Locate an Auto Repair Shop in Pilot Rock, Oregon

Pilot Rock, OR Car Consumer Discussions

My sister ....

by michaell on Tue Oct 28 22:34:39 PDT 2008

.... is starting the search for the vehicle that will replace her Honda Pilot when the lease is up next spring. Her requirements: * Seats 7 * Luxury * Used (preferably CPO) * $30K-ish * Last for 10 years * Not a minivan (her husband refuses to drive one) Her background: * 3 boys - currently ages 11, 8 and 5 * Husband drives a 330i (bought CPO last year) * Live in San Diego * She drives about 10K per year The two vehicles that she's considering at the moment are the Lexus GX470 and the BMW X5. She mentioned to me on the phone today that she didn't want something like a Suburban (too big), but when I told her that the GX is related to the 4Runner and is body-on-frame with a V8, she was surprised. I suspect the GX would get 14-15 MPG in town, and maybe 18 on the highway. The ones she's seen on the 'net have around 30-40K miles on them and the asking prices are in the $30-33K range. I told her that a CPO X5 would be more expensive to maintain and repair than the Lexus, even accounting for the extended warranty. Another one she likes is the Acura MDX (the new model, not the previous generation). I told her that the Acura was essentially a gussied up Pilot, and if you're going to spend $30K, why not get something new with a warranty rather than something 2-3 years old. She's also partial to the Volvo XC90, but I suspect that will be as expensive as the X5 to maintain. I told her she should just get an Odyssey and be done with it, but reminded me that the BIL loathes minivans (they had an Odyssey once, and the BIL insisted that it be traded in for a Tahoe with 20" wheels). I truly don't see the need for an SUV in Southern California ... to me, it's an image thing only, but it's her money and her decision. Thoughts? corvette and gouldn - congratulations on the new rides! The rest of us live vicariously through those that continue to renew their membership in CCBA.

Re: rock [dieselone]

by dallasdude1 on Sat Sep 06 12:27:56 PDT 2008

Worker Training False McCain Attack: "For workers in industries that have been hard hit, we'll help make up part of the difference in wages between their old job and a temporary, lower paid one while they receive retraining that will help them find secure new employment at a decent wage." The Facts: McCain Has Repeatedly Opposed Vital Training for Workers in Hard-Hit Industries McCain Opposed $1 Million In Job Training Programs For Young People. In 2003, McCain sponsored an amendment to delete several provisions from the war supplemental spending bill, including $1 million for the Jobs for America's Graduates school-to-work program for at-risk young people for Training Employment Services. [2003 Senate Vote #118, 4/3/2003, McCain: Y] McCain Voted Against a Pilot Program to Provide Low-Interest Loans to Workers in Job Training or Assistance Programs. In 2002, McCain voted to kill an amendment requiring the Labor Department to establish a pilot program providing low-interest loans to workers in job training or job assistance programs to enable workers to continue making their mortgage payments. (CQ) McCain: Y [2002 Senate Vote #119, 5/21/2002] McCain Voted Against Providing Additional $4.1 Million For Job Training And Other Domestic Programs. In 1992, McCain voted against transferring $4.1 billion from defense to domestic programs, including Head Start, child immunization programs and the Job Corps program. (CQ) McCain: N [1992 Senate Vote #208, 9/16/1992, McCain: N] McCain Voted Against Providing $1 Billion In Economic Assistance, Including Job Training. In 1992, McCain voted against providing $1 billion for various programs designed to help those struggling economically, including job training funding. [1992 Senate Vote #146, 7/2/1992, McCain: Y]

Re: rock [rockylee]

by gagrice on Fri Sep 05 21:19:32 PDT 2008

I just can't support that type of economics and never will You have no choice. And it will get worse. When my daughter and SIL were offered a job in Indiana paying what he was making here with a slight raise. I said go for it. They are finally saving money. There rent is half of what it was here in San Diego. He only drives 5 miles to work. Here school bus is $500 per year for my grandson. It is free in Indiana. You need to go where the best wage to cost of living ratio is. It is not static. It is always changing. Michigan had a good run. Now it is Dead. I see no possible way for it to EVER regain the glory of the past. There are people so far above President Bush or Clinton that could care less about your woes. They think globally. though I think Clinton has secured himself a spot in that world. He is flying rather high these days. His non profit is sitting on half a billion dollars. He is knocking down close to $20 million per year. And all he has to do is jet set around cruising chicks with one of his billionaire buddies. I did not get to see McCain's speech. Someone talked about his experience in Vietnam. He went from a selfish hotshot jet pilot to an insignificant piece of crap in a little cell. Rocky the sooner you learn that in this world you and I are insignificant, the easier it will be for you to really be someone.

Re: Several problems and now a bad transmission [pjsexton]

by coldcranker on Mon Aug 11 20:16:49 PDT 2008

pisexton, Could you write back with what they found failed in the transmission? Sounds like the inner cones cracked or the steel belt broke (guessing). I don't know if I would single out the Freestyle for reliability problems. A friend of mine bought a Honda Pilot a couple of years ago and he was saying he bought it because it was predicted to be reliable. Then he had a cylinder bank head crack (serious stuff), and 3 months later his transmission failed. Still, like the Freestyle, you can look at the total population of Freestyles and Pilots out there and see they both do better than average than other models out there. I think we're seeing normal random failures, part of the chance we take when we own vehicles of any kind. I do hear and see in Consumer Reports that Chryslers fail at a higher rate than any other make of vehicle.

Re: Watching the clock (or calendar)... [corvette]

by michaell on Fri Aug 08 06:44:35 PDT 2008

He said used XC90s are pretty good values now, especially for someone who doesn't do a lot of driving. My sister has a lease of a Honda Pilot that is up next April and that is exactly what she is thinking of doing, much like qbrozen. Find a good, 2 or 3 year old XC90 for $20-22K and hang onto it. Of course, she's got three boys (ages 11, 8 and 5), so she's very much into safety. And, she drives about 5 miles a day between home, work and the kids' school.

Re: Saw Ford Flex Today [ateixeira]

by coldcranker on Mon Aug 04 09:49:04 PDT 2008

".............It's tricky to price an Entourage because their "Limited" model isn't truly loaded, a moonroof is still optional for instance. Of course Toyota is guilty there as well, you need a PhD to understand their options packages, plus they change it every year..........." The best way to compare is to start with the cheapest, base model of each. Most beginning with the '08 model year come with a lot of airbags and stability control standard, so the comparison is not bad. With options, the price can go up fast. Someone on a budget might shop for the base version of a given model. With that, the '08 Odyssey, if you can find a base version out there, is 6 thousand cheaper than an '09 Flex just appearing in showrooms. Someone stuck on getting a Honda might want the Pilot, at about 5,000 more than an Odyssey, and realize the model year-end deal on the Odyssey is the bargain. The base Odyssey LX is about the cost of the Suzuki XL-7, and I'd say the Odyssey is the better deal. However, with the XL-7, you can wear black leather when in it and look cool/tough because Suzuki also makes motorcycles, while the Odyssey minivan only looks good in front of Toys-R-Us.