Looking to buy small-midsize SUV

[93AccordLXwhite]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll try and address some of your issues:

Originally Posted by Slick61

after getting sideswiped while parked along Santa Monica Blvd, I am a BIG fan of the polymer panels on the Vue... was able to detail out all of the damage. No door dings to worry about either. I have the same engine/transmission as the Pilot & MDX, but in a smaller, lighter package. It doesn't have the cachet of the MDX, but its smaller size is more maneuverable... a big plus in L.A. I had looked at the CRV & Element before I bought the Vue... but wanted more power for getting through the passes effortlessly. The Pilot & MDX were just too big for my tastes. Almost every time someone gets in my Vue for the first time, the most frequent reaction is "wow, this is roomy!" The Honda engine & transmission are what really sold me on the Vue tho... definitely gives it an upscale feel (and does not require premium fuel).

An explorer's too big, but you're looking at a Ridgeline? Ditto for the Pilot/MDX... they're all pretty good size. Size was one reason I got rid of my Lincoln Mark VIII... too big to navigate the tight confines of L.A.

But whatever... but what makes you happy...

I didn't know that the Vue had the same engine/transmission as the Pilot/MDX, thanks for the info. I've heard that the Saturn panels are prone to 'cracking,' do you know anything about that myth? It's kind of tough to describe size, it's something that the buyer(mom) will have to give the final judgement on. The MDX looks smaller IMO from the outside, curved panels, more angles in the front end. The Pilot is more 'bulky' to me, straighter sides, etc. Again, everybody's got their own opinion. When I said Explorer I meant the older models, not the new line. I don't know too much about makes other than Honda/Acura, so I don't know the exact years of the cars I listed. That's why I was hoping for constructive criticism and help to narrow down the choices. I'm guessing that a used Explorer with very low mileage and well taken care of would still be well under $25,000.

The Explorer I had in mind was the 1st generation, 1991-1994 which I realize is too old.
Here's a link to a picture of it. 1st Gen Explorer As you can see, it doesn't look very big. Sorry for the confusion, it's hard for me to describe what someone else wants. The list I put out was very basic, but I'll go back and spend some time cutting it down and adding more information on each car.

Another major factor is handling, which is a personal issue. She is looking for a vehicle that is easy to park.

[93AccordLXwhite]

Originally Posted by BlackElantraGT

IMO, your list is all screwed up. You say it "Must be reliable" yet some of the cars on the list are far from that. The title of your thread is for a small-midsize SUVs, yet some of the cars you listed aren't even in the same size class. Your mom says she doesn't want to be a guinea pig for Hyundai or Kia, yet she's coming from a Dodge Caravan that you even mentioned wasn't great, maintenance-wise. And to make it even worse, she only has a $24,000 price limit and you're excluding a lot of the cars because it's not "your cup of tea.". Sounds to me like this is more about what Jr wants than what Mom wants. Good luck with your search.

I understand now that I didn't include enough information on the vehicles on the list to be clear. I'll work on updating it tonight. Sorry for the confusion, I realize you can only help as much as I allow.

I listed what I knew to be SUVs that my mom would possibly be interested in. I do not know a lot about the reliability issues of the cars I chose, or specific problems to each model. I never stated I did, in fact I asked everyone to help me out by telling me of problems with any of the ones I listed or experiences they've personally had.

As for Kias/Hyundais/Izuzus, I'm sorry, she's just not interested in them. That doesn't mean they're bad cars, I've heard many good things about Hyundais, it just means that she's not going to get one. Again, buying a car is a personal choice. Are the cars I'm excluding the Kias and Hyundais and Izuzus? I don't mean to be misleading, she is the one excluding them, not me. I'm trying to be as open and unbiased as possible. Normally I am totally biased towards Hondas/Acuras But I'm trying to cover as many models and makes as I can think of. I currently know little about other models(besides Honda/Acura) which is why I'd love your input

My mom is also looking at this and giving her personal input as I write and respond so much of what is written are her ideas.

[93AccordLXwhite]

Originally Posted by barryscott

Hey Now:
Wife recently bought an 07 Honda SC Element. Never had liked the E until I rode and drove the car. Lots of room inside, Honda built, enough said. Give it a try with a open mind and I think mom might just be in an Element. If you can find left over 07 on the lot, you can expect to pay about $1500 below INVOICE. Honda has an $1000 marketing support now until 9-4-2007 and low apr from Honda. The only thing I see that the E does not have in your requirements, is it is a 4 seater, but has huge cargo space. Got ours for $21,149 before taxes and title. Hope this helps

I remember being really excited when the Element first came out. It's extremely versatile and can withstand a lot of interior messes i.e. spills, pet hair etc. Unfortunately my mom doesn't like it:

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[BlackElantraGT]

Have you considered a Toyota Highlander? I don't know what it MSRP for, but if she was driving a CRV, the Highlander is probably its biggest competition. Plus, it's hard to beat Toyota or Honda when it comes to reliability.

I understand her feelings about Hyundai and Kia. I used to be one of those people. When I thought of Korean cars, it reminded me of a beat up Excel I used to see when walking home from grade school. As kids, we'd use to make fun of it. The only car that got more teased about at that time was a Pinto.

To truly appreciate it, you have to get in one and drive it. And then compare it to the competition and realize its bang-for-the buck factor. And considering her budget is limited, I think she could benefit by being just a little more open-minded and giving it a try. Doesn't hurt right?

Hyundai/Kia still isn't in at the level that Toyota or Honda is at, but they're getting there. If you have the money, I would go for the Japanese maker. In the end, you'll pay less in insurance, have better reliability, and it'll maintain its resale value better. But if you don't have the money now, then a Hyundai might be a good choice because you'll get more car for the same money. But any money you save now you will pay for it in the long run. In the end, a Japanese car will more likely be cheaper to own. So basically it comes down to whether you want to pay now, or pay more later down the road.

[SpoiledMan]

Originally Posted by BlackElantraGT

Have you considered a Toyota Highlander? I don't know what it MSRP for, but if she was driving a CRV, the Highlander is probably its biggest competition.

Toyota's competitor to the CRV would be the Rav4. The Highlander compares to the Pilot.

[BlackElantraGT]

Originally Posted by SpoiledMan

Toyota's competitor to the CRV would be the Rav4. The Highlander compares to the Pilot.

Thanks for the correction, SpoiledMan! That's what I was thinking of, the Rav4 not the Highlander. I remembered he had 4Runner on the list, but that didn't seem to fit in the category of what he was looking for.

[93AccordLXwhite]

I've ovehauled the list and added years to the models, hope it helps. I've heard negative things about the Rav4 but that was quite a while ago..

[Slick61]

Originally Posted by 93AccordLXwhite

I've heard that the Saturn panels are prone to 'cracking,' do you know anything about that myth? Another major factor is handling, which is a personal issue. She is looking for a vehicle that is easy to park.

Have not heard of any "cracking-related" issues with the polymer panels... tho if hit hard enough, they would crack instead of causing a dent. They have just enough give to fend off most domestic parking perils. If hit HARD (to the point where they'd crack), you'd probably be looking a panel replacement... which is not that big of a deal. The Vue construction is pretty modular.

as for parking... the Vue is pretty easy. The electric-assisted steering is very light, and visibility is good. You can see all four corners of the vehicle clearly.

another plus... low insurance rates. The Vue has excellent crash test scores... and yes, side curtain airbags are available.

The Vue's not perfect, though its downsides are tolerable. Because of the modular construction, there lots of places that retain water after washing, so if you're anal retentive about proper washing/detailing, a typical wash will take about 90 mnutes. Also, there's a lot of plastic in this crossover, so a few squeaks (plastic on plastic) are to be expected on occasion. It's not a LandCruiser, nor is it as expensive as one. The steering is a tad on the light side for my tastes, and is extremely direct (no dead spot on-center), so you have to watch when looking over your shoulder (on the freeway) that you don't change lanes. The interior on the pre-'06 models tends to look a little plasticky... but it's durable.

avoid the 4 cylinder models with the CVT. The 4 cylinder engine is fine, but the CVT is a well-known trouble-spot. The AWD system is also another potential maintenance issue, so avoid that as well. Other than a scheduled recall servicing, my Vue has been flawless for the past 3 years.

[SpoiledMan]

If she liked the MDX and they're available why is she still looking?

[BigJimZ28]

I think you/your mom should test drive the VUE
we did and never looked back it has been a great car
we have a rain foreast green 04 just like slick61
with the V6 and AWD and at 40,xxx miles there have been no problems with it

I think the panel cracking is just a bad info because people are scared of new technology

and it parks like a dream with the electric stearing
but if you are talking about high speed handling there is a red line version with stiffer suspension

[cjv998]

Even with me being a huge foreign car fan, I'm going to have to mention the Ford Escape / Mercury Mariner. You can get AWD, and even a hybrid version on newer models. Only thing is it seems a little small compared to most of the other ones you've looked at. Other than that, my only advice is to stick to the car-based models if it'll be on paved roads all the time (better ride, and better mileage usually). I like the idea of an MDX. Also, what do Infinity FX35's go for used? (My only concern with those would be gas mileage). I should also mention, the new Hyundai SUV's look -very- nice. Seriously, the few I've seen so far, I initially thought they were Lexus's until I saw the badge.

[johndough]

'If your considering the Honda CR-V, then I would put Nissan Rogue on the list. It has more horsepower, better gas mileage, and IMO it looks a lot better. It should be available at the dealerships next month or so.\r\n\r\n'