Why did you buy the truck/SUV that you did?

[zeeboy47]

I leased my Highlander because Ovr50 convinced me to get it

[ovr50]

No pressure there, yikes, sure hope it was right for you, zee. 

[Snowman]

I got our 2002 Toyota Highlander for the following reasons:

Reliability
Quality
Practicality
Residual value
Economic

At the time I was replacing a full size Ford F-150 4x4 SSSB truck as a primary family vehicle. 

[zeeboy47]

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllll.

1500 Kms on it in 2 months, and wifey loves it. I'm still having trouble with the DBW, and the neck snapping. Heck, I learned to talk, so I should be able to learn to control my foot

BTW, I got the pirelli scorpion winter tires, and so far love them. They are actually quieter than the OEM duelers. Going to TO next week, and should be able to better comment on some of the comfort items, and the overall driving experience.

Pushed it a bit last week in the few inches of snow we received, and it was amazing: felt like dry pavement. Wife was with me, so I could not take it to the extremes, but it well within anything she will ever do with it. Next few months and the snow we will receive will either make me become a convert to AWD, or long for the 4X4.

Regards,

[03_ap1]

We bought a 06 Grand Vitara JLX-Leather.  We also looked at RAV4, X-Trail, CRV, and a few just out of price range - FX35 and BMW X3.

We live in the upper ottawa valley (pembroke area)

CRV Cons
- I shouldn't have to pay for foglights as an accessory on the top of the line model
- CRV has that goofy steering column shifter.
- getting into Pilot territory after all the bells and whistles are added.
- engine, or lack of it.

X-Trail Cons
-boxy look
-instrument cluster in the centre
-generaly too utilitarian both exterior and interior - not much luxury.

Rav4 Cons
-too small
-engine
-salesman was a jerk - you loose Toyota

FX35 and X3
-both gorgeous trucks but $$$$$$

We fell in love with the GV the first time we drove it.  Its primarily my wife's ride, so her needs would need to be addressed.  She wanted good looks, semi luxo interior, power everything, and FOGLIGHTS (she's obsessed with fogs...dunno).  Full time 4x4 is a bonus, along with the selectible Hi/Low feature.  We get lots of snow in the winter, so the TCS/ESP is a nice safety feature to have in your back pocket.  The sound system is great with the 6 speaker/sub/XM ready setup.  Nice projector headlights, although not HID, still have the nice cutoff and glimmer different shades on the bumps while looking head on.  The Black/tan leather combo is very very nice, and makes you forget you're driving a suzuki.  While the engine isn't stellar, its fine for our needs.  Decent towing capacity is good for the small trailers with toys (bikes, jet skiis etc...)

Overall, in the 30K range of small-med size SUV, in my opinion, nothing beats this vehicle.

[G0dspd]

From what I've read in this thread, the majority of the people who bought SUVs could have went with a minivan ... cargo space, driving height, passenger space, etc.  Those things are quite luxurious now ... AWD systems and all the gimmicks you want.  But I do get why you guys don't want a minivan ... it's a guy things I guess.  Also, almost all the vehicles mentionned in here are not "real" trucks or SUVs ... except for the Dakotas.  The HL/RX and MDX/Pilot are very nice vehicules but they have Camry and Odyssey platforms, but that's what you want I guess ... something that looks sporty but drives like a car.

[pg2676]

Bought my 03 Liberty for the following reasons...

Decent Price (Less expensive than the Highlander I wanted.)
Decent Ground Clearance (I travel through some fairly rough areas)
Full Time 4WD
Strong Suspension
Can tow up to 5000lbs if needed.
OK power


I want to get rid of it for the following reasons...

Too small for both people and cargo, especially if you have a family.
Rear seats do not fold flat (What a pain!)
Crappy fuel economy (Expected)
Short wheelbase makes it squirrelly on ice, even in 4wd

[safristi]

gta_driver above gives the best reason yet......"since I have a little one.........!!!!"..........DODGE'in and weavin'......

[y2chuck]

bought an 03 VUE because we really like the smoothness of the CVT and the look of it, plus we've owned a bunch of Saturns and love the whole Saturn buying experience.  We looked at the Santa Fe, Escape and Liberty, but the VUE seemed to be the perfect size and feel for us at the time.  The interior is terrible, but it's very comfy to drive and easy to pack the little one in and outta the car seat.

[jzmtl]

Aww come on am I the only one who bought a real suv?  (just kidding)

Jeep TJ, because there is just nothing else like it. What else out there can be driven with no top, no door, and even no windshield?

[G0dspd]

A tractor?     They have about the same handling and suspension. 

[AVToller]

I drove a friend's TJ for a day about 3 years ago. I'd take the tractor!! 

[mdxtasy]

 

[UmroAyyar]

Tractors are actually not that bad, I travelled on a tractor for about 60km 10 years ago. Its a fun ride, nothing beats off-roading capabilities. 

[Giant Dwarf]

There are so many great reasons to buy an SUV:

1)  All my friends had one, so I wanted to fit in
2)  Only bleeding heart commies cry about the 'gas crisis'
3)  I saw it snow here once, so I'd better prepare for the next dumping of 2" of the white stuff and then drive faster than all the prudent, careful drivers on the road and spin my over-priced glutton-mobile into the ditch
4)  I need to carry my kids around and they can't go anywhere without 75 cubic feet worth of cribs, carriages, strollers, mobile DVD units, Jolly Jumpers, and 60 lbs of clothing
5)  It makes me feel 'gangsta'
6)  I can only be safe on the highway by having a 6-ton, poor-handling, long-braking monstrosity
7)  Minivans are uncool (though more practical... and probably better performing)
  A sport wagon couldn't possibly make it down the flat gravel road to my Muskoka cottage... could it?
9)  Small genitals need compensation and a big, manly truck can help
10)  I need to pull a 1500lb utility trailer with some scrap wood or dirt twice a year.

(and now I duck, cover and run)...

[ovr50]

Aww come on am I the only one who bought a real suv?  (just kidding)

Jeep TJ, because there is just nothing else like it. What else out there can be driven with no top, no door, and even no windshield?

You have had a rocky welcome to your first post here, jzmtl. Take heart, a lot of it is joking. A Jeep TJ can be fun in the summer and it is certainly a unique vehicle. It's not always the most practical or comfortable rig but it can do things offroad that many vehicles cannot. If it suits your needs, good for you and congrats. Personally, I can see having in the Okanagan where I live; but I would never have it as my only vehicle.

As to all the SUV-knocking, we've heard it all before. Buy what works for you, and leave the rest of us alone. 

[AVToller]

Jeff -    * - 4-1/2 affs.

[mdxtasy]

There are so many great reasons to buy an SUV:

1)  All my friends had one, so I wanted to fit in
2)  Only bleeding heart commies cry about the 'gas crisis'
3)  I saw it snow here once, so I'd better prepare for the next dumping of 2" of the white stuff and then drive faster than all the prudent, careful drivers on the road and spin my over-priced glutton-mobile into the ditch
4)  I need to carry my kids around and they can't go anywhere without 75 cubic feet worth of cribs, carriages, strollers, mobile DVD units, Jolly Jumpers, and 60 lbs of clothing
5)  It makes me feel 'gangsta'
6)  I can only be safe on the highway by having a 6-ton, poor-handling, long-braking monstrosity
7)  Minivans are uncool (though more practical... and probably better performing)
  A sport wagon couldn't possibly make it down the flat gravel road to my Muskoka cottage... could it?
9)  Small genitals need compensation and a big, manly truck can help
10)  I need to pull a 1500lb utility trailer with some scrap wood or dirt twice a year.

(and now I duck, cover and run)...

Don't let that convertible of yours blow away that hairline of yours buddy. 

[Snowman]

There are so many great reasons to buy an SUV:

1)  All my friends had one, so I wanted to fit in
2)  Only bleeding heart commies cry about the 'gas crisis'
3)  I saw it snow here once, so I'd better prepare for the next dumping of 2" of the white stuff and then drive faster than all the prudent, careful drivers on the road and spin my over-priced glutton-mobile into the ditch
4)  I need to carry my kids around and they can't go anywhere without 75 cubic feet worth of cribs, carriages, strollers, mobile DVD units, Jolly Jumpers, and 60 lbs of clothing
5)  It makes me feel 'gangsta'
6)  I can only be safe on the highway by having a 6-ton, poor-handling, long-braking monstrosity
7)  Minivans are uncool (though more practical... and probably better performing)
  A sport wagon couldn't possibly make it down the flat gravel road to my Muskoka cottage... could it?
9)  Small genitals need compensation and a big, manly truck can help
10)  I need to pull a 1500lb utility trailer with some scrap wood or dirt twice a year.

(and now I duck, cover and run)...

Don't let that convertible of yours blow away that hairline of yours buddy. 

 

[Gwendly]

I looked at several SUV's and decided to go with the Nissan X-trail XE FWD. I did however look @ several others:

Subaru Forester 2.5X
Pro's:

• Fun to drive, escpeically the manual tranny one
• Standard AWD
• Visibility
• Mileage

Con's:

• My fiance hate's the look of it
• Only one dealership, VERY far to drive if they fold :/
• Not very comfortable seats or legroom
• High price - equvivalent (sp?) of medium sized SUV's

Toyota Rav4 Base 4-cyl
Pro's:

• Handling
• Reliability

Con's:

• Wheel in the back is just wrong
• 7.8% toyota financing? Even with a bankrate it's not better than around  ~5ish%
• High price with "essential" options

Nissan X-trail XE FWD
Pro's:

• 1.8% financing and $2000 incentive, nice
• Steering, like butter
• Plastic for inside, easy to hose off when you have muddy camping stuff
• Has just enough stuff, not tons of useless options that I'm never going to use
• Tons of "extra" nooks and crannies for maps etc. "Heated/cooled" storage is nice on long trips. Hidden power for cell phones while I'm at work so I don't have to worry about someone braking into my car for a $100 cellphone :/
  

Con's:

• Gauges in the center. It didn't take long to get used to but will it affect my secondary value?
• Would have been nice to be able to atleast get the leather/heated seats without going to the expensive LE option
• Small center console

Let me explain some of my reasoning. I drive mainly in the city (I commute about 25-30 mins a day) , but the roads in Winnipeg are borderline on Offroading () so AWD was not a priority for me. The few times a year I go camping it's not exactly hardcore-in-the-middle-of-the-bush-where-not-even-wild-life-would-consider-going-because-it's-too-much-like-the-wildlife (lol) Secondly I don't mind driving manual tranny but my other half isn't exactly crazy about that, the fact that we're planning a family isn't exactly something that make the manual tranny a better choice either.

My personal fav was the Forester, the X-trail as 2nd option and Rav4 or Saturn Vue as third. Some of the other makes I barely looked at. Looking at the CR-V was enough to semi blind me It really looks like it was designed by kids using a etch-a-sketch  . The dealership was pretty adement about me going with the SE instead of the XE talking about the great sunroof and yadada. Frankly I don't think I'd ever use that. I have a convertible Mustang (something I pointed out to him) and if I want to see the sky I'll use that It's more fun to drive than any ol' SUV anyways Just not very practical when your trying to renovate a house or go camping. Just picture going back and forth 10 times with shingles because I could only take 2 boxes at a time. I almost would have been better off getting someone to install my roof instead of DIYing myself, geez

crazy long post, sorry about that