Les Jones

Home Life > Here in my car

Wow, I've written a ton about travel lately. Time for something different.

I'm shopping for a (newer) car. My Camry blew an engine and a lot of other parts last year, and I don't want to put any more money into it.

Initially I was looking at other sedans, but now I've decided to get a station wagon or small SUV. We need something that can haul big things, like the desk we bought for Melissa's computer. I'm tired of borrowing her dad's truck or Jay's Cherokee. Having one 4WD in the family would be nice, too. Here are the cars I've tried and a quick review of each.

Criteria: 1999 or newer, around $15,000 or less, and 50,000 miles or fewer. For me, Melissa, friends, family, a dog, and a baby or two in a year or two. No wimpy cars. It has to get me to work everyday, and be comfortable for our road trips.

Volkswagen Passat

This is one sweet car. It has the space of a sedan, but with lots of pick up and great handling. The steering wheel is adjustable for tilt and length, like all steering wheels should be. Even the lower trim levels are nice, though the upper trim levels are super nice. Outstanding safety. Of all the various engines and transmissions, only the 4 cylinder automatic failed to impress. I needed either the stick shift or the automatic. What I really need is a 2001 and a half or later, when they improved the styling and boosted the 4 cylinder turbo by 20 horses. Unfortunately, those are a wee expensive, and I never could find a low-mileage Passat I liked in my price range. Now Melissa is talking about buying a Passat when she trades cars in a few years.

Honda Accord

Models with 4 cylinders and automatic transmission have no guts. V6s are expensive. The 2003 is sweet, and is the car I'd buy if I was buying a new 4 cylinder sedan. They've tweaked the engine, switched to a new 5 speed automatic, and added telescopic steering wheels. Excellent safety. The comfort is great, front or back, and the keyless entry system will roll down the windows for you in the summer. A loaded EX model is 23 grand, which includes everything except leather and a V6. Very fair, but I really wanted to stay closer to 15K. Awesome car, though.

Honda CR-V

AWD in a small SUV factor, but a little noisy and a little bit wimpy, horsepower-wise. The backgate continues to be annoying. The killer was the driving position, which is unbelievably bad. I was tired of it after five minutes. No way would I take a vacation in this thing.

Honda Element

The funkmobile. Same engine and frame as the CR-V, but it manages to be zippier, quieter, and it has a much improved driving position. Available in 2WD or AWD. Interior has rubber mats instead of carpet so you can mop out the gunk from mountain biking and kayaking. The killer for me was the backseat. Melissa and I are starting a family in a year or two, which means baby seats. To put a kid in a baby seat in the Element you'd have to step inside the back and crouch over, due to the rear suicide doors and seating arrangement. (LATER: Melissa and I looked at the Element again, and I take it all back. Putting in a baby sear would be easy.) Also, to let anyone out of the back seat, front seat passengers have to open their doors and take off their seat belts (which are anchored in the suicide doors). Visibility isn't so hot, either, and the back seats are just OK. Awesome subwoofer, though, and it has a hook-up for an auxiliary stereo component, such as an MP3 player. Why don't all cars have that? Best of all, it's only 20 grand brand new.

Toyota Camry

I didn't have good luck with my Camry, but maybe I got a lemon, right? I like the 2002 body style, but the interior is as boring as ever. Driving is improved somewhat, but even the Sport version is dull. Lots of room, though, and a great back seat. Excellent safety, great fuel economy and an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle rating in all 50 states (unlike some other car makers, who only sell ULEV models in California). I don't think you can go wrong with a Camry, but I want either sport or utility, and the Camry's got neither. I'll pass this time, but I might return to the fold the next time I'm in the market for a sedan.

Toyota Echo

I drove one of these on a lark. They get nearly 40 MPG using a conventional gasoline engine. I've ridden in a friend's and liked it. I wanted to like driving it, but it's too small and too wimpy. Melissa has a Honda Civic. Our other car needs to have more room.

Toyota RAV4

I tried a 2000 RAV4. It has lots of cargo space and good gas mileage. Handling is good, but acceleration isn't. It has a slightly tinny character. If I could find one at a good price I would maybe possibly consider it, but even used they're expensive for what you're getting. The RAV4 would be twice as good if the engine had an extra 30 or 40 horsepower.

Nissan Maxima

Wheeee! Lots of power from the V6. Nice amenities. I found one in my price range, but it had some drivetrain noise that worried me. The backseat could be a bit better. Still, good car, and all Maximas are loaded. I'd still be looking at it if I hadn't veered towards something more utility-oriented.

Jeep Cherokee

I never thought about Cherokees until I went hiking with some friends, and two of them chatted about how great theirs had been. A little research revealed that Cherokees are more reliable than I would have given them credit for. Fuel economy ain't great, but it's better than you would think: it turns out that a Cherokee weighs about the same as a Camry or Accord. It's got 4WD and a low sticker price on the used market. Two things hurt it: a somewhat cramped front seat and a horrible back seat. Still, if I didn't have many back seat passengers (whom I liked) I'd consider it.

Hyundai Sante Fe

Hyundai's entry into the SUV market. Decent reviews from Car and Driver. Melissa and I both thought it was very noisy, though, and the V6 feels more like a 4 cylinder.

Mitsubishi Montero

We found a great deal on a 2WD Sport with only 30,000 miles. It drove pretty well, though it was a bit tall. A little research revealed that it did poorly in reliability, owner satisfaction and worst of all safety. Too bad, because it did great offroad and going over railroad tracks at full speed.

Ford Explorer

We wanted out of this before the ride even began. The 2000 model we drove had excessive engine and belt noise, even when idling. The interior was cheap and nasty. I've ridden in Explorers before, and thought they leaned too much in turns. The Explorer has no more carrying capacity (in pounds) or ground clearance than the Subarus below, and it doesn't do as well in crash tests, reliability or gas mileage. And then there's the whole Firestone tire thing. Pass.

Isuzu Rodeo

The Rodeos we drove were OK, but nothing spectacular. They were some of the tipsiest SUVs we tried. Consumer Reports failed the Isuzu in their rollover test.

Dodge Durango

We both liked the Durango more than we expected. It had plenty of space and power, and the price was right at 14K for a 1999 with leather seats and 40,000 miles. The back wheels liked to spin out (even though it was an AWD model), and it was a little tall. Melissa liked the middle seat, but I didn't. The third row seat was for munchkins only. We both thought this would be a better car for us in six or seven years when we had kids old enough to be out of child seats. Consumer Reports says that the Durango is below average in owner satisfaction and reliability.

Subaru Forester and Outback

This is where I'm actively looking right now. Both cars are all wheel drive and share the same 2.5 liter, 160 hp Boxer engine. The Forester is built on the lighter, shorter Subaru Impreza platform, which makes it quicker and more nimble. The Outback is built on the larger, longer Subaru Legacy platform, which makes it roomier, and the longer wheelbase soaks up highway bumps better.

Both models offer station wagon/SUV functionality, a roof rack that's low enough to easily load bikes and skis, as much ground clearance as a Ford Explorer, and better handling, safety ratings and gas mileage than most SUVs. Consumer Reports rates both as having excellent reliability and owner satisfaction. The Forester is a fun drive, but apparently has problems with some baby seats, and it can't hold two baby seats in the back. I'm leaning towards the Outback for its smoother, quieter ride and greater room and comfort.

Car Buying Resources

• Car and Driver - White Snow and the 11 Dwarves - excellent test of 11 small SUVs and AWD wagons.
• Carfax automotive history - Using the VIN (vehicle identification number) posted in the car's windshield, Carfax will check for odometer rollback, wreck history, insurance claims, title history and more. A one month subscription with unlimited searches is just $19.00. That's a bargain compared to the expense of fixing a lemon, or finding out that your "creampuff" has a junk salvage title or flood history.
• Carfax Used Car Search - The unsung jewel of the Carfax site. Their used car search service is the most comprehensive I've found. Even better, all of the cars listed have a free Carfax report attached.
• Cartalk web site from Click and Clack.
• Consumer Reports Auto Section - Comprehensive tests and reliability surveys. Consumer Reports accepts no advertising, so their reviews and advice are unbiased. Because there's no advertising, they require a subscription to access most information.

Subaru Resources

• Outback FAQ
• Replacing the factory stereo in a Subaru Legacy Outback
• Subaru Shrine
• Unofficial Subaru Legacy Outback Home Page

Posted by lesjones