Modern Vespa

We had an '02 Forester that was paid off when my daughter wrecked it on an icy road. Went to look for another but that was just when the new model CR-V came out. I'm 6' tall and was never comfortable in the Forester. My knees always felt cramped and the seat always felt like it wasn't back far enough. Anyone in the back seat was in for the torture chamber leg-room wise if I had the seat all the way back.

The CR-V is far more comfortable, does almost as well in snow and ice and gets much better mileage. No matter how fast or slow I went on the freeway the Forester got 26 mpg. I've gotten as much as 32 in the CR-V

peace..I'm out...

Another Audi fan here (nothing as exotic as an RS6, just a nicely-equipped A3 diesel) and I thoroughly recommend the VW group products also

Tiguan: good! Do you guys get Skodas over there? If you do, how about an Octavia Scout diesel? 4x4, 40+mpg, high-quality stuff from one of VW's "budget" brands 8)

The Audis are too expensive. Per Consumer Reports, the A4, which I see around here a lot, ranges from $29k to $57k!
The various VWs - I don't recognize the names, maybe they're renamed them. We do have the Tiguan and the Touareg.

tbooth, on our recent road trip in our Forester, our mileage per tank ranged from 28 to 32. Our overall was 29. We had long stretches where we drove 80 mph (I love the West!)

The CR-V was nicer inside, but I'm leaning toward the RAV4. I think we should have the additional power, especially since it seems to get about the same mileage. However, my husband will be driving the car so he should have the final say.

Unfortunately no..... we don't get them....

He, he, he....
Fromt alking with people that got the DRC fixed... it is FIXED now!!!

Absolutely love our Tribeca.....also an outstanding used value. Some people did not like the 2007 versions, but I find it very stylish, and the price for quality cannot be beat. From someone who lives in winterland for most of the year I never had any problems. Go Subaru!

If you can get a Tiguan 2.0 turbodiesel I'd highly recommend. It's 140 hp and around 50 mpg, and in all likelihood quicker than a normal Forester or CRV (I am aware there is/was a performance-oriented Forester). The main thing that puts me off these Japanese breeds are the interiors - they work fine and are up to scratch quality-wise but meh, you could be sitting in a new underground train for all the thought they put into the design of them.

I understand you may love your car - I'm sure it has many qualities which hold you in good stead. But what the hell did Subaru do to it's poor face?

http://www.carworks.com/images/newdesign/cars/07-tribeca-hero.jpg

Shame you can't get the Skoda range your side of the water: this would have been worth a look: http://www.autodino.de/autonews/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/scout.jpg

Wow skoda has made some progress in looks since last time I saw them on the road in the early 90's. As for the Tribeca looks...well I come from a Alfa Romeo family and the designer for this look came straight from Alfa. I find it very nice....but to each his/her own I guess!

Skoda used to be an automotive joke - but since the mid-90s they really have improved and there's no stigma any more: VW tech, good quality and competitive pricing.

Ah I see a bit of Alfa now you mention it - not sure it works on a truck/SUV thing but I like Edsels, so my opinion doesn't count for much

We have an AWD CRV. Can you say gas sucker? We get 17-18 mi city and I think we got 24 on the hwy once.

Tiguan TDI in America!

HEY VW ARE YOU LISTENING??????????????????

My local VW dealer here in Colorado cannot keep the TDI Jettas and Passatts in stock - I don't think the Tiguan TDI is shipping here.

Love my Forester. I have the top of the line. Leather seats with heaters, sunroof, etc. Great for camping.

I have an 08 CR-V EXL with 15,000 miles on it. I can have any car I want, but this one suits my situation well. I find the seats comfortable, the steering and handling fun for a mini SUV, and at 60 years with parts falling off me, it's easy to ingress and egress.

One of the tricks with a honda is they KNOW transmission gearing. They get a lot out the 2.4 Ltr. engine. Decent acceleration on the flats and hills. Good gas mileage too. Utterly reliable so far.

It's also got plenty of cubbyholes for storage (I sold and S-2000 because there was nowhere to put sunglasses, even.

I', keepin it. Next choice for me would be the Subaru.

All the best!

+1 to Subaru. We have a big black Forester and it's perfect. Loads of room, canoe racks on top and very comfortable.

A friend with a bad back told me that Subaru are the only manufactorers that provide seats that don't hurt his back. I have been on some pretty long drives and I can tell you the Subie is awesome.

Also a factor, the visibility throughout is great. No blind spots.

Lastly i find my Subie is just the right height. I did have a Honda and I felt like everytime I got into it I had to kind of squirm down - it was a touch un-co. But the Subie is juuuuust right!

Haven't read all of the posts - check out some American models - a good friend has a new Escape (Ford) Hybrid - I really like it/have no idea what she paid but if only my Jeep got that mileage...

Whew! We drove to the dealer in our '96 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and drove home in our new........Toyota RAV4! After the Cash for Clunkers was re-funded, we went back to our local dealer, and wow what a change. They had practically no cars. No matter, they had what we wanted - RAV4 Limited in White. It was their last RAV4. I saved the cargo net from the Jeep. I thought I might be able to use it on my Vespa somehow.