Actually, up to this point I've owned only American cars. I wasn't looking for an SUV so much as for something with room to drag stuff around. A wagon would be fine, but the only decent ones that are US-made are the Chevy Malibu Maxx and the Dodge Magnum (drool!). Have you checked out the prices on those? Ouch!
I drove a PT Crusier GT as part of my shopping process. When I began I thought that was where I would end up (economical, fast enough, roomy, inexpensive, and has killer incentives). But my commute is an hour going up long twisty roads, and handling was high on my list. Frankly, I was surprised that it handled a lot like my Concorde. Very soft, lots of understeer, leans into turns.
When I drove that CR-V, damned if it didn't drive like my wife's Jetta. For an SUV, it's remarkable, and it's less expensive than almost any other equivalently optioned competitor. Yeah, you read that right, the Honda was cheaper. To go Escape or Equinox, would have been 30K+.
Jeep Libery was nice, but when I sat inside it was pretty cramped.
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...Trot and Cap'n Bill were free from anxiety and care. Button-Bright never worried about anything. The Scarecrow, not being able to sleep, looked out of the window and tried to count the stars.
