Vehicle help please

[KnottedYet]

Remember the Mistubishi MPV minivan with 4 wheel drive!? That was an awesome minivan. I think Mitsu has come out with a new version, but it's more the luxury-type than the good ol' MPV was.

What about the Honda Vanagon or the Toyota M5? Those were good little 4wd minivans, too.

(I hope my Subi isn't reading over my shoulder... really Imp, I love you best!)

[chickwhorips]

for the record: i have nothing against mini's as a vehicle. great vehicle.

though as a teen i was TORMENTED by the fact that i had to drive one around. there were not one but TWO of them in my house. no way in he!! will i ever own one. i rather drive the worse vehicle out there then purchase a mini.

no offense to those that do drive a mini. like i said, they are great, but not for me. specially me, with no family, only a dog. in the opposite words of mr silver, i'm a young chick, i need something cool.

ironically when i was 20 and bought my alero, my dad said i should get a mini. i looked at him like are you crazy? i'm 20! and for the record, that was 6 years ago, i haven't changed my mind.

[KnottedYet]

I think Trek has an Alero. (I cleaned the thing, you'd think I'd remember what it is... brain like a steel sieve, I tell ya!) Now she's looking at Hondas and VW biodiesels.

[Trek420]

Yep. Olds Alero with a roof rack. Don't tell it I'm looking at other cars.

[Mr. Bloom]

And Mr. Silver, I am old and frumpy, and I love my Element. My 72 yo pop has one, too.
Karen

I love it! The women I bought my red mercedes from is 70 and drives a mini-cooper now!

ironically when i was 20 and bought my alero, my dad said i should get a mini. i looked at him like are you crazy? i'm 20! and for the record, that was 6 years ago, i haven't changed my mind.

Good Call in your 20's! Silver's been a real sport to tolerate keeping her minivan.

[chickwhorips]

The Element has 6.9 inches of clearance, the Subaru Legacy has 7.3 inches of clearance, and the Subaru Outback has 8.7 inches.

this is the only thing that has now halted my consideration of an element.

[7rider]

no offense to those that do drive a mini. like i said, they are great, but not for me. specially me, with no family, only a dog. in the opposite words of mr silver, i'm a young chick, i need something cool.

Wait!!! Are you talking Mini's - like Mini Coopers? Or mini - as in miniVAN?


I think I read somewhere that Subaru Outbacks (didn't they used to just be a trim level in the Legacy line?) were re-categorized as a "truck" by Subaru to get around EPA mileage standards. Hmmmm.

That said, they're great buggies. Unofficially (maybe officially) the state car of Vermont, too. DH has a Impreza WRX. It's a little rocket! All my in-laws seem to have Subarus. You go to a family affair, and it's like a freakin' dealership parking lot in the driveway!

[chickwhorips]

Wait!!! Are you talking Mini's - like Mini Coopers? Or mini - as in miniVAN?

mini as in minivan.

i think the mini coopers are cool! though not very practical in anchorage.

[KnottedYet]

<Knot sits back in her leather armchair, puffs her pipe, adjusts her bifocals, smoothes down her tweed jacket, and waxes pedantic...>

Picking a car is like picking a bike. It's all about fit, function, and true love. Ride (I mean drive) a lot of makes and models, choose the components (I mean trim lines) that meet your needs and budget, and test drive, test drive, test drive.

And wear lycra...

[Crankin]

Subarus are very popular in New England, but my personal experience (good friends have 2) is that they are sluggish on the highway and we couldn't really fit 4 bikes and luggage for 4 people going on a trip in the station wagon.
I had a 4 runner for 6 years. I loved it. Drove great in heavy blizzards and my son drove it to races all over New England. No need to take the wheel off.
I would personally go for the new Rav 4. It's much bigger than the previous models and you get Toyota reliability.

[KnottedYet]

I think I read somewhere that Subaru Outbacks (didn't they used to just be a trim level in the Legacy line?) were re-categorized as a "truck" by Subaru to get around EPA mileage standards. Hmmmm.

yeah, the poor Outback H6 only gets 22-24 mpg. The Outback H4 (same engine as the Legacy/Imp/Forester) gets the same mileage as the rest of them.

The H4 is pretty darn powerful as it is, so unless you have a large object to tow I'd think the H6 wouldn't be worth the lower gas mileage.

MotorWeek did a review of the Outback H6. They only got 20 mpg. http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/longterm/2001outback.shtml

[7rider]

<Knot sits back in her leather armchair, puffs her pipe, adjusts her bifocals, smoothes down her tweed jacket, and waxes pedantic...>

Picking a car is like picking a bike. It's all about fit, function, and true love. Ride (I mean drive) a lot of makes and models, choose the components (I mean trim lines) that meet your needs and budget, and test drive, test drive, test drive.

And wear lycra...

I would also recommend for CWR - if a criteria for purchase is that your bikes fit inside, by all means...bring your bikes along when you shop! Pop open the hatch, fold down the seats, and put them inside! If you buy from a dealer, they shouldn't bat an eye. If you buy private sale, well....try to make sure the bikes are clean, first!

[KnottedYet]

I would also recommend for CWR - if a criteria for purchase is that your bikes fit inside, by all means...bring your bikes along when you shop! Pop open the hatch, fold down the seats, and put them inside! If you buy from a dealer, they shouldn't bat an eye. If you buy private sale, well....try to make sure the bikes are clean, first!

I did that with my dog! The dealerships were totally cool with it. They had Tyvek mat-things in the backs of the various cars, so he couldn't get them dirty.

[chickwhorips]

didn't think of that. thanks!

i looked at the Rav 4 but it doesn't seem like it has much room. i remember my friend's and it seems kinda small.

[chickwhorips]

i bank through wells fargo just because they are everywhere. i also have an account with a credit union down in arizona, not much good it does me now. i called and to get a loan through them, would be no less than 2 weeks. ouch!

so now the question is: do i get a loan through wells fargo whose rates seem to start at 7.59% or close my credit union in arizona, and go through one up here that starts at 6.81%.

my credit: i've gotten a loan when i was 20 for the alero that my dad co-signed on. i paid every bill early (besides being terrified of my dad and his threats if i didn't pay it, he also pounded into my head good credit) and sold the car when i moved here. that is my only car experience, i had that loan through GMAC and at 6% interest. otherwise i would guess my credit is good, if not excellent. hopefully this means i won't have to have someone co-sign on a vehicle again after having that one for about 3 years i think.

i feel so lost!