Which SUV should I buy?

I'm not a big fan of SUV's either. But you have to get what is right for you and your family. I wish you luck in your car buying adventures.

F.O.R.D

Found On Road Dead

Originally posted by DawnA
F.O.R.D

Found On Road Dead

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Fords

Originally posted by Sicycat
Fords

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Yeah go sicy! Haha.

Wow, I love all this feedback!! Thanks, guys!

I had thought of a minivan, but I want something that doesn't "feel" like I am driving a semi, and the one time I drove a van, it felt like that. One of the plusses I have heard about the Blazer is that it drives like a car.

I have heard about the roll-over risks, but was under the impression this was a problem they had solved?

I am going to go looking this weekend. Please, keep the opinions and feedback coming, and any links you think might help me.

You guys are great!!!

I'll differ with the crowd and say that once you drive an SUV, you'll never go back to a car.....at least I won't. I like being up higher. My Explorer is nice and roomy, although I have driven smaller SUVs and been equally happy with them. My 4Runner was an '86. I'd say out of all I have owned, it was the most likely to flip, but I never once came close in the 9 years I owned it. In those days it actually had a gauge on the dash that warned you if you had the vehicle at an angle where rolling over became a danger.

The Rodeo was a great SUV, too. I owned a '95 for 5+ years. Both the Isuzu and the Toyota had well over 100,000 miles on them when I sold them. I came close to buying a 2nd Rodeo.

The Ford Escape is smaller, but comparable to the Rodeo. I liked it very much, and it was an excellent value for the money. I owned an '01, the first year of production of the model. The only reason I traded it for the Explorer was that I had put 50,000+ miles on it in a year and a half, so I traded before I was upside down on my loan. It was pretty fuel efficient, too. I was getting 25 mpg.

My Explorer was a splurge for me, and I couldn't be happier with it. I haven't had a single problem.

Consider the insurance issue, too. Some states have enacted laws, mandating higher liability requirements, for SUVS. When an SUV hits a car, the height of the bumper and vehicle, tend to make it roll right over the car, causing much more damage and injury. You might wind up paying an astronomical insurance premium.

I test drove a Santa Fe by Hyundia and its a nice ride. I'm partical to Hyundia's since I drive an Accent.

On the insurance question, liability is higher with SUVs as noted by katl8e. Also, full coverage tends to be higher b/c they are more popular with theives, and repair costs tend to be higher as well.

You can find good all-wheel drive hatchbacks and station wagons for good handling in bad weather, that have lots of cargo space.

My insurance on my wagon is low (no-one steals station wagons!), and with the rear seats lowered it has a cargo capacity equal to the Mountaineer(an SUV). It has a lot more cargo space than our friend's Lexus SUV. And its safety rating is equal to an SUVs, except on rollover risk, where it's WAY better.

Check out this SUV alternatives site, and save some fuel and insurance $.

I've seen a lot of rolled-over SUVs in town (Texas is SUV-land) but never a rolled-over car.

If you really want an SUV for the looks, there are even good SUV-styled vehicles that are basically wagons in SUV clothing, with the SUV look but the wagon safety and efficiency.

Another enthusiastic vote AGAINST getting an SUV for all the reasons everyone has listed and because there are so many alternatives.

If you do end up getting one though, PLEASE drive carefully (not that you wouldn't) Being a small car owner, I FEAR these things after being almost hit on several occasions (I guess you can't see me from WAY up there?!)

Sorry for the mini rant on bad SUV drivers.

Good luck

me too!

One reason I switched to a station wagon from an economy hatchback was safety...I really miss my little Toyota's 40 mpg, but I don't miss feeling like I was defying death every time I got on the road surrounded by monster SUVs and trucks, many driven by people who seemed to think they didn't need to watch the road b/c THEY were safe in their huge vehicles.

*I'm not saying everyone who drives an SUV is like that.

On the other hand, my friend who owns a Chevy Tahoe had some idiot in an Infiniti rear end him at 40+ miles an hour. This guy had about $10,000 damage to his vehicle. My friend's truck took the majority of the impact in his trailer hitch and ended up with about $200 damage. You couldn't even tell he had been hit.

Whatever you do, stay away from the Cadillac Escalade - it is the #1 stolen vehicle in the country. The insurance premiums would feed a Third-World country, for a year.

I don't know...I would never buy American. I love the Honda CRV's!!

Originally posted by Louse76
Another enthusiastic vote AGAINST getting an SUV for all the reasons everyone has listed and because there are so many alternatives.

If you do end up getting one though, PLEASE drive carefully (not that you wouldn't) Being a small car owner, I FEAR these things after being almost hit on several occasions (I guess you can't see me from WAY up there?!)

Sorry for the mini rant on bad SUV drivers.

Good luck

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Come one thats part of the fun Creep up behind them, they can't see you... then... woooosh full boost go flying past them. Get some pretty funny reactions from people.
Anyway Fords are awesome. I do have to support Toyota for their 4Runner. 4Runners make great offroaders.


Peace,
Brandon

Well I found out the premium for a 98 Explorer is $800 a year, seeing as how I pay that for my 83 Mustang convertible, that's not bad. A 94 Explorer is $50 more a year.

Going looking this weekend, it looks like it's going to be mostly Explorers that I am looking at.

I have a toyota matrix, too, and like it,although if I had the choice, it would definitely be a 4Runner or Sequoia. I like driving SUV's ... I like being higher up and feeling safter. The matrix, though, is a little higher up than your typical car.

I would love to get a 4Runner, but can't afford one (never mind an Escalade!). I am only working with $5k here. But I am finding some really nice Explorers between $3000 and $5000, from 1994-1998.

Sue it pretty much seems you have this sussed. Good luck picking one that's suitable for you.