About to sign on a new car, Talk me into, or out of it

[monkeydelmagico]

any suggestions on something less "leisurely" in the segment. I drove the rogue and it did feel faster, but my brain might have just been confused by the CVT

I'd got try an escape 2.0T back to back with the base 2.5 and see if you think the extra grunt is worth it.

 

[Kaido]

Don't get the Rogue. It sucks. The Escape is much better, inside and out.

I wanted the Rogue to be a better car than it was, but honestly, my Kia Soul feels far more solid. I test-drove an AWD model & liked it, but the general feel of the fit & finish would make me lean more towards leasing a Rogue than anything.

 

[Kaido]

I'd got try an escape 2.0T back to back with the base 2.5 and see if you think the extra grunt is worth it.

Yeah, it's surprising how much or how little of a different the engine can make sometimes. My Kia comes in 1.6L 130hp & 2.0L 164hp flavors. I had an automatic 2L on lease last year and it was pretty peppy. I just bought the 1.6L (the manual transmission version I wanted doesn't have an option for the 164hp motor, unfortunately) and lost 34 horsepower compared to the automatic, but it doesn't feel like the huge step down that I thought it would be (plus I can control the shift points & RPM's with the stick, so I can goose it where & when I need to). Go figure.

 

[Kaido]

any suggestions on something less "leisurely" in the segment. I drove the rogue and it did feel faster, but my brain might have just been confused by the CVT

As a fan of my Kia, I'd suggest checking out the Soul. An $18.5k budget on a Soul would get you a pretty nice model! Here's a quickie comparison, although neither is the latest model: (and the Soul is entirely new for 2014 - Top Safety Pick etc.)

http://carsort.com/compare/Kia-Soul-vs-Ford-Escape-Limited

Might be worth a test drive if you haven't checked out the newly-redesigned 2014 model. If you're planning on keeping it for awhile, it has a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty & good crash test ratings as well.

 

[AustinInDallas]

I'd got try an escape 2.0T back to back with the base 2.5 and see if you think the extra grunt is worth it.

there are a lot of incentives right now on the S, which makes the price considerable less than the SE, and you have to at least get the SE to get the turbo engines

 

[AustinInDallas]

As a fan of my Kia, I'd suggest checking out the Soul. An $18.5k budget on a Soul would get you a pretty nice model! Here's a quickie comparison, although neither is the latest model: (and the Soul is entirely new for 2014 - Top Safety Pick etc.)

http://carsort.com/compare/Kia-Soul-vs-Ford-Escape-Limited

Might be worth a test drive if you haven't checked out the newly-redesigned 2014 model. If you're planning on keeping it for awhile, it has a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty & good crash test ratings as well.

2011 soul vs 2012 escape?

I have a lot of respect for the souls for what they bring to the table for the price, but the look is just not there for ME. My sister-in-law has one, and I like to drive it, but I just dont want to drive it every day

 

[Kntx]

I have a 2013 Escape SEL with the 2.0 and it's been a great ride. My only complaint is that the gas tank is on the small side.

 

[SandEagle]

the Kia Soul has horrible crash test ratings. do not purchase that deathtrap.
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2013/08/nissan_sentra_kia_soul_at_bott.html

 

[SearchMaster]

I haven't driven an Escape, but I have heard good things about the MySync stuff. If it comes with that, that is a plus!

Sync is one of the biggest complaints on the Focus ST forums, though mine hasn't been a horrible experience. It loses BT connectivity regularly for a few seconds at a time, not a big deal for me but if I was streaming BT music it would piss me off. Its voice recognition is pretty poor; I avoid it for navigation when possible and prefer to use the app SendToCar to send addresses to the car. The latest update stopped the sporadic crashing for most people.

 

[bguile]

2011 soul vs 2012 escape?

I have a lot of respect for the souls for what they bring to the table for the price, but the look is just not there for ME. My sister-in-law has one, and I like to drive it, but I just dont want to drive it every day

If I were you I'd try out quite a few of the compact SUVs, see what the advantages are to each and then decide. Personally I couldn't just buy a new vehicle after going to just one or two dealers, unless it was a specific vehicle that I have wanted for a long time (like a wrangler or something).

I'm not quite sure what the competiters comparable vehicles are for an escape. I think things like the equinox, crv, rav-4, are all worth taking a look at.

I know someone who just got an escape base model and she loves it, but she wanted that specific vehicle and is probably are not that objectional.

 

[nerp]

Splurge and get a new Cherokee.

 

[roguerower]

Splurge and get a new Cherokee.

This is what I'm doing in April. Latitude 4x4, 3.2L V6 with Towing, Cold Weather, and Convenience packages comes out to about $32k.

 

[Topweasel]

This is what I'm doing in April. Latitude 4x4, 3.2L V6 with Towing, Cold Weather, and Convenience packages comes out to about $32k.

14k is a little more than a splurge.

 

[roguerower]

Yea, 14k is, but that's a lot more crossover than what he's looking for. He can get a base Cherokee Sport 4x2 for $23k.

 

[smackababy]

Sync is one of the biggest complaints on the Focus ST forums, though mine hasn't been a horrible experience. It loses BT connectivity regularly for a few seconds at a time, not a big deal for me but if I was streaming BT music it would piss me off. Its voice recognition is pretty poor; I avoid it for navigation when possible and prefer to use the app SendToCar to send addresses to the car. The latest update stopped the sporadic crashing for most people.

Really? Everyone that I've talked to that has used it said it works great. I haven't tried though.

 

[Topweasel]

Really? Everyone that I've talked to that has used it said it works great. I haven't tried though.

This is a sensitive point even within Ford fans. As a tech guy I think it's great and I went in purposely ignoring the issues. I wanted a Fusion, I wanted it with the gadgets and I knew I was going to work around any quirks with MFT. When I got it an the problems were nearly non-existant and I loved it. Same thing for my Roommate. He got an FX4 with EB and basically the sales guy was telling him sorry about MFT but it's the only audio option for this package. So far he has only been enamored with it.

That said MFT 1.0-1.5 (2006+) were waaay to early an had numerous issues. The 2012 Escape and F150's were the first with MFT2.0's and were pretty buggy. By the time I got my Fusion it was March 2013 and they just released and my car came with an update that seemed to take care of most complaints and it has been nearly problem free.

 

[The J]

This is a sensitive point even within Ford fans. As a tech guy I think it's great and I went in purposely ignoring the issues. I wanted a Fusion, I wanted it with the gadgets and I knew I was going to work around any quirks with MFT. When I got it an the problems were nearly non-existant and I loved it. Same thing for my Roommate. He got an FX4 with EB and basically the sales guy was telling him sorry about MFT but it's the only audio option for this package. So far he has only been enamored with it.

That said MFT 1.0-1.5 (2006+) were waaay to early an had numerous issues. The 2012 Escape and F150's were the first with MFT2.0's and were pretty buggy. By the time I got my Fusion it was March 2013 and they just released and my car came with an update that seemed to take care of most complaints and it has been nearly problem free.

I bought my Focus in May 2012 and it came with the MFT2.0 update. It was indeed pretty buggy, but like you I knew that going in and still wanted the fancy tech. Get the August 2013 update if you haven't already done so. I think it shows up as MFT v3.6 on SyncMyRide.com. The update took about half an hour and it noticeably improved the system's responsiveness to input.

I haven't had much trouble with the voice commands, but I mostly just use them for making phone calls or playing a specific song off my USB drive.

 

[bigi]

There are more options just an FYI.

Forrester, CX-5 for instance are quite good for the price.

 

[LTC8K6]

This is what I'm doing in April. Latitude 4x4, 3.2L V6 with Towing, Cold Weather, and Convenience packages comes out to about $32k.

22 or 21 mpg is not great for such a new vehicle with a 9 speed, imo.

19/22/27 V6 4X4
19/21/26 V6 AD2 4X4
18/20/25 Trailhawk V6

 

[roguerower]

22 or 21 mpg is not great for such a new vehicle with a 9 speed, imo.

19/22/27 V6 4X4
19/21/26 V6 AD2 4X4
18/20/25 Trailhawk V6

I agree with you, however when compared to all of the other SUVs listed as 2013 Motortrend SUV of the Year Contenders it is on par with what they're producing (the exceptions being the CX-5 & Crosstrek) except those are 4 cylinders for the most part. Three of the four V6 engines in contention (Infinity JX, MB GL, Nissan Pathfinder) get worse gas mileage. The Acura RDX is the only other V6 that evenly compares.

The Cherokee is the vehicle I've been looking for to replace my Civic. Ok mileage, towing ability, size, looks, comfort. I've looked into the Escape, CX-5, Forester, and Crosstrek but they all fall short one way or another.

 

[LTC8K6]

I agree with you, however when compared to all of the other SUVs listed as 2013 Motortrend SUV of the Year Contenders it is on par with what they're producing (the exceptions being the CX-5 & Crosstrek) except those are 4 cylinders for the most part. Three of the four V6 engines in contention (Infinity JX, MB GL, Nissan Pathfinder) get worse gas mileage. The Acura RDX is the only other V6 that evenly compares.

The Cherokee is the vehicle I've been looking for to replace my Civic. Ok mileage, towing ability, size, looks, comfort. I've looked into the Escape, CX-5, Forester, and Crosstrek but they all fall short one way or another.

I can't stand the look of the Cherokee. I am looking to replace my 2008 GC 4X4 next year.

 

[AustinInDallas]

This is what I'm doing in April. Latitude 4x4, 3.2L V6 with Towing, Cold Weather, and Convenience packages comes out to about $32k.

i was about to sign on a cherokee limited, but the manager pissed me off and I walked. even had a great price.



but in the end.....

I leased a new Rogue.....I hate you all...but i love the car

 

[roguerower]

i was about to sign on a cherokee limited, but the manager pissed me off and I walked. even had a great price.



but in the end.....

I leased a new Rogue.....I hate you all...but i love the car

How much was the Cherokee?