unfortunalty its not a subie. I was really aiming for a forester but we sold our vehicle and my buddy was kind enough to lend us his camary for a week until we found one. We settled for a used 02 acura mdx fully loaded with 55k, touring/nav. here's the link to what the vehicle looks like. http://www.carsoup.com/used/detail..../2005&vehicleTypeID=1&UVViewID=4&From=2&src=2 one day i'll come back to subie hevean.
Not a bad sUV (a lot more "utility" than "sport"). The MDX is an expensive mofo, too. I hope you don't have any regrets making the purchase... but it was a car for your wife anyways. Now, a little blurb about the MDX from everyone's favorite testing organization--Consumer Reports!!!! Highs: Powertrain smoothness, ride, crash tests. Lows: Braking, emergency handling. A competitively priced SUV, the MDX has been one of our higher-rated models for several years. We like its strong, refined powertrain and pleasant ride. The comfortable interior offers good visibility, seating for seven passengers, and a very decent amount of cargo room. The MDX feels agile in routine driving but does not inspire confidence in emergency handling, even with its stability-control system. THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE The MDX rides very well, with muted bumps and controlled ride motions. Engine noise is well isolated, but some road noise is noticeable. Responsive handling in the corners is complemented by communicative steering. But the MDX isn't as nimble as some competing models, like the BMW X5 or Infiniti FX. When pressed to its handling limits, the vehicle exhibited a lot of body lean in tight corners and low tire grip. The stability-control system prevents the MDX from spinning out, but the system kicks in late and allows the tail to momentarily slide out. The MDX posted a relatively low speed in our avoidance maneuver. The 253-hp, 3.5-liter V6 performs responsively, and the MDX achieved a fairly quick acceleration time, though it wasn't as brisk as the Infiniti FX35. The Acura got 17 mpg overall. Premium fuel is recommended. It competently pulled our 3,500-pound test trailer to 60 mph in 17.4 seconds. The five-speed automatic shifts responsively and smoothly. Braking distances were unimpressive. INSIDE THE CABIN The interior is spacious and put together well. Visibility is good for all drivers, but the steering wheel doesn't adjust for reach, forcing some drivers to sit uncomfortably close. The power front seats are comfortable. The rear bench is roomy even for three 6-footers, but has little thigh support. Access to the front seats and second row is easy. The cramped third row is best suited for children. Most of the controls and gauges are well designed. The intuitive navigation system allows the driver to perform many tasks simply by speaking commands. The cabin has a variety of storage compartments as well as two sturdy cup holders for each pair of seats. The MDX will hold a generous amount of cargo with both the second-and third-row seats folded. SAFETY NOTES Front occupants in the MDX are protected by three-point seatbelts equipped with both pretensioners and force limiters; required front air bags and standard side-impact air bags housed in the front seatbacks. Head-protection air bags became standard starting in the 2004 model year. Sensors in the front passenger seatback detect in two ways. Though the rear seat is always the safest place for children, one set of sensors determines the weight of the passenger and if someone less than approximately 65 lbs. is seated there, the system automatically disables the front passenger air bag. Like other Honda/Acura models, sensors in the seatback also detect the height and position of the front passenger and should someone be leaning into the path of deployment of the side air bag, it will also not deploy. A sensor in the driver's seat also detects the position of that seat to correctly determine at which of two levels and the timing of the front air bag deployment. Rear passengers are also all afforded the protection of three-point belts though adults or larger children may feel a pull on their shoulders from the strong retract in the second row. There are adjustable, locking head restraints in all three rows though only the front versions are tall enough when lowered to provide adequate protection from whiplash. All other restraints must be raised. Driving with kids: Front-facing child seats should prove secure in any of the passenger positions of the MDX. Rear-facing infant seats may not be secure in the third row as belts are anchored forward of the seat bite and rear-facing seats will tend to contact the raised second row seatbacks. Rear-facing convertible seats may also be difficult to secure in the second row center as the large buckle may not fully enter the belt path. There are three tether anchor attachment points on the seatbacks of the second row and tow in the floor of the cargo area for the third row. LATCH anchors are installed in the second row outboard seats and are shallow enough to provide easy access though surrounding fabric must be pulled back. RELIABILITY We expect reliability to be better than average, according to our latest subscriber survey. PS- your link doesn't work.
http://www.carsoup.com/used/detail....leTypeID=1&UVViewID=4&From=2&src=2&MarketID=1 fixed the link. any carsoup url you can add &MarketID=1 to the end and it'll set the region to MN for ya.
