New grocery getter

jason_ssr · Posted: Jan 10, 2012 3:02 pm Post subject: New grocery getter

So, Im having another boy in 4 weeks and the 50mpg Beetle just isnt going to cut it as a family vehicle for two carseats. My wife said it was SUV\minivan time. I procrastinated and milled it over and it was time to pull the trigger. So, I decided after a long while of debt free living (excluding house) it was time to add some debt in my life. I decided on the 2012 Ford Explorer Limited.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

The TDi Bug just wasn't cutting it anymore? Laughing

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

Looks nice...I've read some good things about the new Explorers.

STPHNSN23 · Guest

looks nice.

i'm getting ready to jump into some vehicular debt as well. i think i'm going to go for a 5-door wrx. the old 'scort isn't going to last much longer.

jason_ssr · Posted: Jan 10, 2012 4:06 pm Post subject:

chavez, Oh, I kept it! It still runs like a champ with 210k on it. I didnt trade anything in. I think Im gonna have my wife keep the diesel 4x4 at her shop and commute in the Beetle. Obviously, nobody can sit behind me in the beetle so I had to get something more family oriented. I will say, after driving a 10 year old car, the technology in this Explorer is a bit overwhelming....and Im an IT guy! The thing is definitely smarter than I am. Everything in it is customizable and I havent even been through a quarter of the possible options. You can change and control everything from the height the liftgate opens, to the color of the cupholder lights. you can set all kinds of limits on different keys, so people with kids (or leadfooted wives) can limit every aspect of the car when that person is driving (everything from speed warning to speed governor, to radio volume limits, etc).

jason_ssr · Posted: Jan 10, 2012 4:09 pm Post subject:

STPHNSN23, I tried all summer to get the wife to go for a new STI but just not ideal for the family ride. Go get it!

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

jason_ssr, New cars are getting pretty tricked out from the factory. Ford is definitely leading the way with the myFord touch systems and Sync.

If/when we have another I'm just going to get a minivan. It's way too purposeful a vehicle for me to avoid should the need arise.

For now, we are loving the TDi wag and we are still rocking the other Jetta. And we plan to keep it that way for a while. The "old" Jetta has a whopping 36k on it after nearly 5 years.

scott a · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 9810

Your car has lights in the cup holders? AND you can change them? This reminds me of the people I used to deal with at the boat dealership who would run LED lights everywhere in their boat. Laughing

Nice Explorer, though. I like the look of them.

YELLOWMOBIUS · Addict Joined: 25 Apr 2004 Posts: 776 City: da region

a lot of the newer cars have lights in the in the cup holders along with heater/cooler in the cup holders to keep your drink colder or hotter.

goofyboy · Posted: Jan 11, 2012 4:21 am Post subject:

my mom got the new fully loaded Edge. That and the Explorer are really nice. Congrats!

Broccoli B · Posted: Jan 11, 2012 7:16 am Post subject:

Just curious, did you look at the Grand Cherokee? If you did, why did you choose the explorer over the JGC?

I am currently shopping both vehicles.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Broccoli B · Posted: Jan 11, 2012 7:22 am Post subject:

The turbo-4 is sweet. BUT I believe it is only available in a FWD config.

Broccoli B · Posted: Jan 11, 2012 7:25 am Post subject:

What really bothers me is the Jeep says there will be a diesel available in the JGC but only that it will be available "In the future".

I'll probably be picking up a slightly used 2011 either way though.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

It looks like you are right about the Exploder. No T4 in 4x4. Lame.

US Diesel production is supposed to be ramping up very soon for the JGC. I believe it's slated for the 14 model year. I want the diesel option in the Wrangler. I would buy a Wrangler Unlimited in a heartbeat if they had the diesel option available.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

The WK (05-10) model of the GC had a 3.0 CRD offering. Hearing the same things in regard to the return of Jeep diesel offerings as previously posted.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Congratulations, sort of for the acquisition of the vehicle, but also for the new boy coming!

Commodore · Ladies Man Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11636

I like the new Explorers (mom got one), but man they have too many electronics for my taste. There's a good bit of oversteer in them as well, and that turned the wife off. Or it could have been when I sneezed and the sucker just about went flying off the road. Laughing

I'm really liking the JGC. Probably wait another year and try and get one for the wife.

A diesel wrangler is one my "want to build" list.

RampageWake · Posted: Jan 11, 2012 2:07 pm Post subject:

Like it! My wife recently bought the new Lincoln MKX which is basically a loaded Edge. I finally got used to the MyFordTouch - that took a couple weeks. The HID headlights that follow the steering wheel are cool as well.

Commodore · Ladies Man Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11636

Are the prices on those things getting better, ie rebates? Last time I looked at the MKX and the Explorer, I saw a sticker price that was awfully proud of itself for an Explorer.

Ohioboarder · Addict Joined: 18 Aug 2005 Posts: 520 City: Over there

Nice ride..
I think a year old 2011 Kia Sorento LX will be in my future. 29 MPG and less money are swaying me. I'd like a turbo optima but not enough room especially if we end up +1 kid.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Jan 11, 2012 9:33 pm Post subject:

My parents recently picked up a new 2012 VW Passat. Hell of a nice car.

jason_ssr · Posted: Jan 12, 2012 7:00 am Post subject:

Thanks guys!

I was all over the map deciding on this vehicle. Having 9 months to decide is NOT good for the car buying process. I went from sedan to 4door sporty to minivan to SUV.. ...heck, I even considered importing a early 80's RHD Land Rover diesel.

I didnt really consider the JGC as the final considerations had to have 3rd row. Though in a moment of weakness I did reconsider at the Dallas Safari Club last weekend when they had a tricked out Wrangler on display. It was loaded and had a killer paint job that was like rhino liner looking stuff. Ill throw a pic in below...

Minivan is ideal in every way, and I cant make a single argument against it....except my pride. As most of you know I have been suppressing pride for the better part of a decade and it was time to let it out. Im no longer implementing the 2002 VW Monogamy Assurance Device. Im now depending soley on my own character. We basically narrowed it down to 3 row midsize SUVs. We drove a bunch of em. most all drove well, so it came down to the features and price. Fords features and tech are ahead considerably and they were making deals.

I dont like the car buying process, but I have managed to come up with a system that works for me, so Im fairly good at it. Made a good deal.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

jason_ssr, I've simplified the (new) car buying process. It's called the Costco Auto Buying Program.

I goes something like this:

1) Submit request for car you want
2) ???
3) PROFIT!!!

And I don't have the pride issue with regards to driving a minivan. We actually damn near bought a '10 Routan that was loaded with literally every single option. Came close on numbers, but the dealer wasn't willing to concede enough when we told them (demanded) 0% financing (which was available in lieu of a rebate). So they got to sit on it for another few months (IIRC, it took them another 3 months to move it, and this was already Feb 11) just to save themselves a couple grand. We ended up buying the TDi JSW from a different dealer (via Costco plan) so they lost on both sales. Cest la vie, right? Laughing

jason_ssr · Posted: Jan 12, 2012 7:11 am Post subject:

cameraboy, Thanks we are really excited! Its funny, when we got married we had all these plans and ideas for the future. We accomplished a few, but many changed as we got older, and yet some were out of our control. One of the "plans" was to have two boys and we decided a 3-4 year gap was ideal. Out of all the ideas we had years ago, this one is one we have the least control over (gender, spread, etc) and its one of the few that has come to pass as we initially invisioned it.

jason_ssr · Posted: Jan 12, 2012 7:29 am Post subject:

chavez, Nice!! Yeah, mine is basically remove all places for them to hide money (no trade, own financing\cash, etc), have them show me the invoice, low ball it, then if when the bartering is done the number is below "invoice" I feel Im in a decent place. Then I add the non-invoice add-ons (warranty, etc) at their cost and I dont feel like Im overpaying.

I looked a the Honda Pilot but those guys are struggling! They have nothing but base models as their high end appointments are made in Thailand and the floods have completely halted their supply. The sales guys are having to turn away willing buyers who want their most expensive vehicles.

I was also looking at a Traverse. It was nice, but the tech was weak. I told the sales guy I was out doing some comparison shopping and would you believe he wouldnt give me any real world numbers??? He would only give me MSRP ballparks. I asked for real numbers and he said come back when im ready to buy and he would give me numbers. So when the wife and I were comparing, we were comparing everyone elses real numbers against his MSRP numbers so it wasnt even a consideration. Wife actually like the fact that its a little longer so more cargo space.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

jason_ssr, I prefer the Acadia over the Traverse. And likewise the Terrain over the Equinox.

Both of those are solid crossovers with good space.

Still prefer the Ford products over those, though.

In the case where they wouldn't give you numbers, I'd give them numbers and let them know they were in competition with other dealers and brands. But this is why I highly recommend the Costco program, dealers give you the number up front, and you can have them do it for a variety of models across brands, and pick the one is best for you.

For us, local dealer wanted 31k (sticker) + 2k ADM for the TDi JSW with the options we wanted (pretty much all of them). Through Costco, we got "invoice"+$200, which was 5k less than the local dealer. For the same car! And the scary part is, the local dealer gets that, all day freaking long. It's nutty.

goofyboy · Posted: Jan 12, 2012 8:15 am Post subject:

Since this is now a car thread - I would like to announce that we now OWN my wife's car. It is an impractical Pontiac G6 GT. Fun two door car that makes me look like a moron getting the car seat out of the back seat. BUT, it's paid for and we will drive it for another 50,000 miles. at that point, it is a pontiac and will fall apart at 100k miles.

finkle · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 4067

Commodore · Ladies Man Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11636

We're bouncing all over the damn room.

Looking at small SUV's

-Escapes/ Mariners

Looking at Crossovers:

-Acadia
-Edge

Looking at mid-size SUV's

-Jeep GC
-Durango
-Explorer

Looking at Full sizer's

-Tahoe/Yukons

Mainly the top one's are the Edge/Acadia or the Mid size SUV's.

We started looking at smal SUV's and they were just too small. Then when we saw that a 2yr old Yukon could be as much as a newer Explorer, I liked that fact. I could tow the boat, or the Jeep, and the whole family.

But then I come back to reality and function and end up in the mid-sizers again.

I like the Edge better than the Acadia. But I haven't driven the Durango or JGC yet. But I'm not going to buy a new one. Just a thing with me. So hopefully this summer, some 1-2yr old ones will come available at good numbers.

JasonSSR, did you try the Durango? Thoughts if you did? I know J-ro bought one, and haven't heard much in comparison against the other brands with it.

jason_ssr · Posted: Jan 12, 2012 2:14 pm Post subject:

We looked the the Durango and thought it very similar to the Ford. However, we liked the tech in the Ford more. We looked at it last so we really didn't give it the time we gave the others. It has similar stats to the Ford, less the Sync and My Touch stuff.

jmlloyd · Criminal Joined: 20 May 2010 Posts: 61

are you towing with it??

vette74 · Posted: Jan 12, 2012 2:29 pm Post subject:

I have a 2011 f-150 with the ecoboost. I really like everything about it except for sync I think it was a complete waste of money. Dial- Wife, Dial-Shane, Dial- Matt I'm sorry please say name again-------

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

chavez, what's the Costco plan running these days as far as the amount over invoice? Is it always +200 like you got or does it vary across brands and models?

jason_ssr · Posted: Jan 12, 2012 6:02 pm Post subject:

jmlloyd, no plans to. I was smart enough to sell my boat years ago.