36 replies to this topic

[2LOUD2OLD]

Hey folks

just looking for ideas/experiences, I am starting at looking at options for the missus for a new car, budget is around $20k up to an absolute max of $30k (but to spend that match it needs to suit our purposes exactly).

we have liked the idea of a compact SUV and went looking at cars on the weekend. We took a Rav4 for a drive but both absolutely hated it. It was just not a nice car to drive. We like the interior of the Nissan X-Trail but can't really get past the ugly box shape.
We were both kind of taken by the Nissan Dualis and I am getting quite fond of the Mitsubishi ASX, and are going to organise a test drive this weekend.
Didn't like the Forester or the Hyundai iX35, Captiva is a touch out of our price range.

However my thinking is starting to go the way of, do we really need an SUV? We are planning on having kids hopefully soon so the size is a big factor, however is it really worth the extra $10k over getting another commodore? Plus I have been reading up on the Dualis today and it sounds like you can't even fit a baby capsule into the Dualis anyway.

There is no way I am buying a Ford, too much of a Holden man, but what other options could we look at. this car is going to be my wife's car primarily but it also needs to be a car i will be happy to drive too as it will become the family car.

opinions??

[wazzab4]

Ford Territory at least take one for a drive if you don't like it you don't like just don't say because of the badge.
Others i would look at are

Toyota Kuggler
Mitsubishi Challenger or Outlander
Ford Territory
BMW X5
Kia Sportage
Honda CRV
Jeep Cherokee / patroit

Edited by wazzab4, 30 May 2011 - 07:06 PM.

[Incredible Hulk]

We have a Subaru Liberty Wagon '05 model.
Its not a huge car on the outside, but it has alot of storage capacity with the seats folded down, has baby seat restraints for each rear seat, plus the lugs in the base of the seat for some capsules.
Fuel economy isn't the greatest with the auto (avg 10-14L per 100km), manual would probably be slightly better.

I could easily fit a 900x1700mm sheet of MDF/Ply whatever in the back with the seats down to give you an idea of storage capacity.

[2LOUD2OLD]

wazzab4, on 30 May 2011 - 06:41 PM, said:

Ford Territory at least take one for a drive if you don't like it you don't like just don't say because of the badge.
Others i would look at are

Toyota Kuggler
Mitsubishi Challenger or Outlander
Ford Territory
BMW X5
Kia Sportage
Honda CRV
Jeep Cherokee / patroit

they are all either too big or too expensive Waz

Might look at the Liberty, but the main idea of the SUV was the higher height, meaning we wouldn't need to bend over putting kids in/out of the car. If we didn't go for an SUV we would most likely go for a large sedan like the commodore

[blanketman]

been driving the womans outlander when ever we go out anywhere
if looking at having kids
this would be my option as good hight and room for the kids even when they grow up (Angel is six now and heaps of room to go)
asx the boot space is limited especially when you have to factor in the pram and other stuff you need to carry around
plus shopping or what not on top of that
they drive surprisingly well as we just came back at easter from a drive to QLD and back comfortably and I have got a F ucked back

you can easly get an outlander in the mid twenties these days

[2LOUD2OLD]

blanketman, on 30 May 2011 - 08:01 PM, said:

been driving the womans outlander when ever we go out anywhere
if looking at having kids
this would be my option as good hight and room for the kids even when they grow up (Angel is six now and heaps of room to go)
asx the boot space is limited especially when you have to factor in the pram and other stuff you need to carry around
plus shopping or what not on top of that
they drive surprisingly well as we just came back at easter from a drive to QLD and back comfortably and I have got a F ucked back

you can easly get an outlander in the mid twenties these days

thanks Blanky

our only concern is that the full size SUVs just seem a little big, we are just not sure whether we really need such a big car. especially since this will also be Kristy's car for evryday use driving to and from work.

Maybe we just need to take one for a test drive I guess

[~Spyne~]

honda odyssey is a nice drive for a large car and can be had second hand in your budget.
but i agree with waz, the territory is quite a nice 'car'...i originally tried to talk my parents out of getting one a few years ago, but they were limited in choice by dad's lease conditions and ended up getting one. it really is quite good, esp if you get a low kms one second hand.

[2LOUD2OLD]

what do people think about the Subaru Outback?

[Incredible Hulk]

2LOUD2OLD, on 31 May 2011 - 08:48 AM, said:

what do people think about the Subaru Outback?

They are the same as the Subaru Liberty, with very minor differences.

[2LOUD2OLD]

Incredible Hulk, on 31 May 2011 - 04:51 PM, said:

They are the same as the Subaru Liberty, with very minor differences.

thats what i thought only they are taller, which will make life easier getting kids in and out

[hsvmonarogen3]

get a older prado.
lots of space but not as big as a cruiser.
being a bit older not as expensive.
good ride height.
more capable offroad than any other car listed.

[perrin_07]

nissan cube perhaps?

[Captn_Awesome]

I like the dualis - but its not that big. I certainly wouldnt advise one as a "family car"
I cant believe you think the x-trail is too boxy!?
Rav4 is small
Kluger is about the same size as the xtrail as is the outlander.
The BMW X5 is tiny interior wise. Friends of ours have an X5 sitting in their driveway doing nothing (I dont think its been moved even in the past 6 months) as they can't fit the pram in it! Instead they drive a merc 4x4 (dont know what model) and they are pestering my parents to sell them one of their rangie sports.

Mazda CX7 or CX9. In laws have a CX9 and it seats 6 adults relatively comfortably and is way smaller than a full size patrol like I drive.
I hate the territory. My parents had a series 2 explorer and that was a POS that they bought brand new and got rid of in 9 months. the inlaws who now have the CX9 had a territory and whilst they liked it - it was falling apart after 3 years. I drove it a few times (Some how I always get designated driver) and I hated it. Had plenty of go but it felt nasty to drive.

If you buying with kids in mind Id suggest thinking about how many kids how fast how long you plan on keeping the car and having a look at babyco etc and looking at how big a pram and a daybag/nappy bag is. Kids come with a lot of crap and honestly if you looking at the really small SUVs I think you'd be better off with a full sized wagon rather than an SUV. Particularly if your planning on having more than one within a couple of years of one another.

Any reason the bigger SUVs scare you? You get used to the size. My missus doesnt like driving my car when she hasnt driven it for a while but give her 2 days of driving it and she doesnt want to give it back (she drive a mazda 3 so its a big jump in size) and I drive a live axle full sized 4x4 - might as well be driving a truck.

IMO The Mazda, Nissan or Mitsu are the real cars of choise - especially if looking at new or near new vehicles.
Dont be scared off by the size of the medium sized SUVs. None of the cars mentioned I would call a full sized SUV.

[hsvmonarogen3]

suv = poofter hugging knitted jumper wearing 4wd wannabes.

[2LOUD2OLD]

~Sparkles~, on 01 June 2011 - 03:21 PM, said:

I like the dualis - but its not that big. I certainly wouldnt advise one as a "family car"
I cant believe you think the x-trail is too boxy!?
Rav4 is small
Kluger is about the same size as the xtrail as is the outlander.
The BMW X5 is tiny interior wise. Friends of ours have an X5 sitting in their driveway doing nothing (I dont think its been moved even in the past 6 months) as they can't fit the pram in it! Instead they drive a merc 4x4 (dont know what model) and they are pestering my parents to sell them one of their rangie sports.

Mazda CX7 or CX9. In laws have a CX9 and it seats 6 adults relatively comfortably and is way smaller than a full size patrol like I drive.
I hate the territory. My parents had a series 2 explorer and that was a POS that they bought brand new and got rid of in 9 months. the inlaws who now have the CX9 had a territory and whilst they liked it - it was falling apart after 3 years. I drove it a few times (Some how I always get designated driver) and I hated it. Had plenty of go but it felt nasty to drive.

If you buying with kids in mind Id suggest thinking about how many kids how fast how long you plan on keeping the car and having a look at babyco etc and looking at how big a pram and a daybag/nappy bag is. Kids come with a lot of crap and honestly if you looking at the really small SUVs I think you'd be better off with a full sized wagon rather than an SUV. Particularly if your planning on having more than one within a couple of years of one another.

Any reason the bigger SUVs scare you? You get used to the size. My missus doesnt like driving my car when she hasnt driven it for a while but give her 2 days of driving it and she doesnt want to give it back (she drive a mazda 3 so its a big jump in size) and I drive a live axle full sized 4x4 - might as well be driving a truck.

IMO The Mazda, Nissan or Mitsu are the real cars of choise - especially if looking at new or near new vehicles.
Dont be scared off by the size of the medium sized SUVs. None of the cars mentioned I would call a full sized SUV.

thanks for your response sparkles

the bigger SUVs don't scare us, it is just a case of I am not sure we really "need" such a big car. lets face it they are pretty big when compared to a commodore which i drive every day. i guess it comes down to what do we gain from having a larger SUV instead of having something like a commodore instead?

as for number of kids and how soon, well that is a whole different kettle of fish, my wife and I are currently going through IVF, (onto our 2nd cycle now) and to be honest at this point in time we would be over the moon just to have one. ideally we would like 2, but atm even one would be an absolute miracle.

atm I am really liking the idea of the Subaru Outback, it seems like the right cross between size, boot capacity, price and features.
Have got one booked in for a test drive on Saturday so hopefully we like it, i have a feeling if we like the way it drives that the Outback will be the winner.

i understand what people are saying about the size of say the Dualis but we have a number of friends that have kids and they all seem to manage just fine with smaller cars. heck one couple has been coping fine with a 2 door barina but we're not that crazy

on a side note, I talked to KidSafe about fitting a baby capsule in a Dualis and they said there is no issue, that they have fitted plenty without a problem.

so atm I have booked in test drives for the Outback and a Mitsu ASX, but also plan to arrange a test drive of the Dualis and Outlander while we are at it. If we don't like any of those, we are most likely going to go the route of another commodore.