Well, I looked at a_ lot _of vehicles and in the end picked up a pristine, loaded 1998 GMC Safari AWD with 114,000km on it, one older owner, immaculate condition for $8800.00 with warranty. Great 8 passenger carrying capacity for my wife's daycaring needs, awesome towing/cargo capacity, a real truck frame for logging road durability, and strong roof racks with a step on bumper. Haven't tried getting my Nordkapp up on top yet, and yes, the extra $8,000 I saved I'll be using for petrol purchasing. :-) Will probably buy a beater Geo Metro for running about town (commute on my bike anyway) and for quick kayak trips, as I've driven my lowered Chrysler minivan into THE ground. We will see what's next in 5 years from now - maybe a pre-owned Honda Pilot. Doug > Honda CRV. Problem solved now move on. > > Gordin > > At 10:45 PM 11/28/06, you wrote: >>I'm treating myself to a newer vehicle (will be a used one, as my 1997 >>Caravan expired so no real trade in, so budget is $17,000 max) this >>Christmas (and a new heart valve soon in the New Year - I hope). I know we >>have been over this before, but any suggestions are appreciated once >>again. >> >>I've tried out a Subaru Forester - good but not great gas mileage, though >>good traction and ground clearance for semi-off road. The Rav 4 is nice >>to - if pricey, as are most cute-utes. I was thinking a Ford Escape, but I >>seem to only get 200,000 km out of a North American vehicle. There's the >>Matrix and Vibe and Mazda hatch backs, some with AWD, but the roof line >>looks slanted too much for yak carrying. I can't go the Dave Kruger way >>(as in a pickup truck, as I have a family to haul too). Logging roads take >>their toll on cars, so I need something tough and reliable. >> >>Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 10:56 PM 07/12/2006, Doug wrote: >Well, I looked at a_ lot _of vehicles and in the end picked up a >pristine, loaded 1998 GMC Safari AWD with 114,000km on it, Doug, I love my GMC safari - the roof is high, and I have used a roller system on the rear rack bar to make it easy to load a boat by oneself. We are now on our second Safari since we heard that they were not making them anymore and we decided to trade up to an almost new one *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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