My Mom's lookin' for an SUV

[4low]

ok, So I got a phone call from my mom, and she wants to start lookin' for an SUV. (used probably)
~15k to spend.
must be auto, 4wd, and have some options ie: AC, pdl, pw, and maybe command start.
decent fuel ecomony is a must....
Anyway, I don't know too much about various Urban 4x4's and thought I'd ask opinions of others on here re: what is worth looking at and what to avoid.

Thanks.
Mike

[bae146]

Good luck with the fueleconomy and 4wd.  The two do not go had in hand.  Unless she goes small suv... ie chevy tracker, honda crv or that little toyota.  The ford escape and mazda tribute are the same basic truck just different interriors.

Good luck

[henry]

If she wants fuel economy, do not get a Jeep Liberty with a 3.7L V6.  Ours is horrible on gas (has OK power) and I drive like an old woman.  The four banger Liberty may be better on gas, but I haven't driven one with a four banger so I can't say how underpowered they are.  Other than the gas mileage issues, and people laughing at you because they think its not a real Jeep, they are ok.

Darren :twisted:

[michie]

Hey just cause you don't get good milage <laugh>  Granted I only get 500km per tank

[henry]

We MIGHT get 410km on the highway.  Thats flat land, on the way to Kindersley SK (400km from our house in NW Calgary), with no wind (yes I said NO wind) doing the speed limit.  I would only try it in the summer and its on fumes when we arrive there.  I would fill in Oyen or Hanna normally just to be safe.  Great vehicle, dependable, reliable and virtually no problems, just crappy gas mileage.  If the diesel version wasn't so $$$, that would definitely be the way to go.

Darren

[Hirosimez]

~15k to spend.
decent fuel ecomony is a must....

Thanks.
Mike

I would say that a either a Toyota RAV4 or a Subaru Foreter are the things to go for.
The former is likely to something like 11K for Y1998 to 15 for Y2000-2001.
The latter is more expensive, 12-13K for 1998 to 14-15K for 1999 from what I saw.

Toyota is more fuel efficient as it is 2.0L only. Has no obvious weaknesses, rides somewhat firmly, but no racer (in other words - sluggish).

Scoobie is great handler and runner (2.5L is very smooth and torquey), especially on long-distance trips, viscous coupling provides a degree of central locking here. It is also slightly bigger inside, with perfect visibility. It definetly got a soft spot in my heart. But here is a warning: that 2.5 engine is prone to overheating and blowing the head(s) gasket, and keeping the coolant fresh and the rad clean is critical.

Both will deal with mild off-roading (getting to a favourite fishing/barbeque spot or a ski resort or just fighting off a snowstorm), if you remember that these are just jacked up passenger cars.

[4low]

Cool, thanks for the pointers guys!

She's back in town tomorrow, so I'll talk with her and we'll hunt around and see what materializes!

Thanks again!