Double post... ugh. Ignore
Double post... ugh. Ignore
I have an F150. I know that's not what most on this thread are looking for. I will chime in to say that I am utterly amazed at what engineers are able to get out of today's engines...
This big old (aluminum bodied) truck uses significantly LESS fuel than my 6 cyl. Tacoma did. I can't believe I'm getting 22 mpg on the highway. It's better mileage than I get in my 15 yr. old Subaru Impreza.
I'm driving a 6 cyl. Ecoboost Turbo. I would have NEVER gone with a 6 cyl and was looking at the ram 5.7 L Hemi with the 8 speed transmission. Hubby did not want a Ram (for totally illogical reasons, but there it is. He gets to vote.) So I test drove the Ford and could not believe it. When you need acceleration, it will scream... it blows my mind. And it pulls our little TT like it's nothing. (Plus it will almost back and park the TT on it's own. Computers are amazing.)
But it's a full sized truck. Takes up a lot of room in a driveway. Probably not what most folks want.
I'm just saying, when it comes to fuel economy, you might put size and modern engineering into your calculus and come up with something different than you might have 5 or 6 years ago.[/QUOTE]
I have a 2015 RAV4 XLE AWD. It's pretty well equipped, but if you want more bells and whistles, you can go with an SE or a Limited. The back seat do fold down, but not completely flat. I place a board under the crates at the back to bring them up a bit, but they still aren't level. I had a 2012 RAV4 prior to the 2015 that I have now. The new one is head and shoulder better. It rides and handles better, it's much quieter, has a much more powerful 4 cyl, and a 6 speed transmission. I also am getting better gas mileage with the new one. They also have a Hybrid version of the RAV4.
Personally, I like the new 4Runners. The drawback is they are built on a truck platform shared with the Tacoma. The ride is a bit stiff, and gas mileage is not that great. I really, really thought about getting a Highlander, I like the looks, and they are very nice to drive, very quiet. It's basically the same as the Lexus RX model. In the end it came down to price, I just didn't want to spend that much on a car.
I would agree with you 100% on the previous version. Mine turns 2700 RPM at 75 MPH, and I get 32+ mpg running at that speed during highway driving. The old version RAV4 had a 4 spd transmission, and it was loud and unrefined in comparison to the new one.
I've had a lot of Toyota's over the years, and every one of them seemed to be pretty much bullet proof. It seems like every time I stray and buy something else, I always seem to regret it. I did look at the Subaru Crosstek and Outback when I was shopping, the Crosstek was just too small, and I just didn't like the Outback. Can't really tell why, just didn't care for it.
Getting away from the OP. We have a 2009 Mazda3 Sport, that's the hatchback. Though the rear seat don't quite fold flat we can fit a crate large enough for 55lb Achilles. Mazda builds very durable and affordable vehicles. IMHO as good as Toys and Hondas yet priced much lower. Mazda doesn't try to fill every niche - for example they left the small pickup market after ending their partnership with Ford. (Digressing - my 1999 Mazda B2500, essentially the same as the Ranger, is still going strong). The Mazda3 gets 33-39MPG depending on whether the a/c runs, winter tires are on, and how heavy my foot is.
It would be nice to have something a little bigger, something to get two crates into. What I keep in mind is that one, that's why we use harnesses and two, gasoline will cost $1.50/liter or say $4.50/gallon. Or more. It is inevitable. So our Mazda3 (and its eventual replacement) gets us, will get us, further than almost anything we could fit two crates into.
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Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles
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We had a Subaru forester the road noise really got to me plus Bailey couldn't sit up without hitting his head in the back, we din't use crates because we had 4 dogs at the time. We traded that in and went back to ford getting an explorer, which I love. I know you were looking at something else but I love the fact that it has air vents for the back so we can keep it nice and cool back there without freezing out in the front trying to keep them cool in the back. in the winter we can keep nice and warm up front without cooking them out in the back. The only thing I dont' like is that in the 2014 model the seats don't lie flat there is a bit of an incline with a gap between the first and second row of seats when they are flat.
I would suggest taking a crate with you and setting it up in the back to see if it fits. The way they are making most vehicles today they are rounding the back openings so much so you can't hardly fit anything through the back opening anymore.
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The vehicles I am looking at have the dual climate control which, I agree, is so nice. Especially with dogs that run hot. I don't have that now, so I have to open windows for them when it gets hot, which is not very pleasant on the freeway. The 2016 Pilot has the rounded back, but models prior to that are boxy, so I'm going to try to go with a 2013-2015. Well, if I go with the Pilot, that is.
For some reason I just cannot imagine myself in a Ford (or a Chevy, for that matter) but I might have to keep an open mind so I can find the best fit!
My Forester doesn't fit a 36" well enough that I can see to drive, and doesn't have vents in the backseat, for what it's worth. I love it, but it's also a little too high for Comet to jump into, whereas he's fine hopping into my dad's Outback. Food for thought.
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Someone can correct me if I'm wrong... but my understanding is that the Highlander is built on the frame of the Toyota Camry. The Sequoia is basically a Tundra, the 4-runner is the SUV version of the Tacoma. Friends of mine have had an awful time with their Sequoia and had to invoke the NV Lemon Law to get redress from the dealership.
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