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I test drove three cars today and had a nice time.

The first was a Hyundai Palisade. It was the base model, so it didn’t have many niceties. It’s all right, but the Palisade is designed to be a comfortable faux-luxury cruiser and I didn’t think it quite lived up to that. The seat wasn’t particularly comfortable and the suspension let in some harsh bumps. I’m not a fan of the push button shifter either.

Next I drove a ‘21 F-150 crew cab short bed with the Powerboost hybrid powertrain. This truck was a treat! It’s very comfortable with huge seats. You sit up high with excellent visibility from the tall windows. It was only an XLT, but the interior was nicely appointed. I expected the ride to be bouncy but it wasn’t. The suspension just absorbs the road. The engine and battery deliver gobs of power while still getting 19 MPG under my heavy foot. The brakes are strong. I genuinely enjoyed driving the F-150 and it made me smile.

There is just one problem and I can’t fault the truck for it because that would be asking Ford to defy physics. The F-150 is enormous and you always feel its size and mass. The steering could charitably be described as relaxed. If you care at all about handling, this is not your ride.

So, as much I liked the F-150, I’m planning to get a Kia Sorento just like the one I drove next. Maybe my perception was skewed after driving a truck for a half hour, but the Sorento felt far more direct, more like a sedan than a three row crossover. It’s comfortable while still feeling connected to the road. The 2.5 Turbo does not lack for power. It’s got plenty of space in the back and is loaded with features for about $5,000 less than the F-150.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
This kind of thing is why I have full coverage insurance.

$1600 for a new hood plus a new hood latch and possibly a new hood cable.

Since I no longer have full coverage insurance (just basic liability for me,) I’m going out of pocket, and I had to put half down just to authorize it all.

I found an interesting car. Buick Venaro.
The Chinese version is actually the Opel/Vauxhall Astra sold in Europe.
On paper it’s very similar to my Alfa back in the UK. 170hp, 250Nm of torque, gross weight 1.3t, rigid rear axle, on a 5-door big hatchback. And it’s got double clutch gearbox.
It looks ideal but I’m worried about build quality and its actual handling. It should be okay as an Astra but I don’t know what it’s actually like when it’s made by the Shanghai GM.

EDIT: I can’t even find a proper review online because there’s a new saloon Venaro now and nobody cares about that old Astra anymore.

@RD4590
Yes, the HR-V is sold in America but I have no interest in a subcompact crossover with 158 HP and a CVT.

A Honda dealership is going to get in touch with me once they finish work on a nice top trim Passport. Otherwise, I’m going to check out a loaded Kia Sorento or just get a truck with remote start and deal with slightly worse MPG.

I don’t undersdand but the Honda HR-V sold in China and America is actually called ZR-V in the rest of the world.

@midob
My Alfa has a 1.4T petrol. It does 30mpg in urban and 44 on motorways (42 with the air con on), 40 combined.

@kleptomage
How about Honda HR-V? Is it available in America?

@RD4590
It was a ’23 CX-5 with only 700 miles for $30,000. It was a good deal. Maybe too good.

That was the second time I’ve test driven a CX-5 and walked away disappointed, which is too bad because the CX-5 is one of the few affordable crossovers that looks nice and tries not to be a bore to drive.

I like a tan or black interior, personally.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
Yup majority of cars and some vans are electric PS now. My Mondeo was odd though, it used a hydraulic PS system with an electric pump.

@RD4590
Combined consumption (worked out by me, not BS manufacturer stated MPG) with a heavy right foot, not bad for a 6 cylinder. I had a 2L diesel Mondeo before and that averaged 45MPG.

@RD4590
I think most modern power steering systems are electric, not fluid-based.

@midob
I used to want to buy a diesel BMW or Audi before, but ULEZ y’know. :/
They sure have got monster torque for a 5 seater. And I remember the insurance is cheaper than petrol and saloon?
44mpg(UK) doesn’t sound very attractive for a diesel. Is it urban consumption?

@kleptomage
Mazda is oddly pretty too. About the CX5, if it’s second hand then is there some problem with the power steering? Maybe low on fluid n stuff.
And I’d like to try a car with white interior. It shouldn’t be too hot to sit on during summer. XP

Used Hondas and Toyotas are strangely hard to find in my area. Within a 100 mile radius, there’s only like six CPO Hondas and most are white. I don’t want a white Passport or Pilot. They already look enough like vans.

I traveled about an hour and a half to an auto mall to check out an ‘18 Acura MDX. It looked like a pretty nice SUV. I got there and the salesman told me they couldn’t sell it because there was a recall they had no fix for. Everything else they had was unaffordable so I left.

I went to a Hyundai dealership to check out a Santa Fe. I talked to the clerk at the front desk, waited about 15 minutes, and nobody came to help me.

I left and went to a Nissan dealership to check out a Hyundai Palisade. I waited 20 minutes and got no help there either.

Finally, I went to a Mazda dealership. Mazda had the best organized sales staff and the best showroom. It felt like a tier above Hyundai and Nissan. A pleasant salesman quickly showed me to a good deal on a CPO CX-5, explained the functions of the car, and gave me the keys for a test drive. The CX-5 was nice enough on a short ride, but there were two things about it I didn’t like. First, the interior was white leather that would be a pain in the ass to keep clean. Second, the steering was wrong. The steering felt heavy and turned heavier off center, but all I felt was the weight of the steering. It was an odd combination of heavy and numb.

@RD4590
I love my estate/wagon, I’d never go back to a sedan/saloon. I usually use a roofrack to collect building materials, I’ve got a 330d; 320HP, RWD, manual transmission, 44MPG(UK) no car beats it for practicality and fun.

@RD4590
It did hit the windshield, but it left a crack in the corner about 5 or 6 inches long.

I have no idea if the hinges can be easily replaced. I’ll have to take it up with the body shop when I see them.

@kleptomage
Oh damn, a small block in a wagon sounds wicked.

Agreed. I’ll see if I can find a decent Mini.

And here’s a rapid response paramedics.

looks savvy innit

Dangerous of course but forgive me if I find it hilarious.
Are the hinges replaceable as well? It sounds like an expensive repair. And did it hit the windscreen or roof?

Not sure about America but in Europe or Asia if I want a sheet of plywood or or large building material, I’d rather have it ordered online and delivered. Those supply shops have big vans for delivery. I did once when I needed a flat surface for robot experiments.
European wagons (estate cars) are merely designed as family cars with more luggage space. Too big and it won’t fit on their roads. Also panel vans are too popular there, so they don’t really need to load with wagons.
They’re still quite practical though. Police and paramedics like to use estate cars. Traffic officers, firearm officers, counter-terrorist, dog units can all use standard issue cop cars. And paramedic wagons can carry many equipments and respond faster than normal ambulances.

@kleptomage
I intend to. I’m going to start getting estimates first thing tomorrow.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
Best get that fixed ASAP.

@kleptomage
The hood broke off at its hinges, it barely hang on by the window washer fluid hose. I had no choice but to take it completely off and cover the engine bay with a tarp, some bungie cables and a bit of duck tape. It’s sitting in the back of my car now with the rear passenger seats down.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
Oh shit. Can you keep the hood in place with a ratcheting tie down?

@midob
I like sporty wagons, but yeah they’re not the most practical option out there.

For pure practicality it’s hard to beat a full size cargo van. It’s basically a room on wheels and the load floor is shorter than a truck bed.

@kleptomage
I can’t think of any modern wagons you can fit a sheet of plywood in, all modern wagons are built form over function; automakers don’t make practical wagons anymore.

The hood to my car flew up and broke while driving on the freeway. Luckily I was near an exit ramp when it happened. Looks like I’m going to have to go to a body shop.

@RD4590
Not really the same type of vehicle. The Roadmaster wagon was RWD, had a Corvette engine, and was big enough to haul a sheet of plywood.

@RD4590
If the size of the Mini Cooper works for you, I’d try that one. They’re supposed to be fun little cars.