Upon arriving to pick up said vehicle, I was disappointed to see it was a Ford, even more disappointed to see it was a cross over SUV/Minivan type vehicle and that much more disappointed when it was in that faded Red woman color that Ford offers. I was pretty sure my weekend of driving was going to suck at this point in time.
However, I was pleasantly suprised. After sitting in the vehicle, you can see the typical ford dash and radio controls. Fired it up and off we went. First notable experience... WTF, a vehicle this size has no off the line power?!? Later, I would realize that it utilizes a CVT type of transmission which necessitates limiting torque shock to the transmission to prevent belt slippage. However, once moving, the vehicle has plenty of power... wow, it actually makes it easy to drive as power is readily available. The transmission simulates gears, but when power is required is gives up simulates gearing and just shoots the RPM high where they sit a-la jet turbine status.
Quick accerlations up onramps or massive pushes of the throttle are left with the RPMs high and pulling power to easily pass other vehicles. Impressive power, I will say that. I'm sure having the RPMs sitting that high like a jet turbine would probably freak some people out, but I knowing that the engine is in peak operating mode makes me feel better that the power is there. I was very suprised.
Crusing on the highway is done with aplomb as the ride is smooth, power is available for you to choose your crusing speed, not be aerodynamically limited and the noise level is fairly quiet. The suspension soaks up bumps as required, but road feel is still decent so you can tell you are driving on a certain type of surface... but not down to the fact if you just driven over a painted strip on the road or not.
A major kudos (especially for a vehicle of this type) ... BRAKES! Woo hoo, Ford finally put some decent brakes on this type of car. Jabs on the brakes are left you feeling as if air brakes are deployed from the side and top of the vehicle to help slow it's momentum. Braking is met with some excessive nose dive, but that's expected as the height of the vehicle is on SUV like levels (just with smaller tires). A full panic stop is left you thinking that one of your rear passengers has tossed an anchor out of the rear to help haul you down from speed. It was very impressive to say the least.
The interior was comfortable... but anything more than 60-75 minutes became uncomfortable, not to the point of you needing a rest, just enough to make you figgity. The controls were typical FORD, in the event that they were blah and you really avoided trying to use them if you did have to. Seating was available for 7 however, only 4 of them could be adults with 3 small children sitting on the fold down rear seat in the very rear by the hatch.
Speaking of rear seats by the hatch... while they did fold away into the rear of the vehicle. The fit and finish just seemed to be after thought. While folded down they were far from flush and it happened on more than one occasion that items would slip between the cracks necessitating for you to remove all your cargo, fold the seat up grab you small items and then put everything back to how it was before. That was a royal pain in the arse.
Gas consumption was decent... but nothing to be proud of, and ground clearance while on SUV type levels was more to be compared with minivans that typical SUVs (I guess that's why it's a cross over).
That's all for now... questions are welcomed.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
2006 Kia Sportage
As a light SUV, it is a no frills cargo carrying machine... period. When you get inside the light SUV, it's spare interior gives no illusion that it is designed for very minimal. It almost begs you to wonder if the steering wheel and guages were optional with the purchase.
Twist the key and the engine fires to life and idles a bit high at just over 1000rpm. However, power output is great for a light SUV. When you mash the go pedal, it is very reminisent of the old 1980's Ford Mustangs as the front left corner of the SUV lifts up into the air as the chassis twists trying to motion itself forward. Power is abundant all the way up to highway speeds making driving on the highway easy. Steering will get you where you need to go, and the brakes... well, they leave lots to be desired as fade is apparent after the first attempt to haul it back down from those highway speeds. As note on it's highway potential. The SUV seems quite at home on the highway. Crusing at 80-85 is quite comfortable... however, there is a barrier somewhere just north of the 90 marker. It is not an engine power barrier, however, it is an aerodynamic factor. When you find that magic number which varies depending on wind speed and direction, you'll think that the mighty God himself has decided to reach down and try to shake the ever living soul out of you. Seriously at that speed, I was beginning to wonder if a) I was going to travel backwards in time or b) the parts that were bolted down with cheap screws were about to become road side debris.
A marvelous feature of this SUV was the extremely functional air conditioning. It goes from super hot Florida weather to ice cube in mere minutes which is quite a feet. Don't like your passengers? Set the A/C to max cool and point the vents at them... they'll be frosted over in a matter of minutes.
Cargo capacity is quite abundant with the rear seats up. Fold the rear seats down and you have enough cargo capacity to store enough materials to weigh the SUV down to the point where movement would cease to exist.
Overall... for the 15k SUV, it does its job rather well.
Twist the key and the engine fires to life and idles a bit high at just over 1000rpm. However, power output is great for a light SUV. When you mash the go pedal, it is very reminisent of the old 1980's Ford Mustangs as the front left corner of the SUV lifts up into the air as the chassis twists trying to motion itself forward. Power is abundant all the way up to highway speeds making driving on the highway easy. Steering will get you where you need to go, and the brakes... well, they leave lots to be desired as fade is apparent after the first attempt to haul it back down from those highway speeds. As note on it's highway potential. The SUV seems quite at home on the highway. Crusing at 80-85 is quite comfortable... however, there is a barrier somewhere just north of the 90 marker. It is not an engine power barrier, however, it is an aerodynamic factor. When you find that magic number which varies depending on wind speed and direction, you'll think that the mighty God himself has decided to reach down and try to shake the ever living soul out of you. Seriously at that speed, I was beginning to wonder if a) I was going to travel backwards in time or b) the parts that were bolted down with cheap screws were about to become road side debris.
A marvelous feature of this SUV was the extremely functional air conditioning. It goes from super hot Florida weather to ice cube in mere minutes which is quite a feet. Don't like your passengers? Set the A/C to max cool and point the vents at them... they'll be frosted over in a matter of minutes.
Cargo capacity is quite abundant with the rear seats up. Fold the rear seats down and you have enough cargo capacity to store enough materials to weigh the SUV down to the point where movement would cease to exist.
Overall... for the 15k SUV, it does its job rather well.
2006 Dodge Dakota Extended Cab 5.7L Magnum
It's a truck... plain and simple. Very utlitarian. Interior ammeneties are few and far between, the dash is very functional. Clear and easy to use dials and easy to read instruments.
The seats were very uncomfortable, but I guess when you are looking for a truck, you aren't looking for luxury. The rear cab is essentially a shelf. People can't really fit back there. It will do the job for small packages and the like.
Power is made with a massive 5.7L Magnum V8. Lots and lots of power available. The harder you push the go pedal, the more and more the engine displays it's abundance of torque and it's thirst for fuel. Crusing is easy, and at low RPMs making the most possible out of the fuel in the tank until you ask that magnum engine to motivate the mass forward. The engine and chassis cruise effortlessly at low to mid speeds, but highway speeds are a bit unnerving due to twitchy steering, a ladder like frame and trucklike suspension.
The four wheel drive system is very functional. By default, it is a 2WD truck and changing to 4WD can be done on the fly which is very comforting when you've managed to land yourself axle deep in mud. Tossing it into 4WD will give you the gift of grip and the massive engine will bless you with roster tails of mud which you wear as a badge of pride. With the 4WD active the turning radius is drastically reduced and turning the front wheel to lock leave the front end chattering across any type of solid ground (best for use on slippery surfaces).
Brakes are adequate... nothing special to write home about, but they get the job done. The looks of the truck are basic and will do the job. It is not the prettiest but not the worst either.
The seats were very uncomfortable, but I guess when you are looking for a truck, you aren't looking for luxury. The rear cab is essentially a shelf. People can't really fit back there. It will do the job for small packages and the like.
Power is made with a massive 5.7L Magnum V8. Lots and lots of power available. The harder you push the go pedal, the more and more the engine displays it's abundance of torque and it's thirst for fuel. Crusing is easy, and at low RPMs making the most possible out of the fuel in the tank until you ask that magnum engine to motivate the mass forward. The engine and chassis cruise effortlessly at low to mid speeds, but highway speeds are a bit unnerving due to twitchy steering, a ladder like frame and trucklike suspension.
The four wheel drive system is very functional. By default, it is a 2WD truck and changing to 4WD can be done on the fly which is very comforting when you've managed to land yourself axle deep in mud. Tossing it into 4WD will give you the gift of grip and the massive engine will bless you with roster tails of mud which you wear as a badge of pride. With the 4WD active the turning radius is drastically reduced and turning the front wheel to lock leave the front end chattering across any type of solid ground (best for use on slippery surfaces).
Brakes are adequate... nothing special to write home about, but they get the job done. The looks of the truck are basic and will do the job. It is not the prettiest but not the worst either.
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