Need your opinion. 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder?

[COGENT]

Originally Posted by Table 5

4 cylinders have come a long way. Most people these days don't need a v6 in their Escape as they will be doing none of the hauling Cogent will be (unless you count hauling grocery bags). These days 4 cylinders get you the v6 performance of old, while being more efficient.

I agree with you completely. I only got my old Escape with the V6 because we bought it new from a family friend and that's what he had. I've test drove almost everything in the class that I'm considering and most of the V4s have impressed me, although the Nissan CVT transmission was just weird and really boring to drive IMO. If it wasn't for my love of camping and bring the kid camping in the mountains I would definitely opt for the fuel economy.

[Tron_fdc]

Any way you can afford a diesel TDI? The Touareg 6 cyl is a beast for how small it is. I have a 2010, and I can easily pull a 22' Mastercraft over Rogers pass. I also pull 2 sleds on a steel trailer without a problem. I get insane mileage in the city when I'm commuting (something like 700k to a tank)

Such an awesome vehicle.

[bossy22]

Get the 2.0L ecoboost engine in the escape. It has a 3500lb towing capacity.

[PsnaP]

Another for the V6, especially if youre towing a trailer.

[sclitheroe]

Not car related, but if you enjoy tenting, when the kid is young its easy enough to use a slightly larger tent (like a 4 person) with a playpen and unzipped sleeping bag as bedding for the little one. Once they are a bit older, you can easily put them in their own tent - my kids were tenting in their own two person tent by the time they were old enough to be sleeping in beds (so 3 or 4).

I also thought I might need or want a trailer with kids, but we've managed fine with one tent at a young age and two tents once they were a bit older. It's all the other stuff that's a bit of a pain, like diapers, crawling in the dirt, etc, and a trailer doesn't address any of that.

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Not car related, but if you enjoy tenting, when the kid is young its easy enough to use a slightly larger tent (like a 4 person) with a playpen and unzipped sleeping bag as bedding for the little one. Once they are a bit older, you can easily put them in their own tent - my kids were tenting in their own two person tent by the time they were old enough to be sleeping in beds (so 3 or 4).

I also thought I might need or want a trailer with kids, but we've managed fine with one tent at a young age and two tents once they were a bit older. It's all the other stuff that's a bit of a pain, like diapers, crawling in the dirt, etc, and a trailer doesn't address any of that.

But what about bears, wolves, lightning and Sasquatch?

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by calumniate

But what about bears, wolves, lightning and Sasquatch?

I usually board the sasquatch, I don't want him picking up ticks and he refuses to take his heartworm meds.

[woob]

Having towed with a 4cylinder Honda Element with 1500lb towing capacity, I can say it was fine on the flats. However, throw in a strong wind or hills and you'd be hitting the Overdrive off button all the time. Definitely wanted more power and would have preferred a 6. The Element was definitely capable but you had to manage the drive for sure.

That being said, if you do look at going with a trailer, you might want to look at a fibreglass Boler type trailer over a tent trailer. A Boler can weigh as little as 900lbs dry whereas many tent trailers tend to start around 1200lbs dry. Some Boler like trailers out there are Scamp, Trillium, Burro, and Casita. You'd be looking at the 13foot varieties, though they do come in other lengths as well.

Edit to add: Here's a couple good resources for those types of trailers:

http://www.fiberglass-rv-4sale.com/
http://www.fiberglassrv.com

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I don't know what engines they're looking at putting in the new escapes, but just take a look at the F-150 ecoboost V6 engines. V8 power and torque, but much better fuel economy.

The website says they have a 1.6L turbo and a 2.0L turbo.

Speaking of new Fords. The 2013 Fusion looks fantastic.







I think they have the same engines as the Escape and AWD.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by Burninator

Speaking of new Fords. The 2013 Fusion looks fantastic.







I think they have the same engines as the Escape and AWD.

As much as I like the Aston Martin-esque look from the front.

Looks too much like an Aston Martin... from the front and it ISN'T an Aston Martin.

[Table 5]

My biggest beef with the new Fusion (and pretty much all new cars these days) is the really high belt line. I miss the days when you could see out of your car without the aid of technology.

The new Range Rover Evoque is the worst offender in this regard. It's like driving a pillbox.

[freedogger]

I'd question the need for a camper. You'll do just fine tenting with a little one. We had a hoot tent camping the first few years with our two kids.

[COGENT]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Not car related, but if you enjoy tenting, when the kid is young its easy enough to use a slightly larger tent (like a 4 person) with a playpen and unzipped sleeping bag as bedding for the little one. Once they are a bit older, you can easily put them in their own tent - my kids were tenting in their own two person tent by the time they were old enough to be sleeping in beds (so 3 or 4).

I also thought I might need or want a trailer with kids, but we've managed fine with one tent at a young age and two tents once they were a bit older. It's all the other stuff that's a bit of a pain, like diapers, crawling in the dirt, etc, and a trailer doesn't address any of that.

Did you tent in the mountains at all? I'm mostly worried about the temperature.

And if we're on the dad to dad advice topic, what did you do about the kid and a fire being present?

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Table 5

My biggest beef with the new Fusion (and pretty much all new cars these days) is the really high belt line. I miss the days when you could see out of your car without the aid of technology.

The new Range Rover Evoque is the worst offender in this regard. It's like driving a pillbox.

It's the easiest way to meet side impact standards. The ironic thing is, eventually we won't be able to see out of the cabin properly so we'll end in more accidents. But everyone will be fine.

Oh and V6 all the way, forget the turbo 4 bangers.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Table 5

My biggest beef with the new Fusion (and pretty much all new cars these days) is the really high belt line. I miss the days when you could see out of your car without the aid of technology.

The new Range Rover Evoque is the worst offender in this regard. It's like driving a pillbox.

My beefs also. There's very little head room and you feel like some old granny who can't see above the steering wheel.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by Dion

I am... some old granny who can't see above the steering wheel.

That is all.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Burninator

The website says they have a 1.6L turbo and a 2.0L turbo.

Speaking of new Fords. The 2013 Fusion looks fantastic.







I think they have the same engines as the Escape and AWD.

Holy Crap. That is a sweet looking car at that price point. I say that as German car Fanboy # 1.

They need to offer that in a coupe trim. Lets just hope it is more reliable than the typical British car it is trying to emulate. Very bold move by Ford, I like it.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by freedogger

I'd question the need for a camper. You'll do just fine tenting with a little one. We had a hoot tent camping the first few years with our two kids.

Agreed. Unless you want to have fun in which case you do need a trailer. Beds, sink, furnace, table, fridge, lights, etc. There's no comparison.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by pylon

Holy Crap. That is a sweet looking car at that price point. I say that as German car Fanboy # 1.

They need to offer that in a coupe trim. Lets just hope it is more reliable than the typical British car it is trying to emulate. Very bold move by Ford, I like it.

Ford is bringing it's highly sucessful European designs to America. Looks better than the old Fusion design.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

That is all.

Damn it! I should have known that was going to happen!

Well played!