Getting a new Car.

NissanSkylineN1

NissanSkylineN1

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NissanSkylineN1
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So, we're getting our 98' Sienna replaced soon this year and my mom wants a SUV. She wants a Lexus RX in light blue because when she saw it at first, the color made her jaw drop. However, she only wants it due to the color. So, to prevent all of you guys bitching at me again (https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=128261), I've come here yo ask you: Which small/mid-size SUV should we get? Price limit: under $40k. Condition: New and slightly Used.
 
Well, if you REALLY want to talk her out of the Lexus, mention the infamous unintended acceleration incident with the police officer and his family. Otherwise, it'll work good for what she wants. If the price is right, nab it.

Has she thought of a new Sienna? They were introduced only last year, and an SE comes in nicely under the budget, while a Limited juuuuust nudges the price barrier without options.

The Infiniti FX, Acura MDX and RDX...actually, the Acuras would be good to look at, merely for the Hondaness of them. The Caddy SRX is impressive as well...shield her eyes from Pacificas, though. Just a warning, though - the luxo-SUVs will get expensive quick due to, well, being luxury cars. Hence why the Mercedes GLK and Bimmer X3 were left out of this.

(X3....owo)

and, what the hell, while looking at minivans, the recent Honda Odyssey should also make a good choice to look at. An EX-L with satnav won't break the bank, and I threw foglights on it, too. The VW dealer might cut you a deal on a Touran, too...just make sure she doesn't know it's really a Caravan in disguise. On second thought...don't take her to see a Touran. That badge and women seem to attract each other.

Take her to look at the Highlander and Pilot, too, since both are basically the same as the luxury SUVs. A top line...non-hybrid...Limited Highlander, if you skip the sat-nav option, comes in nicely under your budget, and comes with some of the nice stuff the Lexus has. And, I threw in the TRD oil filter and cap. :P The Honda, I got her the EX-L 4WD with a new grille, though she might be able to get a Limited 2WD as well.

This all brand new, of course.
 
Well, my car mechanic say's that Honda's have a bad reputation of quality when compared to Toyota. For example, he says taht they use methods of design that higher-end manufacturers use but with crappy materials. In fact, he's had a surge of old Accords in his shop due to body repairs, and in fact, he's having trouble finding parts for them because of the popularity of the problem.

Going back to the style, my mom wants something small and high above the road (she's short). That made my mom to LOVE the RAV4 until then my dad's co-worker said something quite interesting:
"I was going to buy an AWD RAV4, and it does handle well in the winter, especially here (northern Ontario) but then I noticed something. The tire on the back meant there was no place for a bike rack. As soon as I noticed that, I said goodbye to the Toyota dealer and went and got my Subaru Forester."
 
NissanSkylineN1
Well, my car mechanic say's that Honda's have a bad reputation of quality when compared to Toyota. For example, he says taht they use methods of design that higher-end manufacturers use but with crappy materials. In fact, he's had a surge of old Accords in his shop due to body repairs, and in fact, he's having trouble finding parts for them because of the popularity of the problem.
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I lol'd. Rust issues (every Honda ever has them) != mechanical issues.

Also, mid '90s crap != today's crap. From what I've seen, that means Toyota no longer has the lockdown on reliability like they used to.

NissanSkylineN1
Going back to the style, my mom wants something small and high above the road (she's short). That made my mom to LOVE the RAV4 until then my dad's co-worker said something quite interesting:
"I was going to buy an AWD RAV4, and it does handle well in the winter, especially here (northern Ontario) but then I noticed something. The tire on the back meant there was no place for a bike rack. As soon as I noticed that, I said goodbye to the Toyota dealer and went and got my Subaru Forester."
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Erm... How does the inability to stick a bike rack on the back make or break a vehicle purchase? Also, tow hitch mounted bike rack. Problem solved.
 
^Good point with the hitch rack there... but wouldn't it still get stuck? Personally, I think my mom should get the new Ford Edge because I just love it. The sat nav, Sony speakers, the My color (I love the ones in the 'Stang) and I don't have a bad image of Ford anymore now that we have the 'Stang,
 
You should tell your mom to get something other than an SUV!:yuck: But if that's what you want to go with, a Dodge Durango has served our family well in several roles now for a many years (this is our second one - we had an '02 and now we have an '06). Good trucks unless she's looking for luxury; in that case go with the Chrysler Aspen. It may look similar but inside it looks and drives pretty different. Plus the Aspen looks awesome in that Chrysler ice-blue!👍

Just a thought.
 
..... its a Chrysler my friend, and it does not have a good reputation on our family. However, GM might not be bad. But IMO, Ford if you want American.
 
NissanSkylineN1
Well, my car mechanic say's that Honda's have a bad reputation of quality when compared to Toyota. For example, he says taht they use methods of design that higher-end manufacturers use but with crappy materials. In fact, he's had a surge of old Accords in his shop due to body repairs, and in fact, he's having trouble finding parts for them because of the popularity of the problem.
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Your mechanic is an idiot or a blind Toyota lover. Toyota materials are nowhere any better than Honda's, & at least in some of Honda's top models in their range, you actually get a really nice car. You have to buy a Tundra or fully loaded Camry/Avalon for the same thing.
 
NissanSkylineN1
..... its a Chrysler my friend, and it does not have a good reputation on our family. However, GM might not be bad. But IMO, Ford if you want American.
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Hehe! We're pretty much the opposite over here - count our family in the pentastar camp!👍 Fords, however, are taboo though - my grandparents had a few over the years and my parents relayed the horror stories... I DO like the Fusion, though.

How about a Cadillac SRX? I've heard plenty of good things about them... and it's a CADILLAC!:sly:
 
The good news is that there are a wide variety of options. The bad news is that there are too many that do almost exactly the same thing. I'll cut to the chase and give you the easiest answer that there is.

2011-Chevrolet-Equinox-Front-Side-590x424.jpg

2011 Chevrolet Equinox

As far as the small, mid-size and whatever you want to call it crossovers go, the Equinox is about as bread-and-butter as you can get. The size is about the same as a previous generation Lexus RX, the overall quality of the vehicle is top-notch at that price range, and ultimately they are quite capable in whatever form you decide to get. I would recommend shopping around for an LT2 or LTZ Equinox equipped with the 2.4L I4 and the six-speed automatic. The power is more than enough to move the crossover with some sense of spirit, but still net you 32 MPG on the highway. Perhaps the greatest drawback is that the GMC Terrain and Cadillac SRX exist, but for the price difference, you're not getting a significant bang for your buck over the Chevrolet. The GMC is a reasonable alternative, but not everyone digs the snout.


19435_2010_volkswagen_Tiguan.jpg


Now, there is also the oft-forgotten VW Tiguan. All things considered, it is a VW GTI on stilts, and it ends up being a strangely capable little crossover. The good news is that VW didn't sell as many as they expected, so you can pick up a 2010 model for not much money. The bad news is that it comes with most of the VW faults that you would expect, despite having all of the VW goodness included. In the interest of saving money, I'd give the Tiguan a look as well. It is a wonderful little crossover, that deserves a second look.
 
McLaren
Your mechanic is an idiot or a blind Toyota lover. Toyota materials are nowhere any better than Honda's, & at least in some of Honda's top models in their range, you actually get a really nice car. You have to buy a Tundra or fully loaded Camry/Avalon for the same thing.
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Yeah, he is quite a Toyota lover, he owns an old Celica GTS. You should see it, looks like it JUST came out of the factory.

AMCNUT
How about a Cadillac SRX? I've heard plenty of good things about them... and it's a CADILLAC!:sly:
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Kinda expensive... no?

YSSMAN
The good news is that there are a wide variety of options. The bad news is that there are too many that do almost exactly the same thing. I'll cut to the chase and give you the easiest answer that there is.
As far as the small, mid-size and whatever you want to call it crossovers go, the Equinox is about as bread-and-butter as you can get. The size is about the same as a previous generation Lexus RX, the overall quality of the vehicle is top-notch at that price range, and ultimately they are quite capable in whatever form you decide to get. I would recommend shopping around for an LT2 or LTZ Equinox equipped with the 2.4L I4 and the six-speed automatic. The power is more than enough to move the crossover with some sense of spirit, but still net you 32 MPG on the highway. Perhaps the greatest drawback is that the GMC Terrain and Cadillac SRX exist, but for the price difference, you're not getting a significant bang for your buck over the Chevrolet. The GMC is a reasonable alternative, but not everyone digs the snout.

Now, there is also the oft-forgotten VW Tiguan. All things considered, it is a VW GTI on stilts, and it ends up being a strangely capable little crossover. The good news is that VW didn't sell as many as they expected, so you can pick up a 2010 model for not much money. The bad news is that it comes with most of the VW faults that you would expect, despite having all of the VW goodness included. In the interest of saving money, I'd give the Tiguan a look as well. It is a wonderful little crossover, that deserves a second look.
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My dad is thinking quite fond of GM, so we'll have to think about the Equinox. Also, my brother and I have been looking at the Tiguan.

The thing is, my dad won't be spending any more than $35000, and he will probably buy it slightly used (1-30000k)
 
The Equinox would fit nicely in that range on a lower-trimmed LT1 model with the four-cylinder. Shop around a bit and you may be able to pick one up with a few dealer incentives. Although, I've heard that both the Terrain and the Equinox have been holding their values pretty well as of late.

I guess now that I think about it, of the two, I'd have the Terrain. I just like that interior layout a little bit better.
 
NissanSkylineN1
Kinda expensive... no?
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You should be able to find a pretty good one for 35-40 K. As long as you go 3-5 years old you should get a good compromise between age and capability. I also have a feeling they would be cheaper than an RX330.
 
NissanSkylineN1
What's the reliability on the Equinox?
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Better than average, or so I've come to understand. Inside Line's long-term GMC Terrain would be a comparable place to look to see what their quibbles were, and as far as I can tell, it was a trouble-free experience.

Being nearly three years into the model run for this generation of Equinox, most of the significant issues are going to be worked out. Almost all the parts in the Equinox are used in other GM vehicles, so I wouldn't expect a wide variety of problems.
 

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