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mom needs new vehicle, help

G

gravdigr

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99% of my experience is getting junkers and fixing them up for myself. Well my mom really needs a 4WD vehicle for winter. What I need is something 4WD, V6, and it needs to be relatively small like one of those SUV/wagon types because she is in her 50s and only 4'11", and she is not comfortable driving anything too big. I'm not sure what all is available out there but I'm open to any make that fits the above criteria. I'm buying new and looking to keep the cost under or close to $25K, so warranty and service would also be considered as I want something reliable, but if it breaks I want good warranty service.

Thank you for any suggestions.
 
i think you weeded out the 4runner with that price limit. good vehicle, though. how about a kia sorento?
 
I recomend a Toyota Highlander. Very nice rides. But I dont think you can find a new one for 25K. If you can go for it.
In the price range you want. 25,000 or less Check out Chevy Equinox. IMO they are a good solid small SUV. The 100 K Warranty Is nice too. Not as good MPG, Noiser and not as comfortable as a Highlander. But still not a bad small 4x4 for the money. Pontiac makes a similar model too that is a little nicer for around the same $$. My sister has had the Equinox and traded it for a new Pontiac Torrent 4x4. She likes the Torrent better than the Equinox. They are around 25K. 100K warrenty also.
 
Check out a Nissan Xterra, we have no problems with them at all. They have 4.0 liter engines and have real frames, no unibody.
 
Ford Escape is a good little SUV. We had them as company rentals back a year or so ago and they can take a beating, got great gas mileage and the 4x4 system worked real good.
 
I know this sounds stupid and cant believe im sayin this but, my old ladies car got smashed a couple weeks back and we have a rental, its a kia sportage. v6 4x4 loaded things an 2008 its pretty sharp. think its a 2.7l v6 but id have to check to be sure. it drives and handles nice. please dont ever mention this again lol the escape is great too.
 
We were doing work in the mountains during rainy/snowing conditions. We had about 8 Excapes, 2 Mitsubishis, 1 Extera and a Pathfinder. We broke all of them except 7 of the Excapes. The one that broke the guy smashed a rock the size of a big dog and cracked the radiator. We were installing Electronic equipment for Cellular towers so we needed a suv to keep the stuff dry.
 
the CRV is a great little suv, but technically, they didn't make 6 cyl for it until 2008. It still has great power and mileage, and am happy with the 4 it has.
 
You mentioned wagon, so why not a newer Subaru? I don't think they come with a 6 but the horizontal 4 is an awesome motor that almost sounds likea v8 with exhaust. :D I don't know how much the Legacy wagon is but they're real nice and can definately handle snow/ice.
 
Thank you for all the suggestions. I raised the budget to 30k so I could get her some nice luxury options. Well I went out and checked out a couple different models. I checked the Edge and it's nice but $33k was too much. Next I checked the escape and was pretty impressed with it. Then I went to a local dealership to check out the equinox and the tucson and was very dissappointed, not so much with the vehicles as with the salesman...he didn't even know how to turn the wipers off, after 5 mins of poking and lever turning we finally found the lever to flip. But after driving the vehicles they did not have as many nice options for the price as the escape.

Next I went to the toyota dealership to check out the rav-4 and all I can say is wow. That vehicle really impressed me. That V6 pushing a 3,500lb vehicle with 269hp is just amazing. You feel like you're driving a sports car. Plus the 3,500lb towing capacity will be nice for hauling our 4 wheelers and trailer. The options and safety functions finally sold me. Her rav-4 should be arriving between the 14th and the 19th. Got the v6 limited package with heated leather seats, moon roof, premium sound system, and a few other goodies for $30,500 including taxes and tags.

This will be her first new vehicle ever so I'm excited for her to see it, and a little jealous....never thought I'd like a compact suv.
 
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