“It’s me, me, I’m the problem it’s me.” - Taylor swift
Don’t read this unless you are bored.
My wife and I took a stroll through a few dealers last week. I’m considering trading the F150 since we don’t tow a camper any longer, and my commute has gotten longer, and you’ve probably read my posts about its transmission. So no rush, I’ve started browsing midsize and smaller SUVs to see what’s out there. I’m a disaster when it comes to this. Admittedly, the F150 checks many boxes.
XC60. Love the lines. i have a soft spot for Volvos. I prefer RWD. Sooo many reviews about software and electronics glitches with these. Touch screen drives everything, which is a detractor.
CRV. Was great for my wife. Too noisy on the interstate for me. I’ve grown up with so many Hondas and just want something different. Other makes have interiors I prefer.
X3. Interior looks like it’s made by rubbermaid. Unlike my 328 experience, I loved the seats. Deal breaker, and this is how much I frustrate myself. The right side of the steering wheel hits my hand before the left. Yet the wheel was centered on the seat and appeared centered on the dash. I couldn’t figure it out but undoubtedly I did not feel aligned in this cockpit. Did some reading and learned the steering column is angled 2 degrees inboard, and they angled the dash 2 degrees as well to provide matching optics. This is nuts. The chair however points straight forward. 2-pedal spacing was awkward too - close together and the brake pedal has a much higher elevation than the throttle. A non-straight steering column in a DD would drive me batty, for all the reasons a bitoger can imagine.
Rav4H. My wife’s RAV4 H is an excellent vehicle and tbh is a top contender. The tow rating is 1750 and I would need a trailer if we sell the pickup. The gas models can pull 3000, but crawl under this thing and it looks like all front/rear subframes are barely tacked on to the unibody structure. This is a lightweight and light duty underpinning design by my limited experience. However, I’ll be towing a riding mower, mulch, plywood and occasional audio gear, and could work. But the thing I notice negatively every time I drive it, is the entertainment display is placed too high and too prominently and too close to my face. Visually, it’s closer in distance than the speedo. I’d like to drive first and fidget with the radio third. One thing the RAV does well, and the X3 for that matter, is the greenhouse.
I really enjoyed the interior of a prior Lexus sedan we had, so what about the NX or RX?
I’ve not sat in either yet, but if I like the RAV, what about the NX? Should have upscale interior, and they seem to depreciate quicker than the Toyota, so a used one could be a sweet spot? In both the NX and RX, their designs have the shoulder line 2” higher than the RAV and X3. My wife always felt like she was “sitting in a hole” in our GS; poor greenhouse. However, dashboard designs and interior furnishings are superior in the Lexi. Surprise google-foo?- the NX gets online complaints for being noisier than the RAV4, to include professional reviews (rookie door seal design, run flat tires, non-acoustic glass). Clearly, we need to sit in one, for if the greenhouse is ok this could be a good spot to be.
The RX-h could be a contender too, but the ones I’ve ridden in very much communicate that’s it’s a nose-heavy FWD, and the MPG in hybrid form is no better than a gasser in the other makes.
Not interested in any of the domestics.
So - as picky as I am, the work-spec F150 XL has good ergo, quiet ride, carries cargo, has excellent visibility and for a full size truck achieves impressive mpg (21.7 when I don’t idle it 20 minutes at a time for phone calls). This has been surprising for me.
As you become more experienced with your vehicle choices, does this happen to you!?
Don’t read this unless you are bored.
My wife and I took a stroll through a few dealers last week. I’m considering trading the F150 since we don’t tow a camper any longer, and my commute has gotten longer, and you’ve probably read my posts about its transmission. So no rush, I’ve started browsing midsize and smaller SUVs to see what’s out there. I’m a disaster when it comes to this. Admittedly, the F150 checks many boxes.
XC60. Love the lines. i have a soft spot for Volvos. I prefer RWD. Sooo many reviews about software and electronics glitches with these. Touch screen drives everything, which is a detractor.
CRV. Was great for my wife. Too noisy on the interstate for me. I’ve grown up with so many Hondas and just want something different. Other makes have interiors I prefer.
X3. Interior looks like it’s made by rubbermaid. Unlike my 328 experience, I loved the seats. Deal breaker, and this is how much I frustrate myself. The right side of the steering wheel hits my hand before the left. Yet the wheel was centered on the seat and appeared centered on the dash. I couldn’t figure it out but undoubtedly I did not feel aligned in this cockpit. Did some reading and learned the steering column is angled 2 degrees inboard, and they angled the dash 2 degrees as well to provide matching optics. This is nuts. The chair however points straight forward. 2-pedal spacing was awkward too - close together and the brake pedal has a much higher elevation than the throttle. A non-straight steering column in a DD would drive me batty, for all the reasons a bitoger can imagine.
Rav4H. My wife’s RAV4 H is an excellent vehicle and tbh is a top contender. The tow rating is 1750 and I would need a trailer if we sell the pickup. The gas models can pull 3000, but crawl under this thing and it looks like all front/rear subframes are barely tacked on to the unibody structure. This is a lightweight and light duty underpinning design by my limited experience. However, I’ll be towing a riding mower, mulch, plywood and occasional audio gear, and could work. But the thing I notice negatively every time I drive it, is the entertainment display is placed too high and too prominently and too close to my face. Visually, it’s closer in distance than the speedo. I’d like to drive first and fidget with the radio third. One thing the RAV does well, and the X3 for that matter, is the greenhouse.
I really enjoyed the interior of a prior Lexus sedan we had, so what about the NX or RX?
I’ve not sat in either yet, but if I like the RAV, what about the NX? Should have upscale interior, and they seem to depreciate quicker than the Toyota, so a used one could be a sweet spot? In both the NX and RX, their designs have the shoulder line 2” higher than the RAV and X3. My wife always felt like she was “sitting in a hole” in our GS; poor greenhouse. However, dashboard designs and interior furnishings are superior in the Lexi. Surprise google-foo?- the NX gets online complaints for being noisier than the RAV4, to include professional reviews (rookie door seal design, run flat tires, non-acoustic glass). Clearly, we need to sit in one, for if the greenhouse is ok this could be a good spot to be.
The RX-h could be a contender too, but the ones I’ve ridden in very much communicate that’s it’s a nose-heavy FWD, and the MPG in hybrid form is no better than a gasser in the other makes.
Not interested in any of the domestics.
So - as picky as I am, the work-spec F150 XL has good ergo, quiet ride, carries cargo, has excellent visibility and for a full size truck achieves impressive mpg (21.7 when I don’t idle it 20 minutes at a time for phone calls). This has been surprising for me.
As you become more experienced with your vehicle choices, does this happen to you!?
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