Next vehicle

[swamptiger]

Shopping for the next vehicle for my wife. She puts on about 35K per year, so we'll be trading about September or so next year. She's currently driving an 07 Ford Focus hatchback. The Focus has been a good vehicle - about the only real issue is it tends to chop the rear tires if you don't rotate on a regular basis. We've been told that this is becasue it is too light in the rear end, so is normal for a Focus. Another minor issue is it only holds about 10 or 11 gallons of fuel - so about 300 miles between fills.

She want's to go to a little bigger vehicle that still delivers good gas mileage, and we've narrowed it down to the Chevy Equinox, Ford Escape, and the Subaru Forester so far. She test drove the Forester, and really likes it.

Any experiences with these three vehicles - good or bad?

[peerchking]

My wife has a 08 equinox with the 6 cylinder all wheel drive and loves it.It gets 22-24 daily driving and 26-30 on trips, We plan on trading this one in for a new one in 1-2 years, I got a new silverodo in Feb. and it has blue tooth, wich is great and the new equinox comes with it, so well be shopping soon.

[spearchucker]

The Subarus are supposed to be pretty nice. Good mileage and all-wheel drive. Your wife may have other women asking her out for dates in a Subaru though...

[TR21HP]

Especially a white Outback!

[swamptiger]

Quote:

The Subarus are supposed to be pretty nice. Good mileage and all-wheel drive. Your wife may have other women asking her out for dates in a Subaru though...

Didn't look that sexy to me, but I guess it's all in the eyes of the beholder.. One thing we liked about the Subaru is they have an "all-weather" package - heated seats, mirrors, and heated glass where the wipers rest. That, and the all-wheel drive should make for a winter winter package. Very quiet, good handling, nice ride..

[Scott K]

The all new 2011 Ford Explorers look to be really nice, and boost great fuel mileage.

[swamptiger]

Quote:

The all new 2011 Ford Explorers look to be really nice, and boost great fuel mileage.

I've read about them, but I think they might be a little out of our price range. We'll be looking for a low mileage lease vehicle (under 30k) in the 15 to 20 price range.

[MNice]

My wife has an 09 outback sport (fancy impreza) Absolutely loves it, handles real nice, 27/28 mpg all around, cold weather pkg. Loves the heated seats, does have high/low setting.

Yes, her brother did ask her when she became a "switch hitter"

[Jeremy airjer W]

The Subaru or the Escape would be good choices. As long as there isn't a Thule kayak rack on the roof of the Subaru she'll be fine.

[swamptiger]

Quote:

As long as there isn't a Thule kayak rack on the roof of the Subaru she'll be fine.

Don't see her getting one of those.. She drove Dodge Caravans for years, so she's used to stigmas and not real concerned about it...

[BoxMN]

FWIW - My bro/sis-in-laws have a new Subaru OB and I drove it, pretty darn nice. Bigger than older year models, and feels pretty decent and roomy for what it is. It didn't come with rainbow sticker this time, last one did Bro-in-law says they got about 32 mpg driving cities to Brainerd area... Also have friend (farmers wife) who has a Ford Edge and she loves it, used to drive Explorers all the time. This is in NE ND and shes had it for a couple winters so far and still loves it.

[swamptiger]

We looked at one of the new OBs too, but she prefers the Forester. I think it has the same drive train though..

[Nate McVey]

My wifes been driving an Escape for a few years now and loves it. It handles well in the snow and ice, gets 23-25 mpg and hasn't had any mechanical issues so far.

[swamptiger]

Quote:

My wifes been driving an Escape for a few years now and loves it. It handles well in the snow and ice, gets 23-25 mpg and hasn't had any mechanical issues so far.

Is that the V-6?

[Jeremy airjer W]

My wifes been driving an Escape for a few years now and loves it. It handles well in the snow and ice, gets 23-25 mpg and hasn't had any mechanical issues so far.

Make sure you have the brake hoses inspected regularly!

[zamboni]

Can you lease an Escape Hybrid? If you can, thats what I would get

[CJH]

Used, I would say the Subie or the Escape. Both seem to be fairly solid.

Not a big fan of the old ones, but the new Equinox's are fantastic and get great mileage, so that would probably be a little out of your price range.

[BorderView]

My two cents.

Our family has had Subaru in the driveway since 1984. A 1984, 1990, 2000 and a 2003. All bought new. Can't beat them in the winter, we all know. But it is the reliability that has kept us coming back as other manufacturers introduce AWD vehicles. Nearly 700,000 miles on these four Subs and besides maintenance and consumables, we have replaced an oil sending unit, an injector, and one wheel bearing. That's it. No alternators, no steering components, no suspension parts. I don't know many others who have had such limited repairs on one vehicle, let alone four.

Maybe we have been lucky, but the current Sub is approaching 100K and nothing.

[Jeremy airjer W]

The Subaru's can be very dependable. Occasional you'll see one with a head gasket leaking externally but other than that its very rare to do anything major besides the timing belt.

[swamptiger]

Quote:

The Subaru's can be very dependable.

From what I've seen, they also seem to hold their resale value a little better than Ford or Chevy. We know several people who own Subarus, and they all have good things to say about them, so leaning pretty heavy in that direction right now..

[Macgyver55]

I can back up Airjer about the head gaskets. I just helped my neighbor do them in his Outback a few weeks ago.

[swamptiger]

Quote:

I can back up Airjer about the head gaskets. I just helped my neighbor do them in his Outback a few weeks ago.

How many miles? Was it a big job?

[Macgyver55]

Not sure but it was under 100,000.

A big job? Not really, but because we didnt have a hoist and the fact that they are horizontal, we opted to pull the motor and do it on a stand. I've done worse, but I can think of better ways to spend a weekend.

[Jeremy airjer W]

They are pretty easy to do in the car as well. Probably some of the easier head gaskets have done. I wouldn't let that deter you from your decision making. There are things that can go wrong with any of your other choices that can easily add up to more than one head gasket job in the life of the car.

One tune-up/coils, brake hoses, wheel bearing, fuel pump and an alternator on the escape would easily come in at the same price as one headgasket on a Subaru if it ever needed one!

[swamptiger]

Wouldn't be the first head gasket I've ever replaced, but it's good to know that it's not too bad of a job if it ever has to be done - never know nowadays, some of those vehicles are a nightmare to work on...