Because I prefer the utility over the sport....and because I'm a big fan of the old Toyota Landcruisers, I'd have to say that there's NOTHING ugly about that Mercedes.
I thought about buying a Hyundai Santa Fe. I've had a Hyundai Elantra for the last few years and it's been a great car for the money. I don't know what the Element will cost, but you could get a V6 with 173 HP loaded with almost everything including sunroof and ABS for a sticker price of $21879. And you get a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty. Edit: I checked Element prices. (that bed feature looks cool) On the low end you could get the 5 speed stick version of the Santa Fe for 18,150 to 19,150 (cruise control, ABS, rear wiper, etc). Good luck picking out a car!
seriously...this is so amazing. everytime i see those commercials where they advertise this warranty i think, "why in the world wouldn't i buy a hyundai? that makes all the sense in the world!" a 10 freaking year warranty. unreal.
Im kind of dissappointed that this thread has gone on for 2 pages and A-Train has yet to chime in with a "Canyonero" photo.
It may look ugly until you see it in person. It's yet another military-vehicle-turned-civilian-SUV, just like a Hummer H2. Cerntainly, the 3-spoke costs you $20,000. But to a fan of SUV, it's trivial.
I drove the Element today. I was somewhat impressed. The car performs much better than I'd expected. It can get up and go pretty well, turn on a dime, stop in no time, the stock audio system is pretty damn good, the AC is overpowering and the comfort is pretty good. The Element wasn't quite as big as I'd expected it to be. I would definitely like to spend more time with it to really test out some of its features and monkey around with it until I get a really good read on it. I loved the flooring, and the car seems to be very featureful. It was more comfortable than I'd expected, but it's not spectacular. But then again, not much can compare to what I have now. I'm certainly not going to jump at it right now, that's for sure. As much as I would love to just get a car RIGHT NOW, that wouldn't be the most prudent thing to do. I think by the end of this month I'll be driving something else though. I again feel pretty badly for "abandoning" my current car. I love it so much that I'd never want anything else, but I really think I need something else. Plus, maybe my car will forgive me if I fix it up really nicely (my car has a soul and a personality) I'm going to start looking at trucks now. I'm thinking, if I live in my car, why not buy a truck, then rent one of those truck campers for whenever I take my trips -- I won't need it all the time, and the truck will certainly be very versatile otherwise. On the other hand, a truck will be more expensive, but I think I get more "bang for the buck" with them. If I go with an SUV-type of thing, the Element is my choice. It's basically Element versus truck. I'm going to go check out the Chevy or Dodge tomorrow. I love the idea of the Dodge with the Hemi engine -- talk about getting some good pickup and power! However, I've always been a Chevy guy, and I can get 3% off any GM plus $800 towards it through my father's company. I really like my father's truck (2001 Chevy), but if I were to go with a truck, that Hemi engine is very enticing. When I think about what I want to do to my vehicle, I think "I'd like to customize it!". Get it set up really nicely for living. Put a screen in it, install a computer (perhaps), gaming console hookups, etc. I think the Element (or another SUV-type thing) gives me more options for that than does the truck. Is there another SUV that'd be any good for this sort of thing? I haven't found one that really fits what I want to do (and I can afford). I do have to say this though -- as much as I'm turned off by the sheer size and environmental concerns of it, the Suburban COULD be ideal. It is big enough to really accomodate comfortable living for some time, plus it's pretty modifiable. But I would have to be REALLY, REALLY blown away by a deal to consider that. Anyone have any more advice? I'm eternally thankful for everyone's input so far!
My two favorite vehicles right now. And they're both around 30-35 Grand. Don't know what your budget is, but Infinity broke out this year, these cars are fantastic looking in my opinion.
DoD: THAT'S why I had such a problem finding them on the net! The saddest part was that I owned an Infiniti a couple of years ago....Damn!
Honda Element Studio E Honda Element Studio E What Is It? Honda Element Studio E What's Special About It? Offering more privacy than the standard Element, the Studio E features a panel-side body just like your plumber's Ford E350 van. This vehicle's strange name comes from a combination of "Studio 54" and "Element." We're not sure if the kids will get that reference to the 1970s disco that was favored by the rich, famous and drug-addled. Then again, this is just a concept. The body of the Studio E is a bit more finished than the production Element, sporting contrasting jagged flames on its otherwise monochromatic paint. A deep air dam, 19-inch wheels and center-mounted exhaust outlets add more flash to this extroverted Element. A tweaked version of the Element's 2.4-liter inline four yields 200 horsepower, which is coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox. A 42-inch plasma TV, an 11-speaker 800-watt sound system and the ability to power anything from a PC to a turntable ensure that the production Element's design dictum, a "dorm room on wheels," is taken to a whole 'nother level. Why Should You Care? If you've been wanting to have a rave and the idea just doesn't sit well with your roommates or parents, this would be the solution. Hook up a few turntables in the Element Studio E and you could turn a parking lot into a party. — John DiPietro
FYI, the G35's price should be going up a bit for the 2004 model. No telling how much, but many are guessing around $1000-$2000.
Yeah I heard that are making a few things standard, such as heated seats etc. Is it also true that they are coming out with an AWD version for ~1800 more?
The g35 is by far the best sedan and it is a beautiful coupe (I really like the Z also). But I think the Murano is a a better value when it comes to crossover vehicles. I'm a big murano fan, if you haven't noticed.
