Full Size SUV's

   / Full Size SUV's
  • Thread Starter
#21  
Re: Full Size SUV\'s

Robert ask, <font color=blue> What do you want to use it for? Do you need a real 4wd machine, or something to haul the kids in? Will you tow with it? Do you need extra room for the inlaws or dogs or cats?</font color=blue>

Gary ask,<font color=blue> Will you tow? How much and how often? What road and weather conditions do you expect? Will it be a constant load or a declining load (like delivery on a route)? How many miles a year will you drive? What percentage of those will be towing? Etc., etc., etc...</font color=blue>

All right you guys got me. I should have given a better idea of how it will be used. After all, I ask the same thing when people are asking what tractor to buy.

The vehicle will be my wife’s primary ride doing all the things that implies. We live in Atlanta so it will be city driving with weekend trips to our place in the mountains of N. Georgia. We are not high mileage drivers and historically average less than 12,000 miles per year. Our Land Rover is a 1996 with less than 50,000 miles. Road trips of more than 2 hours are rare. She works for the airlines so we tend to fly most places. The kids are gone except for our two furry ones that travel most places with us. We do want a 4 door for friends and our senior folks. We could care less what others think of what we drive or don’t drive. We also keep vehicles until the wheels fall off as long as it remains dependable.

We do not use 4-wheel drive often but do use it and have always owned one vehicle with 4-wheel drive. Towing is not a big issue. My E250 van is rated to tow 7500 lbs. and that takes care of our rare tractor moves. We want something with more cargo space and passenger room than our Land Rover. I also like her driving something with a little beef. There is a lot of crazy driving here in the city.

That should better out line how we will use a SUV. I sure appreciate all of the replies and I am listening carefully. Thanks for the help.

MarkV
 
   / Full Size SUV's #22  
Re: Full Size SUV\'s

We have a Dodge Durango and love it. It's primarily my wife's vehicle used for runs into town for the market and to take the dog to the vet/groomer. Once or twice a year we take it on vacation trips. Last one was to California and back last Christmas. 3 Days each way and it was very comfortable.
 
   / Full Size SUV's #23  
Re: Full Size SUV\'s

I just traded in my 92 (full size) blazer (now rebadged a tahoe) with 200K miles on it. Now have a 97 4 door tahoe. Lots of room, acceptable gas millage, towing power, room for stuff and family.
 
   / Full Size SUV's #24  
Re: Full Size SUV\'s

Check these web sites for pricing and other info.
http://www.nada.com
 
   / Full Size SUV's #25  
Re: Full Size SUV\'s

My wife had 2 2001 loaded Tahoes she liked them but
on trip to Fla. decided needed more room for luggage and
here furniture purchases.
She got 2002 Suburban Z-71.
3 rd. seat has more room and can haul the dog in
carrier behind it.
She really likes it.
Auto-trac 4wd system was made for women (no offense).
Just hit button and goes in and out of 4wd. as needed and won't
harn it on dry pavement.
 
   / Full Size SUV's #26  
Re: Full Size SUV\'s

I bought my wife a Trailblazer in May and she absolutely loves it. She was even nice enough to let me drive it to Atlanta (Decatur, GA) a couple of weeks ago and it did handle like a champ even in I-285 traffic. The gas mileage was a little disappointing (20-22 mpg highway) but I do have a very heavy foot. It's plenty roomy for me and my wife and on occasion, a couple of older relatives and it's big enough to feel pretty safe in.

I normally don't like to be the one to try out a "new" engine design but my wife really fell in love with this one and I took a chance on the new inline six cylinder. So far so good and from what I hear they are pretty much trouble free. I got a shock the first time I changed the oil though. <font color=red>It holds 7 quarts!</font color=red>

I honestly can't say how it compares to any other brand. I am a Chevy guy through and through. I have never even rode in a Ford, Dodge or any of the foreign ones. Good luck in your shopping.

TBone
 
   / Full Size SUV's #27  
Re: Full Size SUV\'s

Here is an opinion regarding SUV's: I think there should be a special test, written and driving, for any non-comercial vehicle with more than x HP, y, wheelbase, z vehicle weight, and perhaps other well founded criteria. Big powerful heavy vehicles should require higher standards to help insure public safety.

Patrick
 
   / Full Size SUV's #28  
Re: Full Size SUV\'s

<font color=blue>Auto-trac 4wd system was made for women</font color=blue>/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Hey I like it too!!!/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif Doesn't happen too often, but earlier this week I drove my z-71 50 miles on pavement with the auto-trac on after visiting a client. Nice to know I didn't do any harm.
 
   / Full Size SUV's #29  
Re: Full Size SUV\'s

Oh Patrick!

You know, I am working on a Class-B Firefighter restricted license.

I am amazed that they do not require more licensing for large motor homes and travel trailers. All of the apparatus in our distric is smaller than a lot of the large motor homes and 5th wheels. And, you have to have a special license for a fire engine... or a commercial class-b vehilce.

From backing to braking to manuevering, it seems large vehicles should have some regulation. I drove a 34' motor home once. It is easier to manuever and drive a fire engine!
 
   / Full Size SUV's #30  
Re: Full Size SUV\'s

OK, first a disclaimer. I am primarily a Chevy/GMC guy and am driving a Tahoe that replaced my Suburban. I'm looking at going back to a K-2500 Suburban 4x4 because I'm towing heavier now.

That all having been said, it doesn't sound like many of the things I'd consider would apply to you. If you aren't going to tow with it, don't worry about that. With the relatively low miles that you drive I wouldn't worry too much about much of anything else, either. Get something with the room inside that will accomodate what you want to haul, 4x4 because you feel more comfortable having it and something she's comfortable driving.

As I said, I drive a Tahoe and I love it. I find it a great size for me. The Durango is somewhat smaller. I don't know about the Durango transmission in particular, but I do know Chrysler has been notorious for problems there in their trucks.

With the low miles you drive, I might suggest you look for something used coming off lease with higher than average miles. The SUV market has fallen off significantly of late and those vehicles, especially with higher miles, are really cheap for what you get. If you normally drive them until the wheels fall off, anyhow, why pay that huge depreciation (usually around half of sticker) for those first two or three model years?

Good luck with whatever you decide. If you think I can be of any further help, feel free to ask here or email me. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
 

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