Moving up to an SUV
10-Nov-2008, 02:13 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Mississauga
Posts: 1,416
I'd go for either the Element or the CRV, but like Mike said, the CRV is more expensive for basically being the same car. I remember I used to hate the Element when it first came out, but the new ones, especially the SC with manual transmission are pretty nice.
10-Nov-2008, 02:29 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: WOODBRIDGE
Posts: 1,785
get the Hyundai santa fe with the pfaff pkg from porsche. it's absolutely beautifull from fully loaded. get it in black though. price, product, power, warranty, and a killer outside pkg, you honestly can't go wrong. before anybody gets crazy with the comments, go check one out....they've come a long way. I got quoted at $32478. sure price could have worked a bit lower if we were really going to seal the deal. This was at woodbridge pfaff hyundai. good luck either way!
10-Nov-2008, 05:10 PM
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Scarborough
Posts: 3,978
Acura prices scares me to death.
So, is the price range before or after taxes? If it is after, you may have to seriously look "down market". For $35,000 on the road, you would be looking at a vehicle that is under $30,000 before Freight, PDI, and taxes. If you are looking at $35,000 before everything then, it would be over $40 on the road.
X-Terra starts at $32,598 and that is without automatic.
CR-V starts at $29,790 for AWD.
Question, do you really need 4WD/AWD? If you live in the Toronto area, I would argue that 2WD with a good set of snow tires in Winter is actually a better bet. Why? 4WD/AWD adds more weight, complexity and cost. Does it help you accelerate in snow? Absolutely but that's really the only advantage. A heavier vehicle takes longer to stop and turn regardless if you are in dry/wet or snow conditions.
So, what are my recommendations? Based on your criteria, the X-Terra may be out of your price range. The Jeep, well, take a good look because they are actually quite small inside for what you get. so, I would say CR-V (FWD EX) is close to your price range but if you have dogs, believe it or not.... the Fit may work. In all honesty, the Element was my first choice but if the wife doesn't like it, she doesn't like it.
I have a co-worker who had big dogs and moved from a mini-van to a Fit with no problems. I know it isn't a SUV but it is better on gas... Oh, talking about gas, the CR-V would be about 50% worse than your Civic and the X-Terra would be about 100% worse or you would be spending about double on your fuel bill whereas the Fit will actually be better off.
My $0.02
X-Terra starts at $32,598 and that is without automatic.
CR-V starts at $29,790 for AWD.
Question, do you really need 4WD/AWD? If you live in the Toronto area, I would argue that 2WD with a good set of snow tires in Winter is actually a better bet. Why? 4WD/AWD adds more weight, complexity and cost. Does it help you accelerate in snow? Absolutely but that's really the only advantage. A heavier vehicle takes longer to stop and turn regardless if you are in dry/wet or snow conditions.
So, what are my recommendations? Based on your criteria, the X-Terra may be out of your price range. The Jeep, well, take a good look because they are actually quite small inside for what you get. so, I would say CR-V (FWD EX) is close to your price range but if you have dogs, believe it or not.... the Fit may work. In all honesty, the Element was my first choice but if the wife doesn't like it, she doesn't like it.
I have a co-worker who had big dogs and moved from a mini-van to a Fit with no problems. I know it isn't a SUV but it is better on gas... Oh, talking about gas, the CR-V would be about 50% worse than your Civic and the X-Terra would be about 100% worse or you would be spending about double on your fuel bill whereas the Fit will actually be better off.
My $0.02
get the Hyundai santa fe with the pfaff pkg from porsche. it's absolutely beautifull from fully loaded. get it in black though. price, product, power, warranty, and a killer outside pkg, you honestly can't go wrong. before anybody gets crazy with the comments, go check one out....they've come a long way. I got quoted at $32478. sure price could have worked a bit lower if we were really going to seal the deal. This was at woodbridge pfaff hyundai. good luck either way!
10-Nov-2008, 07:15 PM
#27
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Scarborough
Posts: 3,978
The new CRV looks really good, but according to some responses, looks like it might be out of our price range, not unless we're looking at the lower option group and a FWD instead.
10-Nov-2008, 09:25 PM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 459
sorry its the Rx330 here's a link:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/roadtest/04rx330.htm
it might be old but i see a lot of them in the highway... i guess its called the RX350 now.
there's 2 @ Don Valley North Lexus
Markham, ON
Phone: (416)798-3865
both priced @ $32,000 one with 48,000kms and the other with 57,000kms according to the search feature...
http://www.canadiandriver.com/roadtest/04rx330.htm
it might be old but i see a lot of them in the highway... i guess its called the RX350 now.
there's 2 @ Don Valley North Lexus
Markham, ON
Phone: (416)798-3865
both priced @ $32,000 one with 48,000kms and the other with 57,000kms according to the search feature...
Last edited by hula_balu; 10-Nov-2008 at 09:28 PM.
10-Nov-2008, 10:26 PM
#31
-- site donator --
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,647
Im pretty sure hes set on a new vehicle, so a used whatever is out of the question.
Let me get this straight though. She drives 10kms to work and wants a 4wd SUV for the 3 or 4 days of bad snow we get !?!?
BY Impreza wagon I mean the non turbo 4 door hatch. Loaded they are under 30 and will out handle and out drive any lower end SUV out there. Ive even looking into one for my next car.
Sport Package 5 door
http://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?We...&WebSiteID=282
Let me get this straight though. She drives 10kms to work and wants a 4wd SUV for the 3 or 4 days of bad snow we get !?!?
BY Impreza wagon I mean the non turbo 4 door hatch. Loaded they are under 30 and will out handle and out drive any lower end SUV out there. Ive even looking into one for my next car.
Sport Package 5 door
http://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?We...&WebSiteID=282
11-Nov-2008, 11:42 AM
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Mississauga
Posts: 1,416
^ I totally agree with Mike on this. I too was looking at the Impreza hatches, and I have to say that for the price, they are really nice cars. You get a little more room in them than in a sedan, but they are not as bulky as the SUVs, and you will definitely like not paying as much for gas as you would if you had an SUV.
11-Nov-2008, 03:33 PM
#34
Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 97
lol! Hyundai does not have a package from Porsche, what are you talking about? Don't confuse the Pfaff dealership network with Pfaff Porsche, that's blasephemy!
I would go for a station wagon before an SUV too. Used 5er or E-class, Impreza wagon, or the Saab 9-2X (rebadged WRX wagon).
I would go for a station wagon before an SUV too. Used 5er or E-class, Impreza wagon, or the Saab 9-2X (rebadged WRX wagon).
11-Nov-2008, 07:05 PM
#35
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Scarborough
Posts: 3,978
sorry its the Rx330 here's a link:
http://www.canadiandriver.com/roadtest/04rx330.htm
it might be old but i see a lot of them in the highway... i guess its called the RX350 now.
there's 2 @ Don Valley North Lexus
Markham, ON
Phone: (416)798-3865
both priced @ $32,000 one with 48,000kms and the other with 57,000kms according to the search feature...
http://www.canadiandriver.com/roadtest/04rx330.htm
it might be old but i see a lot of them in the highway... i guess its called the RX350 now.
there's 2 @ Don Valley North Lexus
Markham, ON
Phone: (416)798-3865
both priced @ $32,000 one with 48,000kms and the other with 57,000kms according to the search feature...
Let me get this straight though. She drives 10kms to work and wants a 4wd SUV for the 3 or 4 days of bad snow we get !?!?
BY Impreza wagon I mean the non turbo 4 door hatch. Loaded they are under 30 and will out handle and out drive any lower end SUV out there. Ive even looking into one for my next car.
Sport Package 5 door
http://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?We...&WebSiteID=282
BY Impreza wagon I mean the non turbo 4 door hatch. Loaded they are under 30 and will out handle and out drive any lower end SUV out there. Ive even looking into one for my next car.
Sport Package 5 door
http://www.subaru.ca/WebPage.aspx?We...&WebSiteID=282
^ I totally agree with Mike on this. I too was looking at the Impreza hatches, and I have to say that for the price, they are really nice cars. You get a little more room in them than in a sedan, but they are not as bulky as the SUVs, and you will definitely like not paying as much for gas as you would if you had an SUV.
Wagons are out.
11-Nov-2008, 07:34 PM
#37
-- site donator --
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,647
So it looks like a CRV or XTerra it is then. If you two really like either one, then spending the extra few $$$ to get one shouldn't matter. Its only money really and when you are talking about the difference between a vehicle that is 30gs or one that is 35gs, thats only about $100 difference in monthly payments. Besides, with the economy the way it is, getting a good deal on an SUV might not be that hard. I think Nissan is offering 0% financing on the XTerra.
11-Nov-2008, 07:40 PM
#39
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Scarborough
Posts: 3,978
Yeah, she's really leaning towards the X-Terra. In 2nd place is the Jeep Patriot, and 3rd is the CRV. I did more research on the Jeep, and it really sounds good. The fully loaded Patriot is at least 8-9 Gs less than the nicely equipped X-Terra. Choices choices lol.
1st:
2nd:
3rd:
1st:
2nd:
3rd:
Last edited by xray; 11-Nov-2008 at 07:49 PM. Reason: added pictures
11-Nov-2008, 07:57 PM
#40
-- site donator --
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,647
Have you guys driven either one? The CRV drove very nice and as I mentioned above, the XTerra was very truck like, which the wife might not like. The Jeep might be the cheapest, but I would also think that it would be the least reliable and have terrible resale down the road.
Decisions, decisions.
Decisions, decisions.
