new/used vehicle recomendations

[joe603]

I'm looking for SUV suggestions. I currently have an 2008 Mitsu Outlander XLS which is a bit too plain for my tastes. I'd like to upgrade...any suggestions? Doesn't have to be Nissan/Infiniti.

One thing is that I HATE CVT transmissions...and would like AWD.

Whatcha got?

[biggie]

If you afford the gas (assume you can since you are looking for SUV) I loved my 3.5L Pathfinder and was great if you don't need the 7 seats. Can get AWD or the 4x4 with transfer box (little better for offroad/bad weather). Plenty of accessories for the roof.

[telcoman]

I'm looking for SUV suggestions. I currently have an 2008 Mitsu Outlander XLS which is a bit too plain for my tastes. I'd like to upgrade...any suggestions? Doesn't have to be Nissan/Infiniti.

One thing is that I HATE CVT transmissions...and would like AWD.

Whatcha got?

Joe

Check out the April 2011 Auto issue of Consumer Reports

There are small SUV's, Midsize Suv's Luxury Suv's, and Large Suv's with comments on all of them

Perhaps you could begin to narrow your choice by starting there?

Good Luck

Telcoman

[SVTCOBRA]

I agree with Telcoman. I was just looking online at CR and they group them based on size/sport/off-road. Plus they have recommended models in every category. Might be a good place to start!

Also agree with Biggie.
Loved my 01 3.5L 4x4 5MT Pathy!! Was great in the sand at the beach!!!

[joe603]

Not to hijack my own thread...but guess what car is CR's top pick for sports sedan....

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars ... /index.htm

[audtatious]

I just spent 8 days with a 2011 Ford Edge. In general, not a bad vehicle. Had the full touch display and sync system which worked ok but was a tad difficult to deal with and very touchy. I really liked the dash/gauge layout. Driving position took a bit to get used to but after a while it seemed comfortable. From a space perspective Ford has done a good job as it is very roomy and easily swallowed up all our luggage with room for more. I hated where the cigarette lighter was on the passenger side console as it was too far away to use the mute button on my radar detector plug.

I had this vehicle up in the NC Blue Ridge Mountains and at times it seemed a lumbering pig. The ride up to the cabin was quite a steep upgrade in which I could only get up it with traction control off and spinning the rear tires most of the way up. The first time up I was bogged down 1/2 way due to TC. Each time I reached the cabin the vehicle smelled hot. Guess it had it's own "burn in" to do as it only had 5700 miles on it when I returned it (I ran 4 tanks of gas through it). In curves it seemed nose heavy and dived somewhat uncomfortably quite a bit. The breaks seems to work well. One real annoyance while driving it down hills it seemed to automatically catch a lower gear when in drive. For those with a G37 it's like putting the car in Drive Sport mode and driving around at 50mph, you can feel the rev's are up but it never goes up a gear.....eventually you would feel it go back into OD or top gear in the Edge but I felt it was somewhat gas-wasteful if they intentionally setup the vehicle that way. Manual/sport mode meant putting the selector in "M" and pressing buttons on the shifter, much less fun than the G. Headlights SUCKED (halogen projectors).

The non-sport version has 285hp and 253tq and did pretty good from a roll. Not killer off the line but was quite comfortable getting out of its own way and acceleration/passing.

Here's the hill, the steepest area is off the picture to the right....I would hate to get to this house during the winter. You can make out where the tires were spinning most of the way up (and I still barely made it to the curve each time)


And the Edge


Dash

[biggie]

^Where were you at? Should have just come on down this way.

[joe603]

Nice review Matt! Still looks too minivan-ish for me, and it's a ford. I guess I still have some bow-tie blood in me. I just spent some time in a 2011 Altima rental. Re-affirmed my hatred for CVT transmissions.

[biggie]

Nice review Matt! Still looks too minivan-ish for me, and it's a ford. I guess I still have some bow-tie blood in me. I just spent some time in a 2011 Altima rental. Re-affirmed my hatred for CVT transmissions.

Used Rogue a possibility? Don't know if they had a standard transmission option.

[joe603]

Too small. We test drove a Rogue before we bought the Outlander. Too small and only a 4 cyl. She hated the Murano too. Both have the CVT anyway.

New FX35's are expensive! Just got a quote of 42k OTD for one with a premium pkg.

[audtatious]

Try a used one, they all have the same VQ35 anyway.

[audtatious]

^Where were you at? Should have just come on down this way.

I was in West Jefferson for 7 days and then spent part of a day in Charlotte to visit relatives.

[biggie]

^Where were you at? Should have just come on down this way.

I was in West Jefferson for 7 days and then spent part of a day in Charlotte to visit relatives.

Very good golf course in W Jefferson (Mountaire). Sorry you had to got to CLT though.

[audtatious]

I've had no issue with CLT but we actually flew into and out of GSP

[biggie]

I've had no issue with CLT but we actually flew into and out of GSP

I hate the big city and the traffic down there. Same goes for Raleigh. I grew up about an hour north of CLT and hardly ever went there.

[audtatious]

Yeah, I was in Matthews and it was quite a bit busy.