR MAX POWER sport cars in general) as their crutch.

While it's fun watching this constant flaming, how does it help the OP?

 

[Zivic]

While it's fun watching this constant flaming, how does it help the OP?

easy, he is being advised against buying a GM product.

 

[DivideBYZero]

easy, he is being advised against buying a GM product.

Easy? You should take your own salient advice as all I see is you posting agressively, challenging other posters as to their Automotive credentials and wandering off into politics.

If your advice is to steer clear of GM, post this and why, without the P&N style arguing and partisan hackery.

 

[Zivic]

Easy? You should take your own salient advice as all I see is you posting agressively, challenging other posters as to their Automotive credentials and wandering off into politics.

If your advice is to steer clear of GM, post this and why, without the P&N style arguing and partisan hackery.

It's 'easy' what it means for the OP...... obviously you read into things

I did post why and I did post alternatives.

 

[kornphlake]

but have you had to replace the engines or trannys on your imports?

Who said I had to replace the engine or tranny in my GMs? I haven't had to replace an engine or transmission in any vehicle I've owned import or domestic. I've never sold a vehicle that I expected would need the engine or transmission replaced either. That's probably because I've never owned a Ford Windstar or V6 Accord.

I don't love or hate any one brand, I have my opinion on certain models but it's not going to make me say everything x company makes is garbage.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Looked at the Chevy Equinox with the LTZ package - very nice vehicle, but the sticker was $32k! Dropping down to the LT2 package and adding some options make is a bit more reasonable, but not ideal. Gonna look at the Kia Sorento and Nissan Rogue next. That should drop the price (and possible the quality/options.)

 

[gorcorps]

Looked at the Chevy Equinox with the LTZ package - very nice vehicle, but the sticker was $32k! Dropping down to the LT2 package and adding some options make is a bit more reasonable, but not ideal. Gonna look at the Kia Sorento and Nissan Rogue next. That should drop the price (and possible the quality/options.)

If you have any questions with the Rogue you can ask me. I bought the top end SL trim 2011 model a month or so ago. I'm actually planning on making a fairly picture heavy review soon.

 

[SearchMaster]

The Rogue is an excellent choice for that price point, but his last post was almost a month ago. Did you end up buying anything OP?

 

[cKGunslinger]

If you have any questions with the Rogue you can ask me. I bought the top end SL trim 2011 model a month or so ago. I'm actually planning on making a fairly picture heavy review soon.

I'll be interested in that.

The Rogue is an excellent choice for that price point, but his last post was almost a month ago. Did you end up buying anything OP?

Purchase date is planned for mid/late-May. We've had some.. issues.. in our household, so the budget may shrink a little for this purchase - not sure yet.


Rogue seems to be a bit more expensive that I initially thought. The 2011 Kia Sportage actually looks much nicer that previous versions. Well equipped at $24K. Hmm..

 

[alexruiz]

GM doesn't make a good vehicle

FALSE.
Just some examples:

Cadillac CTS
Buick Regal (Opel Insignia)
Buick Lacrosse
Chevrolet Equinox
Lambda crossovers (Traverse/Acadia/enclave)
Chevrolet Cruze (and all the "global Deltas" such as the Opel Astra)
Chevrolet Volt (the only electric car that can still run after the battery is out)
oh, and obviously the corvette and the pickups

^^ besides that, the bailout gives me just one more legitimate reason not to buy one

Read the financial section of the newspapers and then analyze the information
It was a loan!!! Have you complained about the banks that got >10x more money in TRUE bailouts?

 

[cKGunslinger]

Purchase date is planned for mid/late-May. We've had some.. issues.. in our household, so the budget may shrink a little for this purchase - not sure yet.

Rogue seems to be a bit more expensive that I initially thought. The 2011 Kia Sportage actually looks much nicer that previous versions. Well equipped at $24K. Hmm..

OK - getting closer to purchase time and now I'm getting skiddish of dropping $25K+ on a new vehicle. I'm now looking at slightly used (2009-2011) models that are coming in at or under $20K.

Examples:

• 2009 Mazda 5 - $16,000
• 2011 Kia Sportage - $19,000
• 2010 Chryster 300 - $20,000 ( 🙂 )

.

 

[Sid59]

OK - getting closer to purchase time and now I'm getting skiddish of dropping $25K+ on a new vehicle. I'm now looking at slightly used (2009-2011) models that are coming in at or under $20K.

Examples:

• 2009 Mazda 5 - $16,000
• 2011 Kia Sportage - $19,000
• 2010 Chryster 300 - $20,000 ( 🙂 )

.

If you an family can spare a day to visit the Mazda and Hyundai dealership, load everyone in the cars and take them for a ride. Cruise around town, freeway on ramps and highway speed lane changed. You'll get a good feel of the car.

With everyone in the car, and compare the interior room.

IMO, the Kia is nice, better warranty, doesn't look like a minivan but it doesn't have the utilitarian functionality like the Mazda5

 

[Budmantom]

A couple other vehicles you may want to consider: Mazda MPV (we have one and love it), Pontiac G6 with the 3.5, Chevy HHR and the Nissan Quest (this would be my 1st choice) + that $500 trailer.

All the above should be very budget friendly and all will impove you mpg.

Read the financial section of the newspapers and then analyze the information
It was a loan!!! Have you complained about the banks that got >10x more money in TRUE bailouts?

BTW it wasn't a loan, it was a gift.
That's why we own GM and we will soon sell the stock at a substantial loss.

 

[power_hour]

Out of the three vehicles. The Mazda5 would be my choice.

If you want to go cheap but need more space than the Mazda3, have you considered a station wagon type car?

Hyundai Elantra Touring is super cheap. The trunk and rear seat space is much bigger than your 3. They are really dirt cheap to finance from Hyundai new and you get a long warranty. Going used with save you $$$ as the resale values are kinda low. Watch for rentals.

VW Golf Wagon is another nice but more expensive choice. I think they offered this in a diesel?

Anyway, like I said the 5 is a nice vehicle and I don't think you can go wrong with that choice. Just wanted to give you another perspective.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Test Drove a Mazda5 Touring today. Decent car that drives well enough. Seat and interior seem a bit.. cheap, but not excessively so. There are really not many convenience options that you can add - no rearview camera, etc. A guess this is reflected in the price. (MSRP was $22.5K for this model.)

Dealership is awesome (same place I got my 3 from.) I didn't think this was a huge deal until I went to the Kia/Hyundai places and was brushed off after finally seeking out a sales rep and had cars pointed out to me in the distance. ("There's one if you want to look at that model.")

Mazda5 is top choice for now (buying next weekend,) with a Chevy Equinox in second place, followed by Kia Sorento (from a different dealership!) Wife won't consider RAV4 or Sportage. I'll also be keeping an eye out for slightly used version of these vehicles.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Update: Purchased a Kia Sorento EX

My well-networked wife ended up complaining about the salesman at the Kia dealership to enough people, that the GM of the dealership got back to us and promised to get us in the vehicle we wanted for the price we wanted. I was still hesitant and my wife and I ended up arguing about vehicles for days.

Then yesterday Kia called and asked us to come in, so we finally did. We looked at a few models, but the ones they wanted to sell us were very basic (but with V6) and ~$26K. I finally saw a 4-cylinder EX model with leather, backup camera, push-button start, ex. All the features my wife was looking for, but in a car that was Pearl White (not in out list of colors.) Long story short, MSRP was $28K, but we ended up paying $24.3K +TTL. Not too bad, IMO - and my wife loves it.

 

[Sid59]

congrats! it seemed inevitable that was the car of choice! Very few cars pull off a nice looking white, the Sorento does good looking.

How do like rear visibility?