EcoRenovator  

Go Back   EcoRenovator > Off Topic > The Billiards Room
Advanced Search
 


Blog 60+ Home Energy Saving Tips Recent Posts Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-17-11, 08:29 AM   #1
Higgy
The Gardener
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Manitoba - Canada
Posts: 492
Thanks: 17
Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts
Default New Car Question

Well, at the same time that we're thinking of moving, the lease on my Matrix is also coming up in September so we're starting to test drive new cars. I don't like going bigger but I think we're going to have to. Here's the deal. We are starting to do more and more road trips and the kids are getting older as well, so we'd like something that we'd be able to do road trips with as well as having the ability to carry some extra passengers if we needed to (like the kids' friends or family members). I really don't want a minivan...and not for the reason's you think. I'd love a minivan because it's like driving a nice big luxury vehicle with tons of room. The reason I don't want one...gas guzzler. I want something good on gas, for my pocket book and the environment.

This past week we test drove a 2011 7 seat Kia Sorento which was REALLY nice. We also drove a 2011 and 2008 Toyota Sienna. Again, both nice but bigger gas guzzlers. We may go back today and test drive the Rav4 7 seater, but my neighbor, who is a Toyota salesman, seems to be adamant against selling us a Rav4 7 seater. 5 seater, he has no problem with, but he doesn't like the 7. I'm not sure if I made it clear enough to him though that the 7th row would only be used once in a while.

We also have a Corolla, which we will use most of the time. The SUV or Minivan will only be used for the person who drives the shorter distance to work as well as for trips. Otherwise we will use the Corolla for a bigger percentage of time.

Does anyone have any opinions on the above cars, or have any other suggestions?


Last edited by Higgy; 02-17-11 at 08:31 AM..
Higgy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-11, 09:04 AM   #2
Ryland
Master EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Western Wisconsin.
Posts: 913
Thanks: 127
Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts
Default

The EPA's mpg web site has an advanced search that is pretty decent.
Ryland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-11, 09:37 AM   #3
PaleMelanesian
Apprentice EcoRenovator
 
PaleMelanesian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 118
Thanks: 4
Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts
Default

What about the Mazda5?

I wish there were more and better options for people-movers. We have an Odyssey to fill that role, and my least favorite part is, like you, the mpg.
PaleMelanesian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-11, 10:03 AM   #4
Ryland
Master EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Western Wisconsin.
Posts: 913
Thanks: 127
Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts
Default

How often do you need to carry 7 people? if it's more about carrying stuff for camping then I would say get a small trailer, otherwise I think VW makes a station TDI station wagon that has a 3rd row of seats way in the back, but I can't say for sure.
Ryland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-11, 11:38 AM   #5
strider3700
Master EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver Island BC
Posts: 745
Thanks: 23
Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts
Default

a buddy traded his matrix for a rav4. It's basically the same inside as a 5 seater, maybe a tidge larger. with the 7 seats in place you'll have almost no space for stuff.

We have a matrix as our day to day car. It's on the small side with two kids in baby seats and associated gear. So for road trips we take my crew cab truck. It's a real gas guzzler though at 14 mpg highway
strider3700 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-11, 06:07 PM   #6
Higgy
The Gardener
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Manitoba - Canada
Posts: 492
Thanks: 17
Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts
Default

Thanks for all this guys.

We just test drove the 7 seater Rav4 and I really liked it, even compared to the Sorento. We may be turning in the Matrix for this one. A little better on gas and 3rd row seating when we need it, which won't be that often.
Higgy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-11, 08:14 AM   #7
PaleMelanesian
Apprentice EcoRenovator
 
PaleMelanesian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 118
Thanks: 4
Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts
Default

That Rav4 is a V6, right? It's a shame they don't offer the 4-cylinder / 3rd row combination. It wouldn't be hard for them to do, but would lose them some revenue from the lost V6 upcharge.
PaleMelanesian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-11, 11:57 AM   #8
Higgy
The Gardener
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Manitoba - Canada
Posts: 492
Thanks: 17
Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts
Default

Yes, it's a v6. I'm actually surprised it's not more of a drop in mpg between the v4 and v6 though. It's like 2 mpg difference. And it's not a rocket like the Sorento either. It's a nice smooth increase in speed. I felt, when I was driving the Sorento, that I couldn't control the speed very well. It kept going faster then I wanted it to. But the Rav was a lot easier on speed increase...unless I floored it of course. Which I did once to test how powerful it was, but normally I irritate the drivers around me because I increase my speed so slowly. I hate when people tailgate me when there's another lane right beside me. And then they peal by me....and then the light turns red and I slowly laugh to myself as I creep up beside them. People are dumb.
Higgy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-11, 12:31 PM   #9
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

I just got an email from Ford today. They're launching a C-max vehicle which looks interesting. Hopefully they can get some decent mileage out of it. I dunno if you're wanting to wait that long, but thought I'd point it out.

Ford C-MAX Crossover | View the All-New Ford C-MAX Crossover | Ford.com
__________________
Current project -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-18-11, 01:11 PM   #10
Higgy
The Gardener
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Manitoba - Canada
Posts: 492
Thanks: 17
Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts
Default

Is this a hybrid or something? I doesn't seem to say anything.

Higgy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:12 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Ad Management by RedTyger
Inactive Reminders By Icora Web Design