Car shopping

[fenchurch]

In the past few weeks, we've started doing some preliminary car shopping! We were thinking of sticking with the same type of car that let us, basically, walk away from a four-roll accident... but the Hyundai Santa Fe has been upsized since then, and they've brought in the slightly smaller Tucson to fill its old niche. So far, I haven't been able to test drive anything, but I'm rather hopeful that I'll be able to start as early as next week.

So, here's the current list of car possibilities:

Hyundai Tucson: Very similar to my old car, just a touch smaller. They've fixed all the little niggling things that bugged me about the Santa Fe (location of the map lights, which side of the car had the 60 of the 60/40 rear seat split, and the rear seats and front passenger seat now fold flat). After sitting in it, I actually liked it quite a bit, although I'm worried it might be a touch too small (even though, oddly, it has the capacity to store more stuff in the back, just due to the newly reconfigured rear seats). It also has stability control, which our old car did not.

Hyundai Santa Fe: I've got to include it, because I loved my car and I miss my car... and it held together and did its job well enough that we walked away from that accident. However, it hasn't really been updated to take advantage of some of the new technologies, just a slight increase in size. The 2007 model is supposed to be out in early summer, but I don't think I want to wait that long, just on the off-chance that I'll like the car more than anything else I've tried.

Kia Sportage: rackham was looking at this one online a week or so ago and called me over... because the pictures of the interior looked exactly like the ones of the Tucson. Turns out, that's because the "newly redesigned" Sportage is actually a Hyundai Tucson with a few cosmetic differences. If it comes down to deciding between those two cars, it would have to take some really good cosmetic differences in the Kia to make me go that route... we'll be getting an owner loyalty discount from the Hyundai dealership, plus I'm really quite fond of those guys to begin with. Their service department has treated us really well over the years with the old car.

Toyota RAV4: I've sat in this car and absolutely loved it. More comfortable than the Tucson. I can't wait to give it a test drive. It has two big downsides though... it's more expensive, and it has an incredibly sucky warranty. And I do mean sucky. 3 years/36,000 miles? To give you an idea, my Santa Fe was three years old and was just shy of 57,000 miles. I'd whip through the Toyota warranty in a year and a half.

Suzuki Grand Vitara: I have no clue what I really think about this car, since we haven't even had a chance to look at one yet. Saw a commercial for it and checked it out online, though... decent price, all the features I want, good warranty, and decent reviews. Downsides... um, well, it's a Suzuki. I have no frame of reference for their cars and how well they do.

And some we won't be getting:

Honda CR-V: *buzzzzzzzt* Thanks for playing. I liked what it had to offer... the price wasn't bad, the features were good, even if the warranty, like the Toyota, totally sucked... and then I sat in one. It has very form-fitting seats, which are great if you happen to be the form they're fitted to. I'm not (oddly, enough, I seem to be too tall). Sitting in that thing, the seat shoved my shoulders forward... even if one of them hadn't been recently broken, it would be an uncomfortable position... particularly for long road trips. Ouch.

Saturn VUE: It's getting horrible reviews this year... it also has an incredibly bad warranty (bumper-to-bumper at 3yrs/36,000miles is bad enough... The VUE has that same time frame/mileage for its *powertrain* warranty). It also apparently didn't do well on side impact and rollover tests... considering what we just went through, those are fairly important things to me.

Infiniti FX: Aside from being WAY too expensive and looking like a space age station wagon... the first time we drove past an Infiniti dealership on this latest car hunt, Rackham started singing "This is the car that never ends... it just goes on and on, my friend..." Now I can't see an Infiniti without that song running through my head.

Pontiac Torrent, Subaru Outback, Subaru Forester: They all look too much like a station wagon. I'm really wanting something that gets me up off the ground a bit. If I want to hug the road, I'll take Rackham's MINI out for a spin.

Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute, Mercury Mariner: They're all, essentially, the same car... and all of them have HORRIBLE ratings in rollover tests. Yeah, not going through THAT again, if I can help it.

There are probably more out there that we haven't stumbled across, but that's basically the array of vehicles we've gone over in the past few weeks. I can't wait until I can actually start with the test-driving portion of this endeavor. I've actually managed to take the MINI out twice now... last week, when I really shouldn't have (I could shift up, but couldn't shift down with my right hand, and couldn't actually use that hand on the steering wheel, either), and last night, this time with Rackham in the car to help me get it into reverse and to help with the parking brake (both of which still require two hands on my part). We might even give it a try this weekend... though I'll likely only be able to test drive one car before tiring out. We've also started thinking that it might be a good idea to be ready to buy a car on President's Day Weekend... not a bad time for sales and such.

Comments

[ehann.livejournal.com]

I'm no help, I really, really love my Santa Fe. It's my first new car, and got it in 2003. Love the warranty, the customer service at the dealership is great, and it's pretty good on gas and comfy.

Have fun with your search!

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

That's exactly where I was with my old car.. a 2003 Santa Fe that I absolutely loved. I really wish the 2006 Santa Fes had some of the new features found in the Tucson, though... in particular, the stability control. I just really can't see us holding out for the 2007 Santa Fe to come out in a few months. I've only been able to drive again for three days and we're already starting to do some compromising on who gets the car. :-p

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

Well, I love my Forrester (even if it does look like a station wagon), mostly for two reasons: it's incredibly safe. I've been in three accidents since I got it (granted, not even close to being as severe as yours) and each was like a little tap (even the worst one). Secondly, it's the only car in your list made entirely in Japan -- call me an un-American commie, but I think that's the reason it's never given me a moment's trouble in three-plus years (knock wood).

Also, it's not as low to the ground as you might think, although I'll admit it's not nearly as high as the RAV4, CRW or Infiniti FX (all of which I tested before buying the Forrester).

Sorry; I feel I must big up my car.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Heh! I actually agree with you on all points with the Forester... I even test-drove one, the last time we were car-hunting. The way I looked at it then was "It'd be the perfect car, if that were the sort of car I was looking for." I was actually a bit tempted by it then, because of all the things you mentioned... but it just wasn't what I was hunting for.

I think part of the problem is that what I really want is a big ol' pick-up truck. It's what I learned how to drive in, and it's what I've always felt most comfortable driving... however, the gas mileage in every truck I've looked at has been awful. And, while they're great for country and highway driving, they don't work so well for me in the city. So, I retreat to the small to mid-size SUV market instead.

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess I know what you mean -- I drove a Jeep for a long time and afterwards it was weird driving a regular car. And by the way, I have no idea why I put that extra "r" in Forester -- maybe I was thinking of Forrest Gump. Anyway, one of the reasons I love Subaru is because it's the Japanese word for the Pleiades (a represenatation of which are on the grill and steering wheel) which are in Taurus, my astrological constellation. Can you tell I'm from California?

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

one of the reasons I love Subaru is because it's the Japanese word for the Pleiades (a represenatation of which are on the grill and steering wheel

That's one of the things I've always loved about their cars, too... and it always makes me think of "Escape to Witch Mountain" (because of the star design on Tia's case).

[typographer.livejournal.com]

Just for the record, the Subaru's have better clearance than most SUVs. You think you're hugging the road, but you're not.

Note that I ended up not getting one for completely irrational reasons, myself, so I'm right there with you. The car has to feel right to me when I'm sitting in it.

[onetwomany.livejournal.com]

I'm currently looking at the Forester as well. The made-in-Japan thing is a big plus for this Aussie. I've heard they are very expensive to fix and get spare parts for though - apparently the motor has horizontal pistons that need specialist care. But I still love it. You get the fun of an SUV without risking community condemnation for driving one...

[hlynn.livejournal.com]

The only other car I can think of is the Chevy Equinox, which costs a little more than the Tucson. Overall, though, it looks like staying with Hyundai would be the way to go. Also, I noticed on crashtest.com that the Tucson has less of a likelihood to rollover than the Santa Fe, so that's another plus in its favor.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Definitely! I've done the rollover thing... it's not something I'm keen on repeating.

As for the Chevy, um, well... blame it on my parents, but my eyes just kinda skip right over those. I did go out to their website to look (I made sure to do it, because I almost missed them entirely), but the Equinox didn't really appeal.

It's amazing the things that will stick with you from childhood.

[slm76.livejournal.com]

I'd say, not knowing anything about these cars, go with what you know. Your old baby did you a fanstastic job when it came to what really mattered.

[eliz.livejournal.com]

I LOVE (and we're talking almost more than Star Wars kind of love) my Subaru Outback. It is great- it gives some height without being high enough to roll- handles wonderful, can pack it full, and drives like you couldn't believe. Get the LLBean edition- can have the sport shift and all sorts of goodies. :) Oh and our LLBean edition is over 8.6 inches of clearance- better than a lot of your typical SUVs.

Seriously- if you can, give it a spin. :)

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

I'm not big into the bitty baby SUVs (I drive a Suburban), but I like the look of the Rav4, although I thought it was awfully small when I rode in one.

I'm surprised about the Vue -- I have a friend at work who's looking to get one, although she is looking at used, so the warranty is moot.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Well, the RAV4 has recently been redesigned and they're actually pretty roomy now. I was surprised, because the last time we went car-shopping, they seemed kinda tiny and narrow. Not anymore.

I'm actually right there with you on bigger SUVs/trucks... it's what I'm most comfortable driving. But, considering how much driving I do, I've really had to compromise size for gas mileage (well, that and I would HATE to have to drive something big in downtown Seattle -- I'd be afraid of hitting something).

As for the VUE, it probably depends on the year... the reviews are very subjective to available features. Take a look at the Santa Fe... the year we bought ours, it scored among the highest in its class in the rollover/tipover tests. Now? It scores very, very low. But it's because they've since had other SUVs come out with Stability Control, which the Santa Fe doesn't currently have, so it scores low compared to those. I do know that nutmeg3 loves her VUE, and they seem to have a really comfortable ride.

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

Yeah, just last night I noticed a commercial for the new Rav4, and thought, "Oh, it IS bigger now!" :-)

The main thing I like about my old girl is she's big, but she's wide and low to the ground. I always feel like I'm going to tip over in those tall new passenger vans and SUVs.

[bquinlan.livejournal.com]

I'm a big fan of Subaru. They are safe, reliable, and tough. Just as important, at least to me, they're also great driving cars. Our WRX Wagon combines the space and flexibility of a station wagon with the performance of a serious sports car.

[missmurchison.livejournal.com]

The only one of these I've driven for more than a test drive was a Grand Vitara a few years ago. It had no pickup and was incredibly noisy (and I normally drive a sports car). We were renting, and it annoyed us so much we switched to another vehicle before our vacation was over.

We have Subarus now and love them. I should have bought a Forester last time, but my little Impreza was sitting on the lot and they made me an offer I couldn't refuse. It's really fun to drive.

[fenchurche.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info about the Grand Vitara! After doing a bit of looking, I found out it apparently went through a redesign for this year's model, just judging by all the reviews I read that said, essentially, "finally! A Grand Vitara that doesn't suck!" :-p

We've ended up eliminating it from the list already, though, even without having driven it. The main difficulty being that there isn't a Suzuki dealership closer than 45 minutes away. Not a good thing.

I keep looking at the Subarus, but they're just too small and too narrow. It's like I mentioned to queenofattolia -- they'd be the perfect car, if that were the sort of car I was looking for.

[missmurchison.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. I've gone car shopping, looked at what my reseach in Consumer Reports said was the perfect car for me, and bought something else. Good luck finding what you want!

[rosiewook.livejournal.com]

I had to giggle when you mentioned the Honda seats because that's how I felt about the Toyota seats! It's all in the body type, I guess.

And I have to give a big shout out for the Subaru. They're great cars. And since you live in a northern clime, you could actually get service at a decent price; unlike here in Atlanta.

But ultimately, you have to go with the one that makes you the most comfortable. Have fun shopping!