Cars We Drive! - Page 587

Minis are really fun to drive. The Diesels are a bit underpowered but are still good, haven't tried the SD yet. Petrol feels like a go kart, although when you go check the facts, you realize it does the 0-100kmh in only 9 seconds. It really feels like 6.5 or 7 in a bigger car. Cooper S is amazing, but having tried it once quite a while ago, I couldn't really use the potential of the car in town, felt like buying it, insuring it and servicing it (same inline 4, peugeot-citroen and bmw developed engine but with a turbo) would be less easy than on the petrol version.

Problem is, no engine version will make the car more at ease outside town. I haven't tried the Countryman, but it looks stupid and has the same kind of engines...

doublepost

I'm having trouble finding something American in that range, seems like RR can be had pretty cheap. Just trying to understand if its bc of maintenance or gas mileage

Will look into the armada

Any other suggestions?

Ford Expedition? They get poor gas mileage but you're not planning on going cross country, have 3 row seating, 4x4, v8 power etc. Eddie Bauer Editions can be had with reasonable mileage in the sub $10k range for a 2004-2006.

Maintenance should be pretty damn inexpensive too, other than MASSIVE tires.

http://www.autotrader.com/2004-Land+Rover-Range+Rover.jsp?modelId=13041

at 6k 04 RR.

My last regular maintenance on my 06 cost more than that. (And that's why it will always be my last...)

You do not buy vehicles like an RR. You lease them and toss the keys back prior to the warranty expiring. This has worked well for me over many years and vehicles.

I keep reading about spark plugs blowing out of the block.



The one I mentioned had hefty miles. They seem to be pretty cheap to maintain in England, I guess that goes to show you.

Was only a problem in the 97-03 5.4L engines. It was corrected in the 04 and on with more threading machined into the head.

Seems to have been resolved on the Ford 4.6L from 2007 (but this was dropped as an engine option from the 2005 and on).

Checking the torque on the existing spark plugs at every oil change is a good preventative measure that seems to do the trick as well.

I'm liking the Nissan Armada suggestion as well. Tough finding anything decent in your price range though...assuming you don't want something with 150K miles or more.
Edited by whiteslashasian - 3/12/13 at 10:11am

Get a RAV4

i think hes looking for more seating, the Toyota option would be the Highlander I think, camry chassis if im not mistaken, boring but would certainly get the job done.

the elephant in the room: a used minivan.

Some highlander trims carried the optional 3rd row. Though the capacity to carry large items/furniture is far less than that of the larger SUV's. MPG is far improved but I don't think that's really a huge concern in this case.

Niiiiiiice Larry. My mom still drives a minivan and it's really not that bad. Powerful V6, plenty of space for things, drives reasonably well with decent MPG.

Drove the new GL today. So nice. Improved handling, same smooth ride, engine has more torque and HP (bi-turbo V-8 now), and it's just beautiful. *sigh* Only eight months into my 24 month lease. I'll get out of it early this time next year though.

it was mentioned in this thread before that movie studios use Toyota Siennas (with 4 wheel drive) to film 1st person POV car chase sequences right?