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I must have been a kibbutznik in a past life. Whenever I buy something of value, I never have the urge to keep it. Perhaps it’s due to too many bouts of suburbia. A neighborhood with twenty lawnmowers, twenty The Lion King videos, and fifty to seventy vehicles seems to be a bit too much. Yeah. I know that most folks aren’t willing to share their ride. Some won’t even loan you Simba. But if I lived in a place where we all put a smaller chunk of our change to a ride, I wouldn’t go cheap . . . except for possibly an old Volvo wagon. These would be my top picks:
1st Gen Honda Insight: Despite my recent screw-up these things are amazingly overengineered. The ride is surprisingly nice, mpg’s are 55+, the rear hatch can house an amazing amount of materials, and let’s face it, many rides require little more than two people these days. Did I mention these things only require two and a half quarts per oil change? Gotta love that.
Ford S-Max: There’s something about a small diesel with superb handling, seven seats, and a shape designed for the wind that’s hard to turn down. I’ve heard so many good things about the new Ford 2.2L that I would have to at least test this one. For the greater good of my fellow kibbutzniks of course. I’ll just have to make sure Baruth never gets the keys.
Toyota Land Cruiser: I’m not thinking of the nice cushy ones that make Lexus seem unnecessary. I’m thinking about the ones that help fight wars. Heck. While we’re at it let’s throw in a couple of Toyota Hilux diesels into the mix as well. I love the idea of buying utilitarian vehicle and not worrying about replacing them for a quarter century.
I think what you want is the FJ40 … competitor to the Land Rover Series II/III.
Nice list!
My Kuga musings and the recent Flex discussion had me thinking of the S-Max today myself. Great minds, eh? Well, great car anyway… and evo just caught a facelifted version testing!
Also, helps win wars for whom?
Pardon my ignorance, but what is the vehicle in the picture? While I’m not into that kind of vehicle, I have to admit it actually DOES have some style.
A first generation Honda Odyssey fits into that catagory too. Seats for 6 or 7 when you need it, drives pretty much like a late 90s Accord when you don’t. Seems to me like Honda was 10 years early to the parts with that one.
Ford S-Max: Great call and I would buy the one you described in a heart beat.
Wolven: IIRC, that’s the Ford S Max.
The Toyota Landcruiser 70 series (78/79) is not just used by third rate armies and their ragtag opponents.
Every NGO that’s actually good at what it does uses them almost exclusively all over the world. If you’re driving around the Congo, there’s the Landcruiser, then there’s everything else.
Still needs maintenance, though.
@aamj50: A good call! The S-Max overall dimensions and curb weight are almost identical to the first-generation Odyssey. (Of course Honda subsequently decided that it was too small for the North American market, so the current model is now way bigger in every dimension.)
Did someone say Volvo Wagon? Can’t see any need for any other vehicle. Sure, you could WANT another vehicle, but you surely don’t NEED anything else.
Steven,
I always knew you had a little Kibbutznik in you.
What was the mistake with the Insight?
a Landcruiser… mhmmm… make mine a 40… fix it up for off-roading and give it a full restoration and it’ll still cost peanuts.
I’d love to plunk money down on an S-Max… but in a pinch, a Mazda5 will do just fine.
Or an old Volvo 850 station wagon? With the “T5” badge and other markers of unacceptably peppy performance removed to avoid drawing neighbors’ ire?
TTAC review of the S-Max here:
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/reviews/ford-s-max/
@EN:
Do the Taliban qualify for the Toyota rusty frame buyback?
mmmmm
the mpv… (not mazda)…
where I’m currently at, there’s about 25 different options of the 7 seater cars… – or so it seams…
at least 4 honda options (from civic based to jdm accord based)…
probably 5 toyota options,
and one or two from everybody else…
All with efficient 4 cylinders – though maybe the high end jdm oddesey has the 6 cylinder…
for all intents and purposes, better than the minivan and ‘suv’…
it’s a pity that in north america the only options are the mazda 5 and kia rondo…
Where are all the Prius haters? I saw the pic at the top of this page and thought “who made that Prius lookalike?” If you believe the haters it wouldn’t sell in America because it’s ugly.
I actually like the look of a 2005 Prius so this Ford S Max Prius knock off looks fine to me. Hook it up like the Escape with a ford equivalent HSD and it’s good to go.
If the S-Max were sitting down at the nearby Ford dealer, I’d be gawking at the thing right now…
I love how the S-max looks, but is there any relation to it and the Mazda5? Mazda’s version is okay but the S-Max is the goods.
Damn that S-Max is a nice looking car. Ford needs to bring that over here.
I love how the S-max looks, but is there any relation to it and the Mazda5? Mazda’s version is okay but the S-Max is the goods.
The Mazda is more akin to the C-Max. The S-Max is a bigger car, and based on a larger platform; if the C-Max is a Focus MPV, the S-Max would be a Fusion (well, Mondeo) one.
The S-Max is a hundred times better-looking than the clunky refrigerator Chrysler minivan and bloated Odyssey we have over here.
The S-Max is a hundred times better-looking than the clunky refrigerator Chrysler minivan and bloated Odyssey we have over here.
Don’t kid yourself: it’s also a much, much smaller vehicle than the Caravan and Odyssey. Comparing the two isn’t really fair as the S-Max’s closest North American equivalent is the Kia Rondo.
Ford doesn’t dare bring the S-Max to America. If they did, everybody who bought a US-version Focus in the past year would be demanding their money back.
Ford’s European cars… mhmmm…
It’s like taking what makes a Mazda great, giving it better shock absorbers, better steering, better sound insulation… hell… better everything… and wrapping it up in a suit and tie.
Of course, Mazda’s design language is a lot better… both inside and out… but I prefer to drive the Ford versions of all their shared vehicles… though I’m rather partial to the Mazda6.
You can still buy a LC new. Here in Venezuela… at gold price, with a DOHC 24V 4.5lts engine.
Or get the grown up men Aussie version with the diesel V8. Sold as a working vehicle.
I don’t like them, but I’d take the serious, down under one.
They’re for sale in some other countries, including Japan.