![]() 11/03/2015 at 16:44 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
Imagine you had a Tampa to Florida boonies, then to Orlando, then to Tampa roadtrip to take. You’ve got two large suitcases, two small kid sized ones, and 4 small school type backpacks, which car would you choose?
well Alamo would say “oh, then you need a mid-size SUV, like a Rav4”
We have an excellent 2005 Rav4, so we said “that sounds ideal!!!”
So we flew to Tampa, and picked up....
And... IT SUCKED.
1: the bags didnt fit. The kids, luckily still with legs short enough to not be hitting the floor board were able to stow luggage at their feet.
2: the trans hunted ALL day. and power delivery was terrible.
3: rear door handles are too high for my kids to reach to get in.
4: abysmal fuel economy. It did the two 2 hour legs using a full tank
I just hated everything about it. It was as if someone said “cars need XYZ” so they threw YXZ at it, in random orders, just a wheel here, a radio knob there, seats kind whatever. Hated it.
We dumped the Jeep at Disney, and picked up a Jetta a week later for the return.
1: the bags AND MORE just disappeared into the trunk. There was a delicate sound of a vacuum, then the trunk gently whispered “moooooaaarrrr”
2: it had great power
3: it looked and felt new
4: it did the final 2 hour leg with 1/8th of a tank.
It looked better, it held people better, it held more stuff better, it drove better. It was a genuinely enjoyable road trip.
TL;DR: get a mid-size sedan, not a mid-size SUV to carry things.
![]() 11/03/2015 at 16:48 |
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side note: Florida drivers earned every bit of their bad name
![]() 11/03/2015 at 16:51 |
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This also works for real life and not just rentals! Whenever people want to buy a Tahoe for 2 kids I just roll my eyes.
![]() 11/03/2015 at 16:53 |
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word! We bought the Rav4 becuase it was the smallest SUV we could buy. We wanted the height for ease of getting kids in carseats in and out. I am more than happy with my 2 door hatchback for everyday with my kids. Big isn’t better, IMO
![]() 11/03/2015 at 16:55 |
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There is only one thing a rental Jeep is good at.
![]() 11/03/2015 at 17:01 |
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It’s more like this:
“OH NO I HAVE A KID ON THE WAY! HONEY I NEED A SUBURBAN!
![]() 11/03/2015 at 17:09 |
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RAV4 and CRV are acceptable, I'm just saying some people are quick to get the biggest thing they can.
![]() 11/03/2015 at 17:10 |
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remember the craze of Excursions, and Expeditions, and even the Explorer? “well, I’ve got 1 kid, and I need something to get them to the private school and me off to starbucks with”
![]() 11/03/2015 at 17:12 |
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we even bought the 2005 (used, in 2008) so we had the option of picking the slightly larger 2006 with the v6, but chose the i4. It’s a little gutless, but I think we made the right choice. Love that “car”
![]() 11/03/2015 at 17:12 |
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Mall shopping is a type of Excursion!
![]() 11/03/2015 at 18:24 |
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SUVs are stupid in general. I want 21 mpg, 0-60 in 8.5 seconds, eight seater capacity, and 147 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats down, and daily reliability, not to mention good ergonomics, a smooth ride, and tight handling. Not one car will get you that other than a minivan. 2005 Ody to be exact. Unfashionable but so useful that you won’t care.
![]() 11/03/2015 at 18:48 |
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They are durable and have a bunch of utility. Does yours have the AWD when the front starts slipping?
![]() 11/03/2015 at 19:02 |
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drive many minivans, they are truly thr correct choice. as you say, aesthetics are a real let down. but, getting better lately
![]() 11/03/2015 at 19:03 |
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indeed, and a little traction control light and beeping sound to alert the wife when I am driving like a teenager on the snow :)
![]() 11/03/2015 at 20:54 |
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Lol I’d argue the opposite, funnily enough...
2005
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
2015
da fuq?
![]() 11/03/2015 at 21:23 |
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you make a good point, my favourite is actually the first gen Odd., perhaps with some nice wheels
![]() 11/03/2015 at 21:46 |
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That is nice although in my book true minivans have sliding doors ;)
![]() 12/30/2015 at 15:01 |
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Yep. We are a special bunch.
A place where the fast lane is an urban legend and turn signals stay on for miles or stay off enirely.