We car shopped for two weeks. Looked for our best options. Wound up buying mid sized SUV. We have 4 kids to haul around, and live in north east. We needed 4 wheel drive, but on a budget. 4 wheel drive mini vans don't get much better mileage then our selection. The one we got was a leftover 2004 mercury mountaineer, Its the same as a Ford explorer.The hybrid SUV's and good gas mileage ones we saw all fit only 5. Their were a few exceptions, but the stickerprices were excessive. The one car I would have considered over this one was the ford freestyle, but it is first year production with alot of new technology(for ford) in it. Im not one to get on board an unproven model. The other 6 or more passenger SUV'type cars were really not to good on safety. We wound up getting a new car for $8,500 of because its an 2004. We looked long and hard to beat this deal and get a better mileage car but could not. I figure in 3 years we can trade this gas guzzler in on a smaller more enviromentally freindly car. Till then I hope everyone forgives me.

I would hope nobody's down on choosing based on your needs!

it's just disheartening that there are not many choices to be made! I live in northeast, and bought a new vehicle last year. And while I weighed the idea of 4wd in Northeast, we just decide on minivan. Although as mentioned the mileage wasn't that much better. But figured with global warming, there would be less and less snow days to worry about or need the 4wd for.

It is just a shame there were not more options.

we just bought a Mini Cooper.....like in the 70! when you cannot park with your big SUV, I just wait til you go away and park on your spot!
perfect too, to go around you and not be crushed

I hope you did not get a lemon. My 99 Expedition turned into a lemon at 9,900 miles
about a year old. Then I got a 2003 Excursion (my 3rd one) 7 months old and
10,000 miles another lemon. Towed 4 times , new battery, alternator, computer and
so on. Finally refused to pay anymore. Still in court, as lemon law requires you to
keep making payments(NJ). My second one in 4 years no more FORD for me.
I needed these big vehicles for busines. Hauling computers and parts around all the time.

If you really want to save money and improve gas mileage. Use Mobil1 synthetic
with a high performance filter (air & oil) I used duraguard or K&N The excursion
v10 5.4l was getting on avg 17mpg hwy 19mpg

I also need 4 wheel drive here in the ski area of NJ

Why would anyone be down on them? It's their money. Gas prices will make the SUV obsolete soon enough.

You gotta do what you gotta do. I show *big* dogs, so I have to have a vehicle big enough to hold a large crate. The only realistic options are a *big* SUV -- like an Expedition or Suburban, or a van. No car, or even a small SUV, would work for me. I can see how this would be true for people with a lot of kids, too. Sure, it would be nice to get better gas mileage, but I don't feel guilty about it for a second.

I have a small SUV, the Honda CRV, mostly because I need to haul books and because I need the 4WD. I travel from hospital to hospital in the middle of the night when there are emergencies.

However, I try to walk most of the time except one day a week when I run my errands. One must do what one must do. You got a great price, I bought my car last month and only got $2000 off for being a 2004.

We looked at CRV but was one passenger to small for now. They are very nice though. I think in a few years we may trade in this big guzzler for one. The honda salesmen said most likely there will be hybrid CRV's in a few more years. They were already getting low 20 mpg's city in the gas version, I bet hybrid CRV would be phenominal! I guess we did ok though, we picked mid-size instead of full size and I am teaching her how to drive fuel freindly. Slower acceleration and less racing from light to light will help her some. Hopefully we both will drive a bit better, shes a racer, and I keep backing into stuff!!!

I'm turning my 4x4 truck into a workhorse. I've added a ladder rack with hooks and gadgets all over. Next I'll add a bunch of lights and reflectors.

As Red Green says, if women don't find you handsome they should at least find you handy.

no one NEEDS to buy an suv. they are dangerous, a hazard to yourself, your family and everyone else on the road, plus gaz guzzlers and eye soars.

there are plenty of alternatives, upscale station wagons such as the revamped volvo v70 being only one of them. for a big family like yours a mini van works, too.

perhaps you can still trade it in.

by the way, there was a great article in the new yorker on what a pest and safety hazard suvs are. you can google it. get informed and tell everyone else.

Seriously, some of us are more impressed by improvisation and creative problem-solving than throwing money away on massive gas guzzlers.

Not to lecture anyone who buys an SUV, but it needs to be pointed out that people around the world connect our oil consumption with our occupation of Iraq, as well as being concerned (for years now) about the affect burning fossil fuels has on the world's environment.

On the bright side, I've heard Hummer sales are declining.

I bought a 2004 Honda CRV in March. I love not having to fill my tank all the time and I can haul my 84 year old mother, 25 year old daughter, 6 year old grandson, and 4 year old granddaughter. My last car lasted 15 years and this one should make it longer unless I trade it in on a hybrid. I used to own a Honda wagon in the 80's and I really loved it. I'm happy again now! It's a zippy little ute and sits us up high enough that we can see better!

Big dogs don't require Suburbans or SUVs. A friend of mine has two Great Danes, and they fit nicely in his VW Passat wagon TDI (diesel), which averages around 45-50 mpg running on biodiesel. We have two medium sized dogs (Chows), which actually prefer my wife's Beetle TDI over my Jetta wagon TDI - probably because the dog bed is in hers. :D

Unless you're taking lots of dogs, a wagon is generally sufficient.

With how many people nowadays beleive an SUV is absolutely essential, it makes me wonder how we managed back before the SUV was "invented"....

A new Passat diesel wagon averages around 38-40 mpg, seats 4 very comfortable, 5 somewhat comfortably, and you can always stick a kid in the back.

For large families (more than 4), it's reasonable to have a minivan - what bugs me is families with multiple big SUVs, or a big SUV and a minivan. Every car the family has doesn't need to be able to haul around every person in the family.

And personally, I find AWD and 4WD very over-rated. I'll take a FWD with good snow tires over a 4wd with all-season tires any day. Most people with 4wd/awd vehicles don't use snow tires, thinking the awd/4wd is as good as it gets. It doesn't matter how many drive wheels you have if none of them can get any traction.

Living in New England, I see FAR more SUVs off the road in the winter than any other vehicle. Sure, 4WD/AWD can help in some cases (but only with good tires) - but it's not the trump card many SUV drivers seem to think it is.

I agree, that no one really "needs" an SUV, it's a luxury and it's self indulgent. I do own one and love having it to drive my kids and their friends. But before people jump on their high horses, you should ask yourselves what wasteful things do you engage in. Do you eat meat, which is one major cause of clear cutting here and in the rainforests? Do you recycle? Do you buy in bulk or buy overpackaged goods that generate huge amounts of garbage? Do you drive, by yourself, every day to work or carpool or use public transportation? Do you fly frequently? Do you keep your oil clean? Do you drive an old beater that spews out pollutants? Do you buy local goods or goods that are shipped from far away places on filthy barges and semi trucks? Do you turn off the water while you brush your teeth? Do you have a water saving device in your commode? Do you purchase goods that are made in loosely regulated factories?

etc, etc, etc

There are a lot more issues to consider with regard to promoting sustainability, other than the SUV one.

I just traded in my 1991 Buick Regal Gran Sport for a '05 Honda CR-V 5dr 4WD-they are a compact SUV and do get sensible mileage, I calculate I will get the same around-town-mileage as on my former car.

Also intend touring the western states national parks this summer in it-if W cuts seniors out of Social Security, I figure it will make a great car for a homeless old lady to live in. lol

lenal
:o

put it this way you might aswell use it because there won't be any fuel in the future. Make the most of it!

Enjoy the SUV:

http://www.gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html

I got a small SUV (subaru forrester) to replace my old chevy cavalier a couple of years ago. The mileage is not that much worse than my cavalier gave me and is safer and more reliable in the snow/flooding conditions I have to deal with (as well as getting the hound to the vet). I'm kinda tired of people who don't drive SUVs but drive cars that don't get the best mileage criticizing all SUV owners are selfish and irresponsible.

Gosh, I am still driving a 1985 mini van which just keeps on a'runn'in.
Used to lug kids on field trips and such but now it is usually just me driving around in the big, old, comfortable thing. The gas mileage is just about the same as a decent SUV.

Anyone want to trade me for their Volvo or VW ?

No way, mini van is way too big. I like little cars and was surprised I was comfortable in the forrester.

So if I spend a lot of time hauling around large items and animals I should have continued to do this in my Cavalier or some other small car in which these items barely fit or get a big honkin' truck instead of a small SUV like my Forrester?

How about doing what we do... When we need more cargo space, we go and rent (*gasp*) a bigger vehicle.

There is a huge difference between want and need. You simply don't want to face the inconvenience of renting a truck on the rare occasion you need more space.

You're making some assumption that my need is rare as opposed to routine. It's not a matter of convenience or lack thereof renting a truck (plus nobody in their right mind wants me behind the wheel of a truck). The SUV I own gets the same mileage than a lot of regular cars, but I guess you know me, my lifestyle and my needs better than I.

Am I also selfish about driving to work as well or should I have chosen a retail job that I could have walked to from my house (of course I wouldn't have been able to afford my house, but I guess I'm selfish about that as well) or should I have just gotten rid of the abused animals I rescued so I could have moved into an apartment that costs twice my mortgage and be able to walk to my current office?

It's extremely presumptuous of you to indicate that you know my needs and lifestyle with so much as asking and then place judgment regarding my not wanting to be inconvenienced.

SANDRA:

what happenned to the funny avatar?

I suppose there are occupations and lifestyles wherein 4wd is essential, but I suspect the vast majority of 4wd SUV owners don't really need 4wd. For many it makes an identity statement about being rugged and self reliant. What's worse is that many 4wd owners go off road and play with their toys while trashing fragile ecosystems and natural habitats.

My wife and I saw dozens of SUVs off I-25 in Kentucky while we were driving to Florida before Xmas. We have had front wheel drive minivans for years and they have been very stable on ice and snow. I drive a 3 cylinder Geo Metro back and forth to work. I find it more fun to drive than an old VW bug that I drove several years ago.

SUVs demonstrate the awesome power of marketing. People are brainwashed into buying poor quality, wasteful, and dangerous stuff that they don't really need.

We live in a very hilly area of Massachusetts, I personally pushed, pulled and had towed out of the ditch our minivan at least 8 times in last 2 winters. we have 5 kids between us, Id say we are justified.

I'm sure that Iowa is pretty flat by comparison. My commute is thru level farmland with little traffic and good roads. But it seems like I see more and more SUVs on the road each year. We even have a dealership for Hummers in the small town where I live. Farmers in Iowa might have legitimate needs for SUVs, but the rest of us could reduce transportation expenses considerably with more fuel efficent transportation.

I could reduce my living expenses or effectively increase my income by living within walking distance of workplace. I would also have about an hour more time to spend each day.

Just wait until the 5 kids get their licenses and each want their own wheels. You might look back with nostalgia to pulling the minivan out of the ditch. I can wax philosophical about teenage drivers now that my 2 are launched and paying for their own transportation.

Maybe its unfair to judge people on their choices of transportation, but we are interdependent on this issue. Maybe our best strategy for overcoming terrorism and preserving the environment is a lot of critical self-examination of our attachment to our automobiles. It has a huge global impact.

We looked at honda thing, got better mileage, but cost way more, plus its better to buy american. We got a Mercury mountaineer it seats seven, we looked at hybrid ford suv, but they are not in wide production yet and its first year (not buying an experiment).. hopefully three years from now we trade in on an american Hybrid. Thanks...

Not too much snow and ice in Kentucky. In other places you get snow and ice. It sure is nice when there is snow and ice covering the road to put the old vehicle into 4 wheel drive. It works better to get to hunting and fishing spots too when you're following some two rut logging road.

I think in a lot of areas that these vehicles don't cause much damage unless there are a lot of people going to the same place. Plants sure seem to have no trouble in covering up old roads.

I think a lot of people buy SUVs for added security. I've heard a lot of people afraid of tiny cars because they worry about accidents. Statistics may show that they are not thinking logically, but people often don't.