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2013-11-05 10:04 AM

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Expert
708
500100100
work, road, bike, pool
Subject: need a new Vehicle
I have been hiding out for the last 2 years getting a handle on new job (Health and PE teacher), married life and getting ready for baby #1

I have had a 99' ford explorer that has been great since 2006 (bought with 65k for $7,500, Leather etc.) and now has 175k and dents in both driver side doors. Driver side door wont open from the outside, hood and back tailgate door wont stay open on their own, and the list goes on.

My wife and parents both say that its time to get a new car/ SUV. I would prefer to have an SUV!!! moving bikes etc around, coach baseball and golf for high school teams

here is the list that I have thought of. - any good or bad stories of any of them? or any other recommendations? would like to have combined MPG Avg above 20 if possible and as always low millage and LOW price ... I know right???

Ford Explorer (low MPG)
Honda Pilot (used Pricing high)
Accura MDX (used Pricing high)
Ford Escape (feels Small)
Ford Fusion (NOT an SUV)

have ruled out biased on what i have read... Acadia, Equninox


2013-11-05 10:34 AM
in reply to: tri-dg

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Elite
3494
20001000100100100100252525
Renton, Washington
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle

It might be too small but it does have an awesome fold down seat that goes all the way down to fit bikes in: Honda Fit?  Great gas mileage, not an SUV but hear they do well in snow.  Another one is the Element, they have stopped making them however but they are fabulous cars for transporting stuff and the interior can be hosed down. 

 

These are MY next two car choices lol

 

Good luck in finding something that fits you :D

2013-11-05 10:35 AM
in reply to: tri-dg

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Alpharetta, Georgia
Bronze member
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle

Hey Drew! Welcome back and congrats on your expanding family

I don't have a lot of experience with the vehicles you listed, but what's your budget? That might help the discussion.

2013-11-05 11:24 AM
in reply to: lisac957

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Expert
708
500100100
work, road, bike, pool
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle
Thanks Lisa... its been a crazy busy time but love it!!


budget... id like to stay under the 250 a month payment so that's going to be under 15k... id love to find something around 8-12k
2013-11-05 11:34 AM
in reply to: tri-dg

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Expert
3126
2000100010025
Boise, ID
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle

 

Honda Pilot would be my choice out of what you listed. I'd get the one with the folding third row. Very nice vehicle.

2013-11-05 11:51 AM
in reply to: Aarondb4

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Expert
708
500100100
work, road, bike, pool
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle
I have been thinking pilot for a while... been having a hard time finding the one that i like thats not a million miles away... midwest people love their SUV's and think their worth gold!!!


2013-11-05 11:54 AM
in reply to: tri-dg

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Expert
708
500100100
work, road, bike, pool
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle
also love the look of the Jeep Grand Cherokee but wish it had a 3rd row. I Have also read some bad stuff about them their either a tank or a pile of junk
2013-11-05 12:20 PM
in reply to: tri-dg

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Veteran
627
50010025
Prairie Village, Kansas
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle
I'll agree about the jeep. I have an 08, and have had a lot of good luck with it. Plus it fits bikes pretty easy, although I do have a rack now. I also had a 1999, and it was a piece. Something was going wrong every 2 months. The only reason I got mine was I bought it from a family friend who had great luck with it and I believed him. So far, so good...
2013-11-05 1:16 PM
in reply to: m.a.burghart

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Champion
10471
500050001001001001002525
Dallas, TX
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle
I LOVE my Mazda 3, 5-door. Bought it in 2006 and I have done little to no maintenance on it. It is a great car. But it probably isn't a large enough car for you though.

I see that the Mazda CX-9 is 7-passenger with a 3rd row though!


2013-11-05 1:20 PM
in reply to: KSH

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Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle

My view is probably biased, but there is a reason Acura/Honda resale is high.  They are amazing vehicles.  I would go that rout.  My Acura TL just never breaks *knock on wood* and the honda civic my wife got just keeps going and going.

When we get something again, it will most likely be Acura or Honda.  We like the Acura RDX A LOT.  Midsized SUV.

2013-11-05 1:36 PM
in reply to: Kido

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Extreme Veteran
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Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle
My wife drives a Honda Pilot and I don't like it at all. If you have the back row up, there is no space to put anything. She swapped a minivan that I really liked for it because she didn't want to be a minivan mom. But the minivan is ridiculously better for anything an SUV does on the road. I have a Honda Fit and love it. With the back seat up I can fit everything I need to coach soccer and bring a few kids, and with it down I can fit a couple of bikes plus gear easily.


2013-11-05 3:18 PM
in reply to: jmcconne

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Alpharetta, Georgia
Bronze member
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle

Toyota has come up with the perfect triathlon vehicle (sorry if this has been posted before)... complete with a shower, blender and fridge (for smoothies of course) custom roof rack and bike stand.

I'll take two!

2013-11-05 7:48 PM
in reply to: jmcconne

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Master
2380
2000100100100252525
Beijing
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle

Originally posted by jmcconne My wife drives a Honda Pilot and I don't like it at all. If you have the back row up, there is no space to put anything. She swapped a minivan that I really liked for it because she didn't want to be a minivan mom. But the minivan is ridiculously better for anything an SUV does on the road.

 

Same boat here.   Wife wanted a Pilot, I wanted an Odyssey.   We got the Pilot.  Always ended up with half of the back seat folded down anytime we anywhere in order to get all our crap in there.   We DID successfully make it to Maine and back for 10 days with 3 kids, one of whom was in a car seat.   This was only because *I* did the packing.

I'm hoping that our 3 years here in Beijing with a minivan will help change her mind when we return.  She actually likes the old VW Eurovans.   We'll see. 

That said, the Pilot was quite nice.  Had it for about 50,000 miles.  Bought it with 65,000 and sold it with around 110,000.   The 3.5 V6 has a timing belt, it needs to be done at 105,000 miles.  Was a $600 job at an independent shop. (around $850 at the dealer, I think.)

The other things I fixed were:  The plastic trim on the driver's seat would catch on our shoes when we were getting out.  Eventually, it broke.  I tried several fixes over a couple of years.   Finally ,the week I sold it, I came up with a fix that worked!  Necessity is the mother of invention.   The only other thing that went wrong was the rear wiper arm broke.  $40 from the dealer and I installed it in 10 minutes.

 

2013-11-05 8:11 PM
in reply to: moondawg14

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Elite
4564
200020005002525
Boise
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle
I'll throw in a vote for a Nisaan Versa hatchback. You can get one for under $14k brand new. It has pretty good space for being such a small vehicle. It also gets 30+ MPG. I've got one car seat in it and I'm about to add a 2nd. I've taken long trips in it and it's not too bad.
2013-11-06 6:46 AM
in reply to: 0

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Resident Curmudgeon
25290
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The Road Back
Gold member
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle

Originally posted by lisac957

Toyota has come up with the perfect triathlon vehicle (sorry if this has been posted before)... complete with a shower, blender and fridge (for smoothies of course) custom roof rack and bike stand.

I'll take two!

Even without the modifications, I'd recommend the RAV4. I have a 2007, 105K miles, no work done other than routine maintenance, about 23mpg in heavy-footed mixed city-highway driving. As you can see below, I can put my bike inside easily, in the back, intact, with only the small portion of the rear seat down. Still plenty of room for additional gear and people. My son and I traveled cross-country on a week-long trip with two bikes (front wheels removed) and all our luggage and tri gear.

Current plans are to sell my 2007 to my son and buy a new one.





(RAV Bike.JPG)



Attachments
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RAV Bike.JPG (37KB - 9 downloads)
2013-11-06 9:34 AM
in reply to: tri-dg

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Regular
127
10025
Ankeny
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle
We've got an 06 Pilot and have seen every one of the 110k miles that are on it, we love it. It's great for kids, and has a third row of seats if you need to haul more people. We've hauled everything to bikes, to lumber, to weekly tailgating supplies. It's made many, many trips and we've NEVER had any issues with it. In the next few years it will need to be replaced but we're in no hurry. Love that ride!


2013-11-06 5:33 PM
in reply to: BigN321

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Master
2380
2000100100100252525
Beijing
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle

Originally posted by BigN321 We've got an 06 Pilot and have seen every one of the 110k miles that are on it, we love it. It's great for kids, and has a third row of seats if you need to haul more people. We've hauled everything to bikes, to lumber, to weekly tailgating supplies. It's made many, many trips and we've NEVER had any issues with it. In the next few years it will need to be replaced but we're in no hurry. Love that ride!

 

Timing belt!

2013-11-07 7:53 AM
in reply to: tri-dg

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Pro
5011
5000
Twin Cities
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle
Have you looked at a used highlander? Similar to the MDX...

Ours is a 2002 with 190k on it, and (knock on wood) still going strong.
2013-11-07 9:48 AM
in reply to: mmrocker13

Master
1946
100050010010010010025
Memphis, TN
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle
Used Subaru Outback or Forrester. Plenty of space and a good,safe car. I bought one for $8900 a few years ago and sold it a year later. I still regret selling that car.
2013-11-07 9:53 AM
in reply to: moondawg14

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Regular
127
10025
Ankeny
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle
Originally posted by moondawg14

Originally posted by BigN321 We've got an 06 Pilot and have seen every one of the 110k miles that are on it, we love it. It's great for kids, and has a third row of seats if you need to haul more people. We've hauled everything to bikes, to lumber, to weekly tailgating supplies. It's made many, many trips and we've NEVER had any issues with it. In the next few years it will need to be replaced but we're in no hurry. Love that ride!

 

Timing belt!




HA! Appointment for next week.
2013-11-07 10:30 AM
in reply to: 0

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Veteran
1019
1000
St. Louis
Subject: RE: need a new Vehicle

I have a Pilot and an MDX that have both gone over 100,000 miles.  Aside from scheduled maintenance, I've had absolutely no issues.  I think both of their reputations and resale values are well deserved.

The MDX seems to have a little more giddy-up in the engine and a few more bells and whistles.  With the third row up, neither one leaves you with much room for storage.  But I only have two kids so it's not an issue for me.  On the negative side, the MDX recommends premium gas and the Pilot is ok with regular.  

I don't get 20 mpg out of either one, more like 16-18.  But 95% of our driving is in the city.



Edited by kevin_trapp 2013-11-07 10:33 AM


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