Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with SUV

My car stinks and I can't blame it on other cars forever.

zvs — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:42:34 -0800

Should I bother fixing my catalytic converter? Worth it to fix my catalytic converter? It periodically smells like rotten eggs and the mpg is down from 16 to 13 or 14 on the highway. '97 Mountaineer, but I don't use it to commute so it accrues 2500 mi/yr, tops. The car's only about 100K miles old.

Don't know how much this costs to fix. Would it just be cheaper to leave it alone? The car passed the Seattle emissions test by default a month ago, since it's too old to plug into the computer. But am I going to be sorry if I don't fix it when the car ... explodes or something?

We are demographic freaks and need a larger vehicle

mecran01 — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:55:17 -0800

I have four kids and we our outgrowing our 1999 Mercury Villager minivan. Suggestions for something reliable and around 10-$15k (used)? Is there a database that lets me search vehicles by their interior footage? It seems like we could save a lot of money if we bought a van instead of an SUV. How difficult is it to raise a van for light dirt road travel without making it dangerous on the freeway?

I'm open to van or SUV. We want something reliable, used, and in the $10-$15k range. Thanks for your help and suggestions. It seems like there is a gap between minivans and 15-passenger vans. We would use it as an all-purpose vehice for any activity that all of us might attend together. We live in Utah, and there are lots of canyons, dirt roads and other outdoor fun we could take advantage of with the right vehicle.

Bonus points if it gets more than 20mpg.

Whither Pacifica?

Mr. Anthropomorphism — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:16:48 -0800

Does anyone have anything to say about the Chrysler Pacifica? It seems to be a really good fit for our growing family's needs, but searching online for reviews has turned up polarized opinions. It seems they either last forever or fall apart as you drive off the lot.

We're looking at 2006 AWD Touring models with low miles.

I am aware there was a recall on some during this model year, and also see a lot of complaints about ABS sensors breaking.

What have been the experiences of the hivemind?

Rental cars for unpaved roads, Las Vegas

thirteenkiller — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:12:36 -0800

We want to rent a car in Las Vegas, and drive it on dirt roads in Arizona and Utah. What is the cheapest company that allows this (or who will be unlikely to notice we've been doing it)? Bonus points if they provide reasonably-maintained cars. Also, should we get a "Standard SUV" rather than "Mid-Size"? Do they use GPS tracking, and if so does it just check that we stay in permitted states, or do they also check that we stick to paved roads?

Should I bail out of my SUV now?

revan — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:36:11 -0800

Should I dump my SUV? I have a 2006 Expedition, I've only put 12,000 miles on it since I purchased it new. My commute is 12 miles round trip and I only drive it in the winter and when it rains in the spring and summer, I bike on all other days. My concern is two fold. First, I am currently under water on my loan and will have to come up with around $5,000 on a trade or private sale. Second, if I keep the vehicle am I effectively throwing good money after bad, will this vehicle be unsellable / undriveable in a few years. I know that my question requires some prognostication, but I would appreciate some opinions.

Do truck tuners and other supposed mileage boosting equipment work?

tosteka — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:02:24 -0800

Does the Hypertech Max Energy Programmer really increase fuel economy for trucks and SUVs? If so, why do auto manufacturers not simply include them in their vehicles so as to beat out the competition? I saw an ad for an aftermarket tuner that connects to the computer of trucks and SUVs and supposedly has an "economy" setting that can up your fuel economy by "2 to 6 MPG".

Do tuners really work to increase fuel economy, particularly for a 1/2 ton Ford with a 5.4L triton V8?

At first I was excited and wanted to try it, but with a price tag of nearly $380, I figured I'd better think twice. Still, at current fuel prices of $3.50/gal, and with only a 2 MPG increase, it would only take one year's worth of driving to pay for the unit with the fuel savings, assuming one drives 15,000 miles per year and goes from getting something like 16 MPG to something like 18 MPG.

I became skeptical, though, when I considered the pressure on the auto manufacturers to increase fuel economy. Surely if there were a legitimate way to boost efficiency by tweaking settings in the vehicle's computer, auto manufacturers would have already added the device to vehicles, with a switch in the dash as standard equipment, wouldn't they have?

Is there any conceivable reason why auto manufacturers wouldn't have already added this device to every vehicle?

While we're on the subject, there are a variety of MPG increasing strategies at this website. If these strategies are legit, why are they not standard? Are there any standouts that are worth a try?

Sell now or pay later?

mizrachi — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:49:28 -0800

My 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. is an unreliable, gas-guzzling symbol of all that's wrong with this world. At 78K it performs - the small errand here or the work commute there - but barely, sending warning signs all along that some bigger and more troubling defect is on the horizon. Does it make more sense for me to sell (or more likely) trade it in now while the resale is 5k (at best), or to continue to drive it while I (and it) can do so? Other factors:

He/she averages 14 mpg.
It has not seen the off-road.
Was a used gift from a generous mother.
Seems a defensive necessity here in SUV land.

Pontiac Aztek or Ford Focus

WizKid — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:52:25 -0800

Currently I drive a 2000 Ford Focus and looking in to buying a 2001 pontiac aztek for $5700. I need some recommendations on it. Hi All,

Currently I drive a 2000 Ford Focus with 96,000 miles (KBB-$3300) and my daily commute is around 2-3 mile round trip to work and weekend shopping for about 5 miles. Once a month I may drive to a friends place or some where for about 10-15 mile round trip. I recently replace to strut springs and cost me about $250. Other than the sound of things rattling and shaking there is nothing really wrong with it. But at the same time this is a basic model and it doesn't have cruise control, power windows, power doors, etc...

Recently I got my eyes on a 2001 pontiac aztek for $5700 (KBB-$5800) with 90,000 miles on it and thinking of selling my Ford Focus and going for the Aztek.
Features:
Air Conditioning Cruise Control Traction Control
Power Steering AM/FM Stereo Roof Rack
Power Windows Single Compact Disc Privacy Glass
Power Door Locks Dual Front Air Bags Alloy Wheels
Tilt Wheel ABS (4-Wheel)Power Seats, Ice Chest Console, Rear
Tailgate Bench, Rear 50/50 Seating
Premium Sound Leather, Heads up display
OnStar, Towing Pkg

As much as I like to go for an Honda or a Toyota seems like it's out of my price range. I'm looking for something below $6000.
Therefore I need a second opinion on this from fellow mefiers.
- What are the pros and cons of pontiac aztek ?
- Should I go for it or am I better off with the Ford Focus that I drive now?

Thanks in advance.

P.S. : I know some of you might think that I should be posting this question in an Auto forum. But most of the time users come to these forums when they have problems with their vehicles and with a subset of users like that it's difficult to get a general idea about the product.

Accellerate/Coast method more fuel efficient than cruise control?

Quarter Pincher — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:39:28 -0800

Question about cruise control vs. a special acceleration/coasting technique in terms of fuel efficiency. If you've got say, a speed limit of 45, and while driving on flat clean road, no wind aside from your own forward movement, etc, you accellerate to 47, coast until you're down to 40, then accellerate to 47, coast back down -- could this period of brief gassing up and long coasting by momentum, use less gas than having the pedal down the entire time and keeping at 45 (which I would assume cruise control would do)?

Would there be an ideal range (instead of up to 47 and down to 40, and back up/down) that would achieve greater efficiency? Would it be better to quickly accellerate to 47, or slowly (as the transmission gear may affect gas consumption)?

Getting better gas mileage out of a fuel hog?

ganzhimself — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 12:14:16 -0800

Fuel economy filter: I drive a 1998 Dodge Durango, so I know my gas mileage is going to be low... But I was wondering if I use Mid-Grade or Premium gas if I'll be able to squeeze some more mileage out? I drive a 1998 Dodge Durango, 5.2L V8, and I want to stretch my buck a bit further as far as gas mileage goes. I added a cold air intake to the engine to get a little better performance / gas mileage. In the owner's manual it says that the engine is designed for 89 Octane gasoline, but would running a higher octane, especially with a better air intake system, improve gas mileage? What else could I do to increase gas mileage?

Help me find this fancypants cargo divider

clearlynuts — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 07:17:53 -0800

Where can I find a cargo divider that keeps dog and luggage separate? I want this cargo divider. It appears to me that you could put a dog on one side and luggage in the other. That would keep the luggage from falling on the dog. There's a hitch. I have a 2005 Honda Pilot, not a Land Rover. My attempts to find something similar to what's pictured here have failed.

Tell me of the autos of your homeworld, Usul.

ROU_Xenophobe — Sun, 12 Jun 2005 14:55:24 -0800

What do you dislike about your vee-hickle? So the well-loved Prelude is (1) very small and (2) getting on in years, and it's time to think hard about adding a new or almost new vehicle to the stable and retiring the Prelude to commuting and other metro-area use.

Given that our plans for the next few years involve adding another wee pup to the current one, the vehicle must be able to haul two medium dog crates and enough luggage for two people for two or three weeks, and it should be comfortable enough doing so for two or three 10--12 hour days in a row (we regularly go from D/FW to Florida, or D/FW to Toronto, or both in a giant hateful triangle, to see our kinfolk). Ideally, we should be able to squeeze in 3 dogs (two corgi-sized and a retired racing greyhound or whippet) Just In Case.

We (or at least I!) would prefer a wagon as I don't relish tipping over, but there are precious few of those out there so I think we'd be willing to hold our collective nose and pick up a small SUV if needs be. On the list so far:

Legacy wagon (or Outback, I suppose)
WRX wagon (+ a car-top carrier, probably)
Passat wagon, probably the diesel
Mazda 6 wagon
CRV
Element
Forester
RAV4
Hyundai Tucson?

I suppose we'll also look at the Toyota Matrix, PT Cruiser, and Jetta wagon, but they seem like they'd be smaller than we want. The Volvo go-devil wagon is sadly out of reach for us.

So the question:

If you have one of these of recent vintage, what do you dislike about it? Not reliability stuff -- I hope we can find hard numbers on that. But what about the car annoys you, or makes it hard to live with? Is it noisy? Does it not get the mileage it's supposed to? Does radio reception suck? Does it get blown around on highways? Are the seats horrible after 8 hours? That sort of stuff.

Conversely, I guess, what do you really like about it (again, please, excluding "I've never had a problem with it")?

How do I find a vehicle based only on vehicle type and color?

Fat Guy — Thu, 26 May 2005 14:44:16 -0800

CSI Filter: How do I find the person who hit my car given that it was a woman driving a blue SUV that hit my car in State College, PA at approximately 12:11 AM May 26th, 2005? My car was damaged in a hit and run accident in my apartment's parking lot last night while I was sleeping. The only deatils the witness who saw the accident could provide was that it was a woman driving an enormous dark SUV who caved in my driver's side door. No plate number. There is some blue paint on my door handle.

TV Stations and White SUVs

BradNelson — Tue, 10 May 2005 18:58:42 -0800

Why do TV stations (or any other news organization) have a fleet of white SUVs? I live next to a local TV station and their parking lot is full of white SUVs. Mostly Jeep Cherokees and Ford Explorers. What's so great about them? Do they serve a real purpose? Do they look more offical or important? Is that the same reason the UN uses them? Are they supposed to be easier to identify? Then why not blaze orange or lime green?

My wife and I want a vehicle that will handle rugged logging roads.

five fresh fish — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 09:35:56 -0800

SUVFilter: My wife and I want a vehicle that will handle the rugged (and worsening, now they are no longer maintained) logging roads in this province, as we head out for dayhikes and backpacking trips. We're looking at the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute, Nissan Pathfinder, and Toyota 4Runner. Zoom, zoom inside... The Escape is a sweet little car-based SUV that has moderately good clearance, but no real 4WD off-road capability; OTOH, I've taken my Nissan NX 1600 to hell and back (and consequently shortened its life by 100k km). It would probably be okay for most of where we'd want to go, but might take a beating in the process.

The Pathfinder is a pig on gas, but otherwise seems to handle well. It will go far further offroad. They're also seemingly built like tanks: I've rarely seen a bad-looking Pathfinder.

And the 4Runner is pretty much the ultimate off-road vehicle. More trucky, though, and still a gas-pig. But we're not likely to drive more than about 10 000km on our own dime; the remainder is covered by for-work travel expenses.

I'm at a complete loss for choosing. The cost is incrementally more for the Pathfinder than the Escape, and the 4Runner than the Pathfinder. The resale value probably works the other way around. Insurance would be higher for the Escape, but gas costs would be lower.

All in all, I guess I'm just looking for personal experience reports from those of you who've owned these vehicles, and those of you who regularly go off-road (whether with those vehicles or not). Thanks in advance for any and all info!

[SUVhaters need not apply. This vehicle will be going where cars do not dare to tread.]

SUV tax write-offs

mathowie — Wed, 04 Aug 2004 15:32:14 -0800

I never understood how the "SUV as a business write-off" thing works. Can any tax-savvy folks explain to me how this saves you taxes or gets you a virtually free car? More >> I've read the article, the Slate article today that mentioned it, and this list of vehicles you can buy to qualify. But I still don't get how this works to someone's advantage, I mean you're still having to pay for a $60k car right?

If someone was a sole proprietor, bought one of these new vehicles and claimed it and their home office for their business, then claimed 100% vehicle use for the new car, they'd get to write the whole purchase price off. I get that part.

What I don't get is where the money goes. Say the business owner made $100k in a year, and owes say $30k in tax. Say the heavy SUV cost $60k, and is completely deductible.

Does that person get a refund for $30k? Or is the benefit merely that instead of the money going to the IRS it goes into a new car?

Whenever I read a story about this loophole, it sounds like greedy business owners are getting free Hummers thanks to the $100k writeoff, but I guess I don't see where the free money comes from, since you still have to actually break down and buy a really expensive vehicle. What am I missing here?