Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » What small SUV? 1 2

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  Dec. 30, 2009 9:21 a.m. 96DXCivic HalfDork

  My girlfriend and I got rear-ended at a stop light yesterday and I am pretty sure her '04 Saturn Vue V6 will be totaled. She wants another small SUV along the lines of a Vue. I was thinking a Forrester would be a good choice. What do y'all think?

  Edit The only money she will have is from what she gets from the insurance company.

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  Dec. 30, 2009 9:26 a.m. neon4891 SuperDork

  Forester. Or another Vue if she really liked it. If off-road ability is an issue, IIRC Suzukis are the most capable in the class.

  I think the thing to look at is what is important to her in a car. Does she just want the image? Is she looking for cargo space? How important is 4x4 or AWD?

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  Dec. 30, 2009 9:35 a.m. triumph7 Reader

  I'll vote for the Honda Element... most useful vehicle ever made, they thought of almost everything.

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  Dec. 30, 2009 9:53 a.m. 96DXCivic HalfDork

  She only wants lots of cargo space and reliablity but good gas mileage and image wouldn't hurt. Both the Forester and Element are a little more then the Vue according to the KBB so I am wondering if she will have the money for them. I wasn't that impressed with the gas mileage of the Vue. How do the Forester and Element compare?

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  Dec. 30, 2009 9:58 a.m. neon4891 SuperDork

  For cargo space is a smaller package and decent milage, the Rondo is worth a look.

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  Dec. 30, 2009 10:02 a.m. There are those who call me...Ross. HalfDork

  Do people say anything bad about the Ford Escape? If you get it with a 4 cylinder, front wheel drive and a 5 speed, you can get around 30 mpg on the highway (At least thats what my boss says he gets with his, but I've never seen him above 2000 rpms either )

  Calling all cars!

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  Dec. 30, 2009 10:10 a.m. jrw1621 Dork

  Compare mpg for any vehicle sold in the US since 1985 at www.fueleconomy.gov

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  Dec. 30, 2009 10:14 a.m. 96DXCivic HalfDork

  I don't think that the Escape is any better then the Vue and since she knows and likes the Vue I feel like that is a better choice then the Escape.

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  Dec. 30, 2009 10:14 a.m. nocones Reader

  Pontiac Vibe? She would likely put ~1500-2K in her pocket and they are available with AWD if necessary. Tons of storage space and great gas mileage (33+). Not and SUV but sits higher than most standard cars and is large.

  Daniel

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  Dec. 30, 2009 11:47 a.m. plance1 HalfDork

  kia? hyundai?

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  Dec. 30, 2009 11:51 a.m. Bobzilla HalfDork

  Rondo or Elantra Touring. If not, Kia Sportage/Hyundai Tucson.

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  Dec. 30, 2009 11:55 a.m. Tommy Suddard SonDork

  If she doesn't need 4wd, why not a minivan? Great driving, more cargo space, and more mileage.

  'cause we're aliens, and thats how we roll.

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  Dec. 30, 2009 11:56 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

  I really like the Ford Escape, the VW Tiguan is pretty neat but maintenance scares me after the 30K mile mark. The NEW Equinox/Vue is awesome as well.

  Internationally known as The Brown Stig

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  Dec. 30, 2009 12:02 p.m. Josh Dork

  For your stated needs, a Mazda5 sure fits the bill.

  Formerly known as SoloSE-R, now with less SR20DE

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  Dec. 30, 2009 12:17 p.m. ignorant SuperDork

  Get a left over Saturn Vue. GM has started the fire sale.

  walterj said "I would have everything from the knee down replaced with peg if I were in your shoes."

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  Dec. 30, 2009 12:31 p.m. Autolex HalfDork

  I <3 Elements...

  "Black bear poop is smaller and contains lots of berries and small animal fur. Grizzly Bear poop has bells in it and smells like pepper spray."

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  Dec. 30, 2009 1:01 p.m. Strizzo SuperDork

  In reply to John Brown:

  Borrowed the grandparents awd exuinox to pick up pizza after the restaurant closed on us during the snow last week in dfw. I hadlow expectations but it suprised me, no stability control bs to get around, and when the fronts spun it would lock up and send half the power to the rears, making for easy enough hoonage turning corners where everyone wasn't driving 10mph in a big clusterberkely.

  This appeared to be a base model awd tho, so watch out in case they were available with nondefeatable stabilitrac.

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  Dec. 30, 2009 1:12 p.m. integraguy HalfDork

  While you can (probably) pick up another Vue for next to nothing, keep in mind that if she is prone to accidents, totalling another Vue will result in next to nothing from insurance co.

  I haven't driven one (yet), but my vote would be for the Escape. You sit up high, have a decent amount of space for load carrying, and if you look at Edmunds they don't have a lot of serious issues reliability-wise. My other choice would be a CR-V, but they are expensive and the 2nd gen model has a bad rep for "exploding" a/c systems.

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  Dec. 30, 2009 1:30 p.m. DrBoost Dork

  96DXCivic wrote: Both the Forester and Element are a little more then the Vue according to the KBB

  That speaks volumes my friend. Both the Subie and Honda are much more sought after, because they will work after a few years. I'll tell you this. I have 2 friends with Saturns, (Ions, both of them) and I do the repairs/maintenance for them. I credit Saturns crappy build quality for me not having to foreclose on my house even though I've been out of work for the better part of 16 months.
  My Forester just asks for gas and oil (gas to the tune of about 23 mpg mixed).

  You know you are deep in boost territory when you get tire pressures and boost pressures confused

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  Dec. 30, 2009 1:43 p.m. Buzz Killington Reader

  she might also check out a CX-7. ours has been a great car for the past three years and drives and feels 1000% better than the '07 Pontiac Torrent (Equinox) my parents have. i'd recommend it in a second.

  44CS - www.GreyhoundAngelsAdoption.com

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  Dec. 30, 2009 2:38 p.m. billy3esq Dork

  ^ that, or a CR-V. I really love my sister's.

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  Dec. 30, 2009 4:53 p.m. racerdave600 Reader

  My wife has a CR-V. Didn't think I'd like it, but now I absolutely love it. Drives great for a SUV, gets good mpg, and never, ever a problem. We drove a lot of SUVs before we got this one, and for the money, it was by far the best of the lot hands down.

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  Dec. 30, 2009 7:19 p.m. triumph7 Reader

  Dave, the CRV and Element are mechanically the same just a different body.

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  Dec. 30, 2009 7:23 p.m. ansonivan Reader

  Shouldn't the question be: "Which small SUV?"

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  Dec. 30, 2009 7:52 p.m. irish44j Reader

  the question should be "why an SUV?"

  If she doesn't need big cargo space, why not a Mazda3 wagon or Impreza wagon....not much less space than a small SUV, better handling and mileage, etc..Or Mazda5 for that matter....

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