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Looking to upgrade the wifes 96 V8 Explorer to something a little more fuel and maintenance friendly. We looked at the Suzuki XL7 which I really liked from a maintenance/DIY stand point as the drivetrain is pretty much set up like a 1985 Chevy Pick up…but it’s too cramped for our family.
Keep in mind, we are looking in the 2004-2007 range of vehicles…a budget around $5-9000 US.
We test drove the Santa Fe and liked the vehicle a lot, but I’m not sure about the drivetrain. I like the power of the 3.5 and the shifting of the 5 speed auto, but I look at that dual overhead cam with its rubber belts that need to be replaced every 60k…5 hour dealer repair…yikes.
The Escape I haven’t driven yet, but the reviews in general seem to be really good ( 2005 best buy ) and it’s essentially a smaller version of the Explorer, which we really do like.
The Sorento catches my attention, but I’m assuming it has the same 3.5L as the Hyundai as it owns Kia.
Minivans are out, the wife is driving this vehicle and is adamant that there will be no vans in her future. She’s also against certain things, such as the huge rear end of the Pacifica, even though she’s never actually been in one.
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I really like Chevy trailblazer/GMC envoys.
Stout motors, easy trannys and rear ends. Interchange with a lot of GM models, low but stout.
Yeah, but gas hogs and bigger than we are looking to get. I’ve got an Astro already, so I’m good for towing and hauling cargo/passengers. She wants something that sits high, gets good gas mileage and looks decent. Surprisingly, she likes the 2004 Santa Fe design more than the remodel in 2007.
I’m thinking I may want to stray away from the Escape as it seems that a simple job like a water pump requires engine removal, which isn’t something I’m willing to pay for. Serviceability is important to me as long as it’s something I can do with a jack and 4 jack stands.
Just to close this thread, we decided on a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe with the 3.5L, fully loaded. Nicest car we’ve owned up to this point. I’d preferred a 2007 model with the 3.3L because-timing chain, but I’ve got at least 20k before this one is due for a new belt. The job isn’t exactly easy to do, but most timing belts are intrusive anyway. Seems like there are relatively few problems with these SUV’s as well, so I think we made a good decision. So far, I have to say that I really like it. We are averaging 18 mpg and seeing over 20 with a higher percentage of highway driving.
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