Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Subaru Forester vs Hyundai Santa Fe vs Jeep Liberty vs Ford Escape vs Saturn Vue

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4943 messages, Last post on Sep 15, 2011 at 10:43 AM

You are in the Suzuki Grand Vitara/Vitara Forum.

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What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Liberty, Ford Escape, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Saturn VUE, SUV

#1852 of 4943 subaru forester by megs50

Feb 25, 2002 (9:02 am)

I like my forester, it's a 1998, had some problems with the transmission, and it doesn't seem to have any trade in value, with 34000 miles on it no one would give me over 7500 for it. It is a smart buy about to end term, since it's financed thru Subaru credit, they won't refinance as other companies would have at end of term.
May re finace thru bank, just to get it down to trade in value, or just turn it back

#1853 of 4943 by ateixeira

Feb 25, 2002 (12:32 pm)

carseekers: you nailed it - no choice is perfect. You have to compromise somewhere. The V6 models use more gas and have less range, plus most don't offer manual trannies. The 4 bangers may not feel torquey enough for you. These are compacts so none are truly cavernous.

Wait? Sure, if you can, and nothing out there now meets your wants and needs. The Forester will get a turbo next year. Mitsubishi will replace the Montero Sport with a more car-like model, and Nissan may bring over the X-Trail eventually.

Lillian: I see 1998 Foresters in the Washington Post for about $11,500-$15,000. Even wholesale should be much higher than that, so your dealer isn't being fair with you.

-juice

#1854 of 4943 A 98 for 15K!!??? by scape2

Feb 25, 2002 (7:27 pm)

You can get a new Forester for about 18K here in the NW region.

#1855 of 4943 juice - yes there is no decision! by carseeker4

Feb 25, 2002 (8:20 pm)

Thanks for the input. I just keep looking for a deciding factor! Manual trannies are actually OUT! The ONLY thing that turns me off about the Outback is the 4-cyl and the rough idle ... I drive a lot of "traffic-y" driving and sitting at a light for 5 minutes with that vibration might get annoying. Otherwise like the OB, but won't pay that price for a 6 (and for premium gas, either). So if its an OB, it has to be a 4.......Right now, I love the quiet purr of the V6 Lumina... but she's getting up there. No, I don't need an immediate decision, but I'd like to get something before the Lumina inspection is due in June.... the 2003 Forester did NOT impress me at all.

#1856 of 4943 by ateixeira

Feb 26, 2002 (10:28 am)

Just saw a '98 at Car Max for $14,995. The new ones start at about $19k, but that's for a 5 speed L model. Her S auto is worth more, maybe $22k new.

Just to prove it's underpriced, in the Forester thread two people have already expressed interest in buying it.

The H6 runs on regular fuel, you just get 4 fewer horsepower (208hp instead of 212hp). Last year there was a $750 incentive, and I bet it comes back.

Fitzmall.com, in MD, has LL Bean wagons for $27k with freight included. If I'm right, you could get one for $26.3k or so. That includes leather, two moonroofs, AWD, ABS, cruise, power everything, alloy wheels, heated seats, rear LSD, and 3 years of free maintenance (LL Bean model only), which offsets ownership costs a bit.

The LL Bean is really nice. You also get a wood/leather steering wheel, and two-tone leather interior. It's equipped more like an Acura or Lexus vs. the vehicles we discuss in this topic.

-juice

#1858 of 4943 Well, we finally did it. by carseeker4

Mar 02, 2002 (7:24 pm)

After months of searching, researching and hedging, we finally decided on the Hyundai Santa Fe V6 4WD. It simply had the best combination of features and price. The 2 finalists, the SF and the Tribute, were examined with a fine tooth comb and I found the Santa Fe had BETTER build quality, maybe not quite as elegant as the Trib but the doors closed better, the joints seemed tighter, and since we could have gotten the Trib on S-Plan, the price was not much different, so I figured we'd take a shot at Hyundai... I would never have done this a month ago! But we loved the nice LONG ride home (50 miles, we bought it at the Airport Auto Mall in Philly, which is 47 miles from our house!... but there is a Hyundai dealer about 5 miles from here where we can get service - and they didn't have any SFs when we checked there on Thursday... all sold out...). Thanks to many of you, especially juice for all the input.... see you on the Sante Fe board (hopefully not the "Santa Fe problems" board!)...
-Ted

#1859 of 4943 by ateixeira

Mar 04, 2002 (8:01 am)

Congrats, Ted. Enjoy your new ride!

-juice

#1860 of 4943 juice - thanks.... by carseeker4

Mar 04, 2002 (6:23 pm)

I can't wait for the break-in period to end so I can push the engine a bit more...right now, I am still babying it and its a bit sluggish (especially since I have 4WD).... but thanks for the well-wishes... my wife is already eyeing an Outback sedan... now she has to wait 3 years!!

#1861 of 4943 Off Roading in Foresters by jeitel

Mar 04, 2002 (11:07 pm)

I currently own a SAAB 9-5 for town and a 98 Trooper for off road. I would like to sell both cars, cut my insurance, get out some cash, iif I could get a car with better economy and moderate off-road capabilities.

The kind of places I like are Canyonlands, Anza Borrego and Pyrmid Lake in Neveda. I want to cross gullies and ruts, moderate rock, some short steeps and sand. I ran this by Juice, and he thought it was more or less in between. Has anyone done that kind of off roading in there Forester? If I went the the longer springs to get the 2" lift, would I lose the handling in town driving? Is there enough travel?

Thanks in advance for any opinions.

Jim

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