vehicle shopping

[catrinka]

I'm still looking for a new tow vehicle. I test drove an Equinox today. It sure seems like a nice vehicle. Has anyone heard any yeahs or nays on this vehicle?

[Gage]

Cathy, I don't know anything about that SUV but something to think about. Go to the dealerhips to find and test drive what you might like and then go on the internet to buy. You'll save money and also get what you want, not what the salesman wants to sale you. Now days, buying a car over the internet is the only way to go.

Have a good day and enjoy your search.
Gage

[catrinka]

Gage, where would I look on the net to buy one? I've been doing a lot of research online comparing vehicles, but not sure where to look to buy one?

[crankshaft]

Cathy

Far be it for me to say any thing bad about any vehicle, BUT,,,, Before I buy any vehicle anywhere at any time, I always check the consumer reports first..

Good Luck


Crankshaft

[anonymous2]

Skip the GM products. Their stock is falling ,they are dropping maybe 2 of their product lines to help stay a float. Poor crash test ratings on some of their trucks,and SUV's. Chevy's sales are down 23% this year already. Check consumer reports for reliabilty ratings. GM is crashing.

Toyota makes top reliability ratings in most of their cars & trucks,tops in resale value,and sales remain steady. Subaru's are good cars too,good safety ratings, all models AWD. 05 Outback models have increased towing weight to 2700lbs base model,and 3000lbs on turbo/6cyl models .

Good luck in your search.

pateardropper

[catrinka]

I've been looking at 6 cyl. AWD compact SUv's because once I move north of here I will be living in almost 8 months of winter or potential winter like conditions. Also up there, there are 4 car dealerships, GM, Ford, Chrysler, and Toyota. For servicing a vehicle that kind of limits my options. For other makes of vehicles I would be looking at a 5 hour drive to get to a dealership. Of the 4 makes up there, I like the Equinox the best, hense my choice.

[Gage]

Gage, where would I look on the net to buy one? I've been doing a lot of research online comparing vehicles, but not sure where to look to buy one?

I'm not sure about Canada but you might start with CarsDirect.com. If they can't help you up there, maybe they can give you another contact closer to home. You'll save 2 to 3 thousand by buying over the internet. Oh, and I don't work for CarsDirect. But I do a lot of deliveries involving them.

Have a good day,
Gage

[catrinka]

Carsdirect doesn't seem to work for up here. I get as far as entering the zip code, it doesn't like postal codes. Thanks for the info though.

[Gage]

Cathy, try this link. http://www.where-can-i-buy-a-car-online.com/data/ca/51000.htm I did a little Google search and came up with it. Hope that gets you in a good direction.

Have a good day,
Gage

[campadk]

We did the whole research and test drive on smaller SUV's back in Dec/Jan. Many of them were still limited to 1500lbs. We basically looked at features, price and then test drove them all and ended up buying the one that had the most features and that we enjoyed driving, a Jeep Liberty. It has a 5,000lb towing capacity too which is a plus.

We laughed at the Mazda dealer. He didn't have a new Tribute for us to test drive, so he took us out in a well used 2003. It drove like an old farm truck! This is no way to sell someone a vehicle.

We went in to our own dealer and looked over the Jeep twice. I called looking for some more info and got no response. After another call I figured they didn't want to sell me the SUV, so I went elsewhere. I even told them I was ready to buy, to no avail...

Using a dealer is still a must in my opinion, especially when dealing with trade-in and negotiating price, and extras etc. Luckily we traded in our PT cruiser about 2 weeks before Chrysler announced a $5K decrease in the base price of new PT's!

Also go to one of the web sites that gives you the dealer invoice price. It can save you several thousand dollars when you know what the fair price is for the vehicle you choose.

The lesson I learned this time was to shop for a sales person first before checking out a vehicle at a dealership. We found that 85% of the sales people don't have a clue about what they are selling! They knew hardly a thing and usually didn't know the answer to basic questions. One Jeep sales person didn't even know that the Jeeps are rear wheel drive!

Good luck and enjoy your shopping!

[catrinka]

Dave, I did test drive a Liberty yesterday, but the salesman (2nd day on the job) couldn't tell me if the unit I was driving was 4 or 6 cylinder. He kind of lost me there. But to be honest, of the 2 vehicles I drove yesterday, I preferred the feel of the Equinox. For the same price there were a lot more options on the Equinox. But you are right about the salesperson, if the kid yesterday had known something about the vehicle I might have been more enthused about it.

[Jan Keller]

Hi Cathy,

I have a Toyota Tacoma, and have been so pleased, with the service, and
how they retain their value! Plus, they last forever!!! The Suv's are hot.

Good luck,

Jan

[anonymous2]

I second what Jan said. I know people with Toyota trucks with 300,000 on them,and still haulin. I DROVE my first Tacoma for 7 years,and nothing major in those 7 years,except wear items,and fluids. Toyotas are built for places that don't have service.Watch TV from around the world,and you will see toyota trucks of all kinds. I had a Chevy truck before I traded it for the Tacoma,and in the 10 months I owned it it was in the shop 12 times for things like engine computer, wiper motor,heater motor, rear wheel bearings{twice},the bed was mounted crooked,speedometer quit,electric window motor,and air conditioning compressor. Now you know why I am so against the stuff {and that's a kind word} they put out. I am not anti American by any means,but when I lay out a years salary for a vehicle, I buy Quality & Dependability. It's your money,but steer clear of GM.

More then Happy 2 Toyotas,7 Subarus{in 26 years} owner.

pateardropper

[TomS]

We owned several GM and one Ford vehicle over the years. We're a Toyota family now. My wife has an 01 Camry. I've got a 04 Rav/4. We love them both. The cars are very well made and haven't given us a lick of trouble.

[Joseph]

Now days, buying a car over the internet is the only way to go.

Gage, on the whole I'd agree with you. But at least for my last car and truck purchases, I lucked into what has to be the rarest thing in the world next to an honest lawyer - an honest car salesman!

Beyond honest - I bought Christine's car from him and he treated us so right that I told him what I was looking for in a Ford Ranger. I also showed him what I had for trade ins - one '89 and one '95 Ranger. (Do you get the impression I'm a Ranger guy? ) Anyhoo, one day I had the '95 in for service and he said "C'mere a minute." Showed me EXACTLY what I wanted, right down to color - all the bells & whistles I wanted and none of 'em I didn't. I knew the Blue Book value of my trades and he topped that considerably and gave me a price on the truck that the Internet couldn't touch.

Only thing about the sumbitch that really pissed me off - he moved to Florida...

So, I guess I'll hit the Internet next time I need a new vehicle. In fact, I bought Christine's '73 red VW convertible on eBay last year...

Joseph