If you had $15k and needed a newer vehicle...

[Bad324]

I found plenty of pilots in the 13-15k range around here. Normally had 80k miles minimum though

[jporter12]

I'm a big fan of my Pilot....same vehicle essentially. I get 22 mpg pretty consistently. Better on the highway. Great in snow.

 

What year?  Our 03 doesn't get more than about 16-18 MPG at best.

[C-bus]

What year?  Our 03 doesn't get more than about 16-18 MPG at best.

2013

[CBBaron]

Used Tacomas seem to want insane money.

Used Subarus are pricey too but much better riding handling and fuel economy, if you don't need the hauling capacity.

If she's anything like my wife its not about the practicality of the vehicle, its mostly about the look. Give her pictures of the vehicles you think would be good rather than specs. I still have not learned that lesson myself.

The bad thing about used vehicle shopping is that the more reliable the reputation of a vehicle the higher the price all else being equal. You can often find much nicer vehicles from less respected brands at the same price point you will pay for high mileage vehicles from the premium brands. I often if the difference is really worth it or is there really that much difference. I often end up buy new and plan on keeping a long time, because the price difference is much smaller with new vehicles.

 

Craig

[redkow97]

2013

More relevant than the year might be how many gears the transmission has. I think that has been the manufacturers response to the fuel economy mandates.

My wife drives a V6 Tucson. The newer models have an I-4, but two more gears in the transmission. The net result is equal 0-60 times, but 4 more mpg.

[max power]

Bump.

Still wrestling with what to do. Stepdad works for ford so I can get a plan, but I've never been a fan of fords.

Anybody have any experiences with the four-wheel-drive escape?

[madcat6183]

Amanda's mom has one.  Gets about 20-22mpg going from Chumleys to Devry and that's it, so mixed driving up Hamilton to 33 to however shes goes.  Her's is the limited so it's loaded to the tops, was about 21K used, but that was 6 months after someone paid cash for it, so the dealer didn't need to make much.

 

Amanda's is a 2wd V6, and I like it.  Could easily get hers now for 15K no problem.  She gets about 24-26mpg with city driving, could easily get 26-28 freeway only.  In all honesty, I would happily drive one, we didn't care about the 4x4 as we obviously have my truck, but had we needed an SUV with 4x4 it would have been that.

 

Then again, I'm a diehard Ford guy as you know.  But yeah, in the end, we are completely happy with it. 

[max power]

Only ford curious because of the major discount. And the wife likes them.

[Gump]

Heard decent things about them. My sister has one. You can get 300,000 out of them, after a motor and tranny change.

[redkow97]

Bump.

Still wrestling with what to do. Stepdad works for ford so I can get a plan, but I've never been a fan of fords.

Anybody have any experiences with the four-wheel-drive escape?

 

I haven't owned one, but I have driven and been in them a lot.  My sister-in-law is on her second Escape limited. She lived with us when she owned the first, and parked me into the garage constantly, so I drove it a lot.  Plus we took it on vacation, and I drove it 800 miles or so in the span of a week.  2012 was her first and now she has a 2014.  I believe the second is a lease, but I may be wrong on that.  Either way, obviously she hasn't kept either long enough to make long-term mechanical verdicts.

 

The interiors are nice.  The 4-cylinders are a bit revvy for an SUV, and a little loud if you really stomp on the gas, but I stopped noticing that after the first time I drove it.  Highway mileage is easily above 25 mpg.  I don't recall the exact number, but I know it did better than the Tucson (which is why we took the Escape on vacation instead), and the Tucson had gotten damn near 26 mpg on the same trip the year prior.

 

Test drive a few.  I liked the old body style better.  I wish they would make one with a 2.0 diesel or something.  it would get over 30 mpg easily, and still tow a reasonable amount.  Perfect someone with a long commute and the need to tow a couple of bikes or a small boat occasionally. 

[madcat6183]

I haven't owned one, but I have driven and been in them a lot.  My sister-in-law is on her second Escape limited. She lived with us when she owned the first, and parked me into the garage constantly, so I drove it a lot.  Plus we took it on vacation, and I drove it 800 miles or so in the span of a week.  2012 was her first and now she has a 2014.  I believe the second is a lease, but I may be wrong on that.  Either way, obviously she hasn't kept either long enough to make long-term mechanical verdicts.

 

The interiors are nice.  The 4-cylinders are a bit revvy for an SUV, and a little loud if you really stomp on the gas, but I stopped noticing that after the first time I drove it.  Highway mileage is easily above 25 mpg.  I don't recall the exact number, but I know it did better than the Tucson (which is why we took the Escape on vacation instead), and the Tucson had gotten damn near 26 mpg on the same trip the year prior.

 

Test drive a few.  I liked the old body style better.  I wish they would make one with a 2.0 diesel or something.  it would get over 30 mpg easily, and still tow a reasonable amount.  Perfect someone with a long commute and the need to tow a couple of bikes or a small boat occasionally. 

Yeah, don't get a 4cyl, they rev like crazy, and have no balls.  Actually Chumley's friend Tracy(hair stylist in CW) has one, she said she likes it minus that.  It's a pretty base model I believe but she said other than the high reving the 4cyl is fine however mpg isn't much different.  I filled up Amanda's car last night and she got 24.9mpg last fill up, and again, that's ONLY city driving, maybe 20 miles on the highway.

 

Not sure where Angel works or what that commute will be like post move, but if it's not like Hilliard I would guess she can squeeze even more out of it.  We're close to year 3 with it, no issues minus the wife rear ending someone.

[max power]

They don't make them with a V-6 anymore.

1.6 L turbo or a 2 L turbo or a 2.5 L N/A

[max power]

I gave her her first lesson driving a manual last night and she actually did pretty good. That opens up a whole new box of options.

[zx3vfr]

if you want small suv at least get the mazda cx5

 

better yet a slightly used mazda mazda5.  mini mini van with a manual!!!

[madcat6183]

They don't make them with a V-6 anymore.

1.6 L turbo or a 2 L turbo or a 2.5 L N/A

You won't get a new one for 15K, you'd be looking 2012 and older if you want 4x4.  Unless prices have come down that fast?  Dunno, never really looked into pricing of them used.

[Steve Butters]

we have a 14 escape ecoboost....it has plenty of pep for a daily driver, we have zero issues under any driving circumstances....its a great car for commuting, it has no uniqueness and no soul, but its nice reliable transportation...weve put 25k on it in the last year and had no issues....the transmission downshifts kind of hard while climbing through mountains, but leaving it in sport mode and manually shifting while going through mountains works fine...and 30mpg isnt bad for a small suv....we will be driving it to the gap next year with a trailer to haul my bike

[tall_tracy]

I have an '07 Escape v6... I've had it since 09, and it has about 80k miles. Just 2 weeks ago I had to replace the front axle, sway bars and tie rods. This is my first Ford, I've always had Hondas & Nissans. Its very utilitarian but gets me around and the AWD works well in winter. I wish it got better mpg but it could be worse.

[max power]

You won't get a new one for 15K, you'd be looking 2012 and older if you want 4x4. Unless prices have come down that fast? Dunno, never really looked into pricing of them used.

We are also considering throwing the 15 K down on something new. With the ford employee discount it would be less than 20 K.

That's the only reason it's even being considered.

[madcat6183]

We are also considering throwing the 15 K down on something new. With the ford employee discount it would be less than 20 K.

That's the only reason it's even being considered.

Oh in that case, I've drove the Ecoboost (older)4cvl in the Edge AWD and loved it vs my moms edge with the 3.0 V6 and AWD.  It picked up WAY faster, and was a lot more fun lol.  That's uncle Gary's escort you see in CW by the water tower, it has the older 4cyl Eco. 

 

I forgot you mentioned that. 

[max power]

What is really like to find is a clean, low mile Outback, but no one sells them til they have over 100k on them.

[bloodninja420]

Base Outback 2.5 sells for low $20k's new. If they offer a 0% loan, that's probably a pretty good value even compared to used vehicles.

All the new Subarus seem to be moving toward CVTs, though, which I don't know what to think about.

[max power]

Do they still make them with the manual trans?

[Gump]

? 6 banger u could only get with a 5 speed auto.

[max power]

If I'm getting a Subaru, I want the four banger boxer. With a manual trans.