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Thoughts on SUV?

Yakoo752

Yakoo752

USN
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Location
Rosé "near" the bay
Moto(s)
M900
Name
Mateusz
BARF perks
AMA # 3164290
I've always loved the Jeep Grand Cherokee

I've owned 2 myself.

Wife is interested in getting 1. We went and test drove the Hemi V8 Overland Summit at the Jeep dealer on Stevens Creek. I've heard the V6s weren't up to snuff in the last few years.

We REALLY liked it but completely hated the dealer experience so we bailed. Stop trying to upsell me and sell me what I want. Give me numbers and stop trying to play around with APRs and trade-in value BS to "get me into a better vehicle"

Now it gives me time to do some research and ASK YOU

What SUV would you get - 2015 under $40k

what say you?

I asked for 3 numbers when I walked in the dealer. Trade In value on her car, msrp on the V8 limited and the V8 Hemi. That's all the info I need to make my decision... I don't want you running my credit to see what loan I can get (I don't need it). I don't want you trying to stretch the loan out to 72 months to up me into the next vehicle.
 
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last time i bought a new vehicle I did the dealer search thing on the website and emailed the 5 closest dealerships.

I am buying X, this is when I'm buying it, send me your best OTD price and let me know when to come pick it up.

I buy all my crap used now but it worked really well for me then.
 
Year after year, Consumer Reports cannot recommend Jeep products due to reliability issues. I really like the way Cherokees look lately and the amenities, but just can't get excited about spending a lot of time at the dealers. This year is no exception. I think Jeep is the bottom or second to the bottom for reliabilty.

Not sure about trim packages and final price, but I remain a fan of the Highlander, my last car. But they have changed the design a bit in ways that I don't like. Our car guys here are big on the Lexus ones...I found that out when I was pondering the same question last spring....
 
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mikev said:
last time i bought a new vehicle I did the dealer search thing on the website and emailed the 5 closest dealerships.

I am buying X, this is when I'm buying it, send me your best OTD price and let me know when to come pick it up.

I buy all my crap used now but it worked really well for me then.
Click to expand...

I've got my Costco requests out now - it seems to really work in my favor. No haggle on price as it's not a dealer incentive (it's a corporate incentive)

I personally buy used myself. I've never owned a new depreciable asset

Bay Arean said:
Year after year, Consumer Reports cannot recommend Jeep products due to reliability issues. I really like the way Cherokees look lately and the amenities, but just can't get excited about spending a lot of time at the dealers. This year is no exception. I think Jeep is the bottom or second to the bottom for reliabilty.

Not sure about trim packages and final price, but I remain a fan of the Highlander, my last car. But they have changed the design a bit in ways that I don't like. Our car guys here are big on the Lexus ones...
Click to expand...

I had zero problems with mine - but I've heard the musings.

Highlander sits on a minivan platform now :barf but I do like the 4Runner
 
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I've heard they're pretty much the worst thing out there. The guy down the road has one that's maybe 4 years old and the interior is super floppy, haven't talked to him about it though. My kid's friend's parents bought one new, it's 2-3 years old and they hated it. Taken into the shop 9 times and had to sit there for over a month because of some safety related recall and there were like 300 vehicles in front of theirs and they wouldn't let them have it back until it was fixed. They have a pilot now and love it. They look good and have some cool features, but I'd never spend my own money on one. If I were in the market for a 2015 SUV under $40k, I'd change my criteria so I didn't force myself into buying a 2015 SUV for under $40k.
 
The new CR auto edition characterized the 4Runner in a fairly accurate way. I bought an 06 last spring and have now driven it long enough to agree with their points:
Noisy engine
Doesn't handle that great.
Not great gas mileage
Part time 4WD, not AWD.
Has good reliability.

It just seems that the 4Runner is on a stale trajectory though it gets the new electrical options and systems as all new cars do.. But it has its very loyal following because of various 4WD experiences people have had with them.

I am sorta happy with mine, but it is kinda doggy on acceleration, has a lot of cabin noise and is most definitely a truck-style ride. I haven't truly tested it in the mountains but I feel confident I can get around the forest with it.

Some of you remember that my car ate two serpentine belts in 800 miles. Seems like the first one was old, the second defective or poorly installed. I have gone 5K now on the last and I think that trouble is over, I hope...

I think Toyota hit the sweet spot 10 or more years ago in terms of a decent looking, reasonable size body vehicle. They keep puffing up the body sizes and screwing around. Those older ones would be great to buy, but people just drive the hell out of them, which is the endorsement proof.

For example, my 02 Highlander had what I think is simply better: an inside spare that is easy to access and inflate. The new ones put it back outside with all the rest of the crowd so they could offer the silly third seat option, which only works if your family is small people. A bad fit for America to me...
But I felt that 02 had really, really good body and mechanical integrity. It was a solid, stable and quiet car. Never broke down even once in the 130,000 miles I put on it. I hated trading it in, but I did want 4WD and better towing capacity. Imagine how I felt when it ate the first belt, less than 500 miles into my ownership.

Another things that's really weird is that the windshield is shorter than on the OLD Highlander. Also, the combo of grab bars and big towing mirrors actually causes a loss of visibility. In the first week I owned it, I almost t-boned a car coming up the hill to my right because I simply could not see it. That was weird.
 
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The new Grand Cherokees are cars, not trucks. 05+ has IFS, 11+ is 4 wheel independent.

Are you looking for a manly station wagon, or something that will actually leave pavement?
 
CPO Honda Pilot EXL / navigation pkg
 
Bay Arean said:
The new CR auto edition characterized the 4Runner in a fairly accurate way. I bought an 06 last spring and have now driven it long to agree with their points:
Noisy engine
Doesn't handle that great.
Not great gas mileage
Part time 4WD, not AWD.
Has good reliability.

It just seems that the 4Runner is on a stale trajectory though it gets the new electrical options and systems as all new cars do.. But it has its very loyal following because of various 4WD experiences people have.

I am sorta happy with mine, but it is kinda doggy on acceleration, has a lot of cabin noise and is most definitely a truck-style ride. I haven't truly tested it in the mountains but I feel confident I can get around the forest with it.

Some of you remember that my car ate two serpentine belts in 800 miles. Seems like the first one was old, the second defective or poorly installed. I have gone 5K now on the last and I think that trouble is over, I hope...

I think Toyota hit the sweet spot 10 or more years ago in terms of a decent looking, reasonable size body vehicle. They keep puffing up the body sizes and screwing around. Those older ones would be great to buy, but people just drive the hell out of them, which is the endorsement proof.

For example, my 02 Highlander had what I think is simply better: an inside spare that is easy to access and inflate. The new ones put it back outside with all the rest of the crowd so they could offer the silly third seat option, which only works if your family is small people. A bad fit for America to me...
Click to expand...

Unfortunate. I base my experience on 2002 models. CR still rates it above average but I would take your experience and their remarks into account when shopping. :thumbup


Edit.. I am also very disappointed with the "puffy truck" look. I think that describes it well. All show that does not appeal to me.
 
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Wormwood said:
Unfortunate. I base my experience on 2002 models. CR still rates it above average but I would take your experience and their remarks into account when shopping. :thumbup
Click to expand...

Yeah, they have had two body changes since that 02, in both Highlander and 4Runners. When it was time to trade it, and I went on the lots, my inner voice was asking, "why did we have to change that classic, simple look of that generation?" As it is, I got an 06 because it was the first change. The new ones just seem bigger and squarer than ever. I was lucky enough to find an 06 with about 40K on it. Most others of that age were well up to 100,000. Even newer ones had higher miles. People love em, notwisthanding described changes.

I'll say one other thing too. It's really weird, but my 02 highlander had MORE functional cargo area than the 06 4Runner. I guess its because of the 4WD suspsension, but its really a letdown, since we like to car camp and such and also, I haul a lot of music and sound gear to gigs. Highlander fit more. Just weird. It might say more on paper, but I know how things stack etc etc.
 
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I still prefer my 2007 4Runner with 100k on the clock to the new Jeeps I get as rentals.

I'd buy another 4Runner. :dunno
 
this is for the wife.

Junkie said:
The new Grand Cherokees are cars, not trucks. 05+ has IFS, 11+ is 4 wheel independent.

Are you looking for a manly station wagon, or something that will actually leave pavement?
Click to expand...

Snow trips so AWD/4WD is a requirement - but it's a no on Subaru.

V4 said:
CPO Honda Pilot EXL / navigation pkg
Click to expand...

no on Pilot - but thanks for the recommendation - she didn't like the amount of plastic in the interior cabin and I agreed, felt cheap

yodaisgod said:
You need a SUV or do you want a SUV?
Click to expand...

Who NEEDS an SUV?

Her economical choice is the Honda Accord. I offered her $10k so now she's looking at SUVs.
 
Right at the budget, but it's the Acura RDX. And not because I work for Acura either. It's that good.
 
Yakoo752 said:
Snow trips so AWD/4WD is a requirement - but it's a no on Subaru.
Click to expand...

rental SUV.

even before the drought, as a powder junkie, i rarely had to drive in fresh snow and i was TRYING to get up there in time to do it. if you live in tahoe, mammoth, or some other CA locale that gets regular snow i'll believe 4x4/awd as a requirement.

if snow capability is a real requirement but you don't live in a snow zone, get some
spikes-spiders that install in about 30 seconds instead of paying for the SUV.
 
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