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[Ignatz Mouse]

With the addition of the Offspring, and a fat bonus check on its way, it's time to go new car shopping.

I'm looking for either an SUV or equivlent cargo-space vehicle, with the following things as priority

Reliability
Ability to hold a couple of dozen poles, about 66 inches length + 2 seven foot poles (for camping)
safety
low road noise
drivable in the city
limit of about $35,000

Anybody have an experience with a vehicle that fits the above?

 

[Tarazet]

With the addition of the Offspring, and a fat bonus check on its way, it's time to go new car shopping.

I'm looking for either an SUV or equivlent cargo-space vehicle, with the following things as priority

Reliability
Ability to hold a couple of dozen poles, about 66 inches length + 2 seven foot poles (for camping)
safety
low road noise
drivable in the city
limit of about $35,000

Anybody have an experience with a vehicle that fits the above?

Check out the Honda Pilot. It's well within your budget, does everything you need and runs on regular gas.

 

[Error Macro]

Check out the Dodge Magnum. One is in my driveway as we speak (I rented one ). Though, definitely get the HEMI, RT version, as the little 2.7L V6 in the one I'm driving is freaking WEAK. I want POWER.

But really, it has a very roomy cabin both front and rear (seriously, the rear leg room shocked me), and the wagon part makes it handy. And better than an SUV, in my opinion. Great responsiveness while driving. Felt like a much smaller car in it's handling. Umm, good stock stereo? lol. I love the looks of it.

Ah, I'm through jizzing about it.

 

[fart]

SUV? boo-urns

 

[tedtropy]

SUV? boo-urns

Pfft, what's the ozone ever done for us?

 

[keiichi]

Acura MDX or wait for the RDX to be unveiled in Detroit this January.

VW Toureg?

 

[xsarien]

Pfft, what's the ozone ever done for us?

Stopped you from becoming the posterchild for the sunblock industry.

 

[fart]

ps, you might want to consider a subaru

the forester has a very nice suv-like ride (soft, high ride height), even though it's based on the impreza sedan platform. highly recommended. if you're feeling frisky, there's also a turbo'd trim that goes like stink.

there's also an impreza wagon (2.5ts, outback sport) and a legacy wagon (outback), if you need more room. mileage is respectable for all of them, but won't match a civic or similar largely because of the awd drivetrain. they are very reliable cars, and have great crash-test ratings. they're also great in the snow and rain, if you have to deal with that stuff.


the mdx and touareg are really needlessly extravagant. plus, they're huge (the subarus are basically sedan sized). the legacy is more wagon-sized, but the impreza based cars are all basically compact sedans.

there is also the mazda 3 series. great crash-test ratings, cheap, great mileage, very tight feeling cars; comes in a wagon-hatchback-crossover thing. easy to park.

if you want really cheap though, i highly recommend the scion xb (for box). extremely safe, incredibly reliable (uses the proven echo/tercel platform). tons of space. cheap.

 

[ArcadeStickMonk]

My bother got a Ford E-150 conva van for his family. Ugly as sin, but the practically is through the roof, which is damn high.

 

[DrM]

We just bought new Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDI....impressive beast, only engine should be atleast 2.2 or 2.4...

 

[AlphaSnake]

Dodge Magnum. A fully loaded Dodge Magnum costs less than 35,000 and it's MONSTROUSLY fast. Yes, emphasis on "monstrously". It comes in RWD and AWD form. The RT trim with the 5.7L Hemi can do 0-60 in about 5.5 seconds and a 1/4 mile in the low 14s. My neighbor has the car and I've never driven anything like it. It weighs over 4000lbs, but it moves like a Ferrari. It's also technically not an SUV, rather a hatchback, but still. Sex!

 

[SteveMeister]

It weighs over 4000lbs, but it moves like a Ferrari. It's also technically not an SUV, rather a hatchback, but still. Sex!

Actually the Magnum is classified as a station wagon, not a hatchback.

 

[Vormund]

We just bought new Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDI....impressive beast, only engine should be atleast 2.2 or 2.4...

Are you in Europe?

Here in Aus we get a 2.7 V6.

 

[AlphaSnake]

Actually the Magnum is classified as a station wagon, not a hatchback.

Same crap.

 

[DrM]

Are you in Europe?

yup

Here in Aus we get a 2.7 V6.

2.7 V6 is also available here , but dad insisted on diesel engine. Great car for 22,500 €