Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Which car, or ummm... truck. I mean SUV? 1 2 3

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  Dec. 13, 2010 7:08 a.m. dsycks Reader

  My wife wants a MiniVan and while I feel the whole utility thing I am leaning a bit to SUV/Crossover. Why you ask? Easy.

  1) I sorta like AWD so I feel a bit more ok with her being out in bad weather. Its nice to have one AWD in the fleet I think. 2) Can't think of a MiniVan that will tow 5000lbs. I have access to a truck but I like the idea of being able to tow my car to track days so I don't have to worry about driving it home if something goes wrong.

  Right now I am a bit interested in the Trailblazer family but have given some consideration to others. Tahoe/Suburban is a maybe but I don't NEED quite that much room and the size makes them a bit harder to drive not to mention the MPG hit.

  As such I ask you gentle friends... what say ye? Ponder me some ideas and help me figure out what to buy next.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 7:54 a.m. miatame Reader

  I can't think of anything (non-diesel anyway) that averages more than 19-20 mpg and can tow 5,000 lbs. If you find one let me know!

  The new Jeep Grand Cherokee is quite nice (built on the ML platform), has AWD, the new 3.6L V6 is fairly powerful, can tow 5,000 lbs, but averages about 19mpg.

  The trailblazer can be sort of nice, but the interior is dated and fugly. I like my friends Trailblazer SS (LS2 powered) but it averages somewhere in the mid teens mpg.

  The new Tahoe is pretty sweet. Gorgeous interior, classy exterior, powerful standard 5.3L V8 and averages about 19mpg which is saying a lot for something that big.

  The Toyota Rav 4 V6 is very powerful and gets awesome mileage (my wife is averaging 25 mpg) but it is only rated at 3,500 lbs towing.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 8:03 a.m. tuna55 Dork

  The brand new Explorer, check the test drive up this morning at autoblog

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  Dec. 13, 2010 8:12 a.m. rl48mini New Reader

  An Astro was available with AWD (or was that 4WD?) and will tow 5000lb.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 8:14 a.m. mtn SuperDork

  SAAB 97x Aero. Trailblazer SS with the LS whatever and a swanky Swedish interior.

  there’s a lot of debate on this subject—about what kind of car handles best. Some say a front-engined car; some say a rear-engined car. I say a rented car.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 8:29 a.m. Teh E36 M3 HalfDork

  mtn wrote: SAAB 97x Aero. Trailblazer SS with the LS whatever and a swanky Swedish interior.

  Those do look pretty nice. Weird, really.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 8:29 a.m. NGTD HalfDork

  tuna55 wrote: The brand new Explorer, check the test drive up this morning at autoblog

  That is what I am going after next. 290Hp V6 - will pull 5000 lbs with the towing package.

  I saw one of the Trailblazer family this week up here in North Bay - it was an Isuzu badged version with Florida plates. I didn't know they made an Isuzu one!

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  Dec. 13, 2010 8:32 a.m. slantvaliant Dork

  80's-90's Suburbans are dirt cheap now. The price difference compared to a newish SUV buys a lot of gas ...

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  Dec. 13, 2010 8:51 a.m. Datsun1500 Dork

  NGTD wrote: I saw one of the Trailblazer family this week up here in North Bay - it was an Isuzu badged version with Florida plates. I didn't know they made an Isuzu one!

  Isuzu Ascender. Now that Isuzu is gone these have no resale value at all. You can pick one up really cheap.

  I completely missed the fact that I am now a dork and no one told me.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 10:01 a.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  slantvaliant wrote: 80's-90's Suburbans are dirt cheap now. The price difference compared to a newish SUV buys a lot of gas ...

  Word. I ended up with a similar vintage truck but with hindsight, I probably would've been better off with a Suburban. It was just a matter of what showed up first on CL...

  That said, if you're not living in flat country, a mid-nineties truck or Suburban with the 350 will feel rather underpowered. I have to go over a pass to work and while it does an OK job, it still has me wondering how GM managed to waste that much displacement on an engine this anemic. If I'd go shopping for another one I'd consider one with a big block but I shudder at the thought of the increased fuel consumption - I'm only getting about 15mpg as is...

  Sanity is vastly overrated.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 10:06 a.m. RossD Dork

  miatame wrote: I can't think of anything (non-diesel anyway) that averages more than 19-20 mpg and can tow 5,000 lbs. If you find one let me know!

  The H3 comes with AWD and can tow 4500 lbs with the 5 cylinder and automatic. My dad's knocks down 20 mpg with mostly highway miles. It can tow more with the V8 but I'm guessing the mileage will take a hit. I dont know his mileage when he's towing, however.

  The previous statements are not endorsed by Grassroots Motorsports or their sponsors.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 10:08 a.m. RoosterSauce Reader

  I have to agree with the Saablazer.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 10:17 a.m. dinger New Reader

  V6 Toyota 4Runner. Right around 20 mpgs, tows 5000 pounds, and is from the era when Toyota didn't suck. Still body on frame design with a solid rear axle and real 4WD with a proper low range.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 10:20 a.m. WilberM3 HalfDork

  there are days ive wondered how similar a 5.3L powered trailblazer/rainier/ascender/9-7x/bravada/envoy variant would be to my SS (mostly when i fill up) as theyre often 4wd rather than awd and still have lots of grunt in what i'd call a rather nice driving midsize with a proper drivetrain and frame for towing small/medium stuff.

  Dave

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  Dec. 13, 2010 10:27 a.m. mndsm Dork

  dinger wrote: V6 Toyota 4Runner. Right around 20 mpgs, tows 5000 pounds, and is from the era when Toyota didn't suck. Still body on frame design with a solid rear axle and real 4WD with a proper low range.

  HUGE cash for what you get though.

  Go fast or go broke.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 10:48 a.m. triumph5 Dork

  Just a thought here, while it's nice to own a vehcile that can do all, I'm thinking buy something AWD, gets better mileage that you've been accepting in the compromise, and then rent (horrors) a truck for when you need to tow the race car.

  It'a a cost/how often do you use it thing. If you're towing the race car/other autos or need to tow often, then, it makes sense. But, if you're towing only a couple of times a years, say even 5-9times during the summer, how much $$ would you spend over the course of the year just to do that compared to having a more fuel efficent vehicle for the other 95% of the year it's used.

  I've been wondering about this recently. A trailer I can see buying, buy why should I settle for 18-20mpg year round when I'm only going to need that capability 5-7 times a summer.? Haven't crunched the numbers, but a couple of "almost" projects have come up, as did this topic..

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  Dec. 13, 2010 10:58 a.m. DWNSHFT Reader

  1999 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 with a V6 and manual. Gets just over 21 MPG in daily driving yet can tow 5,000 pounds.

  David

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  Dec. 13, 2010 11:07 a.m. Autolex HalfDork

  xterra/pathfinder with the 4.0 (pathfinder now comes with the titan's 5.6L as an option) gets over 20mpg highway (I usually get 23 highway) and will tow 6000lbs with the factory/aftermarket valley hitch.

  edit: so will the frontier and the (cheaper) suzuki equator that is a rebadged frontier.

  "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. 13, 2010 11:14 a.m. dsycks Reader

  Saablazer huh... The wife likes quirky.

  Isuzu version? Interesting... I like it.

  New Tahoe getting almost 20mpg... Considered it and it is impressive.

  Toyota... She don't like em.

  New Jeep, Ford, Insert other new truck name... They are new. Want circa 2000-2005 ish for the right combo of wife acceptance and low price.

  Old school Subdubburbanosity or the like... See above. Not really in the sweet spot of lush features vs price but a good thought.

  "something AWD, gets better mileage that you've been accepting in the compromise"... Ok, I'll bite. Ideas? CRV and the like are a we bit smaller and the wife wants something with a bit more space and I don't really gain SO many MPG that giving up the capability of the slightly larger truck seems a given.

  I should also say that we have two Foresters with one going to my mom and another to Craigslist as she just wants something bigger.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 11:17 a.m. dsycks Reader

  Added info... I'm hoping to stay in the $6000-$10,000 area and she HAS expressed interest in a Envoy XL she checked out on a used lot.

  Given the above and the price range anyone think I am way off base or have any other very cool thoughts?

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  Dec. 13, 2010 11:46 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

  If going Trailblazer/Envoy, the Saab is the most interesting to me. This is ofcourse if they have taken the big depreciation hit that I hope they have. All GM mechanicals just some unique bodywork and interior trim.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 12:05 p.m. Klayfish Reader

  triumph5 wrote: Just a thought here, while it's nice to own a vehcile that can do all, I'm thinking buy something AWD, gets better mileage that you've been accepting in the compromise, and then rent (horrors) a truck for when you need to tow the race car. It'a a cost/how often do you use it thing. If you're towing the race car/other autos or need to tow often, then, it makes sense. But, if you're towing only a couple of times a years, say even 5-9times during the summer, how much $$ would you spend over the course of the year just to do that compared to having a more fuel efficent vehicle for the other 95% of the year it's used. I've been wondering about this recently. A trailer I can see buying, buy why should I settle for 18-20mpg year round when I'm only going to need that capability 5-7 times a summer.? Haven't crunched the numbers, but a couple of "almost" projects have come up, as did this topic..

  Excellent points here. Just one thing to add though. I went through this process myself, and did some research. At least in my neck of the woods, finding a vehicle that you can rent which is capable of towing is hard to do and expensive. Enterprise, etc...have very limited fleets of vehicles such as this, and they are quite costly.
  

  In the beginning of your post, you mentioned minivan. If you do decide to forgo the 5000lb tow requirement, and you have the use for a minivan versitility, don't overlook them. They're FWD, so snow traction is good. I drove ours through a few pretty decent snow storms with no troubles. That was on all season tires. It'd be even better with snow shoes on. I'd only hesitate in a huge blizzard, but for the other 95% of storms, no problem. Great at hauling people and stuff, handle more like a car than truck.
  

  If you do insist on SUV, what about the Pathfinder?

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  Dec. 13, 2010 12:06 p.m. Ian F Dork

  triumph5 wrote: It'a a cost/how often do you use it thing. If you're towing the race car/other autos or need to tow often, then, it makes sense. But, if you're towing only a couple of times a years, say even 5-9times during the summer, how much $$ would you spend over the course of the year just to do that compared to having a more fuel efficent vehicle for the other 95% of the year it's used.

  I've given up using logic like this. Once somebody decides they 'need' an SUV, there is no arguement on earth that will persuade them otherwise...

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  Dec. 13, 2010 12:16 p.m. dsycks Reader

  I don't NEED an SUV. I am however a victim of too many things parked in the yard and having a multitasker seems more appealing than 2 unitaskers.

  With that said I am not fully anti Minivan, there are even a few AWD ones including the forum darling, the Astro which CAN tow.

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  Dec. 13, 2010 1:01 p.m. Stealthtercel Reader

  I drove a 9-7X for six months earlier this year. It felt a lot smaller inside than I expected from the size it was outside. Having said that, it was a solid and powerful enough ride (this one had the 6, so I'm sure a V8 would be heaps o'fun.)

  About that quirky SAAB interior: look out for the ignition switch, which is mounted SAAB-correctly in the console. Ergonomically excellent, but maybe just a little rushed through engineering: it occasionally refused to release the key until you beat it up and/or slammed the gear lever around. There was, as far as I could tell, not pattern to the frequency/duration of this issue. I believe my sister (the original lessee) had it back to the dealer a couple of times for this, but it wasn't cured.

  FWIW, she now has an EX35 and can't get over how little gas she's using (and she is NOT a light-right-foot girl.)

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