I'm Thinking of Getting a New Vehicle

[eits]

i'm about done with my car (2000 volvo s40)... it can't go more than 6 months without something going wrong with it. now, everytime i turn my wheel all the way, something under the bottom of my car sounds like it's gonna fall off.

the car's probably only worth about $4000.

anyways, i need an suv. i have my gf, her two kids, and our two dogs (great dane and neapolitan mastiff). i'm seriously considering the 2010 chevy equinox. anyone know about the reliability on these things?

i want something that's got great fuel economy, will fit everyone, and is a good, long-lasting car.

 

[thedarkwolf]

sounds like its minivan time

 

[eits]

sounds like its minivan time

no.

 

[Bignate603]

i want something that's got great fuel economy, will fit everyone, and is a good, long-lasting car.

sounds like its minivan time

Yup, sounds like a minivan.

 

[eits]

Yup, sounds like a minivan.

recommendations?

 

[Bignate603]

recommendations?

My family (father and stepmother drive got it to drive around my younger stepbrothers) has an Odyssey that does ok. It did have a transmission replaced under warranty though. I've also seen decent reviews for the Sienna. Beyond that, a minivan is one of the only Chrysler products I would even consider looking at. From what I've seen and heard that's one of the extremely few vehicles that they can do reasonably well.

In an SUV the size of of a equinox there's no way you'll get your kids AND the dogs in the back. Maybe if you had small dogs you could get them in there, but those two big ones won't like being stuck back there. You're probably going to need something with a third row that can be taken out. That means either a large SUV or a van, maybe the Chevy Traverse rather than the Equinox.

If you are dead set on something with all the functionality of a minivan but isn't a van you might look at the Ford freestyle. Every single review I've seen has given it pretty good ratings. I personally think they look pretty nice on the outside and you can option them out pretty well if that's what you're going for.

 

[eits]

well, we were able to fit the dane and my old italian mastiff in my gf's pontiac vibe's trunk... it was a little snug, but it worked. the equinox has a lot more room in the back.

i just don't want to lose fuel economy for an extra row of seats... and i don't want a friggin minivan.

 

[lastig21]

You planning to marry the gf? Don't buy a vechicle to suit the needs of her family. Buy a vehicle to suit your needs (or your family's needs).

 

[thomsbrain]

I haven't seen anything in the OP's post that indicates an SUV is what he "needs." A midsize wagon would be far better suited to his needs. A Subaru Impreza or Legacy wagon would hold just as much stuff or more and be a vastly superior vehicle in every other way. Compared to an Equinox, they would even be much better off-road.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Outback, end of thread

 

[eits]

i want to buy american

 

[Bignate603]

i want to buy american

It depends on how you describe American, many outbacks are assembled in Indiana.

 

[alfa147x]

What about large SUV's like the Yukon or something like that? I would never get a mini-van but a SUV maybe

 

[Falloutboy]

kia sorrento was a pretty nice car when I drove it, very well equiped for the money. and more american built than the equinox which is made in mexico, sorrento is built in georgia

 

[Bignate603]

kia sorrento was a pretty nice car when I drove it, very well equiped for the money. and more american built than the equinox which is made in mexico, sorrento is built in georgia

Mexico has annexed Ontario, Canada?

CAMI automotive, manufacturer of the Equinox

 

[MJinZ]

GMC Acadia.

/Thread.

 

[Tsavo]

What's wrong with minivans? Most handy, easiest to drive vehicles known to man.

 

[vi edit]

I'm assuming GM carried over the sliding seat from the previous gen Equinoxes. If that's the case then you should be able to get everyone in there. You can slide the rear bench foward almost a full foot. Even with it all the way back there's still enough room for my 80 pound lab mix to fit back there. Slide it all the way forward and there should be plenty of space for a couple bigger ones. Plus if you and your GF aren't 6' each there should be enough room for the kids in the 2nd row to fit comfortable.

Just be warned that a lot of reviews have slammed the I4 version of the Equinox. They say the transmission is frustratingly anxious to upshift for the sake of ecomony and they still aren't pulling anywhere near what the stated fuel economy was stickered at.

 

[eits]

I'm assuming GM carried over the sliding seat from the previous gen Equinoxes. If that's the case then you should be able to get everyone in there. You can slide the rear bench foward almost a full foot. Even with it all the way back there's still enough room for my 80 pound lab mix to fit back there. Slide it all the way forward and there should be plenty of space for a couple bigger ones. Plus if you and your GF aren't 6' each there should be enough room for the kids in the 2nd row to fit comfortable.

Just be warned that a lot of reviews have slammed the I4 version of the Equinox. They say the transmission is frustratingly anxious to upshift for the sake of ecomony and they still aren't pulling anywhere near what the stated fuel economy was stickered at.

i4?

 

[fbrdphreak]

I4 = inline four cylinder engine

I'll second the Subaru mention. Two kids fit comfortable in the back of a wagon (Legacy or Outback), there's definitely enough room for one big dog and two should be fine if they don't mind being close to eachother. Plus when you lay down the rear seats, you've got 60+ cu-ft of cargo space.

<---Owns a 97 Legacy wagon

And FWIW, recent Subaru's are more "American" than most cars that GM makes. IIRC, they have a higher percentage of U.S. parts than most GM cars even. They assemble all of them in Indiana, at an environmentally sustainable manufacturing plant and are one of the few automakers to increase their sales over the past couple years.

Look at the Legacy wagon (05-07), Outback wagon (05-now) or the Forester (09+). The new Forester has won a bunch of awards.

 

[amdhunter]

 

[eits]

that has got to be one short as hell car...

 

[Falloutboy]

Mexico has annexed Ontario, Canada?

CAMI automotive, manufacturer of the Equinox

your right its the SRX thats made in mexico. ethier way non american

 

[boomerang]

The car salesman I deal with at the Chevy dealer tells me they can't get enough Equinox's. He says they sell coming off the car hauler. They can't keep them on the lot or keep them in stock.

There must be a reason.

 

[Bignate603]

your right its the SRX thats made in mexico. ethier way non american

Canada is like America's stepbrother. There are some differences between the two but we are more or less related (we share quite a bit of the same culture, general ways of thinking, etc). Mexico is like the drunken neighbor that keeps on having their parties spill over into our yard.

I'd much rather have a car made by our buddies up north than who knows what down south.