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Comments
Humm...Structural integrity of the tailgate; that's an interesting concept. What is that supposed to do when it is attached to the structure of the vehicle only with 2 hinges and a catch???
When you make fun of others you have to watch what you write.
Guy
-Frank P.
-Frank P.
The new Explorer went a step further and has big window that opens a bit lower than usual. It's a good idea, so long as it's designed well and does not rattle.
-juice
I used to work in a nursery summers in college, and the old wagons beat the minivans and suvs every time for capacity. One could throw probably 8 bushes in there, to the 4 or 6 in the mini or suv. PLUS, you could slide a sheet of plywood or sheetrock between the wheels at the local builder supply store! Try that in an SUV!!!!!
Where is that "U" now????
-Frank P.
Though it did have some nice features. Three rows of seats, and the back two folded completely flat and made an excellent bed.
Kind of funny that SUVs are getting 3 rows only now.
-juice
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
-Frank P.
Do Anyone know?
"That's why we have nice large sunroofs (feels like a convertible) and automatic climate control ;-)"
The Santa Fe model in Portugal comes "out-of-box":
- Electric sunroof
- Automatic climate control
- Side air bags
- almost all of the others features that Lexus owners have by paying two times more (even paying twice no hatch window).
So Tony, maybe this time you buy your Lexus before Santa Fe model arrive to the market. But you can always get rid of it, and go for Santa Fe.
I have not see any of yours sarcastic comments on the fact that Santa Fe ranks number one on the 40 mhp crash tests !!!!!!
We Santa Fe happy and satisfied owners ("The Hyundai Santa Fe sport utility vehicle is the top-rated vehicle in the Compact SUV Segment in AutoPacific's 2001 Vehicle Satisfaction Index."), understand your frustration for spending all that many for the same features. So if is a good therapy for you, fell free to post (with the $$$$$ you spend one the Lexus this is cheaper then going to the doctor).
About the Mazda Tribute, they are not for sale in Portugal so no comments.
The Subaru Forester for ME it's ugly (specially the back side), but from what I have read and see, should be a very good car.
Boa noite, from Portugal
Actually, I don't know the weight of the glass or the tailgate on the Tribute because both are operated by there own set of hydraulic lifts (that is the best way I can describe them, I know they are not lifts). You see once I pop open the window or the tailgate, they open by them selves.
Then we moved up in price range and looked at the new Pathfinder (we had already leased one) and Jeep GC Limited. Again, each one had certain features which were great, but neither had a good compromise of all the features we wanted.
Going up further in price range we finally found vehicles that had the things we wanted in terms of the best active/passive safety systems, great performance and handling, luxury features, and proven quality and customer service. Our choice came down to the MB ML320 and the Lexus RX300. For us, the RX was the best value.
Now I've just made a great effort to try to objectively and logically explain to you my choice in selecting my family's latest vehicle. The problem with a lot of folks here is that they don't recognize the fact that one person's criteria for a vehicle may be different than someone else's. If your criteria is getting a decent SUV for under $25k, then yes, the Santa Fe is a good choice. If your criteria is getting one of the safest SUVs made, proven reliability/quality, luxury, and outstanding customer service, then the RX300 is a good choice. Please also understand that neither one of these vehicles is the end-all, be-all when it comes to SUVs, there are other vehicles in this market segment which do particular things better than either one of them. For example, if you wanted one of the best off-road capable vehicles for around $30k, then the Jeep GC becomes a good choice. Every vehicle has different attributes.
As far as the SF "ranks number one on the 40 mhp crash tests" is a misleading statement. It ranked the best out of the other vehicles tested along with it, but still did not receive the IIHS "Recommendation." The RX300 did in fact receive the IIHS Recommendation.
I sleep better at night knowing this. Of course, your mileage may vary.
Why, I have no idea.
U are not alone though, in my son school, there are usually about 10+ Lexus meet everyday to pick up their sons, this car already look so boreing to every student & their parents, most are driven by those unemploy or nothing to do Asian's wifes(They are rich & is a very good revenue sources for Lexus!).
Enjoy your very expensive Mini SUV (about the size of SF!)... in the long run .... hope the "fire under the Lexus RX300's hood" would happen again!
In terms of your opinion of the RX "being boring", I didn't buy it to win any popularity contests or to impress anyone. I bought it so that I could protect my family as best I could in case of a car accident.
Let everyone know when you are ready to have a logical and objective (rather than subjective) discussion. Please look up any words you don't understand, start with "rationalization", as applied to the field of psychology.
Old Chinese sayings, "If both of u don't fight in the past, u both won't become a good friends!"! (Look at US & Japan & Germany..)
U think I don't know English! Ha Ha Ha ha.......
I read English Literatures.....I graduated with Honour degree in Canadian University.... I don't have to look up any words u thought I don't understand, whereas u should apply "Rationalization" to yourself!
Alex: pena que voce nao gosta do Forester! No Brasil ele faz muito sucesso!
-juice
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
I did NOT get a chance to answer and explain thing in here because some of it already done by Bill-Tung. Other I can do but I don't want everyone to tight up with the argument. I have to keep it cool down otherwise it will get worse in this topic.
"Spying"? Are we feeling insecure? Last time I checked these discussions were not private and closed. Unless these are "private" clubs, I'm a firm believer in free speech and would even give my life to defend your right to it.
Have fun.
Bob
I amuse myself some times.
-juice
because after all.... this forum is called...
Santa Fe (good) vs. Tribute (bad) vs. Subaru Forrester (ugly)...
I know most of you are smiling now..... or not...
happy SF owner here...
The beauty of the Subaru is in it's function over form design. Not the flared nostrils of an angry Pikachu!
-juice
:-)
OK, imagine it with a grimace on its face, see what I mean? ;-)
-juice
Bob
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
Guy
(Hung- just kidding!)
-Frank P.
any way, I didn't mean to rattle the forum's title, I guess we're not talking about the good the bad and the ugly anymore...
let's talk about these SUVs then and help other consumers on their decision making....
Two things caught my attention. First, the HKS Impreza project, which is currently making 260hp with the same basic engine as the Forester. Hmm, that would be pretty tasty, no? Perhaps the quickest SUV in the world?
2nd was the Jeep Liberty article. Jeep will offer a V6 with a 5 speed, but not with full time 4WD. For that you must get an automatic.
So I still see an opportunity for the first AWD V6 5 speed in the class.
-juice
-Frank P.
Jeep has archived the straight 6, so now the Santa Fe, Escape/Tribute, and Liberty will compete with V6s.
-juice
To the best of my knowledge, Jeep has never offered that combo. But then again, Jeep has never had to compete with the Forester, etc., before. I think it's going to hurt Jeep not to have that Select-Trac/5-speed combo. Also, ABS is optional on ALL Libertys. Major marketing errors, IMHO.
Bob
Although both Edmund's and the Official Jeep site say the 5-speed is available with the V6, neither site allows you to select said configuration. And as Bob said, the full-time 4WD is definitely only available with the auto.
-Frank P.
JD Power's initial quality study from last year, I don't know if a newer one has been released, maybe someone can find one.
Enjoy: http://www.autonews.com/html/main/stories/power15.htm
VERY interesting all of a sudden.
The point is you have one pedal controlling all four individual brakes, while all four tires have different levels of grip. You'd need four brake pedals to be able to modulate the brakes like ABS does.
That plus you can brake around a curve and maintain steering control. Well tuned (which is key) ABS reduces stopping distances.
We had fun with this at Edmunds Live. Half the vehicles had ABS, and half did not. They had a braking test, and in every case without ABS under emergency braking, you'd get at least a little sideways. The ones with ABS stopped straight.
-juice
Tday Suv
They do mention a possible supercharger in the future, and that could make things really interesting, along with the cat-back and intake.
-juice
Hey man! 15,500km in 6 months w/o any major problem, up & down the deepest slope in the BC snowy mountains, cruising between 120-180km/hr in highway all the time in highway, fuel consumption as good as 10.8 L/100km, still saw people checked out/surround my SF everyday after I parked my SF in parking lots & returned after delivery flowers.
Sorry! still can't find any negative thing about SF to mention!
Very satisfy with SF performance, glad to see I spend less money to enjoy such a great delivery SUV while other spending more money to drive a poorer/similar quality/old-fashion/less safety SUV!
For on road driving (not race track/off-road), SF is well too powerful enough for cruising & up mountains, u guys want 3 litres+ engine are silly, my 5.9L Durango(Very powerful!) average 26.8 L/100km on city driving!!! Want one?
Pls do not talk rock in here, there is no chance for the fastest SUV to performance in nowaday city road (not highway) without getting speeding tickets!