SUV or Wagon Advice Needed. RAV4? Subaru?

[CRYSTAL24K]

Drove a Toyota Matrix for one year as a city car in Jersey City. We rarely drove it long distances so I can't really comment on how it handled snow or bad weather since most of the time I used NYC Subways or NJ Path Trains. I do remember hydroplaning with The Matrix a few times. The Matrix did save my life though. I was in a really bad car accident which totalled the car and was blessed to walk away from it with my life and a few bruises.

Had the Subaru Impreza for 3 years and loved it! Handled trips between Florida to Massachusets, and places in between, well. It also handles the torrential Florida rains with ease- love the AWD. We now drive a Toyota Venza. We only switched from Subaru because they were out of our price range at the time and we needed a bigger vehicle to accommodate our then newborn twins.

Twins are 5 now and we are saving money for a new car after we drive our Toyota to the ground. We are planning to go back to Subaru, probably the Outback.

I miss my Subaru!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

We have condensation issues that plague newer Subaru's. We are considering trading it away for something else.

cheers--Sharon

 

[azstonie]

Subie, all the way Jimmianne! I checked my Consumer Reports Cars/SUVs edition, and it says Subaru, which earned their "Recommended" level.

 

[MarionC]

Thanks, Sharon.

While test driving, researching and soul searching, I discovered the Honda Ridgeline and decided it was a perfect fit. I could really use a truck almost daily, and it rides like a car with lots of power. Great interior quality. I like that it has a dry storage compartment built into the truck bed.
It does not have super high clearance, but I don't need that for highway driving. It seems tailor-made for my situation as a gentlewoman farmer. Basically it's an SUV with a small truck bed...
This means I don't have to get help picking up hay and feed all the time.
It won the 2017 truck of the year award and they are hard to find with all the bells and whistles so I put down a refundable "hold" fee. I can still change my mind.
It won't be in for a month.
thanks everyone, for your input.

 

[Missy]

Thanks, Sharon.

While test driving, researching and soul searching, I discovered the Honda Ridgeline and decided it was a perfect fit. I could really use a truck almost daily, and it rides like a car with lots of power. Great interior quality. I like that it has a dry storage compartment built into the truck bed.
It does not have super high clearance, but I don't need that for highway driving. It seems tailor-made for my situation as a gentlewoman farmer. Basically it's an SUV with a small truck bed...
This means I don't have to get help picking up hay and feed all the time.
It won the 2017 truck of the year award and they are hard to find with all the bells and whistles so I put down a refundable "hold" fee. I can still change my mind.
It won't be in for a month.
thanks everyone, for your input.

Sounds like a winner and the right choice for you Jimmianne!!!! Congratulations on your new truck! Cannot wait to see pics of you enjoying it!

 

[Scandinavian]

Just read this thread and can't help mentioning that our Volvo has never had a problem in its life! And now it is almost 10 years old and still looks and feels like new The clearance is not too high, but the 4WD is pretty close to perfect. So if you want to look at /test drive a different alternative, the XC90 might be a good option at least is scores very (!) high on safety tests.

http://www.volvocars.com/us/cars/new-models/xc90

For more truck-like cars, most people here prefer the Toyota Land Cruiser. One of my friends drive this one, and it can pull a lot of weight

 

[canuk-gal]

Thanks, Sharon.

While test driving, researching and soul searching, I discovered the Honda Ridgeline and decided it was a perfect fit. I could really use a truck almost daily, and it rides like a car with lots of power. Great interior quality. I like that it has a dry storage compartment built into the truck bed.
It does not have super high clearance, but I don't need that for highway driving. It seems tailor-made for my situation as a gentlewoman farmer. Basically it's an SUV with a small truck bed...
This means I don't have to get help picking up hay and feed all the time.
It won the 2017 truck of the year award and they are hard to find with all the bells and whistles so I put down a refundable "hold" fee. I can still change my mind.
It won't be in for a month.
thanks everyone, for your input.

Congrats on your choice. My BIL loves his.

cheers--Sharon

 

[ame]

So, we bought our first Subaru with a 2015 model Outback. Every bell and whistle, just about. Top of the line. Had it built to order.

It will likely be our only and last Subaru. Yes it's cushy. Yes it's a smooth ride. But OMG the issues we have had with this stupid car that are somehow never covered by the warranty. Fit and finish is horrible--it squeaks CONSTANTLY, and they cannot find the issue, or are not bothering to do so. The radio/sirius/infotainment system is an absolute trainwreck, constantly "popping" and losing signal, and can never find my VERY expensive Sirius subscription. For 2 years now we've been "building a case" yet somehow it's not something they can replace, and I instead get to keep making appointments where they "Flash" the software over and over because it's not an issue that is replaceable, despite the fact I've found COUNTLESS cases online where that's the only way to fix it, is replace it, because, SURPRISE! It was a recall! It's not dealer level, it's above the dealer. I know the dealer has tried. They're just as aggravated as we are. We've had to have brake work already related to some faulty part, we've had to have two windshield replacements because of a faulty heating element--the windshield just heats up and goes BANG! and shatters, basically. It's real safe, yknow. Since this is our only car and we share it, that makes it a serious problem. The keyfobs randomly lose contact with the car, even when you're just driving down the road and the battery is not dead, and the car just f'ing dies. That's safe. And I've read that is not uncommon with Subaru or with other makes, but this is the only car that I have EVER had this issue with, of any car that has had keyless fob vs normal keys.

The biggest issue though is Eyesight, which really is more of a safety issue and has nearly killed us on more than one occasion, because, for example, it decided that a tree branch was something pulling in front of us, or a soda can in the highway was a roadblock. Thankfully the person behind us both times was able to successfully avoid us. I got a ticket for the latter incident because the officer on the on-ramp that was running a speed trap thought I did it on purpose as a road rage incident. My husband and I--even the other party pulled over to make sure we were OK!--and we tried to explain that my car just decided to stop due to the safety system, and we've since turned off the like $3000 "safety" feature that we paid a ton of money to get in hopes it would save our lives. It's instead nearly cost us our lives and cost me a court date and fine and court costs for a "road rage" incident that was not even road rage, and the other party even explained was not at all road rage!

So...as much as I would normally be a huge Subaru advocate...I think we are done there. I wish Honda would stop sucking in the technology dept because I had the best luck with Hondas. They are like decades behind in that area.

 

[blackprophet]

Thanks, Sharon.

While test driving, researching and soul searching, I discovered the Honda Ridgeline and decided it was a perfect fit. I could really use a truck almost daily, and it rides like a car with lots of power. Great interior quality. I like that it has a dry storage compartment built into the truck bed.
It does not have super high clearance, but I don't need that for highway driving. It seems tailor-made for my situation as a gentlewoman farmer. Basically it's an SUV with a small truck bed...
This means I don't have to get help picking up hay and feed all the time.
It won the 2017 truck of the year award and they are hard to find with all the bells and whistles so I put down a refundable "hold" fee. I can still change my mind.
It won't be in for a month.
thanks everyone, for your input.

Finding that made for you option is always an amazing feeling, especially when it is on that you weren't initially considering.
Congrats!

 

[MarionC]

Sharon - yay!

Scandi - thanks. I had a Volvo that saved my life so I have warm feelings toward Volvo.

Ame - wow to your subaru story. I'm sorry it created such a hassle for you. I wondered about the automatic braking system and your experience answered my questions.

 

[ksinger]

So, we bought our first Subaru with a 2015 model Outback. Every bell and whistle, just about. Top of the line. Had it built to order.

It will likely be our only and last Subaru. Yes it's cushy. Yes it's a smooth ride. But OMG the issues we have had with this stupid car that are somehow never covered by the warranty. Fit and finish is horrible--it squeaks CONSTANTLY, and they cannot find the issue, or are not bothering to do so. The radio/sirius/infotainment system is an absolute trainwreck, constantly "popping" and losing signal, and can never find my VERY expensive Sirius subscription. For 2 years now we've been "building a case" yet somehow it's not something they can replace, and I instead get to keep making appointments where they "Flash" the software over and over because it's not an issue that is replaceable, despite the fact I've found COUNTLESS cases online where that's the only way to fix it, is replace it, because, SURPRISE! It was a recall! It's not dealer level, it's above the dealer. I know the dealer has tried. They're just as aggravated as we are. We've had to have brake work already related to some faulty part, we've had to have two windshield replacements because of a faulty heating element--the windshield just heats up and goes BANG! and shatters, basically. It's real safe, yknow. Since this is our only car and we share it, that makes it a serious problem. The keyfobs randomly lose contact with the car, even when you're just driving down the road and the battery is not dead, and the car just f'ing dies. That's safe. And I've read that is not uncommon with Subaru or with other makes, but this is the only car that I have EVER had this issue with, of any car that has had keyless fob vs normal keys.

The biggest issue though is Eyesight, which really is more of a safety issue and has nearly killed us on more than one occasion, because, for example, it decided that a tree branch was something pulling in front of us, or a soda can in the highway was a roadblock. Thankfully the person behind us both times was able to successfully avoid us. I got a ticket for the latter incident because the officer on the on-ramp that was running a speed trap thought I did it on purpose as a road rage incident. My husband and I--even the other party pulled over to make sure we were OK!--and we tried to explain that my car just decided to stop due to the safety system, and we've since turned off the like $3000 "safety" feature that we paid a ton of money to get in hopes it would save our lives. It's instead nearly cost us our lives and cost me a court date and fine and court costs for a "road rage" incident that was not even road rage, and the other party even explained was not at all road rage!

So...as much as I would normally be a huge Subaru advocate...I think we are done there. I wish Honda would stop sucking in the technology dept because I had the best luck with Hondas. They are like decades behind in that area.

Wow. That truly sucks. And is about 180 out from what we've experienced with our 2015 Outback. We did basically what you did, sans the ordering one part. I knew exactly what I wanted and had the devil of a time hunting it down. You got one with all the bells and whistles, I got a top of the line in the trim category (not the 3.6L though, didn't need it) without the bells and whistles. No keyless start (I'm old school - I like KEYS), no eyesight, no nav, no bells, no whistles. And with the light tan interior. OMG, the thrash of trying to find one that didn't have black interior or this or that tech package. Local dealer kept saying "Oh, we'd LOVE to order that for you!", but I was like there is no way that what amounted to a non-tech top of the line model did not exist right now, somewhere. I was right of course, but we ended up buying it in another state, it was that hard to find.

Other than a series of times where every warning light imaginable would come on all at the same time and scare the crap out of me*, it's been a totally flawless experience. Fit and trim is lovely, and everything works as designed. I'm sorry you're having such a bad experience. I understand though, the Camry I had previously, I found out much later, was one of the early 2007 models that had the cylinder and piston tolerances just a tiny tiny fraction off, which meant that as the car aged, it started burning oil at the 5+ year mark, at a rate that one would only expect of a car well over 10 years, and maybe not even then. Of course we weren't told by the dealership that oil was being used at too high a rate, until it was out of warranty. Then of course, this less than 10 year old car, started to just drink oil. Loved the car, but Toyota's failing to mention they'd known about the issue until it was out of warranty? I now feel about Toyota like you do about Subaru.

*Note - The radar shielding in the Subarus is probably not good enough to prevent scary warning light glitches when driving past lots of experimental radars every day. At no time was an error for anything, ever set. Just warnings that someone was in my blind spot, I was on an incline, my traction control was failing, my brakes were failing, and several others. I even took a video with my phone to show to the dealership, because I knew they were internally rolling their eyes at me, coming in with wild tales of the car going crazy, and zero evidence of it. Even they were a bit taken aback when I showed them, and pretty clueless. Hubs is the one who figured it out. Scary though when your whole dash is lit up and flashing like a Christmas tree.

 

[marcy]

Jimmianne, Marty had a 2013 Ridgeline and really liked it. It did ride really well; it was great going through snow and even I felt comfortable driving it. Very cool! Does the new model still have that giant storage bin in the back? Marty really liked that because he could get all of his golf stuff in there. I will be anxious to see it.

 

[redwood66]

I love my Subaru Crosstrek! Best vehicle ever for driving on snowy or rainy roads. I have always had a bigger SUV type vehicle but the gas mileage of the Subaru has won me over.

I see you got a Ridgeline. Those are great vehicles and you will have a lot of room for your farming and adventures!

 

[junebug17]

Congrats Jimmianne!! Sounds like a great choice and a good fit for all your needs!

 

[violet3]

RAV4 all the way!

I am currently on my 3rd RAV4, and I've also had one Highlander - I'm a toyota girl. I had the original (roller-skate) RAV, which I found on the side of the road FSBO, and it was the right price and good on gas, so I bought it. I've had two of the more current models also, and I have to say the size of the RAV now is PERFECT in my opinion - not too big and not too small (the highlander was slightly too big for me). It handles well in the snow and has all wheel drive. It gets terrific gas mileage for an SUV in a non-hybrid, which was why I picked it originally.

I had my last RAV for almost a decade, with VERY few things needing to be repaired/replaced (except routine things - there was a weird brake thing that cost about 3K once). That RAV was fully loaded and cost about $30K at the time (brand new in 2007 - I'll never buy a brand new car again, but I wanted to do it once in my life). When I went to trade it on my new RAV last April, I had about 80,000 miles on it and still got $10,000 in trade value toward my new RAV. They REALLY hold their value if you maintain them well.

I've had so many Toyotas, I was bored so I was really ready to look at something else this time last year, and honestly I was thinking about a Subaru! My current VERY gently used RAV was presented to me by a friend who owns a Toyota dealership, and it was the deal of the century (4 years old with 6,000 miles on it ). I couldn't say no, and I'm glad it found me - I really do love those cars! The universe just wants me to drive a Toyota RAV4

EDIT: Sorry! I didn't read to the end and it looks like you picked something already. I hope you love your new car - that's a super cute Honda truck btw! I'll leave my RAV4 review in case anyone else is looking!