| Author | Message | ||
     AZ Citizen Username: Azaltsman Post Number: 193 Registered: 1-2003 |
Ok, so after all my years of hatred of SUVs I may be caving in and am contemplating getting one for the snowy hills here in Maplewood. I didn't do well with my rear wheel drive car the one winter day that I lived in Maplewood and the thought of being stranded on one of the hills on So. Orange Ave is not very appealing. So, I'd like some feedback on three SUVs we looked at: Land Rover Freelander Jeep Grand Cherokee BMW X5 I'd like to hear feedback on the Jeep. The X5 is probably not going to happen since it is the most expensive one. I haven't bought an American car in about 10 years. I know Jeep/Chrysler had a lot of reliablity problems in the past. It seems like the most reasonable car, especially now that they are offering 0% financing. Land Rover is nice but a little small. Any feedback would be appreciated. | ||
| Dave Ross Supporter Username: Dave Post Number: 5224 Registered: 5-2001  |
There are plenty of reliable front-wheel drive vehicles that will be better and safer than an SUV kow-tow to Big Oil. Subarus are nice. My Acura has never faltered on a snowy hill nor, for that matter, has it tipped over a safety barrier on a highway, like SUVs do. If you value safety, frugality and apple pie avoid the loathsome SUV. | ||
| ml1 Citizen Username: Ml1 Post Number: 1273 Registered: 5-2002  |
every car I've owned since '87 has been front wheel drive. They all have done very well in NJ snow. I'm with Dave -- check out any front wheel drive car before joining the rest of the masses in a Jeep. | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 49 Registered: 9-2003 |
Excuse me people... AZ didn't ask if he SHOULD buy an SUV - he asked for feedback from those people who own them. Not exactly an SUV, but my Jeep Liberty is great in snow - uphill and down. It's roomier than you might imagine, check them out. | ||
| sportsnut Citizen Username: Sportsnut Post Number: 550 Registered: 10-2001 |
Amazing! Someone comes on here for advice and gets two lectures on the "ills" of owning an SUV. You're brave asking that question on here. Didn't you know that the Subaru outback is to maplewood as the BMW was to a yuppie. Any way since you asked for advice (and not lectures on how inconsiderate/egotistical/selfish you will be for purchasing an SUV) here goes: 1) Ignore the two previous posts and be prepared for more of the same from the usual suspects 2) Contrary to popular (read: maplewood) belief SUVs don't just suddenly tip over, or burst into flames. Drive it like a human being and you'll be fine. 3) I entered the SUV crowd this year and after looking around purchased a Pathfinder. We considered the Jeep, 4 Runner and the Lexus. My brother has a Jeep and had us worried about transmission problems. His slips and it has been fixed once already. A good friend at work has a brand new Jeep Grand Cherokee and absolutely loves it (now on his third one). Also, consider that if you buy the V8 you're going to be spending quite a bit of time at the pumps. The 4 Runner was nice as was the lexus, but in the end we were looking for a third vehicle and couldn't justify spending the extra $$$. The pathfinder, with a new larger engine (I believe it is similar to the Maxima engine) got rave reviews and decent gas mileage (as SUVs go). Also, since Nissan was introducing a larger Pathfinder, the mid-size ones were being sold at a great discount. We worked out a great deal on ours. It is comfortable and fairly spacious (although IMO that is overrated in all SUVs). It is large enough to fit standard six panel doors inside and a fair amount of lumber. I don't think that you can do that in a front wheel drive car, but that's another story. My son loves it because it has a small tv for him to watch and my wife feels secure in it and that's all that really matters. The three cars prior to the one I have now were all front wheel drive. Two maximas were decent in the snow and the volvo I had was just plain bad. I just went back to another rear-wheel drive car (which I won't take out in the snow) but when I was younger and living upstate in NY all the cars I had were rear-wheel and when driven properly were decent enough in the snow. | ||
| NRL Citizen Username: Nrl Post Number: 194 Registered: 8-2003 |
If you guys can tell me that your cars can get through last years snow like my truck did I would be very suprised. Snow was 2 feet and my truck plowed through like a champ. I am proud to be an SUV owner. Its not a hummer or one of those big gas guzzlers but it provides the piece of mind in the rough conditions. Especially when I had to run out to get more gas for the snowthrower last year during one of the worst storms. AZ, The jeep is very capable but everyone has one. If your going for a landrover stay away from the freelander its a toy. Go for the discovery for a few bucks more and the added space and power. The discovery also has good traction and control on the hills of which you speak. VDC, AWD, ABS, ELC, etc. I have heard great things about the X5 but I do not have first hand experience. If you want a real truck thats is not very expensive the supercharged nissan xterra is a good buy and great in all conditions. Subarus are very good also but offer to little ground clearance in my opinion. | ||
| TomR Citizen Username: Tomr Post Number: 54 Registered: 6-2001 |
SoOrLady, Why is the Liberty not exactly an SUV? Just curious. TomR. | ||
| duncanrogers Citizen Username: Duncanrogers Post Number: 766 Registered: 12-2001  |
and not lectures on how inconsiderate/egotistical/selfish you will be for purchasing an SUV Sportsnut.. I looked pretty hard at Dave's and ml1's post and, no matter how hard I tried, I could not find any lecture containing the above words or frankly sentiments. www.freshwater-films.com | ||
| ml1 Citizen Username: Ml1 Post Number: 1274 Registered: 5-2002 |
sorry, but AZ started out by saying he hates SUVs. thought a little reassurance that there are cars that are good in snow might have been appreciated. some of you SUV owners are a little touchy. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 3420 Registered: 5-2001 |
The Liberty is an SUV. It is the only smaller one that is a real offroader with low range 4wd and a truck chassis to get you over those boulders and fording the river on the way to the train station. AZ, you three choices have very little in common as far as size, capability, and price. | ||
| newone Citizen Username: Newone Post Number: 90 Registered: 8-2001 |
AZ Personally I would look into either a Toyota (4Runner, RAV4) or Nissan (Pathfinder). I had a Jeep years ago and it fell apart on me. I've been driving 4Runners ever since (will be getting a new 4Runner this week). I looked at the Freelander a few weeks ago - a tad small for my likes and I've heard many complaints about Land Rovers and service. If you do want a LR I would check out the Discovery like NRL said. My brother has a Pathfinder and loves it. Either one handles the snow and rain very well - especially last February's storm. As an aside, I'm looking to sell my current 4Runner (coming off lease next month) - low mileage, very good condition. If you'd like more info e-mail me at: marc07041@yahoo.com | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 51 Registered: 9-2003 |
ok - my humble appologies - it's an SUV - but it's not a gas guzzler, doesn't take up more than a normal share of a parking space, and my perception was that it's very much like the "mommy van" I drove for 12 years of toting scouts, youth groups, etc., except the van didn't offer 4wd and skidded in the snow. | ||
| oots Citizen Username: Oots Post Number: 92 Registered: 6-2001 |
I have a chevy trailblazer-I love it! Fun to drive and a very smooth ride-mine seats 7 but also come in 5 seaters. It does like the gas though. Was great in the snow. oots | ||
| pmart Citizen Username: Pmart Post Number: 98 Registered: 7-2001 |
If you should decide to look at any of the smaller SUVs, I recommend not getting anything less than a 6 cylinder. I have been very happy with my CRV's performance in the snow, but am disappointed with its "pickup." Climbing hills with the a/c on is also a bit of a challenge. | ||
| OK, it's Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 566 Registered: 1-2003  |
Since AZ says he may be caving in, let me also chime in here and say that the SUV may be unnecessary. If an SUV is best for you, fine, but, as I say, it may not be. I've been driving Saabs for 12 years and been amazed at their ability to handle snow. They are made in Sweden, after all. They are reported to handle snow better than many four wheel drive vehicles, probably because of the mass and balance and perhaps other factors. How many wheels you have and how high your chassis is are not the only factors for snowability. I'm a bit of a gonzo, and I put four snow tires on my car every winter, and that puts me at a tremendous advantage over other drivers. I see them slip, and I sometimes slip if I try to. And I often go to a place where a slip would be safe and I try to slip. This is useful for learning the limits of traction and handling. It is also good practice for anti-lock brakes. If you haven't stomped on your ABS yet, you should do it before you need it! Tom Reingold | ||
| sac Citizen Username: Sac Post Number: 706 Registered: 5-2001 |
Since AZ's issue is traction in ice and snow (as opposed to rigorous off-road use), he/she might well want to consider some of the non-SUV vehicles with 4-wheel drive. All Subaru vehicles as well as some others fit that criteria. I do not have personal experience with any of them, but most Subaru owners I know are quite pleased with their vehicles. It didn't seem that the comments regarding non-SUVs above were out of line given the information that AZ had provided in the initial post. | ||
| algebra2 Citizen Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 1222 Registered: 5-2001  |
I am very happy with my Jeep. I don't have the Grand, I have the Sport which they stopped making. I was a little disappointed last time I tried to get a service appt at Chrysler Jeep of Essex (now Maplewood Jeep) so I went to Salerno Duane in Summit and they were great. I work in the city so I just dropped off my car and jumped on the train in Summit and at night took the train back to Summit. I love having a SUV. I don't quite get what the hoopla is about it, my Jeep is smaller than all of the mini vans I've seen. It's not a gas guzzler and since both my husband and I take the tain and I use it mostly around town, I rarely fill it up anyway. No, I am not touchy about it. I just don't quite get the big deal. | ||
| shoshannah Citizen Username: Shoshannah Post Number: 226 Registered: 7-2002 |
If you are looking at a Toyota, check out the Highlander, which is basically a Camry SUV. We love it. It gets 23-25 mpg and is well priced. (under $30k). It doesn't feel truckish when you drive it. | ||
| AZ Citizen Username: Azaltsman Post Number: 194 Registered: 1-2003 |
Thanks to all for the very informative posts. This is what I love about MOL! One car ago I had an Acura 3.2 TL, a front wheel drive car. I though it did pretty well in the snow but would feel comfortable with a 4 wheel/AWD type vehicle. I have seen quite a lot of Suburus in Maplewood but I think I'd rather have the height of an SUV rather then going for an AWD car. I do want a 6 cyl car because I don't want to gas guzzle away money, which is the primary reason why the Land Rover Discovery II is out. It's like 12/16 on the mileage!! That's a really nice SUV, though. | ||
| OK, it's Tom Reingold Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 568 Registered: 1-2003 |
The reason there is a big deal objection to SUV's is not against people like you. It's directed at people who feel a need, as if conditions have severely changed to necessitate buying SUV's. Snow and collisions -- the two most cited reasons -- have not increased. In fact, fatalities per passenger mile are on the decline, not thanks to SUV's. I don't like the collision argument anyway, since although it MIGHT offer you added protection, it makes you a more of a threat to everyone else, with the increased mass. I think SUV's are fine if they are handy for you, but there is also a civic duty not to pollute more than necessary, nor to pose more of a menace than is warranted. In the end, it's a personal choice, and I don't attack any individuals for owning whatever they own. But the overall trend does trouble me. I think it's really motivated by a severe desire to keep up with the Joneses. And for all their bulk and weight, they don't offer a lot of room. My Saab 9000 has about the same amount of interior room as a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I've done the research. And I get about 25 mpg in mixed driving. Tom Reingold |
