Need new vehicle
Dec 30, 2020 11:40:22 #
Good morning HH'ers. I want to get a new vehicle and one that is easy to enter & exit. I am over 6 ft. and getting older. It was suggested to me to get a SUV. My concern is that I carry photo equipment with me and don't like the idea of equipment being exposed (no trunk).
I would appreciate any feedback,
Thanks,
Jim
I would appreciate any feedback,
Thanks,
Jim
Dec 30, 2020 11:48:03 #
junglejim1949 wrote:
Good morning HH'ers. I want to get a new vehicle and one that is easy to enter & exit. I am over 6 ft. and getting older. It was suggested to me to get a SUV. My concern is that I carry photo equipment with me and don't like the idea of equipment being exposed (no trunk).
I would appreciate any feedback,
Thanks,
Jim
I would appreciate any feedback,
Thanks,
Jim
I have a Jeep Wrangler and worried about the same thing. So I got one of these and mounted it in back.
https://www.4wd.com/p/smittybilt-rear-lockable-storage-box-2763/_/R-DSBP-2763
Dec 30, 2020 11:50:37 #
I used to be close to 6' but have lost a couple inches to aging. Some vehicles are hard for me to get into because of range-of-motion issues defining how I can twist my body around while trying to get into the vehicle. One of the problems is that my wife is a couple inches shorter than I am and after she has driven my car the seat is all the way forward. I drive with it all the way back.
As far as stuff being visible, tinted windows could help.
As far as stuff being visible, tinted windows could help.
Dec 30, 2020 11:53:08 #
Our Buick Encore has tinted windows and a "cover" that is over the cargo area.
It lifts when the back door is opened.
It lifts when the back door is opened.
Dec 30, 2020 11:54:20 #
The SUVs I noticed have a dark tint on all windows behind the front seat.
Consider a black blanket to cover equipment.
Pat
Consider a black blanket to cover equipment.
Pat
Dec 30, 2020 12:02:42 #
I am so very happy that I switched to an SUV, Jim. My old sedan got to where I almost had to crawl out. Besides tinted windows, many SUVs offer optional rear compartment covers.
Dec 30, 2020 12:08:41 #
Nddave01
Loc: Bismarck, ND
As we hit our late 60's, my wife wanted something not as low to the ground as my Camry to make it easy to get in and out. We tried all sorts of SUV's and finally discovered the Toyota RAV4 (hybrid). We leased one and three years later leased one again. Just finishing our 2nd year of the lease and plan to buy it after the 3rd. The rear area is tinted and your can get an accessory to cover items in the back. The gas savings have been noticeable and the extra weight from the traction battery really improves the ride.
Dec 30, 2020 12:14:09 #
We quit having sedans several years ago. An SUV is so much easier to get in and out of. We got to where we felt like we were having to climb up to get out of a sedan. We have both a Hyundai Santa Fe and a Subaru Outback, and both of them have a retractable “shade” that pulls back to cover over the rear cargo area. Otherwise, the dark tinted window aft of the front seating area make it impossible to see into the vehicle.
Dec 30, 2020 13:20:22 #
As others have mentioned, most current SUV models have some type of cargo cover that goes over the rear compartment. If this doesn't come standard it is usually an option.
Dec 30, 2020 13:54:50 #
And many SUV's have a compartment under the rear area with a cover and then the mat on top of that.
They are much easier to get in and out of. Most have a higher point of view for the driver and more head and foot room.
I went from a Chevelle Sport in the early 70's to station wagon to a Chevy Astro Van back in the 80's, then an SUV in 2001 and got another one in Oct 2019. My wife commented I didn't need an SUV, I am retired and hardly go anywhere, it is too big, gets low mileage etc. Now guess whose Honda Civic sits in the drive way while my "too big" SUV goes shopping. And I don't have a set of keys to the Civic so I am stuck at home while she makes a "20 minute" run to pick up a curb side order at Sam's=her minutes vary from 5 to 10X as long as my minutes and Sam's seems to be in about 4 or 5 different places.
They are much easier to get in and out of. Most have a higher point of view for the driver and more head and foot room.
I went from a Chevelle Sport in the early 70's to station wagon to a Chevy Astro Van back in the 80's, then an SUV in 2001 and got another one in Oct 2019. My wife commented I didn't need an SUV, I am retired and hardly go anywhere, it is too big, gets low mileage etc. Now guess whose Honda Civic sits in the drive way while my "too big" SUV goes shopping. And I don't have a set of keys to the Civic so I am stuck at home while she makes a "20 minute" run to pick up a curb side order at Sam's=her minutes vary from 5 to 10X as long as my minutes and Sam's seems to be in about 4 or 5 different places.
Dec 30, 2020 14:51:11 #
I’m 6’2” and a suburban is perfect for me. I usually have camera equipment. So I keep it in the back. I cover it with a black blanket. That along with the tinted windows is a good way to hide my stuff. I also have a cargo cover that works great
https://www.gmpartsstore.com/oem-parts/gm-cargo-area-security-shade-15213370?origin=pla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzceFr7327QIVCr3ACh3qig_0EAQYAiABEgKBHPD_BwE
Dec 30, 2020 15:04:17 #
junglejim1949 wrote:
Good morning HH'ers. I want to get a new vehicle and one that is easy to enter & exit. I am over 6 ft. and getting older. It was suggested to me to get a SUV. My concern is that I carry photo equipment with me and don't like the idea of equipment being exposed (no trunk).
I would appreciate any feedback,
Thanks,
Jim
I would appreciate any feedback,
Thanks,
Jim
My wife & I bought a Chev. 2019 Blazer which is an RV.
We have a pull back shade that slips in and will cover what we have in the back end.
I don't know weather it's an extra or comes with the RV.
We got it off the showroom floor and it has the most astounding "EXTRAS" we have ever seen.
Dec 30, 2020 15:59:45 #
easy cover... a length of black fabric from WM.
some suv's have pull over covers, like window shades.
be sure and try a bunch of suv's on... not only for size, but how easily you can get in it out.
Traded my 2 door Jeep Wrangler ( loved it! ) for Ram 3/4 ton crew cab ( 4 door ) pick up. Now I need a tiny ladder to get into the truck bed. but lots of room inside and in back. I can put tons of stuff on the floor on the back. Throw a piece of black cloth over stuff, can't see a danged thing.
some suv's have pull over covers, like window shades.
be sure and try a bunch of suv's on... not only for size, but how easily you can get in it out.
Traded my 2 door Jeep Wrangler ( loved it! ) for Ram 3/4 ton crew cab ( 4 door ) pick up. Now I need a tiny ladder to get into the truck bed. but lots of room inside and in back. I can put tons of stuff on the floor on the back. Throw a piece of black cloth over stuff, can't see a danged thing.
Dec 30, 2020 16:07:04 #
Dec 30, 2020 20:45:46 #
Too bad Chevy/GM stopped making the Astro/Safari minivan. Those were roomy and comfortable. The two younger kids could stand up in one.* First I had an Astro (late 80s) and after I got sideswiped by by an 18 wheeler it was never the same, even after repairs I traded it to the guy who did our tile floors (his brother-in-law owned a body shop and rebuilt it from the ground up as a work van) I got a low mileage Safari for a couple of years until I got my first mid-sized SUV in 2001 and Oct 2019 I got another mid-sized SUV.
The Astro, which I bought new, had "Captain's Chairs" in front and two benches, the private party bought Safari was the same. I took out the center bench so the two younger kids had the back with a big open space and the wife and I had the Captain's chairs. Both of them had Captain's chairs made by a company that makes airline seats, I have seen the exact seats in a small airliner's first class section. Those were the most comfortable seats I ever sat in in a motor vehicle - they were full recline for sleeping, for that matter so were the center bench seats-they went flat to become a bed for kids or a small adult.
Damn, now I am wishing they would start making those vans again. The wife would get my SUV, the Civic would get traded/sold and I would get another Astro or Safari. GM stopped making them because they wanted the plant making pickup trucks - the total yearly sales of Astro/Safari was well below the plant's yearly production capacity. So stop making the vans, convert the plant to pickups and close one or two really old plants that made pickups. He!! with the customers who wanted those smaller size passenger vans.
The Astro, which I bought new, had "Captain's Chairs" in front and two benches, the private party bought Safari was the same. I took out the center bench so the two younger kids had the back with a big open space and the wife and I had the Captain's chairs. Both of them had Captain's chairs made by a company that makes airline seats, I have seen the exact seats in a small airliner's first class section. Those were the most comfortable seats I ever sat in in a motor vehicle - they were full recline for sleeping, for that matter so were the center bench seats-they went flat to become a bed for kids or a small adult.
Damn, now I am wishing they would start making those vans again. The wife would get my SUV, the Civic would get traded/sold and I would get another Astro or Safari. GM stopped making them because they wanted the plant making pickup trucks - the total yearly sales of Astro/Safari was well below the plant's yearly production capacity. So stop making the vans, convert the plant to pickups and close one or two really old plants that made pickups. He!! with the customers who wanted those smaller size passenger vans.
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