"BJ" (benjamin-bignell)
06/26/2020 at 07:38 • Filed to: used car shopping
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"BJ" (benjamin-bignell)
06/26/2020 at 07:38 • Filed to: used car shopping | 0
| 34 |
It was awful.
We have a parking spot in our backyard that’s snug for the Passat, and access in the winter is difficult. AWD and increased ground clearance is going to be a big plus.
So we’re shopping 3-row SUVs that aren’t too massive. The kids want space - something massive like a Lincoln Navigator, or a minivan like the Kia Sedona. I’d be fine with either, but I’d really rather have a Land Rover LR4. My wife wants something reliable (bye-bye, Land Rover). I guess what we’ll end up with is a compromise.
The actual shopping experience was a horror show. I don’t know what I was expecting, but...
We stopped by one dealer that had 3 possible vehicle for us to look at, but there were apparently no salespersons available to help us. The service bay was empty and there were no other customers visible when we arrived, but hey, I guess everyone was too busy.
We went to a second dealership that had a salesperson available, but he was an absolute caricature: old guy with a crooked tie, coffee stain on the shirt, pointless patronizing comments about the “nice family” etc, and generally not that useful when it comes to the actual car.
So I made some calls, and will make an appointment to see some cars next week.
BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 08:10 |
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I have a LR4! Get 2013+ (13 had a V8, 14+ V6) and watch out for rust and it’s just as reliable as a Ford Truck. It’s the best size for a largeish SUV.
If she drives one, she may be swayed. Not by the 17mpgs, though.
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BJ
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
06/26/2020 at 08:18 |
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I like the LR4 a lot, and I’ve driven an LR3. They’re magical (as long as the air suspension works). The 2014+ don’t have the possible timing chain guide issue, so that’s a plus. I’m not so worried about the economy figures on the LR4, because honestly the 3-row SUV’s aren’t that amazing. But the premium fuel and high insurance, however... two more strikes against the Land Rover.
Other disadvantages : limited choice in my region (I’d have to go to Toronto, which is 500 km away, to get a good selection) and price . I can get a 2018 Sorento with V6, 7 seats, and fewer than 75000 km for $25000 or less; a similar LR4 is easily $40000.
adamftw
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 08:37 |
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The SCV6 can still have the timing chain issues, but they seem to only fail on under-maintained trucks on both motors
. Change the oil every 7500 and they’ll be ok usually. I like the LR3 better, less fru-fru interior and the 4.4 is a better motor. Air suspension issues are moot;
treat those parts like wear items and keep a GAP tool in the car at all times to override a fault if it comes up.
Nibby
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 08:55 |
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i know it’s boring but... highlanders are one of the best people movers that aren’t full size
TorqueToYield
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 08:58 |
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Do everything online, show up for a test drive and to see it in person only.
Like most in person retail, car shopping is changing quick.
Different dealerships do this better or worse than others so YMMV.
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BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 09:12 |
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Pardon me while I pick my jaw up off the floor. I know those are Loony dollars, but still. Whoa. They depreciate much more heavily in the US.
FWIW, my insurance is the same as any other car, and premium is just a recommendation on the V8.
MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
06/26/2020 at 09:20 |
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Not by the 17mpgs, though.
I’d take that over the 13-15mpg our Yukon XL gets...though I don’t mind the pump penalty for that sweet, sweet 6.2 power and noises
Thomas Donohue
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 09:21 |
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Dealers? That’s so old-fashioned.
Allow me to introduce you to Carsss.....and BIDZ dot com.
You will find all of your quirky three-row vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s, and TODAY on CARS....and bidz....dot....com.
Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 09:28 |
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Good luck! Don’t forget about the Ford Flex!
I wonder if the dealer that was sparse is in part cause of the Covid? Maybe they are doing things by appointment?
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BJ
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
06/26/2020 at 09:50 |
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They depreciate heavily here, but the initial purchase price is higher, too. I have a fe eling that the market is strong for sellers right now - prices seem higher than what I remember.
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BJ
> adamftw
06/26/2020 at 09:53 |
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The LR3 is cheap, too. As long as it’s a 2008 or 2009, they’re probably a good option.
But we’re looking to upgrade from a 2008 VW, and given the typically sketchy service history on a used luxury boat, I’m not sure we’d be ge tting ahead. I guess the 10-15k I'd save on purchase would go a long way towards repair & maintenance.
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BJ
> Thomas Donohue
06/26/2020 at 09:58 |
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Hmmm, none of the cars I'm shopping for appear on the site, and I doubt there are a lot of vehicles in Quebec on offer...
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BJ
> Nibby
06/26/2020 at 09:59 |
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My SIL has a Highlander. It’s nice, but the 3rd row is smaller than many and they have very strong resale values. I'll need to look some more to see what's possible.
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BJ
> TorqueToYield
06/26/2020 at 10:00 |
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This is the plan now. I request the Carfax online and I'll make appointments for the test drives.
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BJ
> Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
06/26/2020 at 10:03 |
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Probably a combination of coronavirus and unlucky timing on my part.
I’m not looking at Ford at all, tbh. The Flex is big (I'll check the specs to see if it'd fit our parking) and I suspect my wife won't appreciate the appearance.
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Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 10:12 |
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I now know how short my memory is; I forgot the requirement of it being slightly compact in about 2 paragraphs. Haha.
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BJ
> Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
06/26/2020 at 10:16 |
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Ha ha, oops! Maybe you just need a coffee. :)
If size wasn’t an issue we’d be seriously looking at the advantages of a Kia Sedona with all the goodies
vs
a Toyota Sienna with AWD...
jminer
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 10:39 |
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The Flex is gigantic - it’s like a foot shorter than a suburban! We owned one and it was nice, but not super-reliable.
dogisbadob
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 10:57 |
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The Transit Connect seems perfect for your intended usage :)
You might also like the Chevy Orlando, Mazda 5, and Kia Rondo. We never got the second gen Rondo here, and the first gen is automatic-only. But I know you got manual and automatic Rondos both first and second gen
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dogisbadob
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 10:58 |
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You’re in Canada? Check out the Chevy Orlando
There’s also the Kia Rondo and Mazda 5
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BJ
> dogisbadob
06/26/2020 at 11:11 |
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I always liked the look of the Orlando, but no AWD. They’re probably cheaper than day-old bread, though...
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BJ
> dogisbadob
06/26/2020 at 11:13 |
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Oooh, the Transit Connect is a handsome car. But again, no AWD, right? And do they have the exploding transmissions that the other small Fords seem to suffer from?
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BJ
> dogisbadob
06/26/2020 at 11:16 |
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Apparently the Transit Connect doesn’t sell well... there are only 3 for sale within 1000 km of me.
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dogisbadob
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 11:24 |
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The Transit Connect doesn’
t use the PowerShit DCT
found in the
Fiesta and Focus, if that’s what you’re talking about
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Nibby
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 11:26 |
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ford excursion
CB
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 15:03 |
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What about the Kia Rondo? Is that decent?
Arrivederci
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 16:55 |
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Since you have the Sorento pictured up there, let me know if you have any questions. We picked up one in 2017 and it has been reliable as a top over the 60k since then.
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adamftw
> BJ
06/26/2020 at 18:28 |
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I’m going to be doing the same sort of thinking for my next purchase in a few months. Spend another $10k up front on a Toyota, or save that for maintenance for the next few years on a Rover. Gotta drive a 4Runner and GX460 to see how much I hate them.
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BJ
> Nibby
06/27/2020 at 15:31 |
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Or Lincoln Navigator! But no, I’d probably have to take out my wife’s favourite tree to make that fit into the parking spot...
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BJ
> Arrivederci
06/27/2020 at 15:34 |
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I’m definitely considering the Sorento, and torn between the options.
Everyone seems to say that the V6 is better, but a lot of newer models showing up for sale are the 2.0 Turbo.
Do I want an SX or SX+ for 3k more over the price of an LX+?
Is the 3rd row worth having, or should I just buy a Sedona?
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Nibby
> BJ
06/27/2020 at 15:48 |
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ok ok how about a ford taurus wagon with seats in the trunk
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BJ
> Nibby
06/27/2020 at 15:54 |
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Or this:
Shouldn’t be too hard to park, right?
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Nibby
> BJ
06/27/2020 at 16:00 |
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Arrivederci
> BJ
06/29/2020 at 10:16 |
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Ours is the 2.0T EX and that is a fantastic motor. The V6 is smoother but the torque curve is a little better on the turbo. The SX is definitely worth the money over the LX, but we were happy with the mid-level EX. Ours comes with the screen in the gauge cluster, bigger center stack screen, leather, power liftgate, BLIS, rear cross-traffic, etc.
The *only* weird thing about the 2.0T EX is that it doesn’t come with a third row. We didn’t really need one, so in the place where the third seat would fold, you get a great little storage cubby.
For reference, when we looked , we shopped it against the CX5, Edge, Santa Fe, RDX and Murano.