Good SUV?

[Charles]

My wife is having our baby in a month. We want a SUV. I wanted a used BMWX3 but wife said no. Too much money...haha

Any reconmendations for a safe, good looking reliable SUV? We want to spend about 20G's on it.

Thanks!

[MYXYLPLYX]

I'd say to check out the Subaru Forrester:



http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/autos/1002/gallery.consumer_reports_top_picks/5.html

I would also recommend looking for a lightly used 2009 model over buying brand new...no reason to take that depreciation hit when you drive it off the lot.

If you aren't scared away by the recent publicity there are some great deals on Toyotas...



The Highlander streets for a little more than your budget but I'm sure you could find a deal on a decent used one.

If you would rather buy American, the Ford Escape should be in your budget range, and gets decent reviews:



http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/escape/


Definitely test drive all of 'em, as you never know what might really appeal to you (or, more importantly, what the little woman might HATE) until you get in one.

Good luck, and congrats on the baby!

[LizardWiz]

I want a Subaru, they are awesome...

[nin1318]

my impreza outback sport is great. i liked the forester much more in the previous generation than the current one...i think the new one lost its distinctiveness...now it jsut looks like a generic SUV but it's still a great vehicle.

charles check out hyundai as well...they've also got some top-notch vehicles and they are really well priced.

[Charles]

Thanks for the info guys. Very helpful.

[MYXYLPLYX]

i liked the forester much more in the previous generation than the current one...i think the new one lost its distinctiveness...now it jsut looks like a generic SUV but it's still a great vehicle.

Yeah, they did change the styling in 2009 and I can see that some might not care for it. However, they also widened the wheel base and added side curtain airbags standard, all while dropping the base price by a grand.

That's why I would really recommend scouting for a lightly used 2009 over previous years or tossing down a wad for this year's model.

[Juana]

Friend has a newer Equinox and it was about 21k used for a 2008 and it's giving him about 30 mpg. Not too bad of a ride.

[creep]

are you looking for a smaller crossover type suv or a full size suv?

for full size i like the ford explorers. for 20k you could pick up one with not too many miles. they are now pretty reliable and have tons of room. most of the crossover type suv's do not have much more interior room than a full size car.

you should drive to roseville or modesto carmax and spend a day driving different ones. you could pretty much drive one of everything that you are interested in.

http://www.carmax.com/

[Jasper]

Safety, safety, safety. Read all of the safety reports. Most SUVs are still more tippy than regular cars.

I'd say the Forrester is an excellent choice. A very good alternative to the Toyota RAV4 is the Honda CR-V.

[creep]

Safety, safety, safety. Read all of the safety reports. Most SUVs are still more tippy than regular cars.

I'd say the Forrester is an excellent choice. A very good alternative to the Toyota RAV4 is the Honda CR-V.

i'm sure the whole rollover thing is something you may have to think about back east with the ice and snow. out here not so much

[LizardWiz]

i'm sure the whole rollover thing is something you may have to think about back east with the ice and snow. out here not so much

Perhaps wally might think differently...

I like the Forester. I think they are cool. But then I am also a frustrated ski bum...

[creep]

i'm sure the whole rollover thing is something you may have to think about back east with the ice and snow. out here not so much

Perhaps wally might think differently...

he was driving in ice and snow

[MYXYLPLYX]

most of the crossover type suv's do not have much more interior room than a full size car.

You'd be surprised (I know I was) with the capacity on some of these crossovers now. While that was definitely true a few years back they've grown in size now to where it's hard to call them small SUV's (corresponding, I think, to the growth of the full-size SUV's)

Although I was planning on getting the Forrester when my kid came along last year (hence all the research) I fell into a deal on a Highlander that I couldn't pass up. The room in the back of the Toyota is pretty damn decent, and for a new parent I can say that it holds a "pack and play" crib, and full size stroller, with plenty of room leftover for baggage.

[creep]

most of the crossover type suv's do not have much more interior room than a full size car.

Although I was planning on getting the Forrester when my kid came along last year (hence all the research) I fell into a deal on a Highlander that I couldn't pass up. The room in the back of the Toyota is pretty damn decent, and for a new parent I can say that it holds a "pack and play" crib, and full size stroller, with plenty of room leftover for baggage.

i just looked at the suburu site and the forester is a pretty good deal. 20k for an awd suv is pretty good

[Jasper]

Safety, safety, safety. Read all of the safety reports. Most SUVs are still more tippy than regular cars.

I'd say the Forrester is an excellent choice. A very good alternative to the Toyota RAV4 is the Honda CR-V.

i'm sure the whole rollover thing is something you may have to think about back east with the ice and snow. out here not so much

I was in a triple rollover in a Ford Explorer. It was in Vermont, but there was no ice or snow at that time, just rain and mud (dirt road). Admittedly this was a '96 Explorer, but accidents can happen anywhere. Some asshole changes lanes without looking on a nice dry highway, and you get hit or have to swerve, all of a sudden you're tipping over.

Now, my friend was driving her CR-V on the highway in VT with two of her teenage kids in back, and an adult moose ran in front of her. If you've ever seen a moose, you know that they look like a prehistoric creature, much bigger than a horse. The car wasn't salvageable, but nobody was hurt. She replaced that car with the exact same model.