I've got that feeling again

[hyunelan2]

The feeling that I want a truck/SUV. My wife and I traded vehicles for fuel savings, since she is driving 25 miles to grad-school everyday during the summer, and I am driving 5 miles to work (she normally drives our '04 Santa Fe GLS, 2.7L V6 4x2). I have also been driving this thing a lot more because with summertime, we load up the bikes in the back and go somewhere, or pull the Jetskis to the water; in addition to our current commuter-swap. I am really enjoying driving the higher-profile vehicle. I think I want one - just not this one (the previous generation S.F. is a little small and 'girly' for my personal liking as my everyday car).

She has also been saying, that while she loves the SUV, she is enjoying driving a smaller nimble car - and may want a car for her next vehicle. I have always thought that I would have a sedan, and she an SUV. However, I've always wanted a truck or capable SUV. Until recently, I was pretty-sure the Elantra would turn into a Sonata or Azera next. Now I'm not so sure.

We are already in agreement that we're going to buy another house next-summer, and it won't be new construction like this one. That means something large would be helpful when doing home-improvement projects. We're also planning on getting rid of the jetskis at the end of next summer for the long-wanted boat. The Delta-powered Santa Fe we have is about tapped out for towing with 2 jetskis, I don't think it's going to pull a boat very far.


On the flipside, fuel mileage and parking. I want this thing to go in the garage, which means shortbed for a pickup. IMO, shortbed pickups are about worthless. Fuel mileage is also a concern. In todays up-and-down pricing, I'm not sure I want something that's getting 19/22mpg. However the city mileage of the Sonata v6 and Azera v6 are only 19mpg as well, could be considered a wash. I'm also not fond of how everything on the American pickups is an option. Sure, you can get a capable one out the door for $20K, but you'll be rolling up your own windows and listening to AM radio (slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean).

I was also looking at SUVs, which I think I prefer to a truck. If for no other reason, kids aren't too far off and I'd like to have the ability to strap in the carseat. The new Santa Fe (and Veracruz) can tow 3500 pounds, vs. the 2000lbs of the one I have. FJ Cruiser (which I love) can pull 5000lbs. Most common SUVs (like the Equinox) can pull 3500.

I still don't want to spend more than $25K on my next new vehicle. This is coming into my head again, because I have one more check to write and the Elantra is paid for. The Santa Fe will be all-mine come next spring (by paying ahead with the Elantra's normal payment). I'm due for the 60K mile service on the Elantra in about another month or two. That thing barely gets any miles on it.

[evan938]

here comes bob with his advertising of a GMC truck. thanks mike.

[hyunelan2]

Haha, yeah. But I don't think a pickup is giong to give me anywhere to put the kid(s), without being a crew-cab. Crew Cabs don't happen for under $25K, or fit in the garage.

[Munky]

here comes bob with his advertising of a GMC truck. thanks mike.

Hahaha. You called it.

I'm not a big truck person, but those new Toyota Tundras are pretty sweet looking. Apparently they're beefy as hell.

[Ugzz]

my parents are selling their 04 fully loaded sante fe due to gas milage. private party on theirs is 18 and trade in is 15.. but no dealer will offer then more then 12.5 or 13.. so there gettin kinda pissed and now tryin to sell it for 15-16. they still owe 12.5 so they want to at least make 1-2k on it so they can use that on a down payment. they were getting between 16-19mpg in the sante fe and are just done with the milage.

After driving almost every suv and looking at cost vs mpg rating they decided to suck it up and just get a car. but they wanted the all wheel drive.. but after driving all the all wheel drive cars and lookin at mpg they decided **** it lol.. and now there just gettin a standard fwd car. so after 2 weeks of driving everything out there they decided on a *gasp* Civic

my mom loves it and she really loved the new civic nav system they put in too (which is pretty cool btw).

for the record i made her drive an elatnra, but she has severe sciatic nerve problems and the elantras seats caused her to flare up something fierce, not only could she not drive it, she cant be a passenger in the 07 for more then 15 min here and there!

[evan938]

yeah, i do enjoy the new tundra commercials, and for those 30 seconds or so, i think i would like to have one, then realize i have 0 use for it

FWIW, i had a boat a few years ago, 16', had like 4 seats...an older boat, but good size...i pulled that mofo with a chevy corsica. i think you should be fine w/ a santa fe.

what about the NEW santa fe? im liking those more and more as time goes on

and im jealous about 1 more payment. on the xd i just got, the payments are only like 210/mo, which im putting 250/mo into...now, since my insurance switch will save me 50$/mo, ill probably put most of that into it. im hoping for 48 months or less to pay off

[Silentwolf]

Bobz on vacation so you guys have a reprieve. :D

[Ugzz]

i got about 4 years left on the elantra payments lol 230 a month and i keep sending extra but then when i have a rough month i send less.. so it always evens out and im vack where i started :P

so yeah, totally jealous to anyone who is paying off soon hehe

on the + side my insurance came in closer to 100 a month now, and its full coverage and im under 25 so its not too shabby

and my parents pulled a small-mid size trailer with their sante fe with 4 hopped up large bikes and a wood frame bunk bed in it and it had 0 probs. when i say big bikes in mean a larger goldwing, bmw, harley then a lighter yamaha fjr

*edit: i lied, they only had two bikes.. :P*

[hyunelan2]

Well, the jetboat I was looking at requires 2100lbs towing capacity when it's on the trailer. And it's a smaller/lighter boat than most. As I said, my SF is only rated to 2000. It's close, but pulling something at close-to/over the vehicle's limit is not only dangerous, but also a PITA (accelerating, braking).

The NEW Santa Fe is on the list. But if I am going to consider it, there are a slew of other contenders to look at as well.

Ugzz story here

Did they have the 3.5L Santa Fe? With the 2.7L, I average about 22mpg at fillup. (which at $3.30 a gallon, it comes out to costing $0.12 per mile to drive it). A 30mpg car would be $0.11 per mile, which would save $600 if you drive the average 15K miles. Sounds like they were taking a big loss to save $600?

[Ugzz]

Did they have the 3.5L Santa Fe?

yes, and thats what they have
i dont know if they still do, but they did in 04

and i was wrong, they only had two bikes on the trailer casue they didnt want to go over the capacity, they were just about at it.
(i just called after i posted.. insert foot in mouth :P)

[ba_feitl]

It might just barely fit into your price range but the the Tacoma Double Cab 4WD comes in with a sticker around $26k. That's with the 4.0 V6 that can tow 6500lbs. You could always drop the 4WD and do the Double Cab Prerunner that tows the same but stickers at $22k. On both be sure to get the longer bed, the 5 ft bed is useless.

For fullsize trucks a shortbed isn't as bad as you might think. You can still fit in a full sheet of plywood/drywall/whatever. You just have to smart about how you load the stuff. For long stuff drop the tailgate and strap it down or tie it up. Hey after all you're talking to a guy that fit a 2"x12"x13' Microlam beam into my elantra !!

Brad

[mbv2001]

how about a used chevy trail blazer? like an 04 to 06? my mom has one that seats 7.its a very smooth and has more then enough power and get pretty good mpg for a v6 that has i think about 275 housepower. here is a pic of my mother truck in the snow.

[hyunelan2]

My local Chevy dealer actually has a few new ones in inventory for $27K - which means after negotiation it could be $25K. I do like the trailblazer. I drove a friends home on a long roadtrip before. It would be considered with the Equinox as offerings from Chevy. I like the power of the TB even with the small 4.2 (also has 5.3 & 6.0L), but with it comes lesser mpg.

[bdiggy]

How bout the 07 Escape? I think their new beefy apperance is sexy and they start at 18k.

[hyunelan2]

The new '08 escape is severly underpowered, even with the 'big' engine offering. It doesn't get good fuel mileage as a tradeoff either. 3.0L, 200hp 19/23mpg. It's towing is 2000/3500max, which is also less than all the others.

It's probably a good small SUV, but I'm looking for the class a little larger than it.

[evan938]

its a very smooth and has more then enough power and get pretty good mpg for a v6 that has i think about 275 housepower.


i think my new vaccum has about that much housepower

[mbv2001]

i think 275 is enough for what he is tring to do. the power in the truck is nice and smooth i would like to have one myself. only prob i have with the truck is the sound system is trash.oh im sad to say i really think her truck is faster and gets better MPG then my XD lol.

[bdiggy]

The new '08 escape is severly underpowered, even with the 'big' engine offering. It doesn't get good fuel mileage as a tradeoff either. 3.0L, 200hp 19/23mpg. It's towing is 2000/3500max, which is also less than all the others.

It's probably a good small SUV, but I'm looking for the class a little larger than it.

Sorry, didn't realize they were that weak. Still like the new look though.

[hyunelan2]

i think my new vaccum has about that much housepower

Bwahahahah. rotflmao!! HOUSEPOWER ftw.

[mbv2001]

^^^^ you know i didnt catch that until just now. thanx evan:( LOL

[SuperGLS]

Mike, buy the new Santa Fe, you know you want to.

We both know you aren't going to buy anything right now, wait another 6-18 months and see what's going on. I think both of your vehicles are serving you well right now.

[hyunelan2]

Yeah, Santa Fe makes me drool, but I should see how the Veracruz is too.

You're right about nothing tomorrow - but I want to start "researching" and thinking about it. Definately going to put more thought into this one than the last 2. Hell, my wife's (then fiance) alternator died on her Grand Am, and I replaced it with a Santa Fe the next day.

I also don't know how I feel about owning 2 SUVs. Or, do I keep the Elantra around and trade in the Santa Fe? Or do I keep both of what I have, and get a 3rd. Should that 3rd be new, or an older 'work' type truck. So many options to think about.

[04 elantra cvvt]

Mike, if you are in the 25k range, the Veracruz is out. I have quite a few friends at the Hyundai dealer, and they are wicked, both inside and out. But, the drawback is the price. You could probably get one for 25k that is bare bones, but who wants that.

The Santa Fe is actually a little quicker because it's only 25 less horse, and a whole lot lighter. I was talking to the Finance manager over here (who gets any demo he wishes) and he told me that after driving the Veracruz and the Santa Fe, he bought the Santa Fe for his wife. Enough said for me.

And yes, you are right about the MPG on the NF Sonata. My wife drives one, and the best we have gotten is 24 on the highway, and around 21-22 in town.

[Munky]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b114/MunkyMofo/buyme.gif