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Getting a new Outlander, CR-V or RAV4

121 messages,  Last post on Aug 26, 2009 at 8:49 PM

You are in the Honda CR-V Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander

Messages Page 8 of 13

#62 of 121 Geetting internet quotes is always a trying experience by thomasw98

Jun 18, 2008 (11:19 am)

What's up with these so-called "internet sales" people in car dealerships. Are they somehow not able to handle email? or just trying to cherry-pick their emails for idiots who will negotiate based on MSRP?
 
Latest example (of several): Sent an email to Ventura Mitsubishi (California) asking for a quote on an Outlander. I gave clear details about the type of car I wanted.
 
Someone with email name "sgiangrande" writes back and says:
 
"we do have Outlanders i just need to know what model your looking for?"
 
But just below that one line, unsigned answer, my original request and detailed car description is clearly copied in their email to me...OK, maybe some sort of internet snafu or maybe sgiangrande's IQ is a little low today...resent the email with the car description copied agian...wait/resend...wait/resend...wait/resend...three days go by...no answer.
 
I have had similar experiences with MANY of these internet people at car dealers in California. A few exceptions, of course, but overall, I am now doubting the concept of getting multiple REASONABLE quotes via email. It seems that they so strongly prefer to play their "car dealer games" face to face that they just don't pay much attention to emails.

#63 of 121 Re: Geetting internet quotes is always a trying experience [thomasw98] by cbk2000

Jun 19, 2008 (9:57 am)

Replying to: thomasw98 (Jun 18, 2008 11:19 am)
I've had a similar experience with Mitsubishi dealers in Utah. They seem way behind in the internet sales methodology compared to Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Subaru. Of the three Mitsu dealerships I sent quote requests to, only one actually confirmed receipt. Then they sent me an email to make sure I received a quote that they never sent. One dealer never responded at all, and I had to call the other to get them to respond. Pretty weak.

#64 of 121 Honda internet skills seem better by thomasw98

Jun 19, 2008 (10:17 am)

Latest update: Honda dealers seem to be much more aggressive in using the internet. I have gotten two quick contacts and one phone call already. One quoted a pretty good price also.

#65 of 121 I'm getting a RAV4 by tireguy

Jun 21, 2008 (7:13 pm)

Made the $500 down payment to have it relocated from Alabama to Carolina. Now I'm in that limbo period where I'm committed, even though I haven't actually written the big check yet.
 
Seems like the only legitimate gripes I've heard won't affect our intended use...
 
Right-swinging door: We live in a rural / suburban area of coastal NC. Whether I'm pulling into my driveway, parking at work, Sam's, Lowe's, Target, or a restaurant, We pull into a spot either forwards or backwards. We parallel park maybe twice a year. So when I get out of the drivers' door and need to retrieve something from the back, I actually want it to swing to the right.
 
No nav system: I have a Garmin Nuvi. Works great. One less thing to break on the car.
 
Boring car designed by computers with no human interaction (Motor Trend): I checked every option box but the DVD on this Limited V6 model. How could a lightweight, 4x4 mini SUV with nearly as much horsepower as my Yukon XL, a JBL subwoofer, an iPod input and 10 cupholders possibly be boring?
 
Chintzy warranty: My dealer, Stevenson Toyota of Jacksonville NC, adds a free lifetime powertrain warranty which covers not just the engine but CV joints, transaxle, 4x4 system, even the timing belt. For $1600, they up the ante with a lifetime bumper to bumper warranty. I'm still not sure if I'll actually need that, but leaning toward might as well.
 
Unresponsive electric steering: I haven't done the slalom between lamposts in a parking lot since I was 16 in my mom's Caravan. I think I'll be okay.
 
The styling doesn't exactly turn me on the way my '04 Yukon does, or vehicles which are no longer with me (97 Wrangler, 87 Z28, 79 CJ5), but I wouldn't say it's unattractive.
 
I have a 5x8 encolsed trailer (2500 lb max) which I originally bought for a cross-country move to hold the things we didn't want the movers to handle, and ended up keeping it. I use that thing all the time for hauling everything that's either too messy (shrubs, mulch) or too large (tractor, motorcycle) to fit in the Yukon. Towed behind the GMC, it's unnoticeable, but it will be perfect for the tow-packaged RAV4 for those trips to Lowes.
 
I'm the type who keeps vehicles for a while. The '00 VW Jetta it will be replacing we've had for eight years, so I should probably get that bumper to bumper lifetime warranty. I had every intention of driving that Jetta past 200k miles, but it just isn't large enough for our soon-to-be family of 5, even for my wife driving around town. There might be three seatbelts back there, but you can't fit three car seats abreast. So for us, the third row seat was yet another essential.
 
I test drove a V6 the dealer had on the lot. I was impressed by its speed. Having owned a Ninja ZX-11 at one point and being a Naval Aviator by trade, I'm not accustomed to being amused by the performance of economy cars.
 
So here it is; this is what we need in our secondary family vehicle, the short-hauler:
1) Room for two adults, three carseats, possibly four kids in the next two years
2) 25 mpg or better--one gas guzzler in the garage is enough.
3) Real 4x4 for possible winter trips to PA, and driving on beach in NC.
4) Strong engine and tow package so I can still transport big things with my trailer.
5) Price range: $25-40k, any brand with a reputation for quality (preferably GM, Honda, any German brand, Volvo or Toyota).
6) Not a minivan. Just a personal preference / abhorrance shared by me and my wife.
 
I compared the RAV4 to the X3 and the baby Rover and the cute-ute of the rising sun seems to come out on top for what I need. As a matter of fact, it seems to fit my needs without compromise. None of the other compact utility vehicles have the seating capacity, and the mid-size (MUVs?) don't get much better mileage than the Yukon.
 
Any comments?
 
-Thanks

#66 of 121 Re: I'm getting a RAV4 [tireguy] by nimimi

Jun 23, 2008 (10:15 am)

Replying to: tireguy (Jun 21, 2008 7:13 pm)
Shop for your Toyota Platinum warranty on-line and you'll save at least 50% from what you mentioned. Various dealers in New England, KS, other places are referenced in other Toyota forums.

#67 of 121 Bought a Nissan Rogue instead by thomasw98

Jun 23, 2008 (10:50 am)

I looked at the CR-V and the Rav4; closest Mitsubishi dealer located too far away to consider the Outlander without first confirming an acceptable price via internet or phone...but the dealer in Venture CA was communication deficient.
 
Finally ended up buying a Nissan Rogue SL AWD instead. I will write a detailed review after a few more days of driving.

#68 of 121 Re: I'm getting a RAV4 [tireguy] by edlee1

Jun 23, 2008 (3:09 pm)

Replying to: tireguy (Jun 21, 2008 7:13 pm)
Your reasoning makes perfectly good sense to me. I too was looking for a smaller SUV (?) to replace my 2003 GMC Envoy. I don't put much stock in what the so-called experts say about any vehicle, the only true way to buy a vehicle is test drive and go look them over. I had read before I bought my Envoy that they were terrible, but I never had any problems with mine, I just wanted something that would go further on a gallon of gas, and I had good luck with past Toyota vehicles. I looked at just about all the smaller SUV's and for the money, I believe you could not do better then the RAV4. There are plenty of good cars to spend your money on, so go with your gut instinct. But in this size range, I would certainly recommend the RAV4. My 2 cents.

#69 of 121 2 cents appreciated by tireguy

Jun 23, 2008 (4:22 pm)

So did you replace the Envoy?
 
After reading just about evey review on the net, from www.motortrend.com to www.motherproof.com, I'm convinced the RAV4 will make a great vehicle for my wife to haul the boys around in. I'm not planning on trading the Yukon in till gas hits $10 a gallon. Barring it's Chevy and Cadillac twins, there's no vehicle that can do what it does as well as it does (maybe the Excursion, but it lacks the refinement). It's equally comfortable taking six adults out to a nice dinner, hauling six sheets of 4x8 sheetrock (hatch closed) home from Lowe's, or slogging through the mud in 4 Lo with the rear diff locked up. It's a young father / husband / homeowner's dream truck--as long as you don't mind paying $130 to fill 'er up.
 
Everyone knows gas is only expensive right now because of speculation. Like the real estate market in California, eventually, all markets which are so over-inflated will eventually burst. And the Saudis are doing their part to make that happen.
 
But it will still be nice to have a fuel-sipping SUV for running the family around town.

#70 of 121 Got it by tireguy

Jun 25, 2008 (7:52 pm)

Well the RAV's in the garage; the old faithful Jetta has been relegated to the driveway. Surprisingly, the RAV fits perfectly in the VW's spot, with basically the same length and width, there's still plenty of room to enter the garage, access my toolbox and walk between the vehicles. The Yukon XL effectively cuts off the left side of the garage from door to wall.
The vehicle drives nicely. Although it's powerful, four-wheel-drive, and black with bold 17" rims, it still seems a bit girly for some reason which I'm yet to identify (more so than the Jetta). Even though my frugal wife has implemented a house rule that one must grab the most efficient vehicle available (meaning it makes no sense for me to drive the 5.3L GMC to work when either of the foreign econocars will otherwise sit idle all day), every couple we know from age 25-55 has his and her vehicles. That's the policy I'm pushing. And nice as it is, the RAV is definitely hers.
But I'm still very impressed that Toyota can get 269 horsepower out of a normally aspirated 3.5L V6. With 50% more displacement, my Yukon only has 9% more horsepower.

#71 of 121 Re: Got it [tireguy] by chelentano

Jun 25, 2008 (9:56 pm)

Replying to: tireguy (Jun 25, 2008 7:52 pm)
Yea, RAV4 has very nice V6 engine: powerfull and economical.
 
Speaking of horsepower per displacement ratio, one vehicle comes to my mind: the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII FQ400. This 4 cylinder 2.0 Litre baby delivers 405 horses 6800 rpm. It gets to 0-60 mph in 3.5 sec: better then 6.2L V12 Lamborghini Murcielago, and better then ultra-exclusive $1.2 million Pagani Zonda which has the 6.0L V12 sourced from AMG by Mercedes-Benz.

Messages Page 8 of 13

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