The Automobile Thread

scan said:
I'm with you @Cyclotourist , but it's unfortunate that the minivan has lost it's popularity over the years....funny how vehicles develop an 'image'.
The few times I used our van (used to have one)for a ride were the most comfortable, especially after the ride. The ability to change inside, standing up. Lounging inside with the side doors open with lots of leg room if the middle seats are removed!
I'm now considering putting a removable seat/bed in a Sienna (@Voodoo Tom ) , camper van that can also be used as a people mover .
Click to expand...

Our MPV was great. We specifically got that as they were smaller than the others mentioned above (pre-Pacifica, would have been T&C). It could fit anywhere, fast, good mileage, banged around Big Bear fire roads, held our crap.... I miss it for sure! But my wife put the no minivan law down, and so now we have a huge hulking SUV. It's a good vehicle, and I don't begrudge it. Much better the few times a year it hits dirt, but worse for the 95% of the time it's not. So yeah, I'll definitely throw out the minivan option out there, especially for a younger active family.
 
Last edited:
scan said:
No reliability issues with the Volvo?
Click to expand...
We only had it 7 years/130k before it saved my wife & kids’ lives in a collision with an unlicensed driver, so I can’t speak to the true long term.

we had one real problem, the steering angle sensor went out, which required ~$800 to fix. That’s the problem that got to me, the sensor would have been under $100 at a Ford dealer. But even basic maintenance is just so pricey at luxury dealers, the complimentary car wash doesn’t make up for it.

but the thought of a blown turbo started crossing my mind as we got over 100k...
 
scan said:
Funny isn't it usually the other way around, the guy says no minivan, LOL
Click to expand...
tick said:
Not in my experience. Largely because the husband will expect the wife to be the primary driver...
Click to expand...

Anecdotally, women are the ones saying nope on the minivans. Marketing departments tell them they are still hot and happenin' if they drive a SUV. Their mothers are the ones that drove minivans, who wants to be like that!?!?! Guys probably aren't helping, but they're all buying Canyoneros anyway.
 
Yeah - guilty on all counts. When we traded the Nissan Titan for a minivan, I never yearned to drive it - and certainly not to work. It was her car and our vacation car. Now that we have the Atlas, I find myself trying to convince my wife that it's too big for her and I should be driving it while she drives my 11 year old Q5. (Full disclosure, the Q5 still drives better than the Atlas - it's a size/weight thing).

And LOL on the Canyonero comment. Squirrel squashin' deer smakin' fun!

 
Last edited:
Cyclotourist said:
Anecdotally, women are the ones saying nope on the minivans. Marketing departments tell them they are still hot and happenin' if they drive a SUV. Their mothers are the ones that drove minivans, who wants to be like that!?!?! Guys probably aren't helping, but they're all buying Canyoneros anyway.
Click to expand...
Marketing departments don’t convince women of anything, they merely listen to what the women are saying and give them what they want. And what they want are minivans with hinged rear doors and model names based on southwestern towns.
 
herzalot said:
Try the VW Atlas (it's an Audi Q7 with a little less power) or the Atlas Cross Sport (It's a Q8) - a little sportier looking, but no 3rd row. Both are roomier than the Telluride, smoother too. Every Atlas we looked at already had a 2" receiver trailer hitch installed as well. That's not a small detail for a bike guy.

I saw these two vehicles parked about 5 spots from each other at Doheny a couple of weeks ago.

Atlas Sport (although this one doesn't have the receiver hitch)
View attachment 69274

Audi Q8:
View attachment 69275
Click to expand...

When my daughters Jetta was in the shop, they gave us an Atlas as a loaner. That was the nicest SUV I have ever driven and my mom has a Mercedes GLK. If I was in the market for an SUV, this would be on my very short list.
 
Alright, this was put on hold for a moment due to some hard working bureaucrat combining my first and middle names as one in the social security database...

Finally got the notice that we could go ahead, talked briefly with the agent from the car buying service at our credit union yesterday. Even within their service and preferred dealers there is still a huge mark up on the Kia's. Possibility that we could get a floor model without the markup, and only a few thousand miles on it..
Essentially same story for the Palisades as well.

So now looking hard at the Subaru and Volkswagen.
Hopefully test drives soon.
I'm still hesitant to give money to VW, because of that whole emissions scandal..... but we shall see....
 
herzalot said:
Try the VW Atlas (it's an Audi Q7 with a little less power) or the Atlas Cross Sport (It's a Q8) - a little sportier looking, but no 3rd row. Both are roomier than the Telluride, smoother too. Every Atlas we looked at already had a 2" receiver trailer hitch installed as well. That's not a small detail for a bike guy.

I saw these two vehicles parked about 5 spots from each other at Doheny a couple of weeks ago.

Atlas Sport (although this one doesn't have the receiver hitch)
View attachment 69274

Audi Q8:
View attachment 69275
Click to expand...

And the rest of the world still gets the Touareg... :thumbsdown: I would buy a 3rd in a heartbeat.
 
Derkderkall said:
Test drove the atlas
Really like it.
Steering feels a little loose, but otherwise...

Big question, @herzalot get al.
Test drove v6,
Any thoughts on 2.0 turbo?
Would it just feel awful and slow, and spend more time shoving that throttle higher?
Click to expand...
I’ve had a Q8 and a Q7 as service loaners, both with the 2.0. I found it surprisingly adequate on those cars. I don’t know if the tune/output is different on the Atlas, but regardless I doubt it would be a total pig. It’s an impressive motor for what it is. I’m not familiar with what 6 cyl is in the Atlas. I’m sure it’s more desirable, and will feel more smooth and refined in addition to feeling more powerful, but that 2.0 has become quite the work horse for VW.
 
The V6 has been around a looonnngggg time... and has seen duty in everything from the Passat to the Phaeton to the Porsche Cayenne. I have one sitting in the driveway, and a 2.0 engine Audi sitting next to it.

They are both smooth and fun, but the lack of a turbo is a plus for me on the V6. No lag... If you want to get on it, it responds faster in every situation.

I believe the Atlas V6 is the same engine... tuned with a little less HP.
 
Just finished test drive in the Subaru ascent as well. We like it. Way sportier feel than the atlas. Like a big tire slack hardtail versus a 130 mm trail bike...
Talked the kia guys down to msrp on a telluride, out of a 10000 price gouge, but I think we are taking off the list. Really nice vehicle. But we want to haggle lower than sticker, not down to sticker
 
These are my Dad’s. Love both of them for different reasons.

C1B61C0C-1C1C-46BA-8FCD-1EEFC2225E42.jpeg


3A64BA08-0221-41A2-9AE5-437267920982.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top