Equinox, Rav4 or CR-V

[alymae1010]

American companies still employee 2.5 more people in the US to every 1 employee for a foreign automaker. I'm not saying it isn't great that a Toyota assembly plant is helping a town, but these threads always become anti-American companies, and it isn't necessary.

 

[Cindyrellablue]

I had a Rav4 when they first came out, I'm sure they would have had to improve it since then...

A vehicle came into my lane and hit me head on (apparently, the Rav4 came with a feature that turned it invisible...not unlike Wonder Woman's plane)...the Rav4 basically disintegrated, the sedan that hit me was able to drive away. After some pretty severe injuries and therapy, I recovered. I couldn't believe how destroyed the car was...the insurance adjuster that came to inspect it and declare it totaled said that the Rav4s were terrible like that. I would not recommend that suv to anyone.

 

[tzvdmd]

Honda! They run forever.

Unless you get one of the ones with the bad transmissions! They should have had a recall on those!

 

[mrodgers]

My brother and SIL have a 2005 Escape that they bought new. 172,000 miles and the only issue (other than normal wear items)....

Jill in CO

That's my point. My problems with the Tribute is normal wear items. The problem is, they wear out in a matter of a few tens of thousands of miles instead of hundreds. Thus far, I've done practically the same wear items on my "Ford" in 60,000 miles that I've done on my Japanese cars well well WELL after 100,000 miles.

Rotors are a wear item. The Tribute changed in 35,000. Thus, in comparison to 165,000 mile life expectancy, I would change them 4.7 times at $200 equaling $1140 as opposed to in my Nissan which was once in 165,000 costing me a mere $200 in that same amount of mileage.

At that rate, I would change rotors more often than I changed just pads on my Toyota 4x4's. That was a maintenance dream. You could set your clock to maintenancing the front pads exactly every 50k, rear shoes exactly every 100k, and clutch every 150k. I've owned 4 of them and they were all the same.

 

[tinkarooni]

We have a 2004 Honda CRV and LOVE LOVE LOVE It!! We have never had any problems with it, and it has 95,000 miles on it now. It handles awesome in the snow, has pleanty of room (expecially since the back seat can slide forward and backward making pleanty of leg room for adults), and has always been reliable for us.

We have baby #3 on the way and are looking at purchasing a Toyota Sienna mini van so that we can spread out a little. We can fit the 3 car seats in the back of the CRV, but it is tight and not something I want to do daily. We definately won't be getting rid of our CRV, and I can guarantee you my husband and I will be fighting over it when we don't have to hall all 3 kids around. We both LOVE that car!!

As a side note, my cousin is a mechanic and he told us to never ever ever buy a chevy. Just something to think about.

I'm just curious as DH and I were discussing this not too long ago.....does it make you nervous to buy a Toyota? Not picking on anyone at all I'm just curious about others thought process, interested in the way others view all the problems Toyota has had.

As to original question we recently bought a CRV and really do like it but after driving an 8 cylinder GMC Envoy I do sometimes feel like I can't get out of my own way in this car, but it has a smooth ride and the gas mileage is pretty good.....I know it is because the car tells me so right on the dashboard.....I think that's the coolest thing. We personally haven't had goo dluck with Chevys in the past, they always seem to rattle....

 

[mamaLori05]

I'm just curious as DH and I were discussing this not too long ago.....does it make you nervous to buy a Toyota? Not picking on anyone at all I'm just curious about others thought process, interested in the way others view all the problems Toyota has had.

As to original question we recently bought a CRV and really do like it but after driving an 8 cylinder GMC Envoy I do sometimes feel like I can't get out of my own way in this car, but it has a smooth ride and the gas mileage is pretty good.....I know it is because the car tells me so right on the dashboard.....I think that's the coolest thing. We personally haven't had goo dluck with Chevys in the past, they always seem to rattle....

no, we are not nervous buying a toyota. Overall they have a great track and safety record. We know many people who own one that were involved in the recall, but they have never had any problems with their cars. We did ask my cousin who works on many many different brands of cars and he even said he would not hesitate to buy another toyota (he currently owns one). Cars have recalls all the time, and honestly I think the Toyota one was blown way out of proportion. I think I would be more nervous about buying a Chevy than buying a Toyota, but I know everyone is different.

 

[a1tinkfans]

We have narrowed a vehicle search to the following:

Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota Rav4, or Honda CR-V. (As close to a SUV as possible without sacrificing good mileage.

The criteria was over 20 mpg/city and over 26 mpg/highway. Must have leather with heated front seats (winter) and sun/moon roof (daughter).

We would like to get a third seat, but understand these models do not come equipped as such.

Anyone have any advice??

Thanks

We LOVE our CRV, dh uses it everyday for work, it was purchased new, one of the first off the line.....over 145K miles on it and no issues but we do maintain our vehicles. Honda is awesome, they keep their value and they are good solid vehicles!
we considered the rav4....... for a minute, till we sat in it, narrow and no space in back for "stuff."
I bought the Honda Pilot with all the possible bells and whistles last year and it too is an amazing vehicle with the third seat you mentioned.
Good Luck deciding....I see no losing with a Honda
(though our Ford Explorer is pretty darn good too

 

[blanq]

You also may want to take a look at the 2010 GMC Terrain. Car & Drvier rates the 2010 Equinox as better-equipped than both the Toyota and Honda. I like the thought of the mpg's that thing gets! Check out this review:http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/09q2/2010_chevrolet_equinox-first_drive_review. Here is another one: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Chevrolet_Equinox/
U.S. News ranks the Honda CR-V #1, GMC Terrain #2, and the Equinox and Toyota RAV4 are tied for #3. All of these seem to be pretty good vehicles.

I did look at an Equinox recently, but I could not talk my DH into it. He bought a huge Flex-Fuel Avalanche instead (I just held my nose and let him do it ). I definitley am considering a crossover when it comes time to replace my car. I am most interested in the GMC Terrain at this point.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

CR-V hands down.

 

[ceecee]

I was interested in one of the same three. After much research on reliability issues (had very very bad luck with my Ford) narrowed the search to the CR-V and RAV. The price difference after negotiations came to a $3500 difference so I got the CR-V...I've only had it for a year, but I love it!