The Best Compact SUV

  • Thread starter Thread starter rollazn
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rollazn
She think AWD will help a lot- I doubt it'll help that much.
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If you see a use for all-wheel drive, that's fine - go for it. I'm not sure it's worth the premium if it's to be used in just the rain. Nevertheless, in any case, don't go for the Honda - it just won't work as well as the other systems, all of which were better-designed.
 
Not sure if you get these, but-
Rover_Streetwise_800.jpg

The achingly hip "Rover Streetwise"

xtr1.jpg

The pretty but useless C3 XTR

nouv_polo_dune_01.jpg

The "marginally more interesting than the yawn-inducing standard Polo" Polo Dune
 
We don't get any of those, thank god.

IMO, AWD is useful regardless of where you live. Never know when you'll decide to go skiing up in Colorado or Mammoth or something. And I bet there are a lot of fun dirt roads in Texas.....

Oh, wait, that last one is why I'd get AWD, not why she should.....
 
For $2000, the price of many optional all-wheel drive systems, it's much cheaper to simply rent an all-wheel drive vehicle if you decided to go skiing, etc.

Furthermore, if you learned at all to drive on snow you could easily handle a front-driver in ski country. In Denver, we see front- and rear-drive cars all the time wearing ski racks. I have a great picture of an E34 (1992ish) BMW M5 with ski racks on it that I took as the vehicle was doing 80mph (in a 55) coming down from the Colorado mountains.

Check this out - all-wheel drive system prices on some compact SUVs:

Ford Escape: $1750
Honda CR-V: $1200
Hyundai Santa Fe: $1500
Kia Sportage: $1500
Mazda Tribute: $1500
Toyota RAV4: $1400

Meanwhile, Hertz's rate for an all-wheel drive-equipped compact SUV is around $45 a day. See what I mean?
 
AWD cant compensate for a terrible driver.

tell her to spend that $2000 premium on an AWD on a performance driving school instead.

without that fantastic drivetrain combo, the saturn vue V6 is dead average. obviously she wasnt a car for fashin rather then function. the vagaries of human desire are so immense as to render me impotent to add anything more of substance to this discussion.

except this; chevy equinox? ;)
 
neanderthal
except this; chevy equinox? ;)
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Wow. You call the Vue dead average except for the drivetrain then mention this?

Despite its high prices, the Equinox has absolutely nothing standard. Despite Chevrolet's bull**** advertising campaign, it's actually a midsize SUV - at 188.8 inches, it's more than an inch longer than the three-row Nissan Pathfinder and almost an inch longer than the three-row Honda Pilot. Despite its length, interior room sees only marginal gains, and cargo volume is only around five percent higher than most small SUVs. Despite its underpowered, crappy engine (185hp makes it the least powerful midsize, and, if you're dumb enough to consider it compact, one of the least powerful compacts) it gets poor fuel economy - the Vue (with a 65 horsepower advantage) makes the exact same fuel economy with all-wheel drive as the Vue, and less with two-wheel drive.

No one with brains buys an Equinox. The Equinox is the worst new release from Chevrolet since the 1995 Cavalier (Aveo included), though the Uplander gives it one hell of a run. Stay far away.
 
ultrabeat: Where do you live? I really like the Polo Dune and the Citroen. 👍
 
M5Power
Can't speak for where he lives, but all three vehicles in his post are currently on sale in the UK.
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He used to have Land Rover in his avatar, so maybe he is british. :)
 
It's not that great. Commuting is a hassle because of his Escalade fleet.
 
My family went to test drive both the Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4. The Toyota looks better than the CRV - especially the rear. I just can't get over the rear look including the rear lights.

The Toyota RAV4 feels good - the power feels alright with the 4 cylinder. The Honda CRV feels better though - even with the same power 4 cylinder.

The CRV is bigger and feels a bit more comfortable. It's higher and longer than the RAV4. The shift knob is not on the center console - instead it's by the wheel - which I hate. Even though the CRV has a 4 cylinder 160hp engine - it stills feel strong compared to our van. :lol:

In the new 2005 Honda CRV - which is 75% made from Japan (according to the dealerships) it is brand new. They claim it just came off the trucks. Well we bargain for the 2005 Honda CRV LX model. It was comfortably loaded.

The sticker price for the CRV LX was around 20,900 - and we got them to go all the way to 19,000 even. My dad wanted 18,500 and that includes the destination charges and all. We still have to pay for tax and title and all that other stuff. The manager of the Honda dealership - said he will ask someone for that price - but most likely we can't get it. He then made some personal attack toward my father, seeing that as rude and unprofessional we walked out.

So now it's down to the 2005 Honda CRV LX (FWD) and the 2005 Toyota RAV4. We're probably going to buy it at some other dealers though...
 
Emohawk
If the salesman isn't verbally attacking you, you haven't argued the price low enough :lol:
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Exactly. :lol: I wouldn't take it too personally. If your dad p*ssed off the sales manager, he's doing wonderfully. 👍 Still, I'd go to another Honda dealership, have them beat that offer. Even if they can't, sometimes you could make them throw in free stuff in the deal. Like free rubber floor mats, cargo area mats, at least splash shields!
 
if your family has a costco membership you might want to look into the coastco auto program. saves a lot of negotiating (shouting and threatening and screaming by another name) but if youre a good negotiator you can negotiate a lower price.
 

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