phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on May 24, 2011 10:58:15 GMT -5
I wanted to add a more practical reason for getting an suv: I would like something with 4wd, because we tend to get a lot of snow and ice in the winters, and driving to work gets to be very dangerous. My Focus slips and slides all over the place, it scares the crap out of me. And there are no days off for inclement weather at the hospital! I'm in the lowly minivan group, our Toyota has 4WD, no problem pushing thru a foot of snow. A box on wheels with sliding doors that open wide in parking lots, good mileage, big on the inside, small on the outside - about as functional as it gets. And no one ever steals one. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on May 24, 2011 10:58:33 GMT -5
No pick-ups, no mini-vans. I will not cross over to the dark side! haha No, I haven't tried snow tires. It never even crossed my mind. But, honestly, at this point, I'd rather just get the new vehicle. Maybe around year-end, when there are sales and such. That gives me 6 more months to put money into the new car fund and have a more size able down payment, and provides me some cushion in case DH's car finally dies for good. frugalnurse: I think waiting and saving more is rarely a bad idea (unless they institute a VAT tax between now and then ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) ). And if you want an SUV, then an SUV you should have!! Okay, now for the most important question: What color do you want? ;D
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Frugal Nurse
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Post by Frugal Nurse on May 24, 2011 11:00:50 GMT -5
hehe- pewter or black!
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swamp
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Post by swamp on May 24, 2011 11:01:15 GMT -5
No pick-ups, no mini-vans. I will not cross over to the dark side! haha No, I haven't tried snow tires. It never even crossed my mind. But, honestly, at this point, I'd rather just get the new vehicle. Maybe around year-end, when there are sales and such. That gives me 6 more months to put money into the new car fund and have a more size able down payment, and provides me some cushion in case DH's car finally dies for good. frugalnurse: I think waiting and saving more is rarely a bad idea (unless they institute a VAT tax between now and then ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) ). And if you want an SUV, then an SUV you should have!! Okay, now for the most important question: What color do you want? ;D If you wait until winter when the dealers want last model year off the lot, you get stuck with brown. Or at least that's how it seems to work for me, and I HATE brown.
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wodehouse
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Post by wodehouse on May 24, 2011 11:03:26 GMT -5
Buying last year's model will generally get you a lower price. But on the other hand, the car is worth less immediately too because it's a "one year old" model in the resale market, versus a "current year model. But if you're not going to resell the vehicle any time soon (say, 5 years or more) then it's probably a worthwhile deal. But I would really make certain that there was a substantial discount for "last year's model" versus "this year's model".
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Frugal Nurse
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Post by Frugal Nurse on May 24, 2011 11:05:03 GMT -5
nah- I will be driving it into the ground.
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lynnerself
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Post by lynnerself on May 24, 2011 11:07:35 GMT -5
We own an Escape hybrid. Financed for 5 years At 0%. It will be paid off this June. We bought new just because we wanted a full warranty on the hybrid stuff. It has about 80,000 miles. It has run fine. Only a minor, but annoying, problem with a door latch. We like it alot. It has been fun and served us well. It is a small SUV. It's great for a 2 person long trip or daily for a small family. Back seat is pretty comfortable for adults. We have 4WD because we take it skiing. We also have a 13 year old Explorer. The Escape does drive like a car, mainly because it's built on a Mazda sedan chassis.
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kiskis
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Post by kiskis on May 24, 2011 11:11:41 GMT -5
Have you looked into this issue? My car (Honda Civic) shut off while I was leaving a parking lot and after it happened a second time I looked it up online and found there was an ignition switch recall. That fixed it. Actually, it hasn't happened since last summer, but the previous two summers, it happened maybe a dozen times. I actually was able to coast it straight into the mechanic shop once, and left it running so they could hook up the diagnostic machine. Seems like it's a electronic wiring problem that may or may not be located in one of two places, one which is easier to get to and would only cost $400+ to repair. The other location is buried and would cost thousands to reach and repair. I'm not sure why it stopped, but I think it was heat related, because it never happened in the winter. Since then, the new manifestation of the problem is that the car takes three or four times to start. The electronics will come on, but the engine doesn't ignite. DH says it is an ignition problem. Since the Vue is out of production and I bought it used with no warranty, I don't think I have any inexpensive options for repair.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on May 24, 2011 11:12:06 GMT -5
Noooooooo!!!!! Don't say that!!! Take it back, take it back!!! We've been looking at Tahoes bc I need 3 row car.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 24, 2011 11:13:15 GMT -5
I was devastated when we sat in the Tahoe.
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whoisjohngalt
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Post by whoisjohngalt on May 24, 2011 11:16:06 GMT -5
I can't believe that, they look HUGE!! We won't be looking at new ones (I don't even want to buy a used one), but I don't think I'll fit 3 car seats in my Outback ![>:(](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/angry.png)
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tundrated
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Post by tundrated on May 24, 2011 11:17:59 GMT -5
Funny this should come up now. We own a Mazda Tribute, which is a Ford Escape Clone. We looked at both when we purchased it, but we were able to save more on the Mazda so bought it. They are great vehicles, ours gets about 20 around town and 25 on the freeway (V6). It drives like a car and is easy to park. There is a good amount of storage in the rear.
We have been happy with this vehicle, but it is small now that we have kids. I have a 3 year old with another on the way. The car is getting small quickly. I am 6'3" and feel every kick from the back seat. We are also in a position now of having 2 car seats, one rear facing, within the next couple months. Little one is due in August.
If I were wanting a family, I would look at the next size up from the small SUV's. Once you have 2 kids, these small SUV's are tight. The backseats are pretty tight. Once you have 2 car seats in there it will be impossible for a normal sized person to sit in the rear as well.
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kiskis
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Post by kiskis on May 24, 2011 11:19:26 GMT -5
Kiskis, i have a 7 passenger commander. My daughter is the only one that can reasonably climb in the back row. Adults do not have the ability to contort their way back there. Also if that seat is up, do not count on carrying anything larger then an umbrella in the trunk space. I've heard this complaint a lot, regarding the third row being cramped. I am not opposed to giving into being a marm and driving a minivan, but I would also be using the vehicle to commute alone to work on a regular basis, and I have a tendency to hit stationary objects, so I don't want to drive anything too large. I'm trying to find an acceptable median. The only 7-passenger SUV I've ridden in is the GMC Acadia, and it was very nice. Rode in it for 10-hours to Disney World. Kids sat in the third row, so it was fine, but it probably would have been difficult for an adult. *sigh* There are just too many options with seemingly no clear winner. I guess it will come down to what I see at the dealership and pricing.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 24, 2011 11:20:39 GMT -5
My BIL use to sit behind the kids' 2 car seats and he always looked so squished. He was such a good sport, and didn't want to drive alone. We never went far - but I always felt bad for him.
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Frugal Nurse
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Post by Frugal Nurse on May 24, 2011 11:24:28 GMT -5
Funny this should come up now. We own a Mazda Tribute, which is a Ford Escape Clone. We looked at both when we purchased it, but we were able to save more on the Mazda so bought it. They are great vehicles, ours gets about 20 around town and 25 on the freeway (V6). It drives like a car and is easy to park. There is a good amount of storage in the rear. We have been happy with this vehicle, but it is small now that we have kids. I have a 3 year old with another on the way. The car is getting small quickly. I am 6'3" and feel every kick from the back seat. We are also in a position now of having 2 car seats, one rear facing, within the next couple months. Little one is due in August. If I were wanting a family, I would look at the next size up from the small SUV's. Once you have 2 kids, these small SUV's are tight. The backseats are pretty tight. Once you have 2 car seats in there it will be impossible for a normal sized person to sit in the rear as well. I have also looked at the Mazda, I just feel better about a Ford. I'm a pretty small person- 5'1, so I'm not worried about space enough for me. And realistically, we are likely only going to have one kid (pregnancy is too complicated for me). I really think the focus would be plenty of room for me and DH plus a baby, plus any travel gear we may need.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 24, 2011 11:24:37 GMT -5
As I said, I'm buying one taking into account that my kids seem to keep on growing. I'm going on the assumption that they will be taller than 5'6" during several years of the lifetime of our next vehicle, as my husband and I were both 5'6" (or more) long before we could drive. Ten bucks says we will use that 3rd row seat 4 times in the last 6 years of the cars life. ![](http://syonidv.hodginsmedia.com/vsmileys/melancholy.png)
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ohmomto2boys
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Post by ohmomto2boys on May 24, 2011 11:32:48 GMT -5
We have a Hyundai Tuscon - small SUV - comparable in size to the Escape. We have 2 car seats in it now and traveled from Ohio to Florida in it with an 18mth old and 3 yr old. Less space = less crap!
We bought the Tuscon before the kids and have faired very well with it. It has been a great vehicle and is 6 yrs old.
I have had Fords (ranger) before and loved them. We will definitely revisit Fords in 3 - 4 yrs. Hyundai gave us deal we couldn't refuse when we were shopping around for a new vehicle.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on May 24, 2011 11:46:44 GMT -5
The Escape isn't a very great vehicle although it's rating have improved quite a bit over the last couple of years. If that's what you want buy it. And new they run about 26k MSRP. Their consumer report ratings are actually very good. Consumer reports rates in small SUVs the CRV and Rav-4 first, but at least when we test drove them, those 2 are significantly smaller than the Escape and Nissan Murano (what we ended up with). OP - I plan ahead like crazy. After I bought my truck in 2004, I always wanted a Murano as a family car. 6 years later, I was surprised when we actually ended up with what I had been thinking about that long ago. We did go 10% over budget, but we ended up with something that was about 50% nicer than we were planning on. I'm currently planning for our replacement for my commuter car in 2 years or so. You can never plan too much. ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png) Then you will be sure to get what you want.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on May 24, 2011 11:51:38 GMT -5
I never understood the logic that babies need a gigantic vehicle. I was able to take my 2 babies and every they needed in my Accord. I find the small SUV's to be comparable in space. The Accord still works fine for us, and now the kids are mid-sized. They don't get as much back-seat / foot room space as they want, but we can fit everything we need somewhere in the vehicle. The would rather have more space around them when we do road trips, so they can bring every toy they have ever encountered - but they lived. Baby equipment seems much larger than it was 30 years ago. The wayback in an Escape is not big When you are use to driving a VW GTI as a family car, the Escape is huge. ![:P](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/tongue.png)
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Post by pig on May 24, 2011 12:05:02 GMT -5
Their consumer report ratings are actually very good.
This is the first year they actually had decent rating. If you read what I wrote you'd notice that I said that.
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Colleenz
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Post by Colleenz on May 24, 2011 12:24:59 GMT -5
I am biased, but I really like Subarus (Forester or Outback). They are fantastic in the snow and ice, get great reliability ratings, and hold their resale value. The real clincher for me was safety rating, and if you are only having one child it is plenty of room.
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vacaquilts
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Post by vacaquilts on May 24, 2011 12:34:48 GMT -5
Must be a nurse thing with SUV's. I love mine. In fact, our hosptial parking garage are full to the brim with SUV's.
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phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on May 24, 2011 12:50:24 GMT -5
am biased, but I really like Subarus (Forester or Outback). Lots of people agree. We went ice skating in Keystone CO last winter (lots of snow & ice on the roads) - the popularity of Subs in the ski slope parking lots and grocery store lots was quite noticeable.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 24, 2011 12:57:19 GMT -5
I know! I think it is because the 3rd row is right on top of the back wheels. Maybe the stretch versions are more comfortable.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on May 25, 2011 10:18:04 GMT -5
Hey - I saw an Escape in a parking lot yesterday. They are SUPER cute! And the back doesn't look too bad for storage. I'm excited for you!
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