Buying a new car
Does anyone own a "small" SUV and are you happy with your choice?
Raddish, are you looking at buying a new car? if so, why an SUV?
Probably Deanna because they are the most popular build of car on the road
Ty for your reply Tanwin. The Mazda 5 is very impressive and recently spoke to a lady in carpark (she pulled up beside us)and asked how she liked her car. Very enthusiastic about it and could not speak highly enough...the young son of about 12 made us laugh he joined in saying how fantastic it was and he got carried away with his enthusiasm and Mum had to rein him in...was quite funny lol.
The reason we are going from a Toyota Corolla (fantastic car) Deanna, is because I am sick and tired of getting hemmed in between SUV's and not being able to see when I am trying to back out of carparks. SUV's sales are overtaking the ordinary sedan according to an article I read recently. Always said I did not want to drive a huge tank of a car but now they are manufacturing smaller SUV's there are more options available for buyers.
The Rav4 is also another car on our list to look at as well as the Honda.
Only problem is that we need one that is not too wide or too long.
Thanks again Tanwin.
:) Radish ... I used to have a Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD. Great for vision, but I kid you not, I always seemed to get hemmed in by small vans whenever I took it to the shops. Still couldn't see!!
Sold it and bought a sedan with all sorts of warnings that come up when backing out and a vehicle approaches. It was also very awkward. I had to climb in and out because late hubby had insisted that it got a 'lift' before one of our big road trips. Also too noisy and hard riding for me.
Hi Raddy, I loved my Jeep to death, it took us around the country without a hitch, then we bought a Toyota Hybrid HL in December 2012, it's great and runs on the smell of an oily rag but it's hard to get into and out of, unlike the Jeep. I think it's important to have a car that's high off the ground when you get older.
Here's my beloved Jeep, I was so sad to say goodbye.
My kind of road Toot, where is this photo taken?
Ty R-n-R and Toot for your replies.
There are a few things that could be a problem with an SUV..the size of it and getting in and out and of course how comfortable the ride.
We have not closed off any options...we may even end up with a double gopher ;)
Radish I dont think you will have trouble getting in and out of an SUV as you sit higher than sedans.
Comfort? There are that many seat adjustment options (electric driver's seat on mine) plus the tilt and reach steering, so you would have to be a really odd shape not to find comfort. Some SUVs do have firmer seats for off-road, so its just something you will have to try
With reversing you will notice vision out the rearwindow is not the best with SUVs hence the reversing camera and sensors. Things I wish I had on mine include adaptive cruise and cross traffic warning when reversing.
The Hyundai Tucson is around $5k cheaper than the CX5 Akera, offers 2 more years warranty, longer servicing periods/Kms, all motors (petrol and diesel) apparently have more power across lower revs, has a full-sized spare, but doesnt have adaptive cruise control.
One unfortunate thing the CX5 has is the unpopular i-stop and its interior has been judged inferior to the Tucson both of which put me off.
Radi if you want a small car to sit high I would suggest Mazda CX 3 . My daughter traded her Jeep Wrangler on one and is very happy . You can get 2 wheel drive if you don't need 4 .
You can get top of range with 20k on for 24k
Actually the Mazda CX 3 is one I have noticed and it has crossed my mind...will have a test drive of that one ty.
All this advice Raddy, we are all experts lol
Toot, yes, it will make me more confused LOL.
No, but seriously, I do appreciate the advice from those who have the cars. We intend to purchase soon but not just yet ........ want to whittle down the choices and then go for test drives. I am sure we will be happy with what we eventually get.
Always had Toyotas and get wonderful service from our local dealer....they run a very efficient operation and have never let us down. Of course they are trying to steer us towards the Rav4 as they know we are in the market...but we have said we are not closing off any options at the moment.
:) Take care Radish. I hate to admit it, but on two occasions when young I fell for a totally unsuitable vehicle ... love at first sight/drive/revs/performance ... and like Married at First Sight, I lived to regret it (trade-in wise).
;) Of course, much more sensible now. Must admit though, no other vehicles have given me the buzz they did. Amazing machines ... wild, unpredictable, fast and furious and totally unreliable. So much fun.
"unpredictable, fast and furious and totally unreliable. So much fun"
are you referring to the men in your life or yourself ?
Referring to 'buying a new car' Raphael ... as per the title of this thread!!
Sorry Raddish if my query sounded rude, it wasn't meant to, I just wondered whether you were going to go off road or just use it around town.... we have two vehicles, one a larger car the other a large 4wd (with a lift), I love the Patrol for ease of getting into and out of, also, like your jeep it takes us out and about in the outback..... I understand what you say about getting hemmed in but we also get hemmed in with our 4wd with vans and trucks, would hate to be driving one of those small cars on the roads we travel with trucks bearing down on me... Once again I'm sorry if you felt I was out of line asking the question...
Deanna, you don't owe me an apology at all ....I was not offended in any way shape or form. :)
We only want it to run around town and also to do a bit of touring...say about 200-500 kms from home now and then.
A number of my friends in ordinary sedans are saying the same thing; they go and park in a shopping centre and many a time when they come out they have a huge SUV parked either side and it is impossible to see when backing out. On occasions I get out of the car and stand to the side and direct hubby out. Where I live some idiots drive like manics in the car parks and could easily hit us if we dont see them.
The average parking bay is too small for the very large SUV's.
"The average parking bay is too small for the very large SUV's."
You're not wrong there Radish, we have problems with our 4by and are very aware that it's hard to see past us for people in smaller vehicles so we usually park up the back of carparks as we are able walkers, not that we use the 4by much in the city, that's for country driving and towing the van, even still, the other car we have takes up most of any parking bay anyway but at least it's a bit smaller to maneuver.. Good luck with your search.
Agree with the opinion on the parking bays, I wish there were more designated bays for small cars and some specific designated larger ones for SUVs it would make everyone's life easier.
Radish I had to use a RAV4 for four weeks in the country once as it was a new company vehicle we had had Toyota Camry station wagons before, 2 things we were not happy with there was definitely a blind spot but even more so was the size of the boot looking at pictures of the new one the boot is still small. Apart from that and hopefully it is now different the long climb up Gooseberry Hill it did not have the oomph and that also applied when overtaking on country roads when you need to up speed fast.
I like what I have heard about the Mazda CX3 and also the way all the new cars come with parking sensors great for backing into a garage.
Please get an SUV with a reverse camera
the number of accidents and deaths with little children because the cars are so high is atrocious
That is a good point Raphael, when the grandkids started coming along we had one put on our 4by as there was such a large area behind the car we couldn't see... one of my biggest fears has always been reversing over one of the kids and now grandies...
Absolutely agree re the reversing camera. You have just reminded me ...last week we were driving down a busy road, houses either side, and we were horrified to see two toddlers jumping up and down laughing and running around as their father (in a huge 4 wheel driove) was about to drive out of the driveway.
Admittedly he was facing outwards but those children should not have been there...they were so close to the road, one was in a nappy.
Both of us thought the same thing. What is going on in the minds of parents when they allow little children to be running around while they are about to take off in their car. A child is so quick these days. How many more childen are we going to read about being killed in their own driveways.
We have mentioned this a couple of times in conversation...it had an effect on us both.
I thought almost every SUV had a reversing camera, or sensors at least, as standard
Are SUV's still made without them?
Yes I bought a Mitsubishi ASX XLS new in late Dec 2014 after spending hours researching on websites such as Whirlpool and Product Review etc. I am happy with it although I wouldnt deal with Australian Motors again because of the dissmissive way they treated me. It has had two recalls for relatively minor things which were fixed in minutes. It has most of the bells and whistles, heated leather front seats, Sat nav, reverse camera and sensors etc, and is economical.
My next vehicle will be a Hyundai SantaFe, larger, diesel and 4WD. If you are in the market for a smaller SUV look at a Hyundai Tucson or Mazda CX5. They are most impressive
The website by 'Auto Expert' has all the comparisons with NO BS, as some car reviewers are given kick-backs to review favourably. Once you have test driven each, they can act as broker and save you thousand$, also on their website -- I have no connection with them but will be a customer