Dukes or Hellman’s?

Jeppo

Jeppo

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I’m posting this with only good intentions but, knowing it may start a firestorm.

A week ago, our 2004 GMC Envoy bit the dust. It had been a decent vehicle for 17 years and 91,000 miles. Since the rest of our “fleet” is comprised of clown cars, this was the long trip, run to Home Depot, wife’s clubs in the back, 4WD in crappy weather vehicle. I could probably substitute this with a beater pickup were it not for one issue. In light of the severity of the accident and only very minor scrapes, I want to own another 2 ton plus vehicle.

This is the absolute worst time to be car shopping. The lots are 85% empty and dealers smell blood in the water. They consider full boat to be a good deal today. Nevertheless, here I am. So far, I’ve seriously considered:

Ford Explorer
GMC Acadia

I guess other candidates might be:

Dodge Durango
Whatever Toyota makes (after walking around the local lot for 10 or 15 minutes, some stupid salesman walked by me and asked whether I needed help. I answered “It’s up to you” and left.)
Something from Kia/Hyundai, Subaru or Nissan

Three rows are ok but two would be better (we never remember having had people in the third row of the Envoy).

Anyone have advice/experience to share?


54850A3E-95EA-426D-9AE0-B3C7DE5887C9.jpeg
 
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4door Super crew 4wd truck. F150, Chevy 1500, Dodge Rambo.

you’ll grow a foot taller, five years younger, and women will chat you up at the gas station, which you will spend more time at filling your 36 gallon tank.
 
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My vote would be Ford Explorer, I am on my 2nd one now. I got this one when my other one hit 250,000 miles even though it was still running well with no extra maint expense i was driving 140 miles/day to work and back. This one is @ 123,000 now. It gets 21 mpg but then I probably keep my foot pretty flat when driving usually 65-70 with occasional forays in the 85-90 range.
 
@Axehandle
For reasons I don’t really understand, I’m more drawn to the Explorer than the GMC. But, the one Explorer I’ve found nearby, decked out properly, is a LOT more money than the similarly decked out Acadia I’ve found near here. The difference is mostly the dealers’ willingness to deal.
 
Jeppo said:
(after walking around the local lot for 10 or 15 minutes, some stupid salesman walked by me and asked whether I needed help. I answered “It’s up to you” and left.)
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Mayonnaise-Get what you need--I honestly think this is the right attitude to have. Always be willing to walk, and do it.
I went to a dealership that I had been to before, already knew what car I wanted to see, and how much I was gonna pay, from looking on-line.
I asked direct questions that would make them show me that vehicle.
It was raining, I drove the vehicle, scared the salesman, and then told him a price almost 3000. below their asking, in cash. (They hate cash now)
I also followed by reminding him it was raining and nobody was coming to buy a car, but I would not bullshit and buy the car if they could not bullshit and sell it.
I followed that statement with, "you can either go back to looking at internet porn or sell a car in the rain, your decision." He got the sales manager.
I bought the car for 2400. below their asking, and got a solid deal.
Look for a ship that turns stock and has a wide used selection.
 
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@Bloodyhands
Last time I bought a Ford, I had an excruciating experience at the local dealership. They had the unit I wanted but wouldn’t get close to the quote of a dealer about 25 minutes away (same specs). I explained what I was willing to pay (the other dealer’s quote) and that I was more than willing to travel to the other dealer to get that deal.

The salesman explained “That’s the oldest trick in the book. When you get there, that vehicle will already be sold and they’ll step you up into a more expensive version”. I countered that I had more time than money and was willing to take that chance. Round and round we went until he‘d beaten me down (not realizing that I’m a career Sales Executive and have managed and spit out a hundred guys like him).

I stood up from the table and asked how late he was working. He answered and then I asked which way he turned out of the lot on his way home. He answered, “right”. I said that was perfect. I suggested he drive down one block and look in the last driveway on the left, just before the stoplight. If he didn’t see a new, white Explorer he should call me the next morning.

They made the deal immediately. 🤓
 
GoWolfpack said:
The Chevy Traverse is excellent (at least in size and price for my preference). It's at least as roomy as my Tahoe but costs about $20K less new. I wish I had bought one instead of my Tahoe honestly.
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We just bought our first Traverse and opted for the captain chairs in the second row and included third row seats.

Roomy.........plenty of leg room..........sits high enough off the ground and it's no problem for me to get in and out of. We chose the LT option and it had all the features we need.

I'm satisfied that we'll enjoy it.
 
Jeppo said:
I’m posting this with only good intentions but, knowing it may start a firestorm.

A week ago, our 2004 GMC Envoy bit the dust. It had been a decent vehicle for 17 years and 91,000 miles. Since the rest of our “fleet” is comprised of clown cars, this was the long trip, run to Home Depot, wife’s clubs in the back, 4WD in crappy weather vehicle. I could probably substitute this with a beater pickup were it not for one issue. In light of the severity of the accident and only very minor scrapes, I want to own another 2 ton plus vehicle.

This is the absolute worst time to be car shopping. The lots are 85% empty and dealers smell blood in the water. They consider full boat to be a good deal today. Nevertheless, here I am. So far, I’ve seriously considered:

Ford Explorer
GMC Acadia

I guess other candidates might be:

Dodge Durango
Whatever Toyota makes (after walking around the local lot for 10 or 15 minutes, some stupid salesman walked by me and asked whether I needed help. I answered “It’s up to you” and left.)
Something from Kia/Hyundai, Subaru or Nissan

Three rows are ok but two would be better (we never remember having had people in the third row of the Envoy).

Anyone have advice/experience to share?


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Either Dukes or your wrong
 
larryh1108 said:
Do you have a price range?
I know a few dealers who I'd buy from (and have) and would send you to in a heartbeat.
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Thanks Larry. After dinner I’ll PM you the window stickers of the two vehicles that interested me and are very close to home.
 
In my experience. Ford and GM both make very nice vehicles.
Some guys swear by Ford and swear at GM and vice versa.
How can both be wrong or right?
Some like blondes, some like brunettes and some like red heads.
Is everybody right or is everybody wrong?
I know that it is the vehicle that you buy that makes the difference meaning that specific auto.
Every company makes some lemons.
Every gun maker makes some lemons.
The chances are less with a well known brand than a nobody brand in getting a lemon but if you look at the
JD Power rankings of reliable cars, they all suck, to a degree.
Kia, Hyundai and the Japanese cars rate high but they have their lemons as well.
There is no guarantee that the specific auto you buy won't have issues or will be perfect.
Assess your needs and your budget.
The days of brand loyalty went out with my parent's generation.
They all make great autos and they all make some lemons.
Do you feel lucky today?
Well, do you, punk?
 
Brangus said:
We just bought our first Traverse and opted for the captain chairs in the second row and included third row seats.

Roomy.........plenty of leg room..........sits high enough off the ground and it's no problem for me to get in and out of. We chose the LT option and it had all the features we need.

I'm satisfied that we'll enjoy it.
Click to expand...


Is yours cloth or leather? Assuming it still exists in it's current form we'll be buying one when we replace my wife's Tahoe.

They did a major redesign (and improvement) to the Traverse in 2018. I would not recommend a 2017 as highly.
 
GoWolfpack said:
Is yours cloth or leather? Assuming it still exists in it's current form we'll be buying one when we replace my wife's Tahoe.

They did a major redesign (and improvement) to the Traverse in 2018. I would not recommend a 2017 as highly.
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Cloth seats
 
We had a 2003 Envoy XL that was a great vehicle until it just about hit 100k and started falling apart. We traded it in for a one year old 2008 Acadia. I really liked that vehicle but it had some real problems while under warranty. Unfortunately, I kept it after the warranty expired and still had a bunch of issues. I spent $7,000 on it in repairs the last year we had it. Replaced the steering rack, the transmission, the lifetime timing chain etc... The dealership covered most of the labor on these charges and I had to pay for parts because most of these were also dealt with during warranty at some point. I picked it up from getting the timing chain done in 2013 and traded it in for a 2012 Toyota Sequoia. Haven't looked back. Sequoia now has around 130k miles and plan to keep it forever.
 
Brangus said:
We just bought our first Traverse and opted for the captain chairs in the second row and included third row seats.

Roomy.........plenty of leg room..........sits high enough off the ground and it's no problem for me to get in and out of. We chose the LT option and it had all the features we need.

I'm satisfied that we'll enjoy it.
Click to expand...
Won't keep up with that Ford Explorer you had will it??? Get @Geezer , @garvin or Cousin jerry to tell about their 130 MPH trip to Wagrum in that Twin Turbo Explorer Sport RS had.

Also my man Freddie in the lab put Over 500,000 on 3 different Explorers. Yep 1.5 Million miles....normal service and tires, nothing else.
He ended up totaling all 3 on his 150 mile a day commute.
 
Brangus said:
We just bought our first Traverse and opted for the captain chairs in the second row and included third row seats.

Roomy.........plenty of leg room..........sits high enough off the ground and it's no problem for me to get in and out of. We chose the LT option and it had all the features we need.

I'm satisfied that we'll enjoy it.
Click to expand...
I was looking awhile back at the traverse. If I was gonna buy something right now, that’d be it
 
@Jeppo , you have it narrowed down to a couple of good selections. After driving some vehicles for a local car dealer, I wouldn't be afraid to buy a KIA. The Sorento is a very nice SUV.
 
larryh1108 said:
The Pontiac Aztek was a bomb for Pontiac but it was too far ahead of it's time.
If it came out in the last 5-7 years, it would have done fine.
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I was in the car business 20 years ago for a short time while starting my business. We sold the crap out of the Buick version of that spectacle. The Rendezvous. Great ride. Very spacious cargo area. The key difference was just cosmetic.
 
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Geezer said:
@Jeppo , you have it narrowed down to a couple of good selections. After driving some vehicles for a local car dealer, I wouldn't be afraid to buy a KIA. The Sorento is a very nice SUV.
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HA!

Nancy mentioned several times, maybe a month ago, that she‘d like a Sorento. I told her it really wasn’t the best time to be car shopping. Last week, she made car shopping a higher priority. 😥
 
What makes this tough is that it’s no longer possible to visit a dealer and see the brand‘s entire lineup.
 
Check Carvana and see what they have.
 
I highly endorse the Kia Sorento. My daughter has one and loves it.
I worked at Kia for 5 years and was very impressed with how much you got for the money.
Their warranty is also second to none.
If you are not looking for a V8 for towing or hauling then it is a solid choice.
 
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