Looking for SUV Ideas, Any Input?
Former Moderator
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,852
Likes: 1
From: New York
Just bought a 2009 EXL CRV for 27K out the door. Took it to ikea this weekend....
Got 33mpg....with a king size bed, two dressers, and a computer desk....and my fiancee, and her father....with all doors closed. Incredibly versatile car, and the interior is Acura quality.
Don't be fooled by other cars having a bigger stance. The CRV is shaped in a way to maximize the interior space, also, the folding seat mechanisms are ingenious. It can fit a lot more than you think. I looked at bigger cars, and they couldn't swallow what the CRV could due to shape. As hard as I tried, I couldn't find a better car for the money than the CRV, and yes, the Mazda was on my shopping list.
Got 33mpg....with a king size bed, two dressers, and a computer desk....and my fiancee, and her father....with all doors closed. Incredibly versatile car, and the interior is Acura quality.
Don't be fooled by other cars having a bigger stance. The CRV is shaped in a way to maximize the interior space, also, the folding seat mechanisms are ingenious. It can fit a lot more than you think. I looked at bigger cars, and they couldn't swallow what the CRV could due to shape. As hard as I tried, I couldn't find a better car for the money than the CRV, and yes, the Mazda was on my shopping list.
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 24,162
Likes: 3
From: Burlington, VT
Not a severe difference on the Jetta's environmental impact (through gas mileage) and a little more luxury.....well, that sounds like a BMW X5 Diesel, VW Touareg TDI, or Audi Q7 TDI.
I like all of these almost equally as much. I LOVE Audi's MMI, but BMW's new iDrive isn't bad either. VW has that monster TDI motor with head-ripping-off torque if you want to give the kid whiplash
....they all drive extremely well for a SUV and still retain a good bit of that German fun factor. Safety is superb and all three have great track records in our service departments (aside from the first year for the Touareg).
If I were in your shoes Chris, I'd be looking at these three. You and I seem to have the same tastes in cars.
I like all of these almost equally as much. I LOVE Audi's MMI, but BMW's new iDrive isn't bad either. VW has that monster TDI motor with head-ripping-off torque if you want to give the kid whiplash
....they all drive extremely well for a SUV and still retain a good bit of that German fun factor. Safety is superb and all three have great track records in our service departments (aside from the first year for the Touareg).If I were in your shoes Chris, I'd be looking at these three. You and I seem to have the same tastes in cars.
![[DT]'s Avatar](https://www.s2ki.com/forums/customavatars/avatar91853_2.gif){kind=avatar}
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,619
Likes: 0
From: Vilano Beach, FL
If I were shopping for mostly-onroad/light-tow SUVs and *if* I wasn't done with BMW, I would seriously consider the X5 xDrive35d. Our X5 was always at least mechanically pretty solid (excluding mysterious creaking).
Merc just doesn't click with my - and I know this will sound fruity - "lifestyle sensibilities".
Merc just doesn't click with my - and I know this will sound fruity - "lifestyle sensibilities".
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 24,162
Likes: 3
From: Burlington, VT
Originally Posted by [DT
,Sep 2 2009, 09:30 AM] Merc just doesn't click with my - and I know this will sound fruity - "lifestyle sensibilities".
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 9,510
Likes: 478
From: Dallas
Unless you are okay with averaging around 20mpg, you're going to have to go diesel or 4 banger.
The 2010 Equinox really looks be an awesome vehicle. How they can get 32mpg out of a 4 banger SUV is pretty amazing to me.
http://www.chevrolet.com/vehicles/20...ox/overview.do
That said, even a loaded to the gills one won't come close to the luxury of a MB, Audi, Acura, etc., but for less than $30k new loaded, it might be worth at least glancing at if mileage is a bigger priority than luxury.
The 2010 Equinox really looks be an awesome vehicle. How they can get 32mpg out of a 4 banger SUV is pretty amazing to me.
http://www.chevrolet.com/vehicles/20...ox/overview.do
That said, even a loaded to the gills one won't come close to the luxury of a MB, Audi, Acura, etc., but for less than $30k new loaded, it might be worth at least glancing at if mileage is a bigger priority than luxury.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 663
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by NFRs2000NYC,Sep 2 2009, 05:57 AM
Just bought a 2009 EXL CRV for 27K out the door. Took it to ikea this weekend....
Got 33mpg....with a king size bed, two dressers, and a computer desk....and my fiancee, and her father....with all doors closed. Incredibly versatile car, and the interior is Acura quality.
Don't be fooled by other cars having a bigger stance. The CRV is shaped in a way to maximize the interior space, also, the folding seat mechanisms are ingenious. It can fit a lot more than you think. I looked at bigger cars, and they couldn't swallow what the CRV could due to shape. As hard as I tried, I couldn't find a better car for the money than the CRV, and yes, the Mazda was on my shopping list.
Got 33mpg....with a king size bed, two dressers, and a computer desk....and my fiancee, and her father....with all doors closed. Incredibly versatile car, and the interior is Acura quality.
Don't be fooled by other cars having a bigger stance. The CRV is shaped in a way to maximize the interior space, also, the folding seat mechanisms are ingenious. It can fit a lot more than you think. I looked at bigger cars, and they couldn't swallow what the CRV could due to shape. As hard as I tried, I couldn't find a better car for the money than the CRV, and yes, the Mazda was on my shopping list.
I really hope you took a picture of all that in the CR-V.
A king size bed AND 3 people? How!
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 19,734
Likes: 247
I think he means the bed frame, not the mattress. With a folding rear seat, you could put one person in the back, two in the front, fold a seat, and have plenty of room for all that. They were probably partially packaged (desk, for sure) as well, not fully assembled.