My racing days are over...

[BrianT]

Well, moving up to Denver has brought a whole new view on what i am going to drive. My parents and I feel that my celica is not a car i should be driving back and forth from denver to st.louis. I thought i was getting the wrx, but turns out i have to get an SUV. THis means i might be switching to the Domestic world with a new Durango. What other suv's should i consider that are new and under or around $25,000? So officially new celica is for sale, however i prolly wont be parting it out.
thanks

[Deftech]

You have to get an SUV? Wouldn't the economy of a Celica be better for driving back and forth or is it a winter saftey thing?

But hey a Durango is a nice vehicle. I would want one if I could afford another car.

[BrianT]

Its not so much the gas prices, its more going 70mph for 12 hours in a lowered celica isnt going to be fun. They are also concerned about the weather and safety.

[Silver-toy]

Thats a bummer.

Just my 2 cents here...
Don't get a Suv. Get a Tacoma 4 door with the TRD package. Personally I think its a pretty sharp truck and honestly it has a great back seat. Its a full back seat and you still get a Bed...sort of, so you get lots of room and its very comfortable for more than 2 people to sit in. Also, it rides very nice. Hey! and TRD even makes a Supercharger for it haha.

Josh

[BrianT]

I dont really need a truck, espeically in the winter, or when i am hauling stuff in the back. The durango is 4.7 liter V8 and should do the job. I was thinking about the new ford lightning truck though!!

[scapamouche]

The lightning will be far MORE dangersous than the Celica if safety is a concern: RWD with over 450ft lbs of torque, no weight in the back and 295mm wide tires...... That's a recipe for disaster.....

[borpph]

Lightning's a gas guzzler. I'm with Silver-toy, get a Tacoma truck, those are nice.

[MR2 Quik]

How much you selling your Celi for??? Just curious. :D

[Griffin]

Hmm you could try the new 03 4Runner coming out this year.. word is that you get to choose either a 4.0 V6 or a V8 :)

Griffin

[GTS808]

Instead of an SUV, how about a WRX wagon? AWD for bad weather and pretty good cargo room.

[Da Kine Guy]

Doesn't that sound weird "I have to get an SUV"
Why do you have to get an SUV, are your parents paying for it? If I were you and was looking for a comfort car with V8 power I would look at getting an older Lexus LS400. Awesome ride, great comfort, plenty of room, lots of amenities, and V8 power:D. Gas mileage isn't the greatest, but hey, you're contemplating getting a SUV so that point is kinda mute.

If you want comfort and economy I suggest you look at an Infiniti G20. They are very very plush 4-bangers.

[Pure Racer]

The Matrix is an SUV :) And is also under $25,000 and is sharp looking!!! I think i see mroe Matrix's then Celica's now up in Washington... Anyways, why do yo ufeel you can't drive your Celica anymore??? And I don't think Lightenings are under $25,000, or are they??? Have you guys seen the new mid-size SUV from Lexus, the GX470??? Pretty nice...

[BrianT]

It sounds weird, but yes, i have to get an SUV. They are paying for it, not to mention everything related to the car. They feel its the safest type of vehicle to get. Like i stated earlier I have to get something new because they do not like dealings with used cars.

I was joking about the lightning...there is no way i would get that or any truck, they just are not appealing to me.

As for the price, i have no clue. Its going to be sold locally and as-is. any ideas on how much i could get? 2000 gt auto with 20k miles.
thanks

[vietprlnce62]

forget all of the other cars u want a real suv for that price got out and get a 98 navigator!! u can find them for around that price if not a newer model
but thats just my opinion

[B-GTS]

ummm, no offense but SUV's are freaking death traps. They are not designed to handle the road at 70mph. If you try to do an emergency manouver chances are you are going to roll over and die. Bigger is not always better or safer.
Try an Audi A4 or A6 for safety. How about a Volvo or a Saab if your parents are concerned. Cars stay on the road, SUV find themselves upside down in a ditch.
I guess you can tell I hate SUV's, but for an obvious good reason.

[BRAK]

Nissan Xterra's are cool ..... Acura MDX .... I do like the RAV 4's too, they have that sporty not to big but yet fun and attractive syling. You can say to the parents that a Matrix , and Subaru Hatchback are like mini SUV's :thumbup:

[RacingCelica]

yea get a Nissan Xterra. They look hella nice.

[Da Kine Guy]

hmm, remember though, sometimes the safest car is the one that can avoid the accident all together. I'd rather narrowlly miss an accident the have one and be safe. Just wondering, have your parents seen some of the crashes ppl have walked away from in the Celica? Do a search for some pics, there are some horrendous accidents and the victim gets back on to post about it the next day. If they are really that concerned then why not take the Grey Hound. With the bigger is safer mentality the bus would have anything you can get under $25k beat. Do your parents pay for your gas and insurance too? Cause both of those costs are gonna be way way high with you driving that thing. Even if you put it under your parents policy and have you listed as the primary driver it is only gonna be little cheaper then if you take out your own policy.

But hey, who knows, maybe you have your heart set out on driving a SUV. Though for under 25k you're not gonna get anything near as nice or comfortable as an older LS400. It's really not that much of a to do to purchase used vehicle. Specially a Lexus, I mean, what kind of people do you think own those kinds of vehicles anyways, poor man shmoe can't pay for engine maintainence? Oh well, your choice man.

[iDRIVE]

I dont feel safe when im on or driving an SUV. It feels like its gonna roll over every time you turn.

[oldster]

Never had the Celica in the snow but it is certainly the best car for traveling I've ever had bar none. What are you doing that is requiring you to have a SUV?

PS - Don't want to start anything but you have to admit that your topic is pretty humerous for an auto GT.

[StickItInSixth]

Originally posted by BrianT
I dont really need a truck, espeically in the winter, or when i am hauling stuff in the back. The durango is 4.7 liter V8 and should do the job. I was thinking about the new ford lightning truck though!! that a great thought but the new lightnings start at around 33k.. i haven't seen one for 25k yet.. if so i'd consider buying it..

[VZV21]

get a RAV4.

[t2000gts]

i think you need to sit down with your parents, or maybe someone they will listen to and explain to them they're out of their minds.

an SUV will be horrible for interstate travelling, it has much worse mileage, and NO suv is as stable as a celica at higher speeds for longer periods of time.

if you can, i would try to sell them on the idea of a toyota matrix or pontiac vibe (the latter looks more SUVish and has a roof rack and stuff)...they're actually corolla wagons in disguise, and they come with a 2ZZ-GE (180hp VVTL-i) and 6-speed right out of the Celica GTS along with a 8200rpm redline. your parents will never know. :)

[CloNeGTS]

That's too bad man. I drive CloNe as a highway car all the time. 46k in a little over 2 years. That's not insane mileage, but considering it doesn't move more than 5 miles Monday - Friday, that gives ya an idea of the trips I take. I consider the Celi an amazing road car. It's not a Caddy, but even with springs and the rest of the work, it's comfy, get ~33 MPG, and it looks kick ass.

[baNanA_ryCe]

get a tacoma..i get wek in the knees when i see those trucks....if i didn't get the celica..i woulda gotten a white tacoma..drool...

[B-GTS]

Originally posted by oldster
Never had the Celica in the snow but it is certainly the best car for traveling I've ever had bar none. What are you doing that is requiring you to have a SUV?

PS - Don't want to start anything but you have to admit that your topic is pretty humerous for an auto GT.

I drive my GT-S thru the snow up here in Canada eh.....
Just put a set of good snowtires on. The thing is amazing in the snow, especially when using the hand brake for corners.

[Willis5050]

the drive from st louis to denver is flat and boring for the most part, and i had no trouble doing it in the celica. you should really reconsider because bigger isnt always better. you will get less than half the gas mileage, you will be subject to crosswind in the tall suv along the flat plains, and suv's are a pain to drive. just have you parents buy you some decent all weather tires and you are set.

[borpph]

I like GTS808's idea of a WRX/wagon. Rav4's are pretty cool though too.

[Drew]

Originally posted by BrianT
What other suv's should i consider that are new and under or around $25,000?

The Ford Escape is a nice SUV you could get brand new for that price range...a RAV 4 or a CRV could also be purchased in that price range.

[blahx]

or ya know... if there is snow along the way on the trip... pull off and go to sleep till its cleared out..

[Bud]

Id say the Durango R/T. That or the new supercharged Nissan Xterra. Those are the best choices you could make :)

[dx3162]

The New 4-Runner is suppose to be nice, and offered with a V8. My mom Drives a 98 Durango, and it is ok...but she will be getting a 03 4-Runner as soon as she can. That will mean everyone in my family has a Yoda....dad has a Tacoma, which I like a lot. Too bad its not a TRD.

[SloGTS]

Originally posted by dx3162
The New 4-Runner is suppose to be nice, and offered with a V8.

Or get the Lower V6 model and slap TRD Supercharger....

[krazyone]

Originally posted by BrianT
It sounds weird, but yes, i have to get an SUV. They are paying for it, not to mention everything related to the car. They feel its the safest type of vehicle to get.

Please tell us exactly why u are getting an SUV. Frankly the celica is a much safer car than any SUV , and the MPG is incredible. You're gonna end up paying alot for gas, and ur gonna be extra careful on what speed ur running. so why exactly do u need 1?

[turbokid]

Get a Sequoia! TRD is supposed to start production on SC soon!

www.briansbackyard.com/tmp/sequoia.jpg

[BrianT]

wow, thanks for all the responses. it is not my choice to get an suv at all. my rents are paying for car, insurance(if nothing happens), and gas. An suv is the last thing i would want for driving back and forth. I am trying hard to convince them that i do not need an suv, and that a wrx or a4 can do the same purposes an suv will do. i think the storage room in the trunk is also a factor to them. right now i am still car shopping and nothing if offical. hopefully i will not have to get the suv.

[chameleon]

BrianT, if you really don't want the SUV, it should be pretty easy to convince your parents not to buy you one. You say that their number one priority is your safety, and that they feel that the SUV is the safest type of vehical on the road. The fact of the matter is that an SUV is by far the most dangerous type of vehical that they could possabley buy you, and that is not based on personal bias, it is based on proven facts. Don't just tell them that they are dangerous, show them with proof. Take the time to do a little research on the subject, there are tons of tests and reports out there that basically say that SUV's are death traps. A bunch of replies here mentioned rolling over during sudden movements, but no one mentioned the fact that SUV's have much much worse breaking performance due to their size/weight when compaired to cars/vans/trucks. Not to mention that if you get hit from the side the SUV will roll over due to its high center of gravity. Basically, the only way that you won't be killed or seriously injured in a roll over type accident is if you get hit at very low speeds in a parking lot or something, or if some on hits you head on(which definately wouldn't be a good thing). If you get hit with any force from the side, your going to tip over and die. Tell them that. Just search for safety tests on the internet and print up the data and show them. Here is a couple that I found by doing a quick two second search.

http://www.consumersunion.org/products/pittle402.htm

http://poseur.4x4.org/reasons2.html#Safe

That should get you started. Just from skimming over the articals I found two good quotes. The consumers report quoted the chairman of NHTSA saying, and I quote...

Rollovers cause 55,000 to 60,000 serious injuries every year. So it is the most common cause of accidents amongst these vehicles. And we know today that sport utility vehicles have a two to four times higher probability of rolling over than passenger cars due to their higher center of gravity

That should have some effect on your parents. It won't just come across as you being winy or complaining about not wanting an SUV when you quote the chairman of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration saying that SUV's are deadly. The other site is interesting, it not only lists the safety dissadvantages of an SUV, but several others as well. It seems like a good site to print some pages out and show to your parents. They list the sources for their data too, so you know that the information is creditable. Here are a few good quotes from them...

Taken as a whole, statistics show that cars are safer designs than SUVs. Most of the best selling SUVs still use ladder frames from pickup trucks, which are not designed to absorb collision impacts. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), "In single vehicle crashes, heavy vehicles with stiff frames (most SUVs) might actually do more to harm the vehicle's occupants because there is little give, or energy absorption engineering, to dissipate the force of running into an immovable object."

...the fact is that SUVs roll twice as often as cars do according to NHSTA (National Highway Safety and Traffic Association) statistics. How can a supposedly "safe" vehicle generate these numbers?

That should get you started. Quite frankly, I don't know how your parents could justify purchasing this type of vehical, susposedly for your safety, after you show them some cold hard facts like these.

[BrianT]

thanks a lot for your input. i have tried explaining every aspect which makes suv's a lot unsafer than cars, however they wont budge. today i am going out, so i am gonna have another talk with them.
thanks again for all of your inputs

[Whiteboy]

get a landrover freelander

[Chiznarles]

Originally posted by Da Kine Guy
...Gas mileage isn't the greatest, but hey, you're contemplating getting a SUV so that point is kinda mute.


i believe the word you're looking for is "moot."

[BrianT]

Actually i looked at the freelander and all it is, is the ford escape with a landrover name. It really disappointed me and if i am gonna get an suv, i want a real suv and not a sedan trying to be an suv. Right now another option is the new Altima with the sport package(comes with dual exhaust and more hp i believe).

[oldster]

I guess I'm not understanding your goal at all if another option is an Altima?? :confused:

[Da Kine Guy]

Originally posted by Chiznarles


i believe the word you're looking for is "moot."

Hahahahaaha, I can't believe I did that :) Oh well :chuckles:

[BrianT]

if i can convince my rents that i do not need an suv, which i think i have almost done, then a sedan would be the next option. however, they dont want a small sedan like the wrx.

either way, i am gonna be sad to see the celi go. i have had a fun 3 years with it and without any problems. One thing i am gonna miss is all the stares and looks i get drivin down the road. kids to dads and grandma's are always takin a glance over when i pull next to them. i love seein civics drive by and no one gives a damn but then i pull up and all eyes are on the celica. i wish i could keep this car and modify the hell out of it cause i am having a lot of fun. i am definately gonna still be checkin out the boards to see whats new.

[buckeye23]

No offense, but I think your parents are on crack. It's more cost effective and safer to have a car. SUVs get ****ty mpg, like 12/16. Where as the celica gets what, 28/32. You will be filling your tank 2 to 3 times per week depending on your driving with an SUV. Maybe your parents are suffering from "I had a crappy car growing up, so should you." syndrome. Why does you driving a lowered Celica for 12 hours bother them? It's you driving it. Maybe I'm missing something, but this doesn't make any sense.

[atehrani]

Originally posted by buckeye23
No offense, but I think your parents are on crack. It's more cost effective and safer to have a car. SUVs get ****ty mpg, like 12/16. Where as the celica gets what, 28/32. You will be filling your tank 2 to 3 times per week depending on your driving with an SUV. Maybe your parents are suffering from "I had a crappy car growing up, so should you." syndrome. Why does you driving a lowered Celica for 12 hours bother them? It's you driving it. Maybe I'm missing something, but this doesn't make any sense.


:stupid:

[kuno]

Why can't you have your parents wait a few months 'till all the new STi or Evo comes out? Its AWD man... well then again I dunno about the reliability of those cars.

In your "Rents" defense, one thing about the Celi that I don't like is the noise when you are on the highway.. 12 hrs will make you def and tired from all the noise...

[Torn Prince]

Get a Montero Sport XS edition

[Da Kine Guy]

Dude, your parents are weird, that's all I gotta say. Sounds to me like they are jealous of seeing you cruising around in such a unique and cool car that they want to slap you into some "my mom has that car" vehicle. Very weird :confused:

[BrianT]

ha ha, actually my pops drives a new infiniti i30 and my mom has an lexus rx300 which she is sellin for an audi tt or bmw ci...

hopefully i can come out with the sport altima with a stick.

[jotan82]

http://manifestation.org/~ill/images/funny/ownedballs.jpg

:wave: