Time to get a new toad

[bhivetravels]

We've been towing our Honda Element (aka "the toaster") and have had absolutely no problems with the car but with cracked seats, mileage, age, it's time to look for a replacement. We want a vehicle with a few more bells and whistles so we've been considering two based on weight/cost/mpg/body style. Chevy's Equinox and Chrysler's Jeep Compass. If you have one of these vehicles have you experienced any issues with them as a toad? On the Equinox, I don't really see where the tow bar would go?

[bshpilot]

We love our Jeep Wrangler JK (2 door Sport, 6 speed manual)....the mpg sucks (14/19) but its not our daily driver & its FUN. We've had our JK for 3 years now and haven't had any problems (towed it over 20k, 10k on the odometer).

The power on the 2012+ 3.6L pentastar is REALLY good (almost 300hp) at 285 HP.

its easy to tow (especially when using the Mopar integrate factory harness).

[bsinmich]

Passin Thru wrote:
Jeep is rated lowest in quality by Consumers Report. I wouldn't buy one for that reason. I'm a Honda or Toyota fan. On our 6th Toyota and only one was ever in the shop and they paid the repair bill for a new engine. Have run most 230K and 2 Prius or Priii which I guess is plural, 70 K ea and our third is going to go to whatever mileage wears it out.

I also have no faith in CU. They only like foreign cars. I dropped them many years ago when they rated a Ricoh camera TLS401 and from their ratings they did not even read the book that gave some of the highlights of that camera. I bought one for the reasons they never found. Their ratings are not very good in my opinion.

[ScottG]

rk911 wrote:

Passin Thru wrote:
Jeep is rated lowest in quality by Consumers Report. I wouldn't buy one for that reason. I'm a Honda or Toyota fan. On our 6th Toyota and only one was ever in the shop and they paid the repair bill for a new engine. Have run most 230K and 2 Prius or Priii which I guess is plural, 70 K ea and our third is going to go to whatever mileage wears it out.

I stopped paying attention to consumer's report ages ago. I found that their reviews and ratings did not match up to my actual experience. we usually tow our '10 Jeep Liberty but occasionally will tow our '03 Jeep Wrangler. for 7-years the Wrangler was the only toad. both have performed admirably. if the OP is looking at Jeep just be sure that there is a manually selectable neutral position in the transfer case.

X2.
I have no faith in them what so ever.

[bhivetravels]

While I think I'd love the idea of a super energy efficient vehicle, we haul so much******around wherever we go I'd be afraid there would not be enough room.

[rk911]

Passin Thru wrote:
Jeep is rated lowest in quality by Consumers Report. I wouldn't buy one for that reason. I'm a Honda or Toyota fan. On our 6th Toyota and only one was ever in the shop and they paid the repair bill for a new engine. Have run most 230K and 2 Prius or Priii which I guess is plural, 70 K ea and our third is going to go to whatever mileage wears it out.

I stopped paying attention to consumer's report ages ago. I found that their reviews and ratings did not match up to my actual experience. we usually tow our '10 Jeep Liberty but occasionally will tow our '03 Jeep Wrangler. for 7-years the Wrangler was the only toad. both have performed admirably. if the OP is looking at Jeep just be sure that there is a manually selectable neutral position in the transfer case.

[Pogoil]

I will take my Jeep JK. any day! We take it everywhere as getting off the beaten path is very fun for us.

Pogoil.

[Passin_Thru]

Jeep is rated lowest in quality by Consumers Report. I wouldn't buy one for that reason. I'm a Honda or Toyota fan. On our 6th Toyota and only one was ever in the shop and they paid the repair bill for a new engine. Have run most 230K and 2 Prius or Priii which I guess is plural, 70 K ea and our third is going to go to whatever mileage wears it out.