[Mpower]

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

slightly off topic, if i turn 4WD off, will i get the same FE as 2WD?

Sorry Vivek,
Usually AWD vehicles run in FWD mode most of the time and will engage AWD automatically when they detect slip. so, FE is pretty good but not as good as pure FWD because of the extra weight and friction.

Check out the Hyundai Tucson and its Kia equivalent. We're really spoilt for choice here. A 4cylinder in too large SUV is going to be sluggish.

[highwayblaze]

I guess vivek has a lot of options from all that you guys have pointed out.
Rav4, CRV, Mazda5, and I definitely agree with Mpower about fuel economy of all wheel drive's. I guess u can't have best of both worlds. A car this size will never give u gas mileage close to 30 mpg.

Mpower is right again with the handling again dude. The mazda's are great cars to drive.

FYI Subaru's are not that great on gas either. The Outback in real life will deliver only 26mpg. My friend has one and he's always cribbing about it. I guess its coz of the guzzly boxer-4 engine it has. Same with the Impreza WRX. The Impreza RS2.5 will give u 28mpg on the road.

[vivekiny2k]

too bad toyota matrix doesn't come with 4X4 option anymore.

the shape is like a frog too.

[california_dude]

I went thru the whole thread and read about everbody's opinion
all i want to say is .. new cars in the US do loose 50 % of their value once u drive out of the compound .. look at Pre owned cars.. and also .. as far as possible avoid a loan or have a minimum load

all above comes from personal exp

had a brand new 01 Nissan path finder SE fully loaded with BOSE
premimum after 6 grand down was 500 $ excluding insurance ..

so try to keep the premimum .. around 300 .. specially when you have a family .. good luck

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by california_dude

all i want to say is .. new cars in the US do loose 50 % of their value once u drive out of the compound

thanks for the concern, but that's a little bit of exaggeration. even if i shop for a 2004 model (toyota etc), i will not get more than 20% depreciation.

I already have a 2002 mitsubishi galant and I miss all the new features newer cars offer.

I may postpone it to the end of the year though, keeping the finances in mind.

[vivekiny2k]

Update:
most of the cars were vetoed by wifey at first look. leaving only toyota and honda in the list.

Rav-4 which I had almost decided on. was a disappointment. may be i am spoilt by the sedans or i was expecting too much from toyota. the ride was harsh, noisy and bumpy, no different from a ford explorer/ranger. talked to my colleague who owns one and he said V6 is much quieter and better. but he does agree that it's a boy's toy, not a family car.

and then test drove honda FIT. loved it. NVH was great, space is great, practicality is great. 1.5L VTEC (109 HP)gives enough punch to propel the thing. except on the steep inclines where it struggled a bit. and wife agrees that we have enough space for our needs.

some more research in specs and we will be fit for the fit. (else it will be the CR-V)

[aah78]

women can be quite expressive when it comes to objects they don't appreciate in terms of beauty!

well, keep us updated!

[THE-U-]

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

and then test drove honda FIT. loved it. NVH was great, space is great, practicality is great. 1.5L VTEC (109 HP)gives enough punch to propel the thing. except on the steep inclines where it struggled a bit. and wife agrees that we have enough space for our needs.

Are you serious? FIT has more space? A friend of mine recently went to look at the FIT and the asking price was atleast $500 more than MSRP. I think he finally settled on the Corolla and paid less for a Corolla S.

In general, Hondas have bad NVH characteristics compared to other brands and it gets worse particularly on the Expressways. So, take a high speed test drive and also make sure you're comparing cars over the same stretch. Concrete surface will always be noisier than asphalt and some dealers are good at taking you over better roads during test drive.

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by THE-U-

Are you serious? FIT has more space? A friend of mine recently went to look at the FIT and the asking price was atleast $500 more than MSRP.

Ummmm, I am confused. you are talking about the space or the price?

well I can assure you you can fit things in FIT that you can't even in camry. I have a galant and i have often not bought pieces of household furniture/other goods because i cud not carry those.
As i said earlier, if any of these cars (civic, corolla, accord, camry, altima.....) came with a station wagon option, i would not need to go thru this stress of choices.

I can still opt for CR-V, but my concern was MPG, i'll hate to take a big car to work everyday while i can do the same with a better MPG. I took the fit to the US-route, not the interstate, and i was satisfied. It does feel small on bigger dips (e.g. railway crossing) but then it's always a matter of compromising on one thing or the other, isn't it? for much longer (long weekend) drives i can still rent a car, if it really behaves bad. am not selling my galant soon anyway. And if i am not mistaken, it has the same engine specs as NHC in india, except for the boot.

about the price, i am getting it almost at the carsdirect price. i won't go to carsdirect route for saving a hundred or 2 dollars. you get other things with goodwill from the dealer.

PS: CR-V option is still open. I still have doubt about fit's long term reliability and highway crash worthiness (not the controlled tests done for NHTSA)

[THE-U-]

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

Ummmm, I am confused. you are talking about the space or the price?

Actually, I was talking about both. For the money you pay, the space you get is it worthwhile?

Having gotten a small car in the past, I've always regretted getting it after a few years because smaller cars get pretty uncomfortable with a kid even for city driving. My friend I mentioned earlier actually was looking only for a commute car (He has a Odyssey and a Ford Explorer 4x4 already) and he thought Fit was too small and uncomfortable even for that. Then again he does a 50 mile round trip a day. So, your requirements may be different. He gets a good 36 mpg with the Corolla though.

[vivekiny2k]

sorry to bump this thread, but while I am waiting for the nissan rogue (while almost made my mind for the CR-V), also looked at 2 more options.

1. nissan quest. for some reason, nissan is now offering 3000 discount (base in < 21K, SL in <24K) on it, making it much more attractive than CR-V. And I can't find why, even an upgrade is not due until 2009. any comments?

2. mercury mariner hybrid. charging only 5K premium for the hybrid, gives 34-30 MPG, with federal tax rebate of 3K, sounds like a good deal. but i am hearing things about it's outdated design from ford escape.

[ashwin_seattle]

Go for a Toyota Hybrid. I have head sperb reviews about it from my office folks, and that it gives u 50-60 mpg. Very spacious and nice ride. Lastly, TOYOTA.
Other than that, for tru driving pleasure go for an Acura RSX which is just awesome, or a Honda Civic Si if you are a little subdued but love driving pleasure.
All these fall under your budget.

[vivekiny2k]

Originally Posted by ashwin_seattle

Go for a Toyota Hybrid. I have head sperb reviews about it from my office folks, and that it gives u 50-60 mpg. Very spacious and nice ride. Lastly, TOYOTA.
Other than that, for tru driving pleasure go for an Acura RSX which is just awesome, or a Honda Civic Si if you are a little subdued but love driving pleasure.
All these fall under your budget.

Toyota has crossed the magic number of 60,000 in producing hybrids, the federal tax rebates are gone now. besides, mercury (and ford escape) use the toyota platform for hybrids.

(and i'm looking for van/station wagon/SUV rather than a sedan).

[vivekiny2k]

Hi guys,

thanks for all the inputs. I finally booked nissan quest 3.5 SL. waiting to get the delivery on wednesday.

3000$ rebate from nissan was a major factor, bringing it lower than the CRV and other interests of mine. (I am paying 24500 + taxes and fees)

and thanks to irags for bringing subaru in picture. i liked them performance wise, unfortunately they were not refined enough to be an urban family car.

[iraghava]

Congrats on the purchase Vivek & seems Nissan's giving you quite a nice deal! We expect some pictures & a review from your side when you have it delivered!

Have fun!