Compact SUV Purchase

#26
#26
milohimself said:
How large? Like Toyota 4runner/Honda Element size? Larger? How many kids?
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After bashing the Highlander, my next car may be a 4Runner. Not sure yet. May just get another Explorer. All I really need it for is to get to work and back with the occasional 200-500 mile trip.
 
#27
#27
Lexvol said:
Where are you living now TT? I can tell you this...I'm no Milo or Vbham but I was stuck with a CR-V when the twins were born. It was my wife's, but had to trade my Tundra in on a Suburban. I've enjoyed it more than I imagined I would. It is full time all wheel drive and the thing is like a mountain goat. If you have the clearance it will go anywhere. It is the best thing I've ever driven on snow and ice.
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I'm living near DeAnthony Arnett country, between Saginaw and Midland MI. I am still looking at the CRV However, I agree with the earlier poster about the new CRV gen...there is something about it that I don't like as much as the earlier gen. I like the look of the Rav4, but I don't like the side-mounted rear door as much as the Forresters top-mounted. I don't really need a lit of off-road capability, just solid low-traction performance.
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#28
#28
OldandStillaVol said:
I am in the opposite situation of the OP. I currently own a Honda CRV and really need to get a larger SUV. With two kids growing up, there just doesn't seem to be enough room anymore when we go on vacation. What are people's opinions on the larger SUV's? I have rented a Jeep Grand Cherokee a few years ago and it seemed to drive well.

Thanks in advance for any advice/price suggestions.
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Check out the Chevy Traverse.
 
#29
#29
I knew that there would be a lot of American cars on the road here in Michigan, but I have honestly been surprised. On our drives around so far, it had averaged between 1 in 15 and 1 in 20 foreign cars vs total cars we pass.
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#30
#30
TennTradition said:
I'm living near DeAnthony Arnett country, between Saginaw and Midland MI. I am still looking at the CRV However, I agree with the earlier poster about the new CRV gen...there is something about it that I don't like as much as the earlier gen. I like the look of the Rav4, but I don't like the side-mounted rear door as much as the Forresters top-mounted. I don't really need a lit of off-road capability, just solid low-traction performance.
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From the back the new iteration of the CRV looks like a wool cap or the back of Darth Helmet's head.

The second gen was a good looking car.

That said, CRVs have crazy high resale values and are typical Honda reliability and practicality. My concern would be the lack of power but I'm a HP and torque junky.
 
#32
#32
First off let me say thanks for all of your guys input and advice, it has really caused me to consider other options that I would'nt have considered on my own. I have a question you for you guys that will help make my decision. I am a little confused as to how APR is calculated and how it will effect the amount paid overall. So just figuratively, if I have a used vehicle I could purchase at 16995 with 3.7 % APR, or a new one at 19995 with 1.9 % APR, wouldn't I be paying basically the same sum by the time the note is paid off?
 
#34
#34
TN-gator-HATER said:
First off let me say thanks for all of your guys input and advice, it has really caused me to consider other options that I would'nt have considered on my own. I have a question you for you guys that will help make my decision. I am a little confused as to how APR is calculated and how it will effect the amount paid overall. So just figuratively, if I have a used vehicle I could purchase at 16995 with 3.7 % APR, or a new one at 19995 with 1.9 % APR, wouldn't I be paying basically the same sum by the time the note is paid off?
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use the calculator at this site

Auto loan calculator - Bankrate.com

be sure to hit the "show amortization schedule" button. you can compare total interest paid under various scenarios.

It also helps to figure the loan factor (for lack of a better term). Take the monthly payment and divide it by the amount financed in thousands (e.g. if financing 20K just use 20). The result will tell you what a payment would be at that interest rate per 1000 financed. It's an easy way to estimate payments for other amounts you want to finance. So on a five year note at 1.9%, you pay $17.48 per $1000 financed. As a result, a $20k loan would be a payment of (20*17.48) 349.68. Only finance $18K and the payment drops to $314.64. Once you know these per thousand loan factors you can quickly estimate a payment.

Hope this helps.
 
#35
#35
OldandStillaVol said:
I am in the opposite situation of the OP. I currently own a Honda CRV and really need to get a larger SUV. With two kids growing up, there just doesn't seem to be enough room anymore when we go on vacation. What are people's opinions on the larger SUV's? I have rented a Jeep Grand Cherokee a few years ago and it seemed to drive well.

Thanks in advance for any advice/price suggestions.
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Check out the GMC Acadia. I've had an 09 Acadia AWD a little of a year and it has been solid. It can seat 7 comfortably, rear seat split to help with cargo space if needed and gets decent gas mileage. Also great in snow.
 
#36
#36
blah, nevermind. The Acadia is nice looking. It's the GMC Terrain that's uglier than an AMC Matador.
 
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#38
#38
TN-gator-HATER said:
First off let me say thanks for all of your guys input and advice, it has really caused me to consider other options that I would'nt have considered on my own. I have a question you for you guys that will help make my decision. I am a little confused as to how APR is calculated and how it will effect the amount paid overall. So just figuratively, if I have a used vehicle I could purchase at 16995 with 3.7 % APR, or a new one at 19995 with 1.9 % APR, wouldn't I be paying basically the same sum by the time the note is paid off?
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Multiply your assumed monthly payments by the number of payments in the lease, and that number less the price of the car will tell you how much interest you're paying.

Although there are a number of ways to reduce the long-term interest paid. Ask your financing person.

MG1968 said:
blah, nevermind. The Acadia is nice looking. It's the GMC Terrain that's uglier than an AMC Matador.
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Unfortunately the Terrain is really the only halfway decent American compact SUV.
 
#40
#40
TN-gator-HATER said:
Looking at possibly purchasing a 2008 jeep patriot limited. Insight from anyone that has owned, or currently owns a patriot would be greatly appreciated. Have also considered GMC Terrain and Chevy Equinox, I need something that has a little room, but still gets great gas mileage and looks nice. Would like to spend 20,000 or less as this will be a work vehicle. Thoughts on vehicles mentioned or other possible options ?
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I'd get a used 4runner
 
#41
#41
Birmingham or others - I have a question about Edmunds. As I mentioned earlier, I am looking at the Subaru Forester. Edmunds lists the true market value for the 2011 model I am looking at as just below invoice. That seems out of line with most other vehicles that I have looked at, so I am trying to figure out how much I can trust the Edmunds number in negotiations. I had figured that 3-4% above dealer cost would be a good deal for me when going into this, but the Edmunds TMV sits at only 2% above dealer costs (basically the holdback). Does that seem off? I am trying to get a decent handle on the numbers before I actually sit down to negotiate a price...
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#42
#42
buy a used wrangler. Unless you're willing to go up market and buy an Audi Q5 everything else is just boring crap.
 
#43
#43
OldandStillaVol said:
Don't know how much larger I need to go. We are finished with kids at 2 (but they aren't even past 8 years old yet and I know that it was a pain to pack the last time we went on a short vacation). Ideally, I'd like to have much larger luggage area, and enough space in the back for 3 people to sit in. What am I looking at?
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Go with a Suburban, or Yukon XL...Can't be beat for space, or ride..I've got the Denali XL, and we take it at least trip a year to Tennessee and Florida, and it's got all the room you'll need. The third row seats is a great option for when your taking the kid's friends, or Grandparents..

The only drawback is mileage...
 
#44
#44
TennTradition said:
Birmingham or others - I have a question about Edmunds. As I mentioned earlier, I am looking at the Subaru Forester. Edmunds lists the true market value for the 2011 model I am looking at as just below invoice. That seems out of line with most other vehicles that I have looked at, so I am trying to figure out how much I can trust the Edmunds number in negotiations. I had figured that 3-4% above dealer cost would be a good deal for me when going into this, but the Edmunds TMV sits at only 2% above dealer costs (basically the holdback). Does that seem off? I am trying to get a decent handle on the numbers before I actually sit down to negotiate a price...
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I've found it to be pretty accurate and it helped me push to numbers I didn't think reasonable.

Check out the forums on Edmunds (maybe under a thing called CarSpace?). There is a "prices paid and buying experiences" forum for each model. Sometimes they are slow if not a lot of people are buying that car but I've found them to be quite revealing about deals people got. For example, I got almost $7000 off the Mazda CX-7 I bought (MSRP just over 30K) because I saw repeated people in the forum getting that deal. It was a combo of rebates, manf incentives and timing.

Short answer, Edmunds is pretty good on the TMV. Print it out an take it with you and ask them to explain why they can't meet that number. Also note, it is an average so some are getting better deals, some worse.

Finally, make sure you are zip code correct on the TMV. Different regions have different pricing.
 
#45
#45
Fwiw I always find edmunds pricing to be unattainably low. Nada is in the middle, kbb is high.
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#46
#46
milohimself said:
Fwiw I always find edmunds pricing to be unattainably low. Nada is in the middle, kbb is high.
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Are you referring to used car pricing? Does NADA provide anything other than invoice and MSRP for new cars?

As for Edmunds and TMV, should TMV be viewed as the average negotiated cost before local dealer fees (non-invoiced) such as documentation fees and perhaps dealer prep fees?
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#48
#48
Intellichoice dot com has always been the most helpful to me.

For compact suvs the Suby Forrester is nearly impossible to beat. It will go anywhere, ground clearance is way better than any other compact too. Plus with a million aftermarket accessories you can easily bump the power up and increase mpg at the same time. I had a 2003 that I kick myself for getting rid of.
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#49
#49
My Sister and bil just got a equinox which they love. They got theirs a year old with the works except awd for 20,000. Even included the backup cam, two tone leather, blue tooth connectivity and USB. Not a bad car for the midsize suv's although no 3rd row on theirs or maybe this model at all. It's quiet and smooth and I'd describe it as a well appointed cruiser than toss about sport suv. Just figured I'd share. Hope it helps.
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#50
#50
TennTradition said:
Birmingham or others - I have a question about Edmunds. As I mentioned earlier, I am looking at the Subaru Forester. Edmunds lists the true market value for the 2011 model I am looking at as just below invoice. That seems out of line with most other vehicles that I have looked at, so I am trying to figure out how much I can trust the Edmunds number in negotiations. I had figured that 3-4% above dealer cost would be a good deal for me when going into this, but the Edmunds TMV sits at only 2% above dealer costs (basically the holdback). Does that seem off? I am trying to get a decent handle on the numbers before I actually sit down to negotiate a price...
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look who's going with the yuppie mobile. I didn't know ya had it in ya.
 
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