SUV suggestions? - Page 3

ClydeFrog · 03-06-2007, 03:16 PM

Congrats on the internship Cheese! I think this is about the best advice you're going to get for shopping used cars:

Quote:

Originally Posted by {OF}Malicious Assault

Cheese, if you are buying a used vehicle you should be more concerned about what the previous owner did to it or didn't do to it. You are going to find a million arguments about which one is the best. You need to decide which YOU like and find one that is mechanically sound and has not been abused. All makes and models have their problems and if I spent some time looking I would be able to post bad things about them all. I am partial to US auto makers, that is because I have family that works for GM. But that is me. Buy what you like and make sure you look for those hidden problems that can cause mre trouble than they are worth.

First off I don't think there's really a very good source of data that gives you true figures for reliability. I'll spare you the rant on that subject but I will say that one very general statistic is there are 1.5 to 2.5x as many problems reported on trucks/SUV's as there are on cars. So if yor car doesn't make it and you're tight on cash you're better off with a car. On the other hand if you want to break down somewhere remote with your girlfriend ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoPo

Out of those, get the yota, hands down. Out of the remaining three, I would put the Xterra in second and then the Pathy.

The ford shouldn't be on your list.... if we're talking about reliability.

Congrats on the internship.

The 2005 JD Power 3 year reliability study (i.e. for 2002 Model Year) vehicles records the following number of problems reported per hundred vehicles:

Toyota 4-runner: 194
Ford Explorer: 253
Nissan Pathfinder: 278
Nissan Xterra: 327

Why shouldn't the Ford be on his list Lopo?

LoPo · 03-06-2007, 03:38 PM

Because he included late 90's exploder, not 2002 to 2005 exploders he also said offroad capable, which the toys and Nissan are better known for.

Exploder = grocery getter.

{OF}RKT · 03-06-2007, 06:42 PM

Poor Cheese, I'll bet he is regretting this thread now. He is probably more confused then ever.

Great news on the internship old Cheesy one.

ClydeFrog · 03-06-2007, 07:47 PM

Haha, right you are RK. That will teach him!

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoPo

Because he included late 90's exploder, not 2002 to 2005 exploders he also said offroad capable, which the toys and Nissan are better known for.

Exploder = grocery getter.

Better known by whom? The same people that *know* that you shouldn't buy the Ford based on reliability? All of those vehicles are grocery getters in production form. If he really wants to offroad on an intern budget he should be looking at old Jeeps. That data is for 2002 vehicles which is the oldest full line data I have available. From what I have of '98 and '99 the numbers are similar.

I have nothing against you Lopo and I usually try to avoid being a D**k but since I put a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears designing this stuff for GM I get a little sick of the whole "Amerikan kars are krap" schtick. Especially when it's based on data and attitudes from the 70's and 80's. I also get sick of hearing how much the union sucks and how lazy they are. I go into plants to help with quality issues and these guys and gals go out of their way to help me. Nobody has ever once hidden behind "it's not my job" or "you can't do that". It's generally not mentioned but they also hover behind me to make sure I'm not scratching/damaging vehicles or forgetting to do something that would be noticed by a dealer/customer. Blah, blah, I could continue but the feeling is gone. Peace.

Cheese, if you do decide to buy something we'd be happy to give you some pointers. If nothing else have fun looking!

Skidz · 03-06-2007, 08:57 PM

O.K. Cheese, get the yota. The xterra could get a close second but the yota will be better of road. The exploder can be a great offroad vehicle if you don't mind modding it but since you need something reliable (a.k.a. not your already modded car) that's not a great plan. They all suck on gas but probably the yota is the best in this department. If you get a pickup instead then well, get a yota. If you get a dodge just pick up a spare tranny and you'll be cool.

Just a note, I have owned nothing but dodge/Jeep for the last 10 years. I'm stupid that way.

Lopo, the only reason Explorers rolled so much was that soooo manny stupid people drive them. I had a Cherokee for years before anybody said the words S.U.V. and the Exploder is the reason for that term. It sold so well they had to categorize it. Like anything else in life, if you throw stupid at it, it breaks.

{OF}RKT · 03-06-2007, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClydeFrog

I have nothing against you Lopo and I usually try to avoid being a D**k but since I put a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears designing this stuff for GM I get a little sick of the whole "Amerikan kars are krap" schtick. Especially when it's based on data and attitudes from the 70's and 80's. I also get sick of hearing how much the union sucks and how lazy they are. I go into plants to help with quality issues and these guys and gals go out of their way to help me. Nobody has ever once hidden behind "it's not my job" or "you can't do that". It's generally not mentioned but they also hover behind me to make sure I'm not scratching/damaging vehicles or forgetting to do something that would be noticed by a dealer/customer. Blah, blah, I could continue but the feeling is gone. Peace.

I think it's quite understandable Clyde how you feel and your frustration with certain prejudices from the past can be frustrating.

So here is the question, how does the US automakers get the US market back?

I don't buy in this 100% reliability issue. I mean look at the Koreans. When they first hit the market, their cars were aweful. But they stuck to it, were patient and have slowly gained acceptance in the US. I believe Korean car sales continue to grow at a huge rate in the US. Why? I don't see a Korean car any better then a big three car, in fact I still think they have qaulity issues.

Is it price? I think you get more for your money with a domestic car then you do a rival Japanese car. Incentives? The domestics seem alot more aggressive in offering rebates and factory sponsered pricing then the Japanese.

Is it performance? The popular purchased Japanese cars, Toyota Camary, Honda Accord sell far more 4 cylinder then 6 cylinder cars.

Is it fuel efficiency? Ummm... I can cry that my Acura RL gets pretty crappy gas mileage at 19mpg city. Hell my Acura MDX would get 16mpg.

For the life of me, I can't put pulse on it.

LoPo · 03-06-2007, 10:54 PM

Holy crap! I haven't made any blanket statement in the negative about Ford, GM, or any other domestic auto manufacture. I have simply voiced my opinion about the vehicle and Model year cheese asked about. WOW.

Maybe you didn't know this, but I've owned a Honda, Chevy, Dodge, Mazda, and now a Nissan. Did I have problems with either my Chevy or dodge? Nothing that wasn't my own doing(chevy upper Arm ball joint disintegrated on my on the freeway when I was doing about 70. Fortunately my after market brake lines - ya I lifted that truck, saved me or I most likely wouldn't be here today)

Anyways, I don't understand where or why "Amerikan kars are krap" schtick this was even brought up.... seriously... I've only spoken to the particular question cheese asked about, nothing more.

If I didn't have my Xterra right now and was looking at making the same 'type' of purchase now, I would most definitely be getting a 4 Door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

lol, in fact my fiance has been looking at new vehicles.... Want to see our list?

Dodge Nitro
Honda Element
Nissan Murano
Jeep Patriot
Jeep Compass
Chevy Equinox

Her fav: the Murano
Mine: the Nitro

RKT, my dad's MDX gets way better gas mileage, what are you doing flooring it everywhere?

EDIT: This feels like when I go visit my family back in Detroit. You drive a what? Those **** *** **** **** cars lousey ***** ** **** **** ****.

LoPo · 03-06-2007, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skidz

O.K. Cheese, get the yota. The xterra could get a close second but the yota will be better of road. The exploder can be a great offroad vehicle if you don't mind modding it but since you need something reliable (a.k.a. not your already modded car) that's not a great plan. They all suck on gas but probably the yota is the best in this department. If you get a pickup instead then well, get a yota.

Compare the Offroad aftermarket of the Exploder to the Yota and the Nissans. Win = Yota and Nissans

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skidz

Lopo, the only reason Explorers rolled so much was that soooo manny stupid people drive them. I had a Cherokee for years before anybody said the words S.U.V. and the Exploder is the reason for that term. It sold so well they had to categorize it. Like anything else in life, if you throw stupid at it, it breaks.

Actually the reason they flipped was due to the Firestone's... I totally agree with you that an idiot will cause idiotic things to happen to any vehicle.

Cheese · 03-07-2007, 12:13 PM

lol, i had a huge response typed up but it's not worth it. no one's mind is going to change as to which is better or not.

i've decided to wait out and hope my car holds together to my abuse. probably looking for a newer (03-06) focus zx3 if something happens or i feel the need to buy a car over the summer (ac would sure be nice, lol).

Smiley · 03-07-2007, 01:44 PM

Cheese, have fun with the internship and your future vehicle shopping.

I myself rarely listen to anyone's opinion about vehicles, unless what I'm looking at has a big repair problem. I think that is what you were wondering also, if anyone had particular problems with any of the vehicles you mentioned.

And LoPo, I am holding off buying a new Wrangler Unlimited 4-door until the second production year. I've been so tempted to pull the trigger but I am hoping the 2008 JKs have the yellow color available again and a larger engine. I want to use it to tow my TJ