Help me buy a new vehicle

August 10, 2006 11:44 AM

Help me choose my new vehicle... please. It's great fun! You should play.

In the extreme near future, I need to replace my 1991 Ford Bronco II. My requirements are fairly simple. I hunt, fish, hike and camp. But this new vehicle will also serve as my every-day transportation too. I'm about function over form. I need decent cargo space and can't be too bothered with worrying much about keeping the lovely interior, lovely all the time (it can't be too plush). Some kind of AWD/4WD capability would be a plus, but isn't a requirement carved in stone (basically since I live in Virginia, not northern Alberta, and don't really go off-roading in the strictest sense of the word).

I think the available options for a 1 to 1 replacement are obvious... the Ford Escape, Jeep Liberty, Honda CR-V, a pick-up truck, etc. All of these vehicles are still be considered certainly. But I guess what I'm struggling with most is the desire to be as environmentally and economically (read: fuel mileage) conscious as I can be.

So some kind of wagon is a possibility too. Can someone help with a few alternative ideas or directions I might consider? I can't seem to focus and reading review after review is starting to wear on me. This will be my first new car EVAR... so I'm a rookie/virgin at this whole process.

posted by Witty to travel & transportation (30 comments total)

There are a few hybrid suv's on the market. Also if there is a way for you to access biodiesel fuel, you could get a diesel truck or wagon (e.g Jetta wagon).
posted by unsigned at 2:04 PM on August 10, 2006

http://www.hybridcars.com/suvs-minivans.html
posted by unsigned at 2:04 PM on August 10, 2006

I don't have gas mileage figures at hand, but a few options that come to mind are

Honda Element AWD
Pretty much any Subaru
BMW 325ix wagon
Volvo, Audi, and Saab are all selling AWD wagons (the Saab is just a fancied up Subaru)

Might be worth researching. Let us know what you end up buying choose!
posted by saladin at 2:05 PM on August 10, 2006

"end up buying choose"? Jesus Christ, it must be 5:05 on a Thursday.
posted by saladin at 2:05 PM on August 10, 2006

Saturn Vue fits all of your requirements. I've got an '06 V6 AWD that I love.

If you really want to be eco-friendly, the GreenLine will be out soon.
posted by m@ at 2:06 PM on August 10, 2006

It would be helpful to know what price range you are in, but Subaru makes cars ranging from under 20K to over 30K, many of which seem to fit your requirements.

I've also recently become enamored of the new Jeep Compass. I test drove one the other week, and I like it as a lower cost, higher-MPG alternative to something like the Liberty.
posted by dersins at 2:08 PM on August 10, 2006

With the possible exception of the Jeep Liberty (that name sounds so red-state radio to me), all of the car-based SUVs, Subarus, etc. suggested here will be nowhere near as rugged as your old body-on-frame Bronco II. I bought a Forester a few years back as a camping/daily driver/dog haulin' vehicle and was very disappointed at its capabilities, and by the fact that it was literally shaking itself apart on only slightly washboarded gravel roads.

I traded it in three years ago for a 4X4 Toyota Tacoma and couldn't be happier. It gets decent mileage (about 24 mpg with a 165-horse 4cyl. engine), has a very simple interior that is mostly vinyl and easily cleaned, and is pretty much unstoppable. Plus, having dogs, smelly fishing gear, etc. separated from the human passengers is delightful.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 2:13 PM on August 10, 2006

Hi... sorry for the delay in response. Meta hasn't been available to me for a while, for whatever reason.

Price range... I guess I hoping to hover betweem 20-25K. But I'm somewhat flexible.
posted by Witty at 2:14 PM on August 10, 2006

Definitly check out Subarus.
posted by dpx.mfx at 2:15 PM on August 10, 2006

Said it before, will say it again:

Toyota Matrix
1. plenty o' space (vinyl lined rear compartment, with full fold down rear seats)
2. +30 mpg
3. 4WD available
4. hawtness
posted by Rock Steady at 2:16 PM on August 10, 2006

My wife drives a Jeep Liberty which we love. We have the 2WD version though (no use for a 4X4 in San Diego). Gas mileage is not so hot, I think somewhere around 15-17 mpg because even in the 2WD configuration the thing is freaking HEAVY. We test drove the CR-V, Toyota RAV-4 and Land Rover Freelander before settling on the Jeep. Didn't like the Honda or Toyota (too minivan-ish), and the Rover was too expensive. We didn't look at the Escape, but a friend of ours and my sister-in-law both have one and it seems pretty comparable to the Jeep. The hybrid option definitely commands a premium price from what they've told me.

I recently got a 2002 BMW 325 wagon and LOVE it. saladin mentioned the 325ix, which is the AWD version and would definitely be worth considering. From my experience, the used BMW will probably cost just a little more than the other vehicles you mentioned new. I get around 22 mpg in my wagon, and I would guess the AWD would be pretty comparable.
posted by sbrollins at 2:18 PM on August 10, 2006

I read a rave review of the Honda Element in a sporting magazine, Field and Stream I believe. The author loved the enormous room inside (no need to break down the fly rod) and the all wheel drive was more than sufficient for muddy dirt roads and other areas of concern. He also raved about the great gas mileage.
posted by caddis at 2:18 PM on August 10, 2006

Just saw your price range.....you could definitely get an '02 BMW for that much. Depending on where you go, you could probably get an '03 as well.
posted by sbrollins at 2:20 PM on August 10, 2006

Hybrid does not always equal fuel efficient (the Lexus RX400h is a shining example). Just a thought.

If you're thinking wagon, the Dodge Magnum is available in AWD, and since its popularity dropped once the Charger came out, you might find a good deal. Its two V6s are much more fuel efficient than the Hemi V8.

If you could wait about six months, I'd suggest a Trail Rated Jeep Patriot, which offers off-road capability beyond that of the Compass, with decent fuel economy.

You do know about fueleconomy.gov, right? If not, you do now.
posted by pmurray63 at 2:21 PM on August 10, 2006

I was gonna say Honda Element and any Subaru, but since those bases are covered, I'll toss out the Toyota FJ Cruiser.
posted by spilon at 2:32 PM on August 10, 2006

I'll second Rock Steady on the Matrix. Affordable, good (better than subes, ime) mileage, 4wd available...

I don't live in northern Alberta either (southern, actually), but since we bought this car we've taken it on 150 km long dirt roads, ski trips, bike trips, camping trips, and just plain driving trips.

I've fit a couch in the back, it's bigger than it looks....
posted by sauril at 2:41 PM on August 10, 2006

Why go brand new? Why not get a 1 or 2 year old vehicle? Much much much much MUCH better value for your money.
posted by antifuse at 2:48 PM on August 10, 2006

Why not get a 1 or 2 year old vehicle? Much much much much MUCH better value for your money.

On some cars. When we were looking around, year-old Hondas and Subarus were only marginally less than new. Also, a year or two old car might lack features you want. When we were looking, year-old CR-V's didn't have side curtain airbags and new did. And new, you can order what you want instead of taking what someone else wanted. So a year old car might be a much better value, or might be the same value, or might be a worse value if you're buying luxury options you don't want or unable to get options you do want.

Elements and CR-Vs are the same mechanically. We drove both and picked a CR-V for three big reasons. First, the Element's big slab windshield is a rock magnet. Second, the Element has very bad front-side visibility because its window pillars are frickin' huge. Third, I at least liked the way the CR-V's seats fold up frontwise instead of the Element's folding up against the windows, blocking yet more visibility.

Subarus are also very nice. We liked a Legacy wagon a lot lot lot, but it was a smidge more money for a smidge less space than a CR-V was. An Outback is just a jacked-up Legacy wagon. The Forester seemed nice but was more basic than we'd want to live with for ~10 years.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 3:05 PM on August 10, 2006

If you're looking for a more car-type vehicle than truck or SUV, I'll add another vote for the Subaru wagon. They last forever, AWD is standard, they are reasonably priced, and have the same amount of usable cargo space as some compact SUVs!*

We've had Legacy wagons for years (just topped 200K on our current one) and regularly use ours to transport band equipment. People are often amazed at how much we can fit in there - a typical trip usually includes two guitar amps, bass amp, PA head, two monitors, 4 or 5 guitars, bass guitar, mic stands, a couple of miscellaneous boxes of mics, cables and merchandise, plus the two of us!

*In square footage anyway. Because they're taller, SUVs typically have more cubic feet, but I find I'd rather have more room to lay items down flat than stand them on end!
posted by platinum at 3:09 PM on August 10, 2006

Subaru. They last forever and do everything you need. Very active aftermarket community, and not just for ricing them out (though that certainly exists for WRXes).
posted by kcm at 3:52 PM on August 10, 2006

When we were looking around, year-old Hondas and Subarus were only marginally less than new.

Yes, and there's a very good reason for that. They're good cars, well-suited to your requirements.

Here in Maine, the most popular car is a pick-up truck, and the second most popular car is anything Subaru. They're great in the snow, they've got good fuel economy, you can back a bunch of crap in them, yet still fit in a parking space without having to resort to parking-by-Braille.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:29 PM on August 10, 2006

If you haven't looked at small trucks in a while, look at the Chevy Colorado. The 5 cylinder engines provide good torque for the fuel they burn, and if you want the maximum mileage, the 4 cylinder base engines still move with a manual transmission. 4WD isn't a very compelling option for you, over the optional 2WD automatic traction control system (requires automatic transmission and automatic locking differential; included with Z71 2WD suspension package).

Coming out of a Bronco II, anything less in the way of a truck is going to seem pretty sissy.
posted by paulsc at 5:10 PM on August 10, 2006

If you're interested in the biodiesel route (even if you're not, diesel will give you better mpg. Also, iirc, even regular diesel will be lower-sulfur by law real soon now), one of your obvious 1-to-1 replacements really stands out: the Liberty. It's one of the only small SUVs available with a diesel motor (actually, it may be the only one). If you took up brewing your own biodiesel as a hobby (or set up/joined some sort of regional biodiesel co-op), you could really save some money while lessening your environmental footprint and maybe making some new friends.
posted by willpie at 5:31 PM on August 10, 2006

Also, while it's too soon to say about the specific motor in the Liberty, diesel motors are known to last a very, very long time.
posted by willpie at 5:33 PM on August 10, 2006

I have a '06 Liberty CRD.

I'm extremely happy with it so far.

I've gotten 29.9 MPG on my most recent long trip. City driving gets me around 22, and on shorter highway drives, I will get around 25.

While I will probably do less "off-roading" than you, I have the 4x4 and towing package.

I have the Limited package also, where it sounds like you'd be better off with the Sport.

I haven't run Biodiesel in it yet, but that's only because there's no local pumps in my area. To get it here and make it worth my while, I'll have to get a tank and buy over 200 gallons of it at a time.

Another great thing about Diesel, at least so far, is that it's usually cheaper than Regular around here.

Oh, and if the smell of Diesels running makes you gag like it does me, the CRD is very clean-burning and there is very little smell (or smoke, unless I really punch the accelerator).
posted by tomierna at 5:43 PM on August 10, 2006

Hyundai Tucson. There is a 5-speed 4 cylinder model that you can get with a type of 4WD that is more like 4 wheel electronic traction control. Nice roomy interior, nice warranty. under $19k
posted by Gungho at 6:42 PM on August 10, 2006

For the record, I have a Honda Element and love it. (self-link review). Solid 22 mpg in mixed driving, good cargo room, easy to keep clean.
posted by ilsa at 8:05 PM on August 10, 2006

Thanks everyone, for such thorough responses. I will try to make sure I update this when I finaly make a decision.
posted by Witty at 5:39 AM on August 11, 2006

All of these suggestions, most of them terrible, and no mention of the Nissan XTerra!

It was redesigned this year, is fairly cheap, and is perfect for what you want.

You should also look at the FJ Cruiser.

If you want something nicer, you can look at the Honda Pilot.

Problems with the cars suggested:

Hyundai: Well, it's a hyundai. If you're going to get something brand new, for your first car in 15 years, get something with cachet!

the CR-V, Escape. I looked at these cars when I was buying, and these cars are tiny. The CR-V especially so.

the Element. Have you seen this thing? It's going to be one of those cars that you look at in 10 years and go "jeez, what was I thinking?"
posted by unexpected at 7:59 AM on August 11, 2006

Oh, and if the smell of Diesels running makes you gag like it does me

That will soon cease to be a problem, with the introduction of ultra-low sulfur diesel. 80% availability beginning this fall.
posted by pmurray63 at 9:24 AM on August 11, 2006