Which is the best SUV to get?

[CALL911]

It will be a couple of years, but eventually I am going to need an SUV of sometype.

I want something that will last for a long time, be able to tow a trailor with an F-body on it, and not cost me an arm and a leg, as well as not being a huge gas guzzler. On top of everything, I want either AWD or a 4X4 to handle the nasty snow that happens on occasion in Northern Indiana. Target price range would probably be about $10,000 (looking used obviously). The target price range is flexable, but wanted to try to keep it as a target.

Here's what I am thinking so far.

#1, the VW Touareg. I have seen many for just a thousand or so over my target price. They are very nice, drive awesome, and range 14-20 MPG. They will easily tow what I want, and have an adequate amount of space inside.

#2 Saturn Vue. They are attractive and get 19-26 MPG. They have a towing capability of about 3500 lbs. The car is a little over my budget for one of the newer models used, but that will probably come down by the time I am ready to buy.

#3 Chevy Equinox. These are badass little gas savers. They get 19-24 MPG in the V6 AWD model, and have a towing capacity of 3500 lbs. I am guessing that a trailer will weigh in at about 1000 lbs, and both my F-bodies are around 3400 lbs. So the towing is about 900 lbs less than what I want it for, but I am guessing this might be alright, as when I want to tow, it won't be far, and it would most likely be on level road (no up-hill or down hill). Again killed on the price as a used one goes for about $19,500+ (again one of the newer models as the older ones get horrible mileage).

#4 Chevy Traverse. Offers more room than the Equinox which is nice, as well as a more attractive interior, and can tow 5700 lbs. All while averaging 17-24 MPG. The price is the killer though, and I don't know if it will be anywhere near my range even in a few years.

I have looked at a few others as well, but in the end, they got bad mileage (worse than 17 MPG), were not reliable, or could not come close to my towing needs.

Anyone have any opinions or advice? Perhaps I am being too specific on my towing needs. Do I really need to follow the towing capacity for the fact I will probably tow 4400 lbs once a year maybe 100 miles? Gas mileage is more important than towing, but reliability will be the most important.

[jaysz2893]

FWIW we bought a new 08 equinox (FWD) for my wife and she loves it. It was fine itn the 24 inches of snow we got here a few weeks back. It gets good gas milage and has plenty of room for 2 kids (on in a baby seat). The back seat even moves front to back about 10 inches and folds down.

[CALL911]

I like the equinox a lot. Its attractive and gets the best mileage out of all of the ones I was looking at.

The only things I am not sure of, is if it will handle towing an F-body on a trailor, and if I can get one for the price I am willing to spend.

[jaysz2893]

i forgot my mom has a 06 VUE. She loves Saturns, has owned a few. It is smaller than the equinox. THe only down side I see to Saturn is that they are dead/dying and service/parts may be an issue in the future. She did say when her VUE dies, she is going with an Equinox.
As for towing, i cant help.. I have F250 Diesel 4x4 for that.. LOL sorry...

[popo8]

I didnt know any of those would pull a car and trailer(comfortably) except the trail blazer.

what is ur price range???

I love our tahoe at work.... and it has that fuel saving (shut half the motor off) when cruising...

[5POINT7]

what about a gmc envoy?

[popo8]

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k110/popo08/92-24.jpg

[CALL911]

Price range is in the first post (target price $10,000). Yeah, all of them will tow, just possibly not enough.

I didn't even bother with 4X4 trucks as they get much worse mileage, and would not be capable of hauling the wife and dog around in (comfortably).

I did look at the Envoys, and Tahoe's, however mileage was the killer on both of them (as well as Tahoes price tag).

Another I thought about, but never looked into was the Arcadia. Anyone know anything on them?

[CALL911]

Just looked breifly into the Arcadia. It gets the same mileage as the rest 17-24, and will tow everything I need, however the price tag used is still at the lowest almost $20,000 (twice the my goal price). Its almost to be expected, as with both the Traverse and the Arcadia loaded up are pretty much $50,000 new.

[popo8]

Oh, Im sorry, I missed the BUDGET....

My 00 Montero Sport is freakin Awesome... FUll Frame SUV... lil small for me at 6'4" and 260+ but I love it.... Bought it new in 2000, and still rockin with 140,000 of ABUSED mileage....

Even when it was stock, I was the guy that picked everyone up in the bad weather to hit the bars...

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k110/popo08/7.jpg

Now that I lifted it with the bigger tires, its unstoppable!!!

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k110/popo08/9.jpg

And I have abused it MUDDIN, and hauled 1 or two bikes to the track....
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k110/popo08/bike3.jpg

I have never tried hooking up a car and trailer to it, however if I did, brake controller and tranny cooler would be a must......

Mine is the LS, which was one model down from the XLS.... mine has the 190 hp 3.0
THe XLS was like a 210 3.5 liter....

[CALL911]

How does it do for gas mileage? I bet it would probably tow the same as the others.

I'm sure when (or if) Fastbird sees this, he will pipe in and mention how much he loves his Chrysler Pacifica. I have drove his and it is a nice vehicle, and believe it or not, it does have a 3500 towing capacity, but I did find the inside a little small inside for the vehicle. For all I know the Saturn and Equinox may be the same sized as I have not seen them in person. I do know the VW and the Traverse would be more than enough room though.

[popo8]

Honestly, it has been so long since it had stock size tires on it, so I cant remember what the gasmileage was before adding all that weight and throwing the speedo off....

If I remember right, a 16 gallon tank would last me about 400+ miles on my drives to FL, and like 300 round town..... and it takes the CHEAP stuff....
I am just pro RWD 4X4s.... rather than the AWDS or FWDS.s...

I think older monteros are going for like 6g in good condition...

http://www.automotive.com/2000/99/mitsubishi/montero-sport/ls-sport-utility/1015/index.html

[jaysz2893]

For all I know the Saturn and Equinox may be the same sized as I have not seen them in person. I do know the VW and the Traverse would be more than enough room though.
Wel li know for sure the 06-07 VUE is smaller in the rear seating and cargo area than my wife's 08 Equinox. I have ridden in both. THe 09 Vue and 10 Equinox share a more similar platform.

[SexyTransAm]

Tahoe's r the way to go man. lots of room and can tow ur car with no prob at all

[CALL911]

Tahoe's r the way to go man. lots of room and can tow ur car with no prob at all

Gas mileage is important to me, and the Tahoe gets too bad of mileage for me to consider.

[5POINT7]

Ford Explorer :doh:maybe

[CALL911]

^ I would never get an "Exploder". Besides the fact they are junk (all kinds of long term maintenance issues), they get attrochious gas mileage.

Besides, I could never bring myself to drive a Ford.

[5POINT7]

^ I would never get an "Exploder". Besides the fact they are junk (all kinds of long term maintenance issues), they get attrochious gas mileage.

Besides, I could never bring myself to drive a Ford.lol i agree, that why I used that smiley. :laugh:

[popo8]

Figd maybe some pics would help people helping you (I added one that I like, hehe)

[5POINT7]

what about a jeep or toyota. just throwing ideas out there. I'm assuming you want to stay with a GM product?

[CALL911]

what about a jeep or toyota. just throwing ideas out there. I'm assuming you want to stay with a GM product?

No, it doesn't have to be GM. I like Jeeps, and they will fit everything I am looking for, except the gas mileage. I drove a 93 Jeep Sport for years, but it gets horrible gas mileage. I was seeing 8-10 in the winter when I used the 4 wheel drive.

I looked into Toyota's as well, but again, the gas mileage didn't seem to be there. Not as bad as the Jeeps, but still not as good as the options I posted up earlier with the possible exception of the Touareg, but between a Toyota and a Touareg, I would gladly take the VW.

[harner]

I guess a TBSS is out of the question? :)

I get around 13-17 since mine is AWD. It'll tow anything and drive through anything. Sport suspension, beefy drivetrain (4l70e and 14 bolt), 4.10s, etc. Paid 17,900 at a dealer over a year ago for my '06 with 50k. Plenty of room for passengers and comfortable ride.

[PUMPKINMAN]

HAVE U TRIED A TBSS?

[AChotrod]

I wouldnt suggest any of those for towing a car. My jeep has a 5000lb limit and its at its limit with my car and a alum trailer.
Chevy Avalance is my suggestion. Might not be the best with gas, buts its just like a SUV but better. You can get the 5.3 to save gas or get a 6.0 if your going to tow alot. Either one will pull a car no prob.

[CALL911]

Gas is 2nd most important to me behind reliability. So a TBSS with its poor gas mileage is out, not to mention its over the cost of what I want to spend as well.

I read a few people that had some of the vehicles I was looking at originally in my first post like the Saturn and the Equinox, and both said they towed 3500 lbs no problem up and down some fairly agressive slopes out west in the mountains. Perhaps I am being nieve, but to me that seems that it would pull 4500 lbs on straight and level once a year for maybe 100 miles a year total just fine. But this is just my guess. Does anyone else have any experience driving something straight and level slightly over a vehicles max towing capacity for a relatively short period of time?

[AChotrod]

If you dont own a trailer and dont have a hook up at a rental place. They wont even let you rent with an under rated tow capacity. I have a hook up and they still give me shit with a 5000lb rating. My best friend has a traverse and I wouldnt tow a car with it down the street.
Anyways I think you could find a used Avalance around 10k.

[CALL911]

I will buy my own trailor when the time comes, so I'm not worried about what a rental place will or will not allow me to get away with.

You may be missing the point. Avalanches get trashy mileage. This is a vehicle that I will be used 99% of just driving the family around in. Very little will be towing, therefore, I need it to get better mileage than in the teens on the highway. When that 1% comes, I do want something that will tow, but I don't need something that is overkill or the fuel economy goes out the window.

[popo8]

I couldnt believe the towing capacity with the VW....

however the gas mileage is not what you want either.....

"Official EPA fuel economy ratings: With the V6, 15/20mpg (15.7/10.8l/100km) and with the V8, 14/18mpg (17.3/11.8/100km). Towing capacity is 7,700 lbs with either engine. "

Quote found here......
http://4wheeldrive.about.com/cs/volkswagonreviews/a/aa071803a.htm

[harner]

So you want something with enough balls and weight to lug a car and trailer around, but you don't want to pay the consequences. Save up for a hybrid or find a rental.

[AChotrod]

I will buy my own trailor when the time comes, so I'm not worried about what a rental place will or will not allow me to get away with.

You may be missing the point. Avalanches get trashy mileage. This is a vehicle that I will be used 99% of just driving the family around in. Very little will be towing, therefore, I need it to get better mileage than in the teens on the highway. When that 1% comes, I do want something that will tow, but I don't need something that is overkill or the fuel economy goes out the window.

I understand but your asking for everything and dont want to pay for it.
None of the trucks mentioned should ever pull 5k behind it. If you dont have alot of weight loss youll be over 5k with car and trailer.
My suggestion is buy a truck that can handle what you need it to do, or borrow a truck when you need to pull your car and get whatever you want.
Like I said My jeep is rated to 5K and it was scetchy pulling my car. I wouldnt even think about it in something with a lower tow capacity
Basically pulling 5k+ on a car rated for 3 is illegal and dangerous. Possibly could kill someone.
If your budget was bigger you could have a Tahoe or Avalance that gets better milage than a 4 banger, but they are expensive as hell.

[CALL911]

20 MPG on highway is what I am looking at minimum. The VW definatly offers that (V6). The others offer even better mileage, and most are rated to tow WAY more than an F-body and trailor (minus the Saturn and Equinox). So they are out there, and they will give me what I want.

Just a matter of picking what best fits my needs, or if there are indeed others that might also give me that opportunity.

[popo8]

I never asked you... you originally said 10g... so I assumed you meant used... then I noticed it said the prices in the cars you listed and they were over...

So are you looking for used or new....

[CALL911]

I never asked you... you originally said 10g... so I assumed you meant used... then I noticed it said the prices in the cars you listed and they were over...

So are you looking for used or new....

As it says on the first post, I am looking for used. Also as stated on the first post I understand that some of these are over the target price range of $10,000 which is fine because this is something that I will be buying a few years down the road (not now or anytime soon). Therefore, the prices should fall a bit, hopefully more towards my target price of $10,000.

[popo8]

As it says on the first post, I am looking for used. Also as stated on the first post I understand that some of these are over the target price range of $10,000 which is fine because this is something that I will be buying a few years down the road (not now or anytime soon). Therefore, the prices should fall a bit, hopefully more towards my target price of $10,000.


Just tryin to help man... sorry I missed so much that was said "In the first post".... good luck bro.

[5POINT7]

what about a dodge durango. idk about the gas mileage. just some thought.

[jaysz2893]

http://o.aolcdn.com/commerce/images/cadillac_10escaladehybrid_angularfront_Regular.jpg
Escalade Hybrid!! LOL

22MPG @ $88 grand!!! WOOT!!

j/k.. but good luck with the hunt

[CALL911]

what about a dodge durango. idk about the gas mileage. just some thought.

Durango's do barely fall into the mileage, but honestly I just never cared for how they look.



Escalade Hybrid!! LOL

22MPG @ $88 grand!!! WOOT!!

j/k.. but good luck with the hunt

lol, not dropping that kind of loot for sure.

If I were to spend a bit more, I would more than likely get a Saturn Outlook (24 mpg) or Chevy Traverse, or Arcadia.

[Camaro_94]

What about a regular Trailblazer LT or LS? I've been seeing some go for dirt cheap lately.

They get 15 city /20 highway. I dont really have any complaints. Great DD, and not to mention its rated to tow up to 6XXXlbs. I towed a 22' long boat with my Trailblazer. It handled it WAY better than I expected. Even launched it and got it out of the water!

You wouldnt have a problem towing a F-Body with it on a trailer. They ride really smooth, are comfortable, have a TON of space (between the trunk area and back seats being able to fold down, you'll be all set!!). I actually slept in the back of mine one night. I folded down the back seats and slept back there, and I'm 6'2 and it wasnt actually that bad.

I'd HIGHLY reccomend it, especially with the price range you are looking to buy one for. I got mine for $11,250... 44K miles and well equipped with options. I've seen some with 60K miles go for 8K!!!

My Trailblazer the day after I bought it.
http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss268/mikesperformanceautodetailing/Trailblazer/MikesTrailblazer007.jpg
http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss268/mikesperformanceautodetailing/Trailblazer/MikesTrailblazer010.jpg
http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss268/mikesperformanceautodetailing/Trailblazer/MikesTrailblazer005.jpg
http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss268/mikesperformanceautodetailing/Trailblazer/MikesTrailblazer017.jpg
http://i582.photobucket.com/albums/ss268/mikesperformanceautodetailing/Trailblazer/MikesTrailblazer018.jpg

[ws6nighthawk]

i would go with the equinox too. my mom has an 06 and its a good all around truck/jeep thing.lol and you can get the performance version which has all the goodies sat nav, heated leather, disc changer and its 4 wheel drive which is also nice for those kinda muddy areas that you might wanna accidentally drive in to.lol


edit: or i would just go with this.lol

[CALL911]

I like the equinox a lot. That Bimmer looks bad, but I am sure it won't fit into the price range.

I saw a small SUV that was a newer Bimmer at base the other day, it looked awesome as well, but again, I am sure I couldnt afford it.

Too bad, case BMW's have amazing longevity more than almost any other car (along with Mercedes).

[1FASTSS]

I like the equinox a lot. Its attractive and gets the best mileage out of all of the ones I was looking at.

The only things I am not sure of, is if it will handle towing an F-body on a trailor, and if I can get one for the price I am willing to spend.

If your looking to tow, you need something more than these IMO. My wife I6 Trailblazer made the trip towing my car to the shootout last year but you could smell the trans working super hard all the way there and back. WhenI change the fluid it was black.

[ws6nighthawk]

I like the equinox a lot. That Bimmer looks bad, but I am sure it won't fit into the price range.

I saw a small SUV that was a newer Bimmer at base the other day, it looked awesome as well, but again, I am sure I couldnt afford it.

Too bad, case BMW's have amazing longevity more than almost any other car (along with Mercedes).

yeah they are pricey as hell and the equinox would def fit in the price range for sure and im pretty sure the performance version will too. what is the price range any ways? if you dont mind me asking?

[CALL911]

Look at the first post.