Have you test driven anything recently that was either surprisingly good or surprisin

[2021nightshade4x4]

Currently own a Nightshade and a Range Rover. Test drove:

1.) 2022 Grand Wagoneer - almost sold me - deployable running boards are huge, massaging seats, 6.4L Hemi sounds great and performs well. Had my color and everything. Was already at the absolute top of my price range and then found out that particular dealer marks up $10k as well. You NEED the surround camera system on that. The whole vehicle is a blind spot. Front seat doesn’t get low enough for a 6’+ person, hate it for anyone much taller unless you’re all legs. Hard to judge front, rear, whether you’re parked straight, all of it.

2.) 2020 Tahoe - The vehicle has no character. It’s a generic “safe bet” family truckster that people “think” they want until they actually drive it. Underwhelming in almost every way, hasn’t changed much from the prior generation and still expecting to wow customers with slow interfaces delivered on 7” screens. This one was a Premier with literally every feature, no blank buttons, but it just felt like a 15+ yr luxury car.

3.) 2015 Lexus LX570 - this one surprised the hell out of me. Low door sills, GREAT visibility, the WHOLE vehicle was intuitive to drive, quiet interior. I just want to find one that’s got less than 167,000 miles. If you put 5-10k a year on a car, it might outlive you, but we’re a driving family. The 2016-2021 LX has a weird interior and the 2022+ just takes that same weirdness to the Nth degree. It feels like it’s getting cheaper, not better.


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[Pedro367]

2.) 2020 Tahoe - The vehicle has no character. It’s a generic “safe bet” family truckster that people “think” they want until they actually drive it. Underwhelming in almost every way, hasn’t changed much from the prior generation and still expecting to wow customers with slow interfaces delivered on 7” screens. This one was a Premier with literally every feature, no blank buttons, but it just felt like a 15+ yr luxury car.

With the exception of a few vehicles, Chevy really is the pillar of "mailing it in" mediocrity. What unfortunate vehicles.

 

[kenwilliams0803]

Drove the wife's new Highlander today for the first time. I have to say, I thought my T4R was the ultimate in easy driving, no fuss, smooth and easy to cruise in -- compared to my JK on 37's anyway.

The HL is surprisingly better though. Really snappy for a 3.5L, trans is great, whips around corners like nothing, rides like a cloud, totally quiet. What I am not a fan of though, is the electric power steering.

And it's not a 4Runner.

Anyway, that's my $.02.

 

[1000MPH]

I drove a Chevy Equinox and Ford Edge as rental cars. Both turbo, both sucked as far as driving dynamics and I would not trade for my GFs RAV4 let alone my 4R.
I really like the RAV4 for scooting around town, especially in the snow.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Drove the wife's new Highlander today for the first time. I have to say, I thought my T4R was the ultimate in easy driving, no fuss, smooth and easy to cruise in -- compared to my JK on 37's anyway.

The HL is surprisingly better though. Really snappy for a 3.5L, trans is great, whips around corners like nothing, rides like a cloud, totally quiet. What I am not a fan of though, is the electric power steering.

And it's not a 4Runner.

Anyway, that's my $.02.

My Chevy Volt caused me to fall in love with an electric rack. All other vehicles feel so primitive with hydraulic assist. Reverting back, you feel every revolution of the pump and it’s just not smooth.

It’s still a direct connection with the wheels - ask me how I know - had a fuse corrode and lose contact in a part of town I was NOT stopping at night and had to muscle my way home [emoji23]


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[Ih8fizzix]

I recently drove my cousins 2019 Subaru Outback. I really didn’t like it. Feels sluggish while accelerating, even just putting around town. On top of that felt the Steering was super vague. Interior also feels very plastic, and on the highway lots of noise in cabin. Only thing I liked was the ingress/ egress due to the ride height, as well as the seating position. Overall I was unimpressed and shocked that so many people love these cars.

 

[honda250xtitan]

the last new vehicle i test drove was the titan XD with a cummins back in 2017. Underwhelming is a CRAZY understatement. thats coming from a long time titan owner too; so my hopes were high.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

I recently drove my cousins 2019 Subaru Outback. I really didn’t like it. Feels sluggish while accelerating, even just putting around town. On top of that felt the Steering was super vague. Interior also feels very plastic, and on the highway lots of noise in cabin. Only thing I liked was the ingress/ egress due to the ride height, as well as the seating position. Overall I was unimpressed and shocked that so many people love these cars.

I see a lot of Subarus 1-2 years old back out on the lot and this may be why


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[1000MPH]

I see a lot of Subarus 1-2 years old back out on the lot and this may be why


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I drove my son-in-law’s WRX manual transmission. Luckily I remembered how to use it but my left leg ain’t as strong as it used to be.
Really really nice car, I’m just not a car guy anymore.

 

[Mark Linkous]

Currently own a Nightshade and a Range Rover. Test drove:

1.) 2022 Grand Wagoneer - almost sold me - deployable running boards are huge, massaging seats, 6.4L Hemi sounds great and performs well. Had my color and everything. Was already at the absolute top of my price range and then found out that particular dealer marks up $10k as well. You NEED the surround camera system on that. The whole vehicle is a blind spot. Front seat doesn’t get low enough for a 6’+ person, hate it for anyone much taller unless you’re all legs. Hard to judge front, rear, whether you’re parked straight, all of it.

2.) 2020 Tahoe - The vehicle has no character. It’s a generic “safe bet” family truckster that people “think” they want until they actually drive it. Underwhelming in almost every way, hasn’t changed much from the prior generation and still expecting to wow customers with slow interfaces delivered on 7” screens. This one was a Premier with literally every feature, no blank buttons, but it just felt like a 15+ yr luxury car.

3.) 2015 Lexus LX570 - this one surprised the hell out of me. Low door sills, GREAT visibility, the WHOLE vehicle was intuitive to drive, quiet interior. I just want to find one that’s got less than 167,000 miles. If you put 5-10k a year on a car, it might outlive you, but we’re a driving family. The 2016-2021 LX has a weird interior and the 2022+ just takes that same weirdness to the Nth degree. It feels like it’s getting cheaper, not better.


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Witcha on the LX. Have been shopping 2016+ LC/LX’s and if prices come down just a smidge more, prolly will pull the trigger.

 

[Grug556]

Yeah rented a Mercedes G63 AMG. 627lbs of torque..top speed was 250ish KM. Truck really moves. Had the red interior package with starry night headliner.. Dynamic sport + mode really made it move.

A beautiful truck, which I hope to buy in the next year or so.

 

[Pedro367]

I see a lot of Subarus 1-2 years old back out on the lot and this may be why


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Yea, I'm also surprised people are still buying Subaru. My FIL has an Outback Limited. It's comfortable, gets good MPGs, and has really nice seats/leather. But, what a boring vehicle to drive and that CVT is just misery. We test drove an Ascent a few years back. Really nice interior/tech upgrades they made, but it would not stop flashing safety things at me and couldn't again get over the CVT even with the bigger turbo engine. I don't need flashing lights and beeping as I approach every car at a stop light 1mph too fast. I got it.

During that time we settled on our VW Atlas SE and love it. Drives beautifully, super quiet, very minimal inside and every button is where it needs to be, storage compartments everywhere, great LED headlights, really clear and responsive 8" UI w/ carplay, decent on gas, and tons of room for the kids. It's a great family hauler with a 6 year/72k warranty and priced well. It's been in the shop a few times for some small things, but, the dealer has loaners and they work quickly. It's never an issue. If you're in the market for a big family truckster I'd recommend looking at them. It's VWs best selling car here for a reason.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Yea, I'm also surprised people are still buying Subaru. My FIL has an Outback Limited. It's comfortable, gets good MPGs, and has really nice seats/leather. But, what a boring vehicle to drive and that CVT is just misery. We test drove an Ascent a few years back. Really nice interior/tech upgrades they made, but it would not stop flashing safety things at me and couldn't again get over the CVT even with the bigger turbo engine. I don't need flashing lights and beeping as I approach every car at a stop light 1mph too fast. I got it.

During that time we settled on our VW Atlas SE and love it. Drives beautifully, super quiet, very minimal inside and every button is where it needs to be, storage compartments everywhere, great LED headlights, really clear and responsive 8" UI w/ carplay, decent on gas, and tons of room for the kids. It's a great family hauler with a 6 year/72k warranty and priced well. It's been in the shop a few times for some small things, but, the dealer has loaners and they work quickly. It's never an issue. If you're in the market for a big family truckster I'd recommend looking at them. It's VWs best selling car here for a reason.

Yes! The CVT and 2.0 4 banger made me hesitate. CVT had some reliability issues and didn’t “seem right” being put into such a large SUV as the Ascent.

Extended warranty of the Atlas sounds great. Beats the 4 year / 50k standard warranty of most.


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[Reinout]

We picked up a dog in Houston and our rental car to drive back to Seattle was a Kia Sorrento: We averaged 30mpg and we weren't *****footing it. It was comfortable as heck.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Welp. Shouldn’t have driven a Land Cruiser but I did. And now I can’t stop thinking about it.


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[arehman11]

BMW X3M, loved it so much that we traded my wife’s 340i in for one. 500hp and mid 3 second 0-60 with baby seat in the back.

 

[OregonHiker]

BMW X3M, loved it so much that we traded my wife’s 340i in for one. 500hp and mid 3 second 0-60 with baby seat in the back.

I am not surprised you like the X3M. A couple years ago I helped my mom pick out an X3, not M, but with the 2.0t, whatever they call that one. It was exactly what she had in mind in pretty much every way and I loved the performance and the way it drove. This was just before car prices started to go up like mad and she got the BMW for not much more than the loaded Honda CRV that we had just looked at.

 

[DirtyMarcus]

With the exception of a few vehicles, Chevy really is the pillar of "mailing it in" mediocrity. What unfortunate vehicles.

Aint that the truth! GM cant seem to stop catering many vehicles to the 60+ demographic. I still dont know how the GMC line is still around and not just intergrated into the chevy line. I do think they finally got rid of that hideous Champaign color though.


I recently had a dodge charger rental car and was completely unimpressed. Albeit a base model, the car felt clunky, cheap, slow, and not intuitive at all. Dodge has always had a knack for using recycled coke bottles for the interior plastic and it still holds true.

 

[tonymac*]

We picked up a dog in Houston and our rental car to drive back to Seattle was a Kia Sorrento: We averaged 30mpg and we weren't *****footing it. It was comfortable as heck.

Good car to rent...not to own!
I rented a Toyota Camry a couple weeks ago while I was in Texas. Now, this was mostly highway miles but it was getting 40ish mpg. And that was using cruise around 80mph. Comfortable car, but not my cup of tea. 4Runner is the only 4 door vehicle I have owned in 25 years or so.

 

[Cheers!]

2022 Tesla Model 3 LR and performance. Also Model Y LR and Performance. Damn good for all 4 variants. I ended up buying a Model Y performance to get the hatchback layout. Much better for a young family transporting hockey bags around.