Crossing Over? (Crossover thread)

C

Ctowner

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What kind of lifestyle would you guys say commands a crossover SUV type vehicle? Something like the Dodge Journey or the CX9....



Awesome cars, the Journey seems like a better deal, and nice features...



But they are not really family cars. More like... Partying couples? Empty nesters makes sense...





Any thoughts?
 
Ctowner said:
What kind of lifestyle would you guys say commands a crossover SUV type vehicle? Something like the Dodge Journey or the CX9....



Awesome cars, the Journey seems like a better deal, and nice features...



But they are not really family cars. More like... Partying couples? Empty nesters makes sense...





Any thoughts?
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strange question... but I'll take a crack at it. If you want something with more utility than a car, will carry 4 pasengers in comfort, the ability to tote a lot of stuff, & maybe do some LIGHT off-roading (fire trails, etc.), a cross-over may be for you.



I don't worry too much about what other people think of my vehicle choices. I sold a Lincoln Mark VIII LSC & a ford ranger, and bought a cross-over:



overallafter.jpg




It's really just a tall car, but it's comfortable, surprisingly roomy inside, and gets great mileage. I was sold on my particular cross-over ('04 Saturn Vue) for several reasons:



I liked the seating position. Had enough room to haul all my camping gear (or whatever), the Honda V6 engine & transmission are smooth as butter, it gets about 20 mpg city & 26-28 mpg hwy, it has dent-resistant polymer panels (a blessing in/around Los Angeles), has LOADS of power (250 hp/tq), feels light-on-its-feet, & is a nice, tidy size... perfect for maneuvering the tight confines of L.A.



Anyhow, that's my 2 cents worth...
 
I don't see why you need to pigeonhole a crossover-SUV owner, but I take exception to your statement that a crossover is not a "family" car. Why not? IMO it's the truck-based SUV's that are not "family" cars.



Does my neighbor really need a Denali XL with a 6.2l engine to take the kids to soccer practice and bring the groceries home? Even though it's got a meager payload capability for something built on a full-size truck chassis (1500 lbs), I've never seen them load anything in it except the 3 kids and some suitcases for a trip to the airport. Maybe she needs that 4WD and huge ground clearance to take the kids to school in the snow...except that they take the bus and they cancel school if there's more than 2" of snow, anyway. Or maybe it's the impressive exhaust note that makes me think the UPS truck is here every time she starts it up.



In the old days, families had station wagons. They were built on car chassis', shared the driveline and interiors with sedans (for the most part, sometimes the wagons would have a more beach-friendly interior or a bit bigger engine), and acted like, well, the family car, until you wanted to fold the seat down and put a sheet of plywood back there (gee, I wonder if you can do that in a Denali XL...)



For my money a crossover IS a family car...much more so than a gussied up work truck that the car companies can make a fortune on because they've been making them the same way since 1967. Ok...that's not entirely fair, in recent years they've updated the truck designs a bit...because they finally got caught making "trucks" for general consumption that were exempt from emissions, fuel economy, and safety standards that applied to cars...but that loophole got closed.
 
You guys are making some sense. Good call, Setec.



A crossover like Slick's Saturn would definitely work for families, but a minivan is a better option for 'space' and lugging kids around all the time.



The crossovers seem to have less space but a more stylish feel to them. I know in the Journey there are some cool compartments for storage and a really sleek exterior that makes it more young feeling.



What do you guys make of the 5 + 2 seating layouts?
 
Ctowner said:
The crossovers seem to have less space but a more stylish feel to them.
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... more or less true... less space than a minivan, but more stylish... and several have the capability for some light off-roading. Is also a valid option for those susceptible to the "minivan/soccer-mom stigma"



As a single male, I am no where NEAR the target demographic... but it works for me. Is not the most macho of vehicles, but have another toy more suited to those times when I'm feeling a little emasculated (see gallery).
 
My wife and I have a crossover and actually enjoy the fact it has more space than the actual car it's based on. As for gas mileage, it's not bad but what I want is definitely worse. :chuckle:
 
in the end, this trend of crossovers is really tricking people into thinking they're getting great MPG in an SUV. Most of them i see are still only getting 20 MPG. Good alternatives would be:



Suburu wagon-esque vehicle

Mazda 5

Jetta sport wagon (gas or diesel)
 
I got a Honda Element cause my Explorer was about to die on me. I wanted 4wd, Large amount of space for hauling my bike, dogs, and other assorted crap. I also wanted something that got better than 14-15 mpg. That what I love about my element, 4wd, about as much room as my old explorer and I get 21-24 mpg (due to a very heavy foot). Plus far less paint to worry about fading, swirling etc. :woot:
 
Wifey's vehicle is a 2007 Ford Edge SEL AWD that has everything but navgation and the rear seat DVD. It was dealer demo and we got it for $6K under MSRP



She was driving a 2001 Grand Cherokee, which I took over as my daily driver (I sold my 1997 F-150 to a loving home and owner)



The Edge has the power we wanted, AWD which comes in handy in Central New England, where in the winter it can rain one day and have a blizzard the next. It has plenty of room.



Wifey gets 16.5 to 17 mpg around town, 24 MPG+ on the highway. The Jeep gets 14 and 21.
 
I'm man enough to have a mini van. It will take us, the kids and four of their friends and stuff wherever we want to go and still manage high 20's on the highway.
 
Setec nailed it.



Crossovers are just the logical progression, “filling in� the niche of how people actually use their cars.



The vast majority of people who were driving SUV’s were just using them as “big station wagons.� One could argue it’s just another case of style over function, which it often is, but for the longest time there was also a major lack of large, practical station wagons.



Now that the stylishness is wearing thin (and gas prices are skyrocketing) the reality sets in and we find that only a small fraction of the public actually wants to go off road or tow a boat. The rest just need something bigger than a sport wagon (got’ta love them Audis though). So crossovers fit right in.



Of course there are those who would be better off with a minivan but refuse to admit it and buy something else because they’re slaves to fashion. Then they complain about not having enough space or not getting good mileage or whatever. They’re in denial. It doesn’t matter what you drive, if you treat it as a larvae limo and act like a chauffer that’s what it is.



They’d be happier if they’d follow SpoiledMan’s lead and embrace the minivan





PC.
 
Minivan's just work! We looked at crossovers and just laughed at the loss of space and lower mileage. Style is subjective. I would have rather had an MDX for the tricks that it does but I'll pass it at the pump in the minivan every time. We have all the creature comforts with more space and less fuel usage. I'm cool with that.
 
From what I read, they are for anyone who likes the idea of a smaller SUV, but would like better handling. Something that sits them higher than a car, offers good seating room, and again, they like having a SUV type vehicle.



I would rather have a wagon, especially the ones BMW, Audi and VW now offer. Who says a wagon can't look good?
 
SpoiledMan said:
Minivan's just work! We looked at crossovers and just laughed at the loss of space and lower mileage. Style is subjective. I would have rather had an MDX for the tricks that it does but I'll pass it at the pump in the minivan every time. We have all the creature comforts with more space and less fuel usage. I'm cool with that.
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My kids are all grown, and I still buy the minivan. Nothing can haul more than a truck like this vehicle can, and I get 24-26 mpg highway. I drive 500 miles a week, am 6'4 with a back problem, and wouldn't think of anything else that can compare to mileage, space, features.... very comfortable, and I like the styling of my 2008 SXT.
 
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