Medium SUVs.

creeper said:
The new Kuga. Believe it or not, but I suspect Ford has a winner on their hands. I still need to testdrive it, but it fits perfectly into the segment, but with a nice range of engines and feature list. The only thing that I would negotiate for is a maintenance plan. New cars, even tested by the manufacturer, might have unintended wear on brakes, clutch etc. that isn't covered by a service plan. Also, it seems the Diesel is a more favored by the reviewers. It is a difficult call, for I suspect that Diesel runs on 50 Sulfar diesel
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From http://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels/LatestLaunches/Fords-new-Kuga-on-the-prowl-20130413:

The Kuga comes with a four-year or 120 000km comprehensive warranty, a four-year or 80 000km service plan on petrol models, a five-year or 90 000km service plan on diesel derivatives and three years of unlimited-distance roadside assistance. Service intervals are 20 000km on petrol derivatives, 15 000km on diesels.


Why would 50ppm diesel be a problem? You can get it almost everywhere now, even in small towns.
 
creeper said:
Hyundai had a special at one point where it included a maintenance plan....or was it for the Elantra?
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I've never seen a Hyundai/Kia with a maintenance plan. The brake pads on my previous car (i20), was also rather expensive and did not last very long. Almost R3k if you do all 4. The Hyundai originals was also the only ones available.
 
alf101 said:
I'm also looking at a new car at in the next year or so.
May get either the Subaru XV (instead of the Forester) which nobody had mentioned, or a land rover.


XV-overview.jpg
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Also looked at it. (but forgot to add it to my list). Those mags :sick:
 
alf101 said:
I'm also looking at a new car at in the next year or so. May get either the Subaru XV (instead of the Forester) which nobody had mentioned, or a land rover.
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The only LR in this segment is the Freelander 2, and even that has moved upmarket in the past few years - you are looking at close to half a mil for an FL2!

However, you will be getting what is arguably the best softroader in the market, and, in the right hands, it can even run circles around some 'real' 4x4s
 
alf101 said:
I'm also looking at a new car at in the next year or so.
May get either the Subaru XV (instead of the Forester) which nobody had mentioned

[/IMG]
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Igg, I test drove it last year and oi the clutch was horrendous! It handled nicely, cornered superbly, the clutch spoiled the whole drive and was so bad not all the other redeeming feature could make up for it. Hubby was complaining left right and centre about the handbrake digging into his hip and hitting his head on both entry and exit of the vehicle. So maybe if you are smaller and shorter than 1.8m... still test drive it hopefully they fixed the clutch...
 
Why are you only looking at medium SUVs? At this price, you can look at the 2 best bakkie-based SUVs on the market: Toyota Fortuner and Chevrolet Trailblazer. I test-drove the 'Blazer this weekend and it seems like a really good car - incredibly spacious and the seats were very comfortable. Materials used inside will obviously not match up to comfort-oriented medium SUVs / crossovers, but they seem very durable and it looks quite modern.
 
Jinx10 said:
my fav at the moment based on overall package.... Used to be Kia Sportage. Your reasons?

Anyone tested one yet? Im testing the 2l on Wedneday.
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Overall package is great with all the tech across the range. Fuel economy on the 1.6l Turbo is good(gutsy engine, so i hear). Great looks. Great handling.
 
Naks said:
From http://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels/LatestLaunches/Fords-new-Kuga-on-the-prowl-20130413:

The Kuga comes with a four-year or 120 000km comprehensive warranty, a four-year or 80 000km service plan on petrol models, a five-year or 90 000km service plan on diesel derivatives and three years of unlimited-distance roadside assistance. Service intervals are 20 000km on petrol derivatives, 15 000km on diesels.


Why would 50ppm diesel be a problem? You can get it almost everywhere now, even in small towns.
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+1.
The Kuga is a very nice car.
The 50 vs 500 debate about 500 screwing up your car is nonsense. Unless you only ever use 500ppm, you won't have an issue. 500ppm is fine to use now and then.
 
Dryad said:
Igg, I test drove it last year and oi the clutch was horrendous! It handled nicely, cornered superbly, the clutch spoiled the whole drive and was so bad not all the other redeeming feature could make up for it. Hubby was complaining left right and centre about the handbrake digging into his hip and hitting his head on both entry and exit of the vehicle. So maybe if you are smaller and shorter than 1.8m... still test drive it hopefully they fixed the clutch...
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Did you try moving the seat back?


I've only seen it from the outside so far, it seemed large enough.
 
alf101 said:
Did you try moving the seat back?


I've only seen it from the outside so far, it seemed large enough.
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Yes moved the seat a couple of times, still had the problem. Hubby also complained about the clutch when he took it for a test drive, like it previously said it might have been that specific car, but I really was very depressed about the whole thing. All the other makes I tested I had no issue with clutch.

It looks big from the outside, it is less so on the inside, think it has to do with the placing of things. The hand brake is not in the center, but off towards the driver seat and further back, right around the area where you hip is, so an odd placement against the other that I test drove. I did not have the issue with the hand brake, however could feel the roof creeping in on me (I am 1.78m vs. 1.82m hubby) when I got in and out, it was not that bad when actually in the car.
 
Dryad said:
Yes moved the seat a couple of times, still had the problem. Hubby also complained about the clutch when he took it for a test drive, like it previously said it might have been that specific car, but I really was very depressed about the whole thing. All the other makes I tested I had no issue with clutch.

It looks big from the outside, it is less so on the inside, think it has to do with the placing of things. The hand brake is not in the center, but off towards the driver seat and further back, right around the area where you hip is, so an odd placement against the other that I test drove. I did not have the issue with the hand brake, however could feel the roof creeping in on me (I am 1.78m vs. 1.82m hubby) when I got in and out, it was not that bad when actually in the car.
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I'm also around 6 foot.

Hope its not smaller than the Suzuki Jimney.
I just couldn't sit in that one, and it sounds similar to your experience.
 
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