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Wagons Upcoming Wagons & Crossovers
305 messages, Last post on Aug 09, 2008 at 8:36 PM
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Post your comments about upcoming wagons (real or concept) below. Thanks for your participation!
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A journalist is hoping to interview consumers who recently bought pre-owned crossover vehicles (such as the Acura MDX, Audi quattro, Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe, Subaru Baja, Toyota RAV4, Volvo XC70, etc). Why did you go for a cross-over? Which one? How does it suit your tastes, lifestyle and budget? Please respond to newswiz  earthlink.net and/or jfallonedmunds.com by Friday, March 5 with your name, daytime contact information and some information about your vehicle. Thanks! Jeannine Fallon PR Director Edmunds.com |
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I'm in the early stages of shopping for a wagon or small ute (shortlist is Ford Focus ZX5, Matrix, Rav4, Vibe, Mazda3,opinions on all are welcome) and wanted to share something astounding I learned in my first day at dealers. I'd emailed Pontiac to see if the "refreshed" 05 Vibe would have side curtain airbags: the email customer service response said NO. the local dealer confirmed this. went to Toyota to drive a Matrix, the salesman there had just returned from a class on the '05 Matrix and he said that YES, in fact, Toyota was making side curtains an option on the '05. Amazing. I know there's some debate between these two vehicles, but in my mind there isn't anymore. how GM can possibly think it's better to not offer this safety device is beyond me.....
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Well, if that's important to you, the only small SUVs in that price range that offer head protection are the Saturn Vue and the Subaru Forester. On Vue it's optional, curtain air bags, that is. On Forester, it gets standard side head/chest protection air bags, but for the front passenger only. Still, with that setup it managed the best IIHS side impact score ever obtained, plus 5/5 stars from NHTSA on side impacts (front also got 5/5). IIHS front offset Best Pick, too. Perfect scores. Even the bumpers get a Good rating. So if you're shopping safety, try a Forester X, about $19k for starters street price. AWD and ABS are also standard on every model. -juice |
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| Escape and Rav4. I think it might take longer to get SAC on smaller cars will less headroom. | |
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| For my money, the Malibu Maxx beats all of the vehicles you mentioned. My Maxx LT has standard side curtain airbags, leather seating, seat heaters in front, and a storage area that is more versatile than anything I've seen. The back seats move about 7" fore and aft and recline and with the 3 position back shelf, storage is great. Mileage has been exceptional, more than doubling the numbers I was getting on my Jeep Liberty. JMHO, but I find the Maxx to be hard to beat. | |
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That's right, Toyota just added those. You sure the Escape's aren't just side chest protection? Maybe that's a new feature. -juice
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Replying to: ateixeira (Apr 14, 2004 6:28 am) |
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Replying to: moontom (Apr 13, 2004 11:45 am) Additional features on the '05 Vibe include: Available "Moon & Tunes" package with integrated sub-woofer Available StabiliTrak vehicle stability enhancement system Available leather seating New fabric patterns in Slate and Graphite colors Standard passive suppression advanced air bag system on passenger side Available side curtain air bag system coupled with side thorax air bags (in seat) Available programmable automatic door locks (available with automatic transmission and power package) Tire pressure monitor standard on GT and AWD models Available OnStar (with one-year Safe & Sound services) |
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Good for them, then. The interior is supposedly improved also, right? Plus the base engine is the 2.3l now. They should have used the PZEV version from the Focus, though. -juice |
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