Marc Smith Posted May 30, 2018 Report Share Posted May 30, 2018 So Its time. My wifes 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line is nearing the end. It still has some useful life at 80K miles, but the CEL came on, needs new cats, and it has what I would consider a disturbing bit of rust on the "frame" under the seat pans. It looks like it rusting from the inside of the frame out. We are the second owners (GM exec car for 5000 miles, according to carfax)We bought the hybrid solely for the HOV exemption which has since evaporated. So we no longer need her hybrid. I'm driving one and saving the environment ;) for the both of us.She stand a whopping 5' tall and still wants to stay in a SUV doesn't need to be a big one though. her biggest issue, besides, being short, is the rear sight lines. Its seems that a thick slanted D pillar is the norm. She's gonig to go out and sit in some of the SUVsOn the wifes Short list. 2018 Mazda CX-52018 Nissan Rogue2018 Ford Escape2018 Hyundai Tucson2018 Kia Sportage2017 Subaru Forester2017 Volkswagen TiguanI've asked her to also look at the Toyota Rav4 and Honda Crv as well.Anyone have any experience with any of the above models from 2016, 2017 or 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcgliss Posted May 31, 2018 Report Share Posted May 31, 2018 (edited) We cross shopped some of those last month and the C-Max won over my wife and I. The Escape was nice but had more of a truck-like ride, probably by design. Rear visibility was less than what we're used to. YMMV. The Mazda CX-5 felt larger than my wife felt comfortable with. The Mazda 3 was a good size, but she felt the rear visibility was "tunneled", and it was low to the ground. Subaru Foresters may have improved handling now but when we'd have them as loaners they felt awkward compared to our Legacy GT turbo. Most Subaru transmissions are now CVT's, FWIW. If you need AWD, Subaru's full time AWD has always worked well in heavy rain and snow. EDIT: One cost of owning Subaru's long term is the flat-four engines have two cylinder heads - twice as many sensors, seals, and so on. Edited May 31, 2018 by jmcgliss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raadsel Posted May 31, 2018 Report Share Posted May 31, 2018 So Its time. My wifes 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line is nearing the end. It still has some useful life at 80K miles, but the CEL came on, needs new cats, and it has what I would consider a disturbing bit of rust on the "frame" under the seat pans. It looks like it rusting from the inside of the frame out. We are the second owners (GM exec car for 5000 miles, according to carfax)We bought the hybrid solely for the HOV exemption which has since evaporated. So we no longer need her hybrid. I'm driving one and saving the environment ;) for the both of us.She stand a whopping 5' tall and still wants to stay in a SUV doesn't need to be a big one though. her biggest issue, besides, being short, is the rear sight lines. Its seems that a thick slanted D pillar is the norm. She's gonig to go out and sit in some of the SUVsOn the wifes Short list. 2018 Mazda CX-52018 Nissan Rogue2018 Ford Escape2018 Hyundai Tucson2018 Kia Sportage2017 Subaru Forester2017 Volkswagen TiguanI've asked her to also look at the Toyota Rav4 and Honda Crv as well.Anyone have any experience with any of the above models from 2016, 2017 or 2018 While a bit smaller than the Tucson, I'd add the Hyundai Kona to the list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted May 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2018 we don't get much snow, and when we do wife doesn't drive much so AWD or 4wd isn't a must. Since we have the cmax, we don't really need a smaller car and I'm not sure she wants to go much smaller, if at all than what she's got now. If she needed to go into DC she could alwasy us e my daughters 2004 Civic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stolenmoment Posted May 31, 2018 Report Share Posted May 31, 2018 I'd vote for the Forester; I'm a fan of Subaru's designs in general. When they produce a PHEV Forester, I'm in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe Posted May 31, 2018 Report Share Posted May 31, 2018 Would you consider waiting for 2019 models? Ford is coming out with more hybrids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stolenmoment Posted June 1, 2018 Report Share Posted June 1, 2018 For me, the Escape is too big, and my wife's FEH rides like a truck. A PHEV the size/shape/capacity of a Forester with a battery range above 40mi is my target. The 20mi range of my Energi is fine for my daily use, but more range would be even more useful. My wife has extreme range anxiety, so we'll be sticking with PHEVs for a while yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted June 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2018 I doubt I could ever get my wife into a plugin, unless its got a couple hundred mile range... I would have bought the energi but the loss of storage in the back was a deal breaker..We have chargers at work and with a 20 mile range I could have done my entire commute on volts.... I think the Kona will be too small Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZgman Posted June 2, 2018 Report Share Posted June 2, 2018 It is going to be hard to beat the CRV in terms of an overall package. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptjones Posted June 2, 2018 Report Share Posted June 2, 2018 It is very possible the FEH will be out later this year and Plugin next year. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homestead Posted June 2, 2018 Report Share Posted June 2, 2018 It is very possible the FEH will be out later this year and Plugin next year. PaulLooking forward to seeing those! ptjones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted June 4, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2018 Would you consider waiting for 2019 models? Ford is coming out with more hybrids.Joe, every year there will be more models.... I'm sure there will be even more interesting stuff in 2020, we just cant wait. We'll be able to pass the annual safety inspection this year. But with the check engine light and cat codes being displayed I won't be able to pass the emissions unless I sink $500-1000 in catalytic converters/labor. Trading the vehicle in at the dealer, spending $1000 bucks on the work wont net me $1000 return on the trade-in. so no real reason to do it. Plus, shes been driving the car for nearly ten years, if she wants one this year.... we'll get one. Happy Wife Happy LIfe.... Between now and July 4th it gives the wife time to look, and should be some good sales coming leading up to the july 4th holiday, and we still might be able to find 2017's still sitting on the lot that the dealers will want gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kostby Posted June 22, 2018 Report Share Posted June 22, 2018 Slightly smaller than the Toyota RAV4/Honda CR-V is the Honda HR-V SUV.I call it a "B++" size, almost precisely the size, inside and out, of the discontinued Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe.Seriously considered purchasing an off-lease 2015 or newer C-MAX Energi, that could have cost less than I paid for the HR-V, but couldn't find one equipped the way I wanted nearby. So I purchased an off-lease CPO 2016 HR-V EX CVT/AWD in February 2018 to replace a 2003 Pontiac Vibe. EPA 27 city/33 highway rating for the CVT with AWD. HR-V is available in 3 trim levels with manual (very rare) or CVT available in FWD, and only CVT in the AWD models.LX is the base model with 'manual' heating/air knobs, and a 5" audio screen with a few real buttons; EX adds sunroof, a touch-screen climate control, and 8" touch-screen audio system without NAV. EX-L adds leather interior, roof rack (no crossbars) and NAV as an option. Certified Pre-Owned off-lease models 2-3 years old with ~30k miles are priced in the $17-21,000 range depending on options. Ford (EcoSport), Chevy (Equinox and Trax), Nissan (Rogue and Rogue Sport), Hyundai (Tucson), and Kia (Sportage) are among other non-hybrids to consider, as well as the popular but smaller Buick Encore. The Toyota Corolla iM, and the C-HR are current models a bit smaller than the RAV-4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raadsel Posted June 23, 2018 Report Share Posted June 23, 2018 Slightly smaller than the Toyota RAV4/Honda CR-V is the Honda HR-V SUV.I call it a "B++" size, almost precisely the size, inside and out, of the discontinued Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe.Seriously considered purchasing an off-lease 2015 or newer C-MAX Energi, that could have cost less than I paid for the HR-V, but couldn't find one equipped the way I wanted nearby. So I purchased an off-lease CPO 2016 HR-V EX CVT/AWD in February 2018 to replace a 2003 Pontiac Vibe. EPA 27 city/33 highway rating for the CVT with AWD. HR-V is available in 3 trim levels with manual (very rare) or CVT available in FWD, and only CVT in the AWD models.LX is the base model with 'manual' heating/air knobs, and a 5" audio screen with a few real buttons; EX adds sunroof, a touch-screen climate control, and 8" touch-screen audio system without NAV. EX-L adds leather interior, roof rack (no crossbars) and NAV as an option. Certified Pre-Owned off-lease models 2-3 years old with ~30k miles are priced in the $17-21,000 range depending on options. Ford (EcoSport), Chevy (Equinox and Trax), Nissan (Rogue and Rogue Sport), Hyundai (Tucson), and Kia (Sportage) are among other non-hybrids to consider, as well as the popular but smaller Buick Encore. The Toyota Corolla iM, and the C-HR are current models a bit smaller than the RAV-4. I'd add the Hyundai Kona to that list, which directly competes with the Honda HR-V (similar size). kostby 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted June 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2018 niro, kona, hrv, eco sport too small she sat in them, but she doesn't want to go any bgger than the saturn or much smaller... she was not comfortable in the CRV if you could get automatic seats with out a sunroof, it may work but you cant. she wasnt happy with the seating position Ford escape is off the list. She asked the sales person. "why is the interior the same as my husbands five year old Cmax?" She wasn't wowed by the drive... I have a bit of a blood feud with GM when they filed for chapter 11 the saturn purchase was the last time i set foot on a GM lot to buy a GM vehicle. so now we start narrowing it down by color/interior/options based on whats in stock locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarenHayes Posted June 25, 2018 Report Share Posted June 25, 2018 What about a kia niro? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted June 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2018 niro, kona, hrv, eco sport too small she sat in them, but she doesn't want to go any bigger than the saturn or much smaller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted July 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 Well its over... She really tried to like the toyota hybrid, and i think the 24 hour test drive was not a benefit for the toyota. It gave her more time to drive and figure out what she really didn't like about the car. ended up with a 2018 forester 2.5 touringMSRP 35525trade was worth 2500out the door after taxes, tags incentives, ect 30560 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptjones Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 4 wheel drive?Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obob Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 (edited) 4 wheel drive?Paul It is 4 wheel drive(AWD). All Subarus but the Subaru BRX are AWD. Interesting how much lower the manual trans with regular gasoline compared to the automatic with premium gas with the EPA numbers (those as I read more I see the engine displacement is actually bigger.) Vehicle EPA Fuel Economy 28 MPG 26 32 combined city/hwy city hwy 3.6 gal/100 mi 2018 Subaru Forester AWD 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (AV-S8), Turbo, Premium Gasoline 25 MPG 23 27 combined city/hwy city hwy 4 gal/100 mi 2018 Subaru Forester AWD 2.5 L, 4 cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular Gasoline On the bigger turbo engine premium is recommended but regular can be used (according to the manual) with a hit on performance and MPGs. Edited July 3, 2018 by obob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptjones Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 That makes sense, smaller ICE is more efficient Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted July 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 odob from the edmonds site 2.5i (non turbo) CVT 26 32 28.7 combined2.5i (non turbo) manual 22 28 24.72.0 XT turbo CVT 23 27 24.8 so yeah the bigger engine has less horsepower 170 than the 2.0 turbo 280 and Im sure the folks that drive the turbo moel are a bit more throttle happy than the 2.5. I know i would be. :) ptjones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcgliss Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 My wife's 2005 Subaru Legacy GT Limited 2.5L turbo manual averaged 24mpg. Her 2018 C-Max is averaging 50.2mpg for the same 45-mile commute. obob, ptjones and cbharvest 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakkers Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 If it's simply a SUV you are looking for and Hybrid isn't needed, my vote is for the Subaru Forester. Ultimately, it really comes down to what ever floats your boat. All will get the job done. It really comes down to what you want to drive and sit in the driveway or garage. The Subie has the best outward view IMO. It's a solid drive, best in class resale value if that is important. And while you may not need AWD, it achieves decent fuel efficiency compared to others in the same price point and class that are only 2wd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Smith Posted July 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 we ended up with the subie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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