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Comments
-Frank P.
Same with the #2 Hyundai Santa Fe.
I believe the GM personnel got loaners, so I doubt that JD Power would have included them in the survey. Then again, the Azteks could have been the Veeps holiday bonuses...
Aztec did poorly on IIHS crash tests, as did the minivans. Rendezvous did better.
-juice
Even the Rendezvous is nothing out of the ordinary. I liked the interior but it really needs a more refined engine to compete at that price level. The V6 is coarse and loud when you push it.
-juice
Well, they do. Subaru of Japan even sells an interior bike rack. Click here:
http://accessory.subaru.co.jp/forester/catalog/index.html
Then go to T25 (our 2.5l engine), then Luggage Room, and it's pictured right there.
-juice
Pathfinder 24%
Explorer 29%
Liberty 33%
Xterra 37%
Highlander 38%
Escape 45%
CRV 50%
RAV4 59%
Forester 62%
In fact, after looking at other Heraud reviews, I couldn't find any other vehicle that skewed more toward women than the Forester. I find it hard to believe that the Forester is the most female-oriented vehicle on the road.
Any comments on whether these numbers are reliable? I mean, is the SF really the ultimate "woman's car" on the market today? Do these numbers jibe with what people are seeing out there?
Forester: 55% female
CR-V: 59% female
RAV4: 62% female
I guess the discrepancy could be due to issues with who registers the car vs. who actually drives it.
But generally you'll find that car-based SUVs appeal to the practical consumer that doesn't need to go off road. Instead they want fuel efficiency, a comfortable ride, and good safety scores.
In general, women are very practical and buy the vehicle that fits their needs. Men tend to be more influenced by testosterone-driven traits that are far less practical.
The Forester is very user friendly, easy to get in, easy to load, easy to operate, and easy on the wallet at the pump and with your insurer. It's also very safe, with good crash test scores and ABS standard on every model ever sold in the USA. Those factors may be more appealing to women than knobby mud tires.
-juice
PS That women find my car very appealing is a good thing, isn't it? I get thumbs up all the time.
Other things that attract much-wanted attention from beautiful females: puppies and babies. If you're not married, a great strategy is to offer a friend to baby-sit or dog-sit. Women will flock to you, and it's a really great way to break the ice.
I wish I had thought of that back when I was single! :-)
-juice
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
But it still manages to attract females, sure.
A baby and a puppy at a wedding? You are set! :-)
-juice
-Frank P.
... that in this day and age, though there are indeed small differences between various vehicles, they are ALL by-and-large VERY CAPABLE. 30 years ago we felt lucky to get 100K from a car. Today we don't even go in for a tune-up until then.
Though I too look at horsepower, handling and cupholders, in the end I've decided that I'm going to BUY AMERICAN.
If the car's a little noisier, or its cupholder a little less convenient, I'll accept the compromise in exchange for knowing I've sent $20,000 to Detroit (where it is spent and re-spent down the value-chain) than Tokyo or Seoul.
Just something else to think about.
-Frank P.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
But it is a consideration for me, and I suspect would be a consideration for more people if they just took a moment to reflect on it.
The information is available on any car's window sticker, and probably on the web as well.
I'm not trying to incite any foreign-phobias... just raise an awareness that in a down domestic economy and given our more-than-deserved-unpopularity (IMO) in the rest of the world, we should all consider taking care of our own.
Then look at Subaru. GM is the biggest shareholder. The Forester is built in Japan, but the Outback is made in Indiana, so isn't it more "American" than the Jeep? By far, IMO.
GM also owns large stakes in Suzuki and Isuzu, and Rodeos are made in Indiana next to those Outbacks. Saab is a GM division, and I think they just acquired Daewoo.
Ford owns most of Mazda, Jaguar, and Volvo.
DCX has Mitsubishi.
So, who is independent? Hyundai, even though they teamed up with Kia. But they remain Korean, and build the Santa Fe there.
Toyota is, even though they have a partnership with GM and make many models here.
Honda is probably the most independent, but they too assemble cars here, and use Isuzu diesels in Europe.
If you limit yourself like that, there is almost nothing left. GM and Ford are the only true "domestic" makes left over, but the Focus is european. Even the Saturn LS was based on Opel chassis and powertrains (european again).
It used to be easy, but it's so complicated today that honestly you are better off just buying the best car, not one with a (formerly) American label.
-juice
My guess is that in 2002 most automakers are going to lose money, so don't worry about where profits end up. They'll actually be subsidizing your purchase with their losses.
-juice
I'd happily drive a Legacy / Outback, but I'd exclude the Forseter (the one I like best). No way on the Hyundai, Jeep would be a maybe, etc.
But it will be an exercise I'll go thru in a month or two when I create my "possible" list in my purchase process.
It is important to me a) where assembled; b) domestic content, c) country of ultimate ownership; in that order.
Back on topic, the 2003 Forester redesign debuts on Wednesday at 10:45 am. It may be on sale as early as May, too. Should have evolutionary updates, though it is a complete redesign.
-juice
Bob
For those of you who still hesitate due to the old Hyundai reputation that is something to consider...
If they can boost their reliability scores, and maybe shed some weight, they could do some serious damage in the small SUV class.
Check out the Forester: www.media.subaru.com. Click on Forester, then check out the last two pics. They modernized the look, made it a tad bigger in each dimension, and lifted it for more ground clearance.
-juice
1. Needs a restyle to be acceptable to far more people (similar as the Forester, but not as bad as the Aztek)
2. Hyundai vehicles will never (not in the next 10 years anyway) get the same same recognition as Japanese or German vehicles, no matter how good they build them. Dealers are far and few in between for a reason.
When we buy a Hyundai, there is no premium for the "name" or to pay for Jacques Villeneuve F1 engines...
Perception lags about 3-5 years behind reality. If the new Hyundais hold up well 5 years from now, then people will forget their bumpy start in the US.
Hyundai spends money racing, for sure. They compete in the WRC series, and even in the US Rally. This year they are expected to be Subaru's main competitor (Subaru swept last year).
-juice
I am not trying to put them down just giving information.....
See "The Auto Guide 2002" by Jaques Duval page 40.
Suprised me really. But looking at the pictures, it looks like most of the testing was done on gravel areas. Also, no explanation was given for the rankings. As well,the Liberty won the overall test.
The off-road rankings went:
Forester
Liberty
Xterra
Tribute
Escape
Rav4
XL7
SantaFe
CRV
Sportage.
-Frank P.
http://isuzu-suvs.com/events/pb02-17-01/index.html
A Light off-road event in Southern New Jersey! Come enjoy the trails!
-mike
Look at it this way: would you rather do a power slide in a Forester, or a taller, tippier SUV?
-juice
-Frank P.
Car & Driver said it was very capable off road when they first tested it, with ground clearance and approach/departure angles being the limitations. And that was an L model, with no rear LSD.
Edmunds also mentioned the ride was more comfortable off road than some trucks.
So for light duty, why not? It's worked well for me at the beach and at our Pine Barrens run (sand/mud mix).
-juice