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Comments
It fit inside my Forester, hatch closed!
Forester's cargo area is actually longer than the CR-V's because you can slide boxes forward all the way to the back of the seats. The CR-V's seats tumble forward so it's not as long, but taller, in shape.
-juice
-mike
Armadas are cool, actually. Too big for my needs, but I loved that V8.
-juice
-mike
I think the biggest single thing I had in the back of our Escape was a boxed 35" Toshiba TV. It just fit between the wheel humps in the cargo area but I still had a few inches in height to spare.
One thing that sucks about our '05 Escape is that it actually has a bit less cargo space than our '02 Escape did. We now have the MACH300 audio system where the subwoofer and amp take up a space attached to the passenger rear wheel hump. That compartment sticks out a couple of inches past the normal hump and reduces the width by the same amount.
I've had bigger things on the roof rack. We got a double dresser that is extra deep, 21" instead of 17", plus it's solid pine. Came home in one big piece, still in its box (so the drawers would not fly open).
-juice
Ahhh yes, the roof rack. I took a chance with a Rubbermaid shed (in the box) not knowing it's exact weight. The standard black OEM crossbars on the Escape are rated at 100 lbs and the shed weighed 140 lbs as I found out later on the Rubbermaid web site. The trip home was about 8-10 miles up and down suburban hills and around countless curves (all roads are like that around here). The bars held up just fine. I'm not all that experienced with the roof but I'm assuming that I'd be better off removing the cross bars for heavier items as the roof will hold more weight than they can. Yes/No?
I also had a queen size mattress up there once too. Still don't know how much that thing weighed. Other things include, but not limited to, 4x8 sheets of drywall, various sizes of wood boards, and soft luggage carriers full of vacation stuff.
Baggs, I always understood the weight limitation for your roof to be the same, whether you leave the cross bars on your rack or not.
Steve, Host
I'm not so sure about that. IIRC the statement in the Escape's manual specifies the cross bars when listing the weight but doesn't say anything about the roof itself. Also, the No Boundaries package for the Escape (I think it's just called Sport now) includes the trick, aluminum tube roof rack which, again IIRC, is rated at something like 150 lbs. Same roof but different rack and different capacity. Of course our moonroof does limit what you can safely put directly on the roof. :surprise:
That's why I believe the roof will safely hold more than the rack. Juice and paisan have to know more about this. Guys? :confuse:
*edit*
I checked the manual. The No Boundaries rack has an inner and outer rack both of which can hold 100 lbs at the same time. But the inner rack swings down the back of the vehicle and attaches to the bumper so you can fasten things like bikes to it. So that load isn't necessarily all on the roof. But some of it is.
Still no sign of a separate roof weight limit. They only specify the cross bar weight limits and don't even warn of loading something directly on the roof.
I recall that the original XTerra had those beefy brushed aluminum bars but they were only rated to hold 75 lbs! Meanwhile, the Forester can hold twice that, 150 lbs. Probably because it has a much lower roof.
I've hauled 4 sheets of plywood on the roof (see pic), who needs a pickup? :P
-juice
Steve, Host
-juice
I'm not looking to put tons of weight up there (only to tip over around the first opposite banked, downhill hairpin :surprise: ). I just want to know if it's generally safer to strap that extra sheet of drywall or plywood, that pushes the total weight over the 100 lb cross bar limit, to the roof instead of the bars.
I'd put the sheet goods on the bars myself - I think the edge/curved area where the towers generally connect to the bars on most cars is stronger than the flat expanse of the roof. I've seen roofs buckle a little with weight on them (like when standing on them trying to cinch down 12 canoes and kayaks, lol). But I'm no engineer....
Steve, Host
Bob
12 boats?!!!! You weren't drinking and boating too were you?
I think the edge/curved area where the towers generally connect to the bars on most cars is stronger than the flat expanse of the roof.
Good point! I guess the roof probably does hold more weight but you do risk bending some sheet metal by placing something directly on it or the rails attached to it.
Most of the models in the title of this thread don't come standard with cross bars. I would strongly recommend paying the extra $50-$100 for them when buying one. They do come in handy more often than you would think. Especially if you put a car seat or two in the back taking the folding seats out of the equation on spontaneous trips to Home Depot.
I put stuff on the cross bars. On my Forester, the cross bars attach to the roof rails, which are very sturdy and reinforced. They can easily handle the weight, in fact they can hold up my weight (about 210 lbs), to load things and strap them down.
Bob: Hadji is a dog. He barks. At least when he's not purring. :surprise:
-juice
Anyone could save money buying parts from a wholesaler, but could you find a reputable body shop to put it back together for you, when they're not making their usual margin on parts?
If you go through your insurance company, I doubt they'll bother with using multiple suppliers.
-juice
My question for the group is; will the 4Cyl Tribute with 4WD so the same -- that is give me 120K trouble free miles?
Any other suggestions?
I need to stay in the $20 - $21K range for price.
The Honda CRV seems to be slightly out of that range, the Hundai Tucson is yet unproven, as is the Chevolet Equinox. Ford seems unreliable.
Thanks.
You do realize that the Mazda Tribute is a rebadged Ford Escape?
The CRV really does seem to be the best fit for your requirements. You should be able to get an AWD LX model for around $21k.
-Frank
NO BRAINER.
consider for a moment:
...the Forester X (1) fits your pricing range, (2) has a well-engineered AWD system w/ cheesehead Seal of Approval (look at the numbers), and (3) even exceeds your present MPG figure.........
AND:
(again: my view) (4) has sufficient back seat room for young folk........The time to deal is now (end of model year/cessation of '05 Forester production.........)
.... my mild kidding is not meant to offend......... it's a great vehicle/value.
best, ez
-Frank
"Seems" is a root word here.
Check numbers and facts before guessing.
The 2005 Outback is a little roomier, get one without a moonroof and it might be the ticket.
Honestly I'd keep it, it's obviously been fantastic for you and if you sell it and buy something that is problematic you'll only regret it.
-juice
2. There are horroble stories about any car of any brand.
3. I had Windstar for 3 years, remember just one recall that was fixed at time of regular maintanance...
I was hoping to hear from someone who has said that they had their Tribute for 3-4 years and have over 100K miles without any issues as well....
I too am thinking of maybe I should keep my 2001 Outback-- but I hate the thought of not getting anything for it 2-3 yrs from now with 180K on it....
Are you aware of how many recalls the CRv has? or its fire issue? or how many recalls the Civic has? or the massive Honda recall on transmissions? or the Toyota oil sludge fiasco? The 80's are over folks. Reliability is not the issue anylonger, the new buzz word is "refinement"....
Don't you see difference?
And what kind of consumer reports you are talking about?
Besides MSN, can you please give me some other URLs or sites that I can 'bookmark' that will tell me more about Mazda Tribute's and their reliability. I'd love to hear more.
Thanks again.
techno geek, "Ford Escape/Tribute Owners: Problems & Solutions" #2971, 1 May 2005 11:51 pm
Early on they had a lot of problems, but they've had several years to iron them out and it should be much less of a risk now, FWIW.
-juice
I've suggested any of the Subies and perhaps a RAV4 (which I personally don't care for, but thought it might meet their needs). Any other suggestions?
However, this is one situation where good resale value is a bad thing. You can get a '98 Grand Cherokee for less money, believe it or not, even though the Jeep cost $6-8 grand more when new.
So that is a trade-off.
A '98 RAV4 or CR-V will also cost less than a '98 Forester. Subarus really hold their value well, a negative when you are shopping used.
-juice
thanks,
Tiger
The Five Hundred is out and that's essentially the replacement for the Crown Vic. They'll keep the Vic around for a while longer for fleets.
For their class, the Five Hundred and the Freestyle are very fuel efficient, also.
The Ford Escape hybrid might take the crown for the SUV fuel efficiency.
At a minimum there are plenty of exceptions to your theory.
-juice
Thanks -
Desk
-juice
james
1. Subaru Forester 2.5 X
2. Honda CR-V EX
3. Toyota RAV4
4. *Toyota Matrix XR / Pontiac Vibe (AWD)
5. Hyundai Tucson GLS (V6)
*CR feels that these are good alternatives to a compact SUV, so its overall ratings are shown in this and the "wagons & hatchbacks" sections.
The Subaru Forester is number-one for good reason: it's quiet, refined, practical, handles well, is economical, safe, reliable, and reasonably-priced. Downsides include the unavailability of side curtain airbags and stability control -- even on the facelifted 2006 model.
In comparison, the Honda CR-V allows more road noise to penetrate the cabin, the interior isn't quite as user-friendly, the cargo door is of the swing-out variety, and the spare is rear-mounted (this design can lead to very expensive repairs in even a low-speed fender-bender).
On the plus side, the transmission is buttery-smooth; rollover-sensing side curtain airbags, stability control, and traction control are all standard for 2005. The interior is extremely roomy for a compact. Crashworthiness, reliability, and fuel economy match the Forester. A US-built redesigned model, based on the Acura TSX platform, will debut next summer as a 2007 model. An Acura version of the vehicle, called the RDX, will show up at about the same time sporting SH-AWD, edgier styling, more luxury features, and a J-series V6 engine.
I personally would place the Toyota RAV4 a bit further down the list. While front-seat leg- and headroom are good, the vehicle is quite narrow. The ride can be choppy, it's a bit noisy at times, and the rear-seat is tight. CR rated the maximum load capacity at only 760 lbs, and, as with the Honda, the cargo door swings out and the spare tire is rear-mounted. Crashworthiness is excellent when the vehicle is equipped with the optional side curtain airbags, and reliability and fuel economy should mirror the CR-V and Forester. A redesigned RAV4 4-cylinder model bows this December, with a V6 version showing up in February.
The Hyundai Tucson is better overall than the current Santa Fe, but isn't quite as well-rounded as the Honda CR-V. While it's quieter, better-priced, and (IMO) more attractive, the tranny isn't as smooth, gas mileage is a bit less, and the vehicle doesn't feel as "athletic" as the others mentioned above (on the other hand, due to its standard stability control, CR found that it handled quite well in emergency situations). I test drove both the 2.0- and 2.7-liter engines, and found the little ute to be roomy, refined, quiet, and comfortable -- just a really well put-together package. The single-step flat-folding rear seats and split liftgate design are very handy and, I must say, the interior is better designed than the Honda. According to two separate quality studies (2005 Strategic Vision Total Quality Study and 2005 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study), first-year reliability was impressive. The CR results won't be out until this fall, however, and independently-conducted crash test results have yet to be released.
Mike
According to ford.com, the escape cabn be had for 24,800 + TTL; I paid 23,500 for my Forester in March.
Walking up to the vehicle on the outside, the ford looked bigger and more truck like. And, according to the specs, it is bigger, by about 400 lbs, 4" in height, and 1.5" width. Ground clearance is similar (7.5" for Forester vs. 8 for escape). Inside, though, the headroom between the two cars is similar.
Now, my take on the interior is, in the front seat, the Forester *feels* much roomier than the Escape. The rear seat is much bigger in the Escape. With the Escape, I could have 4 adults in the car....in the Forester, the rear seat passengers would be uncomfortable. More to the point, I could sit behind me in the Ford, but can not in the Subaru. The cargo area is similar in size.
For the driving impression, the clear winner is the Subaru. Frankly, the Subaru handles almost like a sports car. Very precise. The Ford handles like a vehicle with a much higher center of gravity. Frankly, I found the Escape to be a bit heavy fealing. It felt like I was driving the car, whereas with the Subaru, I feel like I am one with the car.
As for power, well the V6 in the ford wins over the 2.5i Subaru. However, the XT (2.5 Turbo) would blow the Escape away. As for milage, I averages 22 on the Escape with about 130 miles of mostly highway driving. With the Subaru on the highway, I get about 26 on the Highway and 20 around town.
My overall take: if you want excellent handling with utility, go for the Forester. If you want a true family vehicle, go for the Escape....but look at the CRV first.
Desk
Go out, test drive yoruself, decide for yourself. There is also the new Equinox to check out. Dodge is also coming out with a small ute on the Jeep platform. I forget the name but it was in my last Motor Trend. Choice is good. The Mazda Tribute is also an option. I own both an Escape and a Tribute. The Tribute has much more of a car, sporty feel to it. The Escape is more truck like. Oh yeah, the Mariner is another choice, or the Suzuki XL-7? or the Tiburon? Have fun...