dennisuello
Adventurer
Get a Forester 2.5 XT (224hp turbo). They are lower to the ground, which makes it easy with putting kids in and out. Car-like ride, but more upright sitting position and look of an SUV. More room than a wagon too.
Thinking about selling it!
- Thread starter FlyingWen
- Start date
LRNAD90
Adventurer
dennisuello said:
If you like the look better, go for it (personally I can't stand the Forester, but that is just me), but the Outback wagon has MORE interior volume overall (97.7 vs. 91.1), MORE cargo volume (33.5 vs. 28.9), is rated to carry MORE weight, tow an additional 300 lbs, and is actually somewhat heavier than the Forester (which is based on the small Impreza platform). So if you like it, go ahead and buy it, but don't buy it because it has more room, cause it doesn't.
P.S. -- If you like turbo, the Outback is available in an XT version as well, sporting 243 turbocharged horsepower...
MountainBiker
Experience Seeker
I own a Forester, MIL owned an Outback, but now owns a Legacy.
Forester is cheaper, and yes, it's smaller in cargo space. Forester is much better if you intend any offroading due to the improvement in approach/departure angles. I prefer the Forester's more upright seating position and additional headroom for my 6'.
Legacy will get better mileage than the Forester or outback due to a lower stance.
The redesigned '09 Forester will be a lot bigger, in case you want to wait a few months for that.
The Rav4 is a great option too.
Forester is cheaper, and yes, it's smaller in cargo space. Forester is much better if you intend any offroading due to the improvement in approach/departure angles. I prefer the Forester's more upright seating position and additional headroom for my 6'.
Legacy will get better mileage than the Forester or outback due to a lower stance.
The redesigned '09 Forester will be a lot bigger, in case you want to wait a few months for that.
The Rav4 is a great option too.
jingram
Adventurer
Not really sure what you expected out of the X. It is a full framed, relatively heavy 4wd with an older motor design tuned for torque at the expense of everything else. That being said, it is certainly more than adequate around town. I have no problems driving "normally" and not keeping up or beating the flow of traffic even from a complete stop. What gears are in the X and is it an auto or a 5 speed? Honestly, for what you are doing, like everyone else has suggested, get a wagon or a minivan or a car based SUV like a Toyota Rav4, Ford Escape, or a Honda Element/CRV.
preacherman
Explorer
I have had 4 jeeps, 1 scout, 1 landcruiser, ford and chevy's 4x4's, a pathfinder, and a montero. I have driven more miles in 4wd than I can count and I have even been across africa in a landruiser. 4x4's are in my blood
That said....my wifes mini van is pimp! Leather seats, xm, dvd, cd, cruise, power everything including sliding doors. Getting around town with the kids is super easy and we get 25mpg. They are cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, and cheaper to fix. If you are going to be just driving around town with baby and gear a mini van is way cool.
That said....my wifes mini van is pimp! Leather seats, xm, dvd, cd, cruise, power everything including sliding doors. Getting around town with the kids is super easy and we get 25mpg. They are cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, and cheaper to fix. If you are going to be just driving around town with baby and gear a mini van is way cool.
calamaridog
Expedition Leader
I'm not sure what type of gas mileage you are getting, but we get 18-20ish mpg in our V6 Liberty.
We bought the Liberty instead of the Xterra for the following reasons:
More powerful engine
Better braking
Better handling (more carlike ride and lower to ground)
Easier ingress and egress
Less expensive
The X has more cargo room, but the new model has addressed that issue.
We bought the Liberty instead of the Xterra for the following reasons:
More powerful engine
Better braking
Better handling (more carlike ride and lower to ground)
Easier ingress and egress
Less expensive
The X has more cargo room, but the new model has addressed that issue.
FlyingWen
Explorer
You guys are KILLING me with this minivan talk.....NEVER!
I still want to hold on to the distant reality that I am still cool and I don't want to cave into a minivan just yet.
I like the Liberty's, but I just don't know. I'd love a JK!
Anyone know if Jeep has found a way to make a relatively quite and rattle free Jeep yet?
I still want to hold on to the distant reality that I am still cool and I don't want to cave into a minivan just yet.
I like the Liberty's, but I just don't know. I'd love a JK!
Anyone know if Jeep has found a way to make a relatively quite and rattle free Jeep yet?
FlyingWen said:
Well, first of all, you are cool because of who you are, not what you drive.
Family needs and practicality trump everything else from the time your kids are born, until they start to drive themselves.
Minivans are really the best people and stuff mover in the USA, assuming your street is paved.
Having a minivan that works well, means your 4x4 can be even cooler, with less practicality, and it doesn't even need to run all the time. Let's face it, your daily driver can't really be a "project car". Little Wen still needs to get to school even if the transfer case is in pieces on the work bench.
Jeeps--I am a long term Toyota guy-owned one since '81, and own 4 today. But that new Wrangler Rubicon 4 door is a sweet ride, at least on paper. Make that in a diesel, and I think they could sell me one. I don't think you'll get the same reliability out of a Jeep as you did out of your Nissan.
DBS311
Adventurer
jingram said:
My wife stole my 2001 Land Cruiser and so I now drive her 2002 XTerra. After spending some time with it, I would say it is definitely lacking in the torque department. The think is asleep below 3000 rpm. While driving the freeways of San Diego, I find myself having to stay hard on the throttle just to maintain speed up the grades. I don't mind driving it, but the lack of low end torque is a let down.
As far as the topic of this thread goes, I really don't think there is anything out there that fits your needs and wants. Any SUV of decent size and relatively low price point is going to get pretty bad mpg's. I would say go for a 98-99 Land Cruiser but you are only looking at 13-16 mpg. I don't know........maybe a Honda Pilot. If you are dead set against a minivan, you just have to accept low gas mileage.
calamaridog
Expedition Leader
At the time we bought the Liberty, we both needed 4wd and there was a possibility I would get stuck with the Liberty at some point as our only 4wd.
If we were in the market right now, we wouldn't need a 2nd vehicle with a low gear transfercase. My wife would be content with something wagon/4doors/4cyl at this point.
From a marketing standpoint, you guys are running a 4wd parts business, and there are reasons to keep both of you in a 4wd. Your vehicles become rolling advertisements, etc.
It's a good excuse anyways to have some cool accessories
If we were in the market right now, we wouldn't need a 2nd vehicle with a low gear transfercase. My wife would be content with something wagon/4doors/4cyl at this point.
From a marketing standpoint, you guys are running a 4wd parts business, and there are reasons to keep both of you in a 4wd. Your vehicles become rolling advertisements, etc.
It's a good excuse anyways to have some cool accessories
98roamer
Explorer
Once the honeymoon was over with my 2000 X, I admitted that the rear entry is very small and the MPG is average at best. But when I put the numbers on paper it wasn't horrible until I started driving 25k miles a year.
Speed kills the MPG for it's a rolling brick, geared for low end torque which means it lacks horsepower on the hwy as you know. Actually, it lacks horsepower all over the scale, but it didn't bother me to go slow.
Keeping a used vehicle has a smaller carbon foot print than a new one. :clapsmile
Speed kills the MPG for it's a rolling brick, geared for low end torque which means it lacks horsepower on the hwy as you know. Actually, it lacks horsepower all over the scale, but it didn't bother me to go slow.
Keeping a used vehicle has a smaller carbon foot print than a new one. :clapsmile
jingram
Adventurer
DBS311:
I wonder if this all has to do with gearing. Mine is more than adequate in the torque dept. that being said, it is no straight six stump puller either. Are yours the 4.6 gears or the 4.9s? Auto or manual? I run a slightly bigger than stock 265/75/16 bfg at on mine with no lift and just don't think it is that bad at all. Then again, I came from 2nd gen toyotas with terrible 3.0 liter and early model isuzu troopers and nissan hardbody trucks. Even towing has never given me any issues and it never feels like that much of a slug, not like you guys describe. Then again, I typically have a heavy foot anyway and am certainly not one to back away from shifting gears. Peak torque is a little high at 2800rpms, but it certainly isn't a honda b16a either, lol.
One needs to keep in mind that the GVWR on the rig is nearly 6000lbs and it is being driven by a 3.3 liter motor with 170/180hp (depending on year) and 200ft lbs of torque. If you really want better mileage and much better power, one can always trade up to a newer X, but they come with their own set of issues, lol. I still vote a small car based AWD SUV if a practical minivan is out of the question.
Rgds,
Jack
I wonder if this all has to do with gearing. Mine is more than adequate in the torque dept. that being said, it is no straight six stump puller either. Are yours the 4.6 gears or the 4.9s? Auto or manual? I run a slightly bigger than stock 265/75/16 bfg at on mine with no lift and just don't think it is that bad at all. Then again, I came from 2nd gen toyotas with terrible 3.0 liter and early model isuzu troopers and nissan hardbody trucks. Even towing has never given me any issues and it never feels like that much of a slug, not like you guys describe. Then again, I typically have a heavy foot anyway and am certainly not one to back away from shifting gears. Peak torque is a little high at 2800rpms, but it certainly isn't a honda b16a either, lol.
One needs to keep in mind that the GVWR on the rig is nearly 6000lbs and it is being driven by a 3.3 liter motor with 170/180hp (depending on year) and 200ft lbs of torque. If you really want better mileage and much better power, one can always trade up to a newer X, but they come with their own set of issues, lol. I still vote a small car based AWD SUV if a practical minivan is out of the question.
Rgds,
Jack
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