Thinking of getting a new vehicle, suggestions?

[Harley]

Hey Eric.

Did some measuring on the wife's CRV.

It should have enough height to handle the 36 but with the seats folded up you only get about 4.5' of length. Which might make for tight sleeping quarters. Even with the rear seats removed you would be hard pressed to get 6'.

[aarons]

Originally Posted by saskatchewanian

I still have a hard time believing 9.5 L/100km on a full sized truck with 4x4.

<off topic>
I wish we would measure fuel economy in gallons / 100 miles in the US. It would make comparing much easier. mpg makes no sense.
</off topic>

[maestro8]

Originally Posted by saskatchewanian

Travelling right now in a F350, hauling 2000lbs of gear in a custom wide box and getting better fuel economy than I do with my little explorer. It seems crazy but it makes the fuel efficiency numbers for some full sized trucks more believable.

If efficiency is your thing, why not look at diesel? Is that off the table?

Really, I don't think you can have your cake and eat it too. Either you get a vehicle that can haul or a vehicle that can save gas.

Originally Posted by aarons

mpg makes no sense

Wishing for something as whimsical as mpg vs. gpm makes no sense.

[Nurse Ben]

After seeing the load of stuff in Eric's Explorer and hearing about how he likes to drive on heavilly rutted and potholed dirt roads, a lightweight SUV is not going to cut it. CRV is a nice car that has sorta all wheel drive. I have an Element, same running gear, not a bad little car for paved roads, but they are not off road compatible on the scale needed in the great white north

Eric, a truck or a full sized SUV would be your best bet, a good AWD van would be nice but they are scarce these days. I'm holding out for the new Ford van set to replace the Econoline:

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2012/03...-ecoboost.html

Ecoboost, rear wheel drive, and possibility of TDI and AWD in the future

[Samstoney]

These go anywhere and get reasonable mileage too:

http://www.imz-ural.com/gearup/

Sam

[saskatchewanian]

If someone made a small truck or mid-sized SUV for Canada with a little turbo diesel I would be all over it.

Unfortunately diesel 4X4 doesn't seem to exist in a new vehicle smaller than a 3/4 ton, unless you are looking at $70 000+ SUVs


The motorbike is cool, but I think I would rather have that bike in the back of my main vehicle than as my main vehicle.



Leaning towards an F150, the Ranger with manual transmission just isn't rated for towing, any of the other 1/4 tons cost as much as a full size, and it would be nice to have a full sized truck in the family again for towing etc.

Lets see how my financial situation looks this summer, assuming the explorer lasts that long.

[unibabyguy]

Originally Posted by saskatchewanian

I just punched some numbers and it is ridiculous how much money goes into keeping a vehicle going. looks like in the last 3 years I spent something like $53,000 keeping my current vehicle going (including gas, oil, maintenance, insurance). That is a lot of money to spend on something I never really liked in the first place.

Is that $53,000 a typo? Canadian dollars are about the same now as US dollars, right?

I have a hard time believing anyone could spend that much on something like a Ford Explorer. What is your major expense?

I spend maybe US$2500 on gas/oil/maintenance/insurance per year on a 28 year old vehicle, driving around 7500 miles/yr and doing most maintenance myself.

[saskatchewanian]

188 000 km in 3 years

Our fuel costs about half again as much as yours.

I drive on crappy roads.

Things keep on breaking.

[mbalmer]

I tow motorcycles with my Subaru Baja. They don't make the Baja any longer, but any Subaru would be great. My Baja has a 2000 pound tow limit. My bikes and trailer together are probably 600-800 pounds. Pulls up/down hills as if you are towing nothing, AWD, 25 mpg (average), comfortable enough. Check out a Subaru. They also hold their value!! I also have an HHR. Good little car, but not for what you require.

[aarons]

Originally Posted by maestro8

Wishing for something as whimsical as mpg vs. gpm makes no sense.

Blah blah. Snark snark

[maestro8]

Originally Posted by aarons

Blah blah. Snark snark

How very thoughtful and enlightening. Go on.

[saskatchewanian]

mpg - vs - gpm just depends if you want to know how far you can go with the fuel you have or how much fuel it will take to get to a particular destination.

Either way I would be very happy with something capable and fun that got 10 L/100km, or 23.5 mpg or 4.25 gallons/100 miles.


I just wish that the clutch wasn't weak on the manual transmission rangers or I would buy a manual Ranger Fx4 at a dealership here in Labrador and bring it back. You just don't see many manuals with the Fx4 package.

[BillyTheMountain]

anyone within reasonable distance of NYC have a used car for sale?

Not an SUV our anything super, just a basic utility sedan or such.

[Hazmat]

I own a Mazda 2 and am very proud of it.

[saskatchewanian]

So my search for a new vehicle has taken some interesting turns and seems to be settling at two opposite ends of the spectrum.

What I feel I want is something like a Nissan Fronteer Crew Cab with 6' box. Actually I prefer the looks of the Suzuki clone but it isn't available in Canada.

But the thing is I can get an F150 for less money with the crazy rebates that ford has right now on the full sized trucks ($8000 for a 4x4 crew cab), and the full sized truck miraculously gets better fuel efficiency along with its full-sized capabilities. It is hard to ignore what you are giving up by paying more for a smaller truck.


On the opposite end of the spectrum I stumbled on the Mazda CX-5. A small but stylish X-over car thingy.

Really what caught my attention was it's looks. you have to admit it is pretty sexy. Then I started looking at what it could do and what it couldn't.

I would have to give up recreational flinging of mud and random excursions down ATV trails that I really shouldn't be on but could still make it down the logging roads to all the old favourite party spots.

I could probably pull one ski-doo on a small trailer (2000 lb tow rating) but the boat or two machines would be really pushing it.

Upright 36" uni? not likely.

What I really need to know is if I can stretch out in the back if I build a bed that fits over the wheel well, if you can fit a full-sized spare wherever the spare goes, and how it handles on rough gravel and washboard.


The price is a bit steep (more than a basic 4x4 F150, less than the Frontier) but if the thing works I would almost be able to make the payments from the money not spent on fuel.


I think I am going to have to arrange some test drives.