Compact SUVs

[Partial]

Do any of you guys drive or know anyone who has driven a compact SUV and raved about it?

My car from 1997 is on its last leg and my folks were discussing with me about purchasing a 3-4 year old car, and then I can pay them back in installments.

I have been eyeing up the compact SUV market for awhile, mainly the Nissan Xterra, Jeep Liberty and Honda CRV.

I am looking for something that is rugged that can handle going off road a bit, as I like to do a lot of biking, rock climbing, stuff like that. The Xterra was grabbing my interest since it has a large enough engine to tow with relative ease, and gets decent gas mileage for an SUV.

Any of you guys have any thoughts?

[MJZiggy]

Had a CRV for a while and it was fine, though not great pickup or power. That was many years ago and they've undergone significant modifications since then, but I liked it well enough. It had a flip down console so you could easily move between front and back seats, which was interesting and nice to have when traveling with a family. You get to use the line "don't make me come back there!"

I have had other, smaller SUVs, but have switched back to little cars that go fast.

[mraynrand]

I've heard a lot of good things about the Xterra. The CRV and Rav4 seems a bit tiny and/or underpowered to me. If you're really going to spend a lot of time offroad, you'd be crazy not to look at Jeep. They still make SUVs designed to go off road. Some of the other offerings are really street vehicles. Liberty also offers a diesel engine if you want to go that direction.

[MJZiggy]

Nice point. I would be concerned about diesel in a few places offroad. I'm just thinking of the noise of the engine and such...

[Partial]

Hmm, interesting points and things to contemplate from both of you. I must say I was taken aback by the size of the Xterra.

I went and looked at one today and I must say it was quite a bit more than I wanted to spend, even for a several year old model. Also, it was HUGE. I did not realize it was so big! I will say that it was a very smooth ride and the noise cancellation methods they used were very effective. It was extremely quiet, even on the freeway.

I am probably now moving on to looking at smaller vehicles. I don't intend to use it off road too much, but I wouldn't like to rule out the activity.

I am looking at SUVs primarily because they are a little safer and can haul things around (I am a big time scavenger and rummage sale-r during the summer so it would be nice to be able to haul say a desk or a dresser, something like that).

[MJZiggy]

Check consumer reports and Highway safety information on SUV safety for the year and model you are interested in because while SUVs are safer in crashes with smaller vehicles, different models had different timelines for fixing their rollover problems. Also check out the Toy Highlander which is very nice and there's another Honda that's a step larger and more powerful than the CRV as well. But both of those might cost more too. Have you thought of an old, beat up Volvo? Those things last forever, but you have to consider that when they do break down, they will cost you to fix.

[packinpatland]

Can't beat a beatup Volvo. My daughter is still driving the first one we ever bought....................in 1981! Looks and drives like tank, and just about as safe.

[MJZiggy]

Yep. I once knew a man with a bad sense of humor that drove a red one and called it the "big red vulva" (you may now move this thread to the Garbage Can)

[Badgepack]

My wife is on her 4th Jeep now, Cherokee and Grand Cherokees, swears by them. The Liberty is a good vehicle, I would not get the diesel engine though, Jeep quit offering it after only 2 years, although alot of people swear by that engine also.

[packinpatland]

Yep. I once knew a man with a bad sense of humor that drove a red one and called it the "big red vulva" (you may now move this thread to the Garbage Can)

Trust me, we've heard them all!

[Partial]

Do most libraries have consumer reports subscriptions?

[MJZiggy]

I believe so.

[Freak Out]

Do most libraries have consumer reports subscriptions?

So you are going to spend good money on a freaking SUV and you have to go to the library to get a consumer report? Makes sense. Go buy a 2001 or 2002 VW Jetta TDI Wagon that gets about 45 mpg on the highway that you can sleep in the back of. You can always throw a Thule or Yakima pod on the top to hold all your gear in. The Xterra is junk. the Honda is OK, the newer jeeps are nice but the only one I would consider is the 4 door Wrangler and I don't think you can get one with the diesel yet. Remember that when Benz sells Chrysler the German diesel connection is done.

[Partial]

Do most libraries have consumer reports subscriptions?

So you are going to spend good money on a freaking SUV and you have to go to the library to get a consumer report? Makes sense. Go buy a 2001 or 2002 VW Jetta TDI Wagon that gets about 45 mpg on the highway that you can sleep in the back of. You can always throw a Thule or Yakima pod on the top to hold all your gear in. The Xterra is junk. the Honda is OK, the newer jeeps are nice but the only one I would consider is the 4 door Wrangler and I don't think you can get one with the diesel yet. Remember that when Benz sells Chrysler the German diesel connection is done.

I need a car, I don't need consumer reports.

[BallHawk]

Partial,

A site I suggest is Edmunds.com

It's very useful in terms of comparisons, statistics, reviews, etc. I used it when helping my Mom by her car and it was very helpful.

Never been in Xterra. Rav4s are pretty cramped and kind of a "blah" car. The Honda CRV has really "grown up" over the years and its a pretty quiet ride as well as relatively spacios inside. The Liberty is also nice.