The inevitable has come: crossover

Kinja'd!!! "MooseKnuckles" (andyschenk)
03/10/2018 at 11:57 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!1 Kinja'd!!! 24

The girlfriend currently has a company 2014 Equinox with gas card (work and personal gas) but will be taking a job elsewhere that provides a $800/month vehicle allowance. She’s never had to buy a vehicle, she’s always had a company car.

-$100/month insurance

-$250/month gas

-$25/month avg maintenance

Leaves $425 balance before we’re out of pocket

Canadian, so for ease let’s say $330usd. Which isn’t much.

She drives around 500km per week

1. Value option: get a 2 year old CUV with good options and low mileage. Equinox, CX5, Tucson, etc

2. She wants to lease, but lease rates and mileage penalty doesn’t work in our favour. She wants lease so she isn’t locked into a vehicle long term, but I told her she can always trade in a purchased vehicle later and if we buy used not just burn off the depreciation.

3. I think she should cough up the balance and get an XC40!

4. She gets a new entry level list above. Equinox, cx5, Tucson, etc

5. She’s not a fan of Audi, BMW, Merc because she thinks it’s badge snobbery. And would rather have the XC40 if we opt for that price range.

Looking for compact CUV, AWD, something quicker than her current Equinox which is the 2.4L 0-60 of 9sec.

She makes 6 figures and I own the house so budget isnt as big of a sicky point. She’s just ultra cheap on practical spending, but will drop $800 on a purse.


DISCUSSION (24)


Kinja'd!!! TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 12:44

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I thought Volvo and Cadillac were trying those all included vehicle membership plans where insurance and maintenance is included? I’m not sure if the availability of those programs in Canada though.


Kinja'd!!! MooseKnuckles > TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo
03/10/2018 at 12:55

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Not available in Canada, and I think even in the US only in select markets.


Kinja'd!!! gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 13:23

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Also the crosstrek, but also slow.


Kinja'd!!! KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 14:05

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If you’re looking at resale, reliability, good interior space, highest MPG in the segment for the power (190HP 1.5T) with AWD,

The new CR-V Ex-L or Touring if you can push it.

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Kinja'd!!! E92M3 > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 14:12

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She needs to test drive a few things, including some german vehicles.

If I’m going to spend an enormous amount of time in a vehicle, it’s has to be a nice place to be. People can think whatever they want, I’m the one that has to spend THOUSANDS of hours of my life in it. It’s not just the badge that’s different. This is one case I wouldn’t hesitate to spend some money out of my own pocket to make the experience better.

A quality mattress, a nice car, and good shoes go a long way in life.


Kinja'd!!! NKato > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 14:32

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This is just my bias talking, but I would just get a refurbished Crown Victoria. If you’re anywhere near Phoenix, AZ, there’s a dealership near the airport that sells refurb’d Crown Vics for less than 10,000 on average. Might get lucky and spot a 2012+ Ford Taurus.


Kinja'd!!! MooseKnuckles > NKato
03/10/2018 at 14:38

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Haha the ol panther doesn’t fit her $800 purse style. I’m on board though for an Interceptor burro


Kinja'd!!! MooseKnuckles > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/10/2018 at 14:40

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We can’t. Even for a CUV it’s too ugly. Spec wise it’s a top contender though


Kinja'd!!! KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 14:43

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Ah, OK then if you want the best exteriors and interiors this side of a premium/luxury segment your best bet is the Cx-5. Car and Driver tested it at 8.1 0-60, bonus it doesn’t have a CVT.


Kinja'd!!! NKato > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 14:44

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You can always make it a project car, and use it for experiments. That’s one of the nice things about the Panther, it’s got a massive engine bay that’s perfect for tinkering.


Kinja'd!!! NKato > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 14:46

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By the way, here’s a link:

https://www.mtmotorgroupllc.com/inventory

You can filter it to show what they have available. They’ve got Cadillacs, Chevy Tahoes, SUV’s, sedans, and so on. Anything that was used in government service.


Kinja'd!!! MooseKnuckles > E92M3
03/10/2018 at 14:46

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We definitely will. I despise VW to my core. Merc has tip top interiors, but the facade of German engineering has run its course. We’ll check out the Q3 and x1. But she’s from a rich-ish area of Toronto and hates the image of German brands so it’ll be a tough sell


Kinja'd!!! MooseKnuckles > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
03/10/2018 at 14:51

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I have a feeling well end up with a trimmed up CX5


Kinja'd!!! MooseKnuckles > NKato
03/10/2018 at 14:51

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Haha have a picture of yours?


Kinja'd!!! NKato > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 14:55

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Yup. She’s in need of some body reconditioning, though.


Kinja'd!!! MooseKnuckles > NKato
03/10/2018 at 14:57

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Man, that’s slick. What are your plans for it?


Kinja'd!!! NKato > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 15:13

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Fix some of the interior, particularly driver side door panel, dash trim, ashtray drawer handle, and the hood latch (it keeps bouncing when I drop it). Then I’m going to look into getting a replacement chair for the driver side since the seat cushion is ripped from police wear-and-tear.

Eventually going to get the body’s rubber-plugged holes cleaned up and welded shut, and then repainted in the same color.

Any major jobs apart from that will have to wait. At the moment, it’s at the service shop getting diagnosed for an EVAP error code, and I’m hoping it’s a simple fix. Otherwise, I won’t have a car for next week’s commute.


Kinja'd!!! MooseKnuckles > NKato
03/10/2018 at 17:10

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That’s awesome. There must be all sort of performance aftermarket for the 4.6?


Kinja'd!!! E92M3 > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 19:12

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If you can get her to drive a X1, at least she will know what it’s like. Even if she can’t get past the badge. The Lexus NX isn’t a bad choice either if you can get past it’s looks.

Or there’s always the responsible choice (Honda CRV).


Kinja'd!!! NKato > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 20:20

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Quite a few, but the Modular Engine in the 4.6L configuration is on its way out, superseded by the 5.0L Coyote and the Ecoboosts in the Taurus.

ADTR.net sells Panther-specific upgrades, including a bolt-on supercharger.


Kinja'd!!! MooseKnuckles > NKato
03/10/2018 at 22:37

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I feel like coil overs to get rid of the floaty suspension, proper brakes and tires, then some powerrrrr


Kinja'd!!! NKato > MooseKnuckles
03/10/2018 at 22:39

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Amusingly, the suspension on my CVPI is not floaty at all, far as I can tell. It has swaybars. Swaybars. It makes the car ride stiff, and I can feel everything on the road.


Kinja'd!!! MooseKnuckles > E92M3
03/10/2018 at 23:07

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We went for lunch today and for the first time ever she paid attention to cars driving past. Where we were in Toronto it was all Audi BMW and Porsche. And she saw the mazzy cx5 and pointed it out as looking best, and it is, it’s a handsome vehicle... And she doesn’t know badges to be biased. Economy choice is CX5, but based on income I think she should look at the XC40. And if German the GLA or GLC. Audi is nice, and X1, but I think if it come down to a entry luxury offering she’ll go Volvo simple because it’s not German which based on her upbringing means snoody.


Kinja'd!!! E92M3 > MooseKnuckles
03/11/2018 at 01:17

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Around here Volvo’s are right up there with BMW, Audi, and MB as far as a status symbols (and somehow less reliable). The XC40 is a good looking CUV though.

Acura/Infiniti/Lexus are the “sensible” luxury vehicles. Unfortunately none of them are particularly attractive. The new 2019 RDX looks promising.