Pwca
Posted : 4/11/2007 3:14:34 PM
Check out the Ford Escape / Mazda ... something. can't remember the name. But it gets decent milage, will fit the amount of stuff you need, and I've known a number of them that have lasted well.
I really like the Tundra (drive my dad's whenever I can
) but the milage isn't very good compared to a smaller vehicle. (It is, however, better than my GMC Sierra, which is a gas hog.) We have no trouble keeping the cap cool with the window open and the air on full blast, even here in Texas. (Never have done that in the summer, but from september on last year, have, without aproblem.) And you *can* get four adults in the double cab one.
The CRV is TINY- it's crowded with two adults, Mal, Indy, and my friend's standard poodle, without crates- it would not be fun for long trips.
I'm hoping to replace the Sierra with a Forester or outback this fall- I'll fold the crates down flat, put a false floor over them, and put a grate in back instead of having Mal ride in his crate. If you're flexible about having dogs belted in rather than crated (I have to do this now in the pickup, as there's no way to fit a crate in the cab and I'm not comfortable having him in the bed without a cab on it, even in his crate- stuff could blow in) it *does* free up more room.
I used to have a Jeep Cherokee (not a grand cherokee) and it was actually pretty good, but again, couldn't fit two full-size crates with the seat up.