SUV Opinions

[jel0511]

O.K. I've been driving a Volvo Cross Country for the last 5 years, with me getting my most recent one 2 years ago. Now, this car has some minor, but ANNOYING problems and I'm thinking of giving it to DH and getting a new car. The car I want is the Acura MDX. I LOVE this car and probably could sleep in it!!! My one problem is I'm afraid of the rollover issue. I've never driven an SUV, except for the test drives and never really liked one until the Acura, since it drives like a car. Does anyone have this car and have the same issues as me, and how did you get past it? I'm probably going to get the car anyway, since I only use it around town and chauffering the kids around, just looking for a little reassurance here!!!

 

[Melrosgirl]

My father has a 2001 Acura SUV and I have a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited.

He paid about $10,000 more for his than I did for mine (mine has all the bells and whistles including silly moving foot pedals, lol). Anyway, even he will admit that mine was a far better buy. Jeep has better optional equipment, full time 4 wheel drive, etc. The Acura is safer though according to the crash tests. The Acura is basically the Honda Odyssey minivan...seriously...it has the minivan body and they made it a nice SUV. Because of this, it's lower to the ground than most SUV's thereby making it safer supposedly.

We also just bought a new Saab 95 and that's a great car, but I digress!

Either way, I'm sure you'll love it! have fun!

 

[we3luvdisney]

We had a Ford Explorer and my DW was concerned about the rolling issue, so we traded it in for a Sienna Van.

 

[AZKathy]

I thought it was the Isuzu that had problems with rollovers; shows you how much I know! We have a Ford Expedition and really like it a lot, very very comfortable for travel. Only drawback with it is the cargo space is not that big. If we could have afforded it, we would have gotten the Toyota Sequoia. Now, that is a really wonderful SUV! You may want to look at that while you are shopping.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wow it does look nice. :thumbs up icon:
We just traded in our Ford Explorer for a YukonSL. I am telling you it rides pretty darn good. In fact it rides better than our Town and Country Van. Yes they are BIG but as my kids are getting older we need more space(cargo room is infinite) and leg room.
We plan on keeping it for awhile.
As far as 'rollover' the Ford Explorer (or "Exploder" as we would call it) did bug me alot. I might do some checking up on it to calm your nerves before buying.

 

[SPAGo 98]

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the MDX is as rollover-resistant as they come. The cars least likely to rollover:

Vehicles that got a rating of four stars, which carry a risk of rollover between 10 percent and 20 percent, are:


Acura MDX 4-DR, 4x4
Ford Focus Wagon 4-DR
Ford Taurus Wagon, 4-DR
Hyundai Accent, 4-DR
Mercury Sable Wagon, 4-DR
Subaru Legacy, 4-DR
Subaru Legacy Wagon, 4-DR
Volkswagen Jetta Wagon, 4-DR

From what I know about it, it's an incredibly safe car that's just plain incredible. Good luck.

Oh - and are you considering the new Volvo XC90? It's got amazing rollover protection.

The XC90 is the first of any vehicle to have an electronic rollover-protection system. The XC90 has gyroscope technology that reads roll speed and roll angle to determine if the vehicle is in danger of rolling over. Through minute and timely pulsations of an individual wheel's brake, the system stops all but the most aggravated rollover.

read here for more: http://popularmechanics.com/automotive/auto_technology/2002/6/volvo_xc90/

 

[Fire14]

i'm thinking of getting one of these.

 

[gravymom]

We have had a Sequioa for about 24K miles. I absolutely love this vehicle. I feel very safe in it. It is big and heavy and feels stable and there is plenty of room for three kids in car seats.

Don't know about the Acura except they make very nice cars.

Amy

 

[SPAGo 98]

The Saturn VUE has lots of quality issues right now, especially the interior. I'd consider a Honda CR-V or a Ford Escape before the Vue.

 

[Fire14]

i wasn't planning on buying until late in year or later anyway. i have thought of getting honda cr-v but will have to see.

 

[jel0511]

Thanks everyone!!! Escpeically to SPAGo 98!!! You made me feel SOO much better. Well off to the dealer to put down my deposit and WAIT!!! I probably won't see the car until April!!!!

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I went the opposite way. I drove a SUV (jeep cherokee, chevy blazer) for years. I switched to an all wheel drive Audi A4 wagon and have never been so happy! I drive a lot of highway and it is so much easier (and way faster) to drive a car than an SUV.
I always laugh in bad weather because my Audi with Michellin Pilot Alpin snow tires does WAY better in the snow than the SUV's, many a time I have went straight up a hill that had SUV's and trucks sliding all over the place.
I would hate to go back to a SUV.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I bought a Mazda Tribute (same as Ford Escape) about 4 months ago and I love it. For the price it was a great deal. fully loaded with leather, etc. I am really happy with it.

but...it does have more wind noise than I would like. I would have loved to get the Toyota Sequoia but it was twice the price of my little SUV. We already have the Toyota Tundra so I would have loved the Sequoia.
but I do live in Phoenix and just do town driving.

 

[LvsTnk]

Thinking of changing from an SUV (Expedition) to the Cross Country. Would you mind telling me what you did not like about it?

Thinking about the Audi wagon as well, especially after Alex's gret review.

Thanks!!

 

[wld]

Hve driven as SUV for 13 years now. First a Blazer, then Explorer and now a Jimmy. Put over 100,00 on the first two and have 40,000 on the third. Have never even come close to tipping one over.
Having said that my DD took the Jimmy up to school due to snow conditions on her trip up. It worked like a charm. However a few days later she hit a patch of slush, panicked and ended up partway on a curb which tipped her sideways in a snowbank. Minimal damage to the Jimmy and no one was hurt. I blame it more on her inexperience (why didn't she have the auto 4 wheel drive on) and an unfamiliar vehicle. After this many years in a higher vehicle (we have a truck too) cars make me feel very nervous and unsafe. And DH and I refuse to drive a van.

They do drive different then a car, but then so does a truck. After driving a car for a while while DD had my SUV I couldn't wait to get it back.

 

[jel0511]

What don't I like about my Cross Country.... Well, this is my second one, the first one was MUCH better made in my opinon. NOw, I might have a "lemon". Problems ideling engine revs for no reason, headlights decide when they want to turn on and turn off, seat belt decides if it wants to work or not. I've taken it to the deal MANY times and they think I'm nuts. Sometimes I believe my car is possessed!!!! It's really a bunch of little things that just drive you nuts. The car runs great and other than small annoyances it's a good car. GREAT in the snow and ice. I also want a car with three rows of seats for carpooling for my DD. She's at an age where she is starting to get into a lot of after school activities, and with only the back seat and two car seats (in NJ our children have to be in a booster seat until their 8 or 80 lbs) there is no room for anyone else. So, basically I have to drive EVERYWHERE instead of being able to carpool. That's another reason for getting rid of my cross country.

 

[LvsTnk]

Thanks! I went to their website and I thought that model was available with a third row seat . I would like to have a third row, but my oldest will be driving in a few weeks so it is not mandatory.

I love my Expedition but youngest has special needs and his mobility problems are getting worse. Hope your new SUV works out great!!

 

[Melrosgirl]

Originally posted by LvsTnk
Thanks! I went to their website and I thought that model was available with a third row seat . I would like to have a third row, but my oldest will be driving in a few weeks so it is not mandatory.

The third row in most SUV's (regular sized SUV's) is very dangerous. I read a report that said that rear end crashes with passengers in the third row seat of a SUV almost always had more head damage. (The third row seat is too close to the back window...minivans have more room usually, so this is not a problem as much. SUV's shouldn't have that last row of seats at all.)

 

[ennazus]

SUV Opinions

Big, honking, gas guzzlers.



but the vehicle you are looking at got 5 stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap/Cars/2002SUVs.html

 

[swanmom]

Slightly off the original topic but still related.........jelo511, what kind of annoying problems are you having with your Volvo Cross Country? I've had one for about two years now and had more than my share of little, but annoying, problems. I thought I was the only one! If you have a minute, could you share here or pm me?