Straight Car Talk

We are in the market for a new car...like a small SUV/Station Wagon a la Rav4 or Subaru Forester....but we can't find an online source that isn't trying to sell us one! Aside from Consumer Report (we will go to Library), does anyone know of a resource to find out this information? You know, information like mileage, performance etc. TIA...

Carol

http://www.carfax.com/cfm/general_check.cfm

They have test ratings free for you.

Definitely look up the VIN# on whatever auto you're considering! If you subscribe to Consumer Reports online, you can view ratings and articles from a 4-year archive - it's handy to have it all at your fingertips. They have a monthly subscription you can do for $4.95, I believe, and a yearly for $24.95 (close to that, anyway).

Did i read something somewhere about the Rav4 having problems with the gas tank?

You could try www.edmunds.com, although im not sure how in depth their reports are.

Usually book stores like Barnes and Noble have the annual Consumer Reports that contain the auto information that you could take a quick peek at, or even buy if you are feeling extravagant, and they rate the new vehicles too. I like the ratings they use on the used cars, and have used it to my advantage for at least five of my cars, dating back to my first purchase of a used car. I only bought a brand new auto once, and the immediate depreciation made an indelible impression on my frugal gene and stuck there forever.

SUV's are the highest vehicle to insure! my son has a chevy blazer and the insurance is unreal and its insured with me as the main driver!!!!

We pay 137/mt for a 2004 tahoe and a 97 dodge truck. When i traded in the lumina for it, my rate only went up 7/mth.

I think its more just because its a teenage driver. When our kids started driving, our policy jumped by over $250/mt. Its crazy what the insurance companies charge.

They told us that suv's are the highest to insure becuz of theft!
We also insure other cars and have teig listed on the policy on a cheaper vehicle but is can drive any vehicle-helps bring rate down!

2 quick things:

One - YES on the VIN number check out. My dad traded his Ford Contour for a Subaru and not until the dealership checked the VIN on the Ford did my dad know it was a previously salvaged vehicle. It ran great for him but STILL... He got ripped on the price for sure!

The Subaru he bought (can't remember which one) though was his first new car in a long time and he LOVES it. He researched it for mileage and was pleased, plus he's 6'3" so headroom was a concern. He has great headroom and the car had many surprising 'pluses' I thought were neat. Temp/Direction gauge, and I wish I could remember all the others. It also has a bunch of little 'drawers' for lack of a better word that remind me of a Swiss Army knife! That's all!

Good luck on your decision - by the way, I have a mid-size SUV and gas mileage - UCK -21 mpg hwy. My next vehicle will be a car as soon as this one wears out - hard to argue for now when your car's paid off though.

Oh my, i would KILL for 21 mpg, i think i average 13 on a good day, lol.

AARRRGGGHHH! You must have a big one! Mine's a Honda Passport and my commute to work is almost exclusive highway...

143,000 miles and counting!

On all SUV type vehicles, check the rollover rate. I have no idea where to find the information, but not all SUV's are created equal. Some are lightweight (good for gas milage) and top heavy...they will flip on you with very little effort. The KIA Sportage is the worst from what I understand....(I've flipped one myself)

We've been in the wholesale car business for nearly 30 years and the SUV's are the most diverse group of vehicles we've ever dealt with. A low, wide profile is best....one that sits on a car chassis is better...I think the Subaru might, but we deal primarily in domestic vehicles, so check that info please.

I would go for a better safety rating over a few mpg anyday. Some will cost big bucks to repair in a crash though, and that's where you need to look at repair costs. Some SUV's are in the stratosphere when it comes to even replacing a bumper. We had some friends with a Mitsubishi Montero who had a small rear bumper collision in a parking lot. Needed a rear bumper, a tail light, and one rear panel painted because of a scratch...the bill was nearly 2000.00

Insurance companies look at individual repair costs when rating a vehicle, so one that costs more for them to fix, they'll pass on to you.

Wow. Thanks for all the suggestions and information. Passing this on to DH.

Something that you might check, as you are in HI.....rental vehicles get sold each year by the thousands. We've bought as many as 350 Mustang Convertables at a time from HI car rental companies. When they get their new units....they have to get rid of the old ones. Can't push them in the ocean....most get returned to the mainland. We've bought Mustangs, Jeeps, Maximas, Camrys...bunches of other stuff.

There's most likely some small SUV's too. Some places can sell to retail customers...but I'm not sure which ones. You might try Hertz , Enterprise, Avis...some of the main companies.

Alohahoya2000...take a look at epinions.com, and you should find some helpful information about people who own or have owned these vehicles you are interested in, and get some firsthand information on what they think about the vehicles. Hope this helps.

thanks so much...passed it on to DH.

Aloha

Alohahoya, do your research. Here are some of the sites I checked out regularly before buying our Highlander this summer. I really wanted a Suburu but we would have had to travel too far for servicing. As it is we have to travel approx 75 mi one way to get service. Some of these might be Canadian but it might help. Some are for fuel consumption, crash-test, rollover, etc.

http://www.acarplace.com/reviews.html
http://carfax.com/
http://www.cars.com/go/index.jsp?aff=national
http://www.thecarmagazine.com/en/
http://www.consumerreports.org/main/home.jsp?bhfv=6&bhqs=1
http://www.safecarguide.com/exp/exp.htm
http://www.intellichoice.com/
http://www.jdpower.com/cc/auto/index.jsp
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ncap/
http://www.safecarguide.com/
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/personal-vehicles-initiative.cfm

I know that is a lot of sites but I spent weeks researching before we made the final decision.

Broots...WOW! Thanks tons for all the links...that will keep us busy for a while.

Thanks to all of you...you have been SUCH a help.

Aloha

Carol .. try this also >
http://www.autosite.com/buyersguide/2004-Subaru.asp


An 'excerpt' for ya .. about the Subaru Forester .. from >
http://www.autosite.com/buyersguide/2004-subaru-forester.asp

2004 Subaru Forester Buyer's Guide
What's New for the 2004 Subaru Forester?
Turbo power turns the 2004 Subaru Forester into a muscular little SUV this year. The new Forester 2.5XT makes 210 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,600 rpm, good for acceleration to 60 mph in less than seven seconds. The 2.5XT also gets a functional hood scoop that feeds cool air to the engine, monotone exterior paint, aluminum-finish roof rails, unique 16-inch alloy wheels and a chrome exhaust outlet. Inside, 2.5XT models have unique gauges, exclusive upholstery, aluminum doorsill plates and a full load of standard equipment. The Subaru Forester 2.5X and Subaru Forester 2.5XS carry over virtually unchanged, except for the addition of sport-design gauges, a collapsible pedal system and upgraded audio units on the XS.

Advantages of the 2004 Subaru Forester:

Drives like a car but looks like an SUV
New 2.5XT model with stout turbocharged power
Comfortable up front with lots of cargo space in back
Deserved reputation for reliability

Objections to the 2004 Subaru Forester:

Non-turbo engines lack power
Rear seats are a little cramped
Not as large or tall as other crossover SUVs
Well-equipped models are rather pricey compared to other vehicles in the class

AutoSite's Advice:
The Subaru Forester has matured into an excellent do-anything vehicle, and with a 210-horsepower turbo model on tap it no longer feels as though it's having trouble getting out of its own way. Tidy dimensions, standard all-wheel-drive, enough room for a family of four and commendable crash-test results all add up to an excellent urban utility vehicle. If you're shopping small crossover SUVs, the 2004 Subaru Forester deserves a test drive.

More .. Autobytel Forums .. http://www.autobytel.com/content/research/forums/index.cfm?id=9934;4

Autosite Research Center > http://www.autosite.com/new/ataglanceshell.asp

.. * .. for the 2004 Subaru Forester specific 'research' - technical data > http://www.autosite.com/new/ataglanceShell.asp

Hope some of this will help ya.


. . . . Also .. Don't forget to take a peek at . . . .

Kelly Blue Book .. provides a wealth of info !!! (much more than just pricing, etc.) ...
http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/ke.kb.sp?kbb;;;&;suv&&reviewsRatings1;slp

.. and .. NADA Guides .. is another. A ton of important info is provided.
* NADA also provides FREE VIN Checks *
http://www.nadaguides.com/autohome.aspx?LI=1-11-1-2081-0-0-0&Lnk=1&wSec=10&wPr=0&wPg=2001

.. and their reviews section >
http://www.nadaguides.com/rev/reviewsearch.aspx?LI=1-10-0-2001-9-230-26549&Lnk=1&wSec=10&wPr=5&wPg=2019&z=&z=00000&re=2

Super....thanks.

It has narrowed down to theSubaru Forester and the Pontiac Vibe (aka Toyota Matrix). From what we can discern, they are the same....

Carol

I don't want to get a debate about manufacturer's started but be careful with the Pontiac.... I went through a couple before I started buying Honda's. The ones I had just didn't have longevity..... But my Honda's - my mom's still driving my first one and my current one (I know already typed this) has 142k on it.. Course now the Honda Passport is really an Izuzu (says so in the door panel) so maybe it's the same with the Vibe!

Pontiac is making some wonderful vehicles now. We've been a Pontiac Family for quite a while ...our 1997 Bonneville is about to roll to 150,000 miles and all we've done to it is replace spark plug wires and basic maintainence, and plan on driving it at least 1 more year.....anywhere we plan to travel. I can have any vehicle I want (within our budget) and I'd pick a Pontiac again. It would be my 3rd.
I wouldn't be afraid to take off to CA tomorrow morning in it. We've sold more Pontiacs than any other brand of car here locally and 90% of our customers go with another Pontiac when they trade up.

Granted, there are lemons with anything, but the domestic manufacturers are turning out a quality product these days. We prefer domestics because of how economic they are to repair and ease of service in this area.

Check on service availability.....we have to travel 90 miles to get a Volkswagen worked on.

I've heard good things on the Subaru from a few locals who have them ....and the Vibe is pretty popular in these parts too. Actually, I see more of them on the road...but here in the part of the country we live in....that's understandable.

The imports are generally more popular on all Coasts (East,West,& South) We sell more domestics in the Heartland. It's just demographics...we'd buy domestics on the coasts and ship them inland...buy imports inland and sell on the coast.

Thanks again. From everything we have read, the Pontiac Vibe is made in the same factory as the Toyota Matrix...a few differences being cosmetic. The mileage is terrific - and that is important here on the islands where we are paying, today $2.40gal. I have always had imports (Toyotas, Subarus) only because they held up well...except for a Nissan that fell apart (interior) after a year.

You guys have been so helpful...thanks again.

Here is a website that I encourage anyone looking for a new vehicle to visit. It's the Environmental Protection Agency's website that allows you to compare how much different vehicles pollute. There are other factors besides just mileage that are taken into account on this site, such as particulate air pollution and green house gasses. Since driving is the single worst thing most of us do for the heath of the environment (and in turn many of ourselves), I think this is an important factor to consider. Here's that link:

http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/select.htm

Very good advice...and well taken. Thanks!!!!

Well, we did it! After driving the Subaru and the Pontiac Vibe, I felt safer in the Subaru Forester. The Vibe has those funny rear windows that created a blind spot for me, and the Subaru has side airbags - and felt more centered on the road. A bit more money...but we keep our cars a long time. Thanks to you ALL for your help and advice...it helped us narrow down the choices and gave us a lot of insight into what is going on $ wise.

Many mahalos....

Carol

Good choice! We have a Subaru and we love it.

Way to go Carol. Glad to hear you bought the Forester. Enjoy it.

One of the more popular books that I refer patrons to is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0670043850/ref=pd_sim_b_1/104-6157421-3204725?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance

Every library should have Phil Edmonston's books in their collection.

You all are terrific. Can't wait to get over the Nervous Nellie stage....obsessing about dirt and dents!!! Gotta pick up some stuff to keep the dogs in the back and the matts clean!!!

Carol

Congrats ! Good choice.