Vehicle shopping...need opinions

[GLC1968]

You need to look at the smaller engine BMW X1 that's AWD - there are a BUNCH of different versions, but the smaller engine one is cheaper and gets better MPG and I bet you anything that it's got plenty of power. It gets 30's MPG which is decent for a car that size. Dealer loyalty!!!

I think we are going to have to look at it. I know how a BMW drives and I am assuming none of these other cars will compare! It has a ton more HP and torque than the other options we are looking at as well, so it will definitely have no problem with towing. AND, it's got the best standard warranty as well.

I know we can get an aftermarket hitch added as well, so I am going to put it on the list.

[Irulan]

My Beemer loving buddy ( has 5 if you count the parts cars and the one in progress) was very impressed with my mazda 3

[GLC1968]

My Beemer loving buddy ( has 5 if you count the parts cars and the one in progress) was very impressed with my mazda 3

I've heard really good things about the Mazda, so it will definitely get a fair shake. Car and Driver did a comparison of all of these (minus the BMW) and the Mazda won, so it's near the top of our list.

[Catrin]

Good luck with your search!

[Koronin]

Good luck with the search. Can't help with the type of vehicle you're looking for though. We have 2 cars Monte Carlo SS (which is my toy and I love dearly), Nissan Versa (my work car and gets good gas milage and has good storage capacity), and 2 Ford Rangers (1 with well over 300,000 miles and the newer one that is 4 wheel drive). The Nissan we got a good deal on used, if we were to buy new it would most likely be a Ford.

[maillotpois]

I think we are going to have to look at it. I know how a BMW drives and I am assuming none of these other cars will compare! It has a ton more HP and torque than the other options we are looking at as well, so it will definitely have no problem with towing. AND, it's got the best standard warranty as well.

I know we can get an aftermarket hitch added as well, so I am going to put it on the list.

If you drive it, please tell us how you like it. We are seriously considering it for either (1) when DHs lease is up or (2) once I have paid off my car and if Em takes the Jetta to college.

[TrekDianna]

I had a 2001 Subaru Outback that got decent gas mileage. I did a lot of shopping when I decided to get something new -- I drive over the mountain pass a couple of times a month and really wanted 4-wheel drive. I also live on 4 miles of dirt roads including the last 1 mile that goes from 200 to just under 1000 feet elevation. There were times that I slid down that hill. I finally gave up and just went with a Jeep Wrangler. I've wanted one my whole life. The other car is a Toyota Yaris - affectionately known as "the clown car".

[Crankin]

I had a hitch on my BMW 325X... it was only for a bike rack, never towed anything, but I didn't realize it was an after market thing. DH ordered it on line and installed it himself, but he generally does everything like that.

[indysteel]

We have had hitches installed on two of our vehicles where it wasn't a standard option. At least according to my husband, who is completely obsessed with all things motorized, it's not that big of a deal for either a dealer or someone like U-Haul to install a hitch. Assuming the vehicle can actually tow what you want to tow, he suggests not ruling out a vehicle just because a tow hitch isn't a standard option.

[GLC1968]

We were talking about this last night and realized that with the exception of our MINI, all of our cars have had hitches and all of them were aftermarket!

Sarah - I'll definitely report back! I think we are going to drive the BMW tonight and if there is time, either the CR-V or the CX-5. I know car dealers will allow buyers to test-fit bikes...think they'll let us test-fit our dogs?

TrekDianna - I've owned 5 Jeeps in my lifetime included a CJ-7 all through college (back when I could get gas for less than a $1/gal). I loved them all but they just don't fit our lifestyle anymore unless we wanted a bigger one and then we can kiss good gas mileage goodbye. Fun to drive though!

[maillotpois]

Sarah - I'll definitely report back! I think we are going to drive the BMW tonight and if there is time, either the CR-V or the CX-5. I know car dealers will allow buyers to test-fit bikes...think they'll let us test-fit our dogs?

Oh goody! It comes in a spectacular orange....

[GLC1968]

Oh goody! It comes in a spectacular orange....

I know! That's definitely the color we'll pick if we end up with the BMW. In fact, that is one of the reasons my H initially liked the CrossTrek - it also comes in orange!

[maillotpois]

Yes - Em also loved the orange cross-trek when we were looking. But too small.

I've seen the orange BMW in person and it's really cool.

[emily_in_nc]

We just bought a 2013 CR-V EX and love it! I don't know how it compares to the others you're considering, and we didn't buy the AWD model, but there is a ton of storage room with the back seats down, and I am absolutely loving the back-up camera. Gas mileage is better than advertised as well (we're getting 30-35 mpg in mixed driving), at least here in flat Florida, and we're digging the real-time mpg display. We weren't sure we'd find something we liked as much as the Element we sold when we moved to Belize, and this does have less cargo space, but it's just way nicer, rides much more quietly and smoothly, and doesn't have the huge blind spots the Element does. And the gas mileage is much better.

Enjoy your car shopping!

[OakLeaf]

I am absolutely loving the back-up camera.

Funny, that's one of the handful of things I really hate about the Prius. I know I could just ignore it, but I find that it's a huge temptation to NOT look where I'm going, and rely on the stupid screen instead. Danger, Will Robinson. Even if I start off looking where I'm going, if I want to turn my head to look over the other shoulder or out the side window, the screen is there distracting me...

It would be nice if it defaulted to off, so I could turn it on when I knew there were, say, stanchions or stuff like that nearby. But I honestly think that screen really increases the likelihood that I'm going to back into something someday, because it tempts me not to pay attention. Or worse, back into some*one,* because looking at that screen makes it impossible for me to see people walking toward the car from the side, as so often happens when I'm backing out of a parking space.



Anyway enjoy your shopping!