tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354162813915609710.post1851727580783568775..comments2023-05-14T04:05:43.719-07:00Comments on getting flak: Car Allowancearlopophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00092823159317982207noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354162813915609710.post-23955298561258707672008-07-05T20:40:00.000-07:002008-07-05T20:40:00.000-07:00Bummer -- the only damage I've experienced with my...Bummer -- the only damage I've experienced with my Camry H is the squeaky center console! (Which I could and should take in for free work under warranty, but who wants the bother of a full day in the shop?)Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796160202412618248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354162813915609710.post-37850394408879510412008-07-05T18:29:00.000-07:002008-07-05T18:29:00.000-07:00The Camry and my Murano are fine with two seats bu...The Camry and my Murano are fine with two seats but child seats are quite wide. There's simply no room for three across. This is the reason that families buy minivans, sadly.<BR/><BR/>As for the Highlander - when we were looking for a new car for me we drove the Highlander, the Pilot and the Murano. The Pilot came in not too far behind the Murano, but the Highlander was ghastly to both my wife and myself. It felt cheaply made, plastic, and was really unresponsive. It was rejected without even a backward glance which was surprising because before we started test driving it was the one I thought we would end up buying.<BR/><BR/>It's only because the camry is a good hybrid that we even bought that one. Two days after we got the camry home one of the interior covers of the roof pillars that hides the side-curtain airbag just fell off in my wife's lap. The plastic housing of the door handle popped off. It rattles incessantly. It drives well but the quality of workmanship is just awful. <BR/><BR/>Meanwhile my Murano has never had a single problem - not one - mechanical or cosmetic. <BR/><BR/>I just have a problem with toyotas in general.<BR/><BR/>I know, long answer, but after a day of test-driving vehicles that were well-put together I am even more put off by Toyota.arlopophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00092823159317982207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354162813915609710.post-13037022233665118012008-07-05T11:24:00.000-07:002008-07-05T11:24:00.000-07:00Naively, I ask why the Camry can't handle three ca...Naively, I ask why the Camry can't handle three car seats if it can handle three adults in back and has three seatbelts. Is it the logistics of squeezing the middle child in? (I honestly have no idea, having no experience with carseats.)<BR/><BR/>Highlander hybrid? 27/25 mpg.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16796160202412618248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354162813915609710.post-36368664533481175012008-07-04T13:49:00.000-07:002008-07-04T13:49:00.000-07:00Good luck finding a larger SUV or large crossover ...Good luck finding a larger SUV or large crossover that doesn't drive like a bus - that's just life.<BR/><BR/>Having said that, the Volvo XC90 handles very well for being as bulky as it is, and the turbo straight 6 is pretty economical for the size of the vehicle. The Acura MDX wouldn't give you adequate "fun to drive" factor without the sport package added in, as it's floaty.<BR/><BR/>Another crossover you should look into is the Mazda CX9. It's designed like the Murano, where it's not sure if it's a sports car or if it's a SUV, and is over all very nice.<BR/><BR/>Two more vehicles you might consider are Dodge Durano and Chrysler Aspen. Sure, they're not all that great (or all that bad), but they do have one thing going for them that no one else does right now - unlimited lifetime powertrain warranty. You could pay off the vehicle, keep it's maintenance up, and when the kids are old enough to drive, they'll have something they can make gas money on when taking friends to school. If you do get one, get the Hemi engine - it gets better gas milage than the smaller V8 does, with better power.<BR/><BR/>Of course, the other thing you could do is wait for the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid...it's supposed to get similar gas milage to a Toyota Camry 4 cyl, and it's guaranteed to be big enough for you, the wife, and the kiddos.<BR/><BR/>Finally, there's the Nissan Quest. It shares the same platform that your Murano uses, just in school bus...er mini-van form. From what I understand, it's not a bad ride overall and handles well for it's size.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354162813915609710.post-14208517910958553952008-07-03T19:47:00.000-07:002008-07-03T19:47:00.000-07:00sedona sucks in reliability - so sayeth consumer r...sedona sucks in reliability - so sayeth consumer reports<BR/><BR/>In <BR/>engine cooling<BR/>climate system <BR/>body trim (it falls off)<BR/>body integrity<BR/>body hardware<BR/>audio system<BR/>electrical system<BR/>fuel system<BR/>drive system<BR/>and my favorite for a family car...<BR/>Brakes<BR/><BR/>But its exhaust gets top scoresarlopophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00092823159317982207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354162813915609710.post-32569629858382425292008-07-03T19:25:00.000-07:002008-07-03T19:25:00.000-07:00kia sedona, if you've got what it takes...kia sedona, if you've got what it takes...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com