SUV owners: do you regret it?

Foxhound5366

Foxhound5366

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I’ve never owned an SUV. Been doomed to hatchbacks and sedans my whole life.

Now I’m pretty comfortable with not getting a bakkie (parking is hard enough as it is in some shopping malls), mostly due to being honest that I’m never gonna move a load of bricks, but I can’t escape the battle over whether an SUV is objectively better than a sedan for family life.

Higher off the road is fun, but heavier is slower and thirstier on fuel … and a ridiculous number of SUVs in South Africa aren’t even turbocharged.

The primary draw card for me is I want speed and safety … but maybe I’m missing some considerations? So this thread then: to all those SUV owners out there, are you happy with your decision to get an SUV (rather than a sedan), or do you ever find yourself regretting it and looking longingly at something low and fast?
 
My SUV does 0-100 in 5.6 seconds and I can overtake a GTI around a corner without the traction control coming on yet nvm the 5 other intervention doofie-dabs.

It depends what SUV... and we've also come along way since the day when they were known for handing badly.

I've turned some very very hard corners in a Mazda CX-5 2.5 and it sat there like glue with just a little but of slip (and. a bit of understeer but not much).

I won't go back to a sedan again. That said I won't go for a bakkie either because I'm not big on such a high ride and also they don't like very sharp fast corners.

If you like speed and handling from an SUV, i own one of - and have driven the following and they are all good:

X5 m40d
Volvo XC60 T6 245KW with Polestar upgrade and adjustable suspension
Porsche Cayenne (basically all of them)
Porsche Macan (S and above)
Jaguar F-Pace (especially the SVR)
Range Rover (mostly all of them but they're ugly except the Evoque)

I've got a friend who just got a Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GR and it also can handle very well for something that big.

And all of the above will give you ride height and when you wanna go offroad they have drive-mode selectors for the computer to do all the work for you. Very handy.
 
My wife's cousin has a fortuner, and a trailer, he struggles to get everything in when they go camping ( and they camp a lot) as there's almost never enough space. He actually needs a bakkie, or a bus type vehicle but refuses to get either. He will replace it with another fortuner soon.

So yeah, there has to be a moerse drawcard to these suv's as many people drive them even when it doesn't suit their life style perfectly.
 
bwana said:
"Do I regret it" - no
Am I "happy with your decision to get an SUV" - yes
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ditto.

neoprema said:
My SUV does 0-100 in 5.6 seconds and I can overtake a GTI around a corner without the traction control coming on yet nvm the 5 other intervention doofie-dabs.
....
Click to expand...

I've never timed the 0-100, but I can say that it will do >2x the speed limit on rails

and I can drive up a mountain when I want to :)

IL 20221211.jpeg
 
Craig_ said:
My wife's cousin has a fortuner, and a trailer, he struggles to get everything in when they go camping ( and they camp a lot) as there's almost never enough space. He actually needs a bakkie, or a bus type vehicle but refuses to get either. He will replace it with another fortuner soon.

So yeah, there has to be a moerse drawcard to these suv's as many people drive them even when it doesn't suit their life style perfectly.
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Zactly, I’d love to figure out what it is. Because lots of SUVs do have limited boot space, although it gets more usable if you drop the back seats (not possible for a family going on holiday). So I guess then you need an SUV with a trailer. Or a roof-mounted Thule box.

In terms of interior, SUVs usually are no different to the sedan versions of the same brands. At least, no better. For me, the big draw card is a bit more weight in an accident should make it safer, but to really feel safe I’d want front-collision radar and that is just one option practically nobody shells out for in South Africa (judging by the used market).

I think what got me thinking about it was the BMW X1 I drove past today. Like … yes … it’s a baby SUV. But why not get a 3 Series instead? You’re not even getting the only real SUV benefits there.
 
I don't regret my purchase at all, it's one of the best purchases of my life. I can pack my car and drive to Namibia or Botswana for a few weeks and hardly have to worry about anything regarding the capabilities of the vehicle.

Driving a 4.0L car though...has some consequences when it comes to the fuel bill. But fsck it, can always make more money!
 
prod said:
I don't regret my purchase at all, it's one of the best purchases of my life. I can pack my car and drive to Namibia or Botswana for a few weeks and hardly have to worry about anything regarding the capabilities of the vehicle.

Driving a 4.0L car though...has some consequences when it comes to the fuel bill. But fsck it, can always make more money!
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When last have you driven to Namibia or Botswana? Because most SUVs are FWD and will get just as stuck on a muddy road as a sedan (more so in fact due to the extra weight).

If you did it properly and got a Land Cruiser or Prado, then it’s a different story. I’ve often thought that one would have to get a 4WD or AWD SUV to make it worth it, which will be a nightmare in the city commute.
 
Foxhound5366 said:
When last have you driven to Namibia or Botswana? Because most SUVs are FWD and will get just as stuck on a muddy road as a sedan (more so in fact due to the extra weight).

If you did it properly and got a Land Cruiser or Prado, then it’s a different story. I’ve often thought that one would have to get a 4WD or AWD SUV to make it worth it, which will be a nightmare in the city commute.
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Namibia: 2021, Botswana will happen this year. And yes I do have something like a LC or Prado, so getting stuck is not an option :D

However, what's wrong with an AWD SUV? They will be plenty capable to go many places as well as being fine for city commute.
 
Foxhound5366 said:
Well you had the choice and got a sedan for yourself. So why not an SUV? ;P
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Because I could afford to buy the S4 cash. It ticked all the boxes.

Won’t buy another car on finance. So no SUV for me until I can afford one without finance.
 
Priapus said:
Because I could afford to buy the S4 cash. It ticked all the boxes.

Won’t buy another car on finance. So no SUV for me until I can afford one without finance.
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You could have bought an SUV cash too, so not really getting that argument.
 
prod said:
Namibia: 2021, Botswana will happen this year. And yes I do have something like a LC or Prado, so getting stuck is not an option :D

However, what's wrong with an AWD SUV? They will be plenty capable to go many places as well as being fine for city commute.
Click to expand...
AWD uses more fuel than 2WD. And more expensive to maintain. Coz it’s heavier and has more moving parts.

I mean I get the “I wanna be able to go anywhere” feeling, but that’s a lot of money you’re sinking into a couple days in the great outdoors two years ago.
 
Foxhound5366 said:
You could have bought an SUV cash too, so not really getting that argument.
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Doesn’t matter if you don’t get it. I didn’t want to buy an SUV in the price range of the S4. Anything in that price range is **** when it comes to an SUV. The SQ5 is double what I paid for the S4.
 
Foxhound5366 said:
I mean I get the “I wanna be able to go anywhere” feeling, but that’s a lot of money you’re sinking into a couple days in the great outdoors two years ago.
Click to expand...

How so? I could've paid the same amount of money for a sedan and not be able to do it, it's not a money sink at all.
 
Foxhound5366 said:
I’ve never owned an SUV. Been doomed to hatchbacks and sedans my whole life.

Now I’m pretty comfortable with not getting a bakkie (parking is hard enough as it is in some shopping malls), mostly due to being honest that I’m never gonna move a load of bricks, but I can’t escape the battle over whether an SUV is objectively better than a sedan for family life.

Higher off the road is fun, but heavier is slower and thirstier on fuel … and a ridiculous number of SUVs in South Africa aren’t even turbocharged.

The primary draw card for me is I want speed and safety … but maybe I’m missing some considerations? So this thread then: to all those SUV owners out there, are you happy with your decision to get an SUV (rather than a sedan), or do you ever find yourself regretting it and looking longingly at something low and fast?
Click to expand...
Speed and safety in the same sentence?
What, you a standup comedian?
 
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