Car Shopping - Small Crossovers

[Koronin]

Irulan, when it gets closer to when we can actually afford to to make a purchase, I'd love to see what all you like/dislike about yours. Nothing is better than actually talking with someone who owns a vehicle (even if it's a different year).
nscrbug, we live in NC on the coast, so we don't get the real bad harsh winters of the mid west or the north. But that is definitely something to think about.

[zoom-zoom]

Irulan, when it gets closer to when we can actually afford to to make a purchase, I'd love to see what all you like/dislike about yours. Nothing is better than actually talking with someone who owns a vehicle (even if it's a different year).

You can see what I said about my '06 3s 5 door, upthread. There are things we love about our 3 ("zoom-zoom", height-adjustable seat, the way it fits my 6'2" hubby and <5'4" me equally well, wonderful manual transmission) and things we don't love (really low-rent sheet metal, continuous CEL since about 55k miles, mediocre gas mileage for a car of its size). When it comes time to buy our next car we'd still look at Mazda, but going back to Ford or Honda are also likely options. We've had better luck with those 2 brands than we've had with our Mazdas (which is saying something, since our Mazdas have served us fairly well, really).

[Koronin]

zoom-zoom, we've also had great luck with Fords, although we've never had Ford cars, only trucks. We currently have two Rangers. One is a 1987 with well over 300,000 miles on it. The other one is a 2005 which so far has been really good to us as well. Just no experience with their cars. I've always had GM cars, previously a Pontiac Sunbird that had over 100,000 miles when I traded it in for my current car, a 2003 Monte Carlo SS. Basically what I'll be looking for in a new car is very good gas milage with a good bit of cargo space due to all the driving I do for my job and at times how much stuff I have to carry with me. My current car gets around 25 miles to a gallon, so a new one must get better than that and I basically need a hatchback or a stationwagon (if I can find one). Right now the Focus is at the top of my list.

[chryss]

I just bought the second car of my life: I used to live in European capitals, where you don't need a car, but am now in rural Alaska outside Fairbanks. AWD/4WD was a requirement, plus "small-ish SUV or small pickup truck" seemed to be the best first approximation. I ended up with a 2002 Mazda Tribute, which is nearly identical to the Ford Escape line. Mine comes with anti-locking brakes (not all of that year do), which is great.

The car has for in the last 2 months really grown on me. It seems very solid, visibility is great, handling's great. We dealt with roads that were ice for miles, melting ice, new snow, and now foot-deep slush. No issue. Driving on the highway ... well, it feels like a car, not a truck. Fuel economy is what I think of as awful, but my American friends assure me that 18.5 mpg isn't bad for an SUV.

I'd been thinking of a Toyota RAV 4, Honda CR-V, or even a Subaru Forester or Outback (and looked at Kia Sportage -- my car is a trade-in bought at a Kia dealer), but can definitely recommend the Mazda should you come across one.

Oh, my bike fits fine inside with the back bench flattened.

[Irulan]

Irulan, when it gets closer to when we can actually afford to to make a purchase, I'd love to see what all you like/dislike about yours. Nothing is better than actually talking with someone who owns a vehicle (even if it's a different year).
nscrbug, we live in NC on the coast, so we don't get the real bad harsh winters of the mid west or the north. But that is definitely something to think about.

Here's a teaser.

[zoom-zoom]

Awesome, Irulan! Looks like we have the same Yakima rack. We got it primarily for transporting our tandem. The bike is nearly as long as the car! Your photo reminds me that my car is still filthy from neverending Winter.

[Irulan]

FYI, 3 bikes 3 bikers 3 loads of crap belonging to said bikers... 31 MPG. On a two lane highway.

another view.... turned the fairing over so I'm not advertising for Yakima

[zoom-zoom]

Ooh, ha...just found this...

[Xrayted]

Hah! A Converse Chuck Taylor box!

[Koronin]

That is one thing the new car will be getting, (unless we end up with an electric car), however that is a reason to keep in mind for a gas car. That whole pros and cons list.