By way of introduction....
I'm a new member here and looking to buy a small to mid-sized SUV. First off let me say that I drive vehicles for a fairly large independent dealer with 3 locations and have been doing it for a few years since I retired. As such, there isn't a heck of a lot I haven't driven. Like many people, I am not totally without prejudice, so there were vehicles that were eliminated right from the start, namely GM because the majority I have driven are junk, and anything Japanese because I didn't like the fact they tried to kill one of my uncles at Pearl Harbor. That leaves Chrysler, which isn't much better than GM, or Ford, European, and Korean vehicles. I have driven several Hyundai Sonatas, Azeras, Santa Fes and Tuscons and have really been impressed with every one I have driven.
I need to replace my old F-150 and I really don't need a full sized pickup any more. I have a utility trailer I haul anything of any size on anyway because it's handier than loading it in a pickup with a topper. I have some items I haul with me almost all the time, but they would easily fit in the back of a small SUV. I have narrowed my choices to two models... the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner (edited) platform or the Hyundai Santa Fe. Requirements are automatic w/ AWD or 4WD, and enough power to pull the Colorado mountains with 3 or 4 people and tow capacity enough to pull a total trailer weight of 2500#, but not at the same time. Trailer would be pulled maybe one or two times a month for maybe 20 miles, and rarely more distance than that. I am trying to stay in the $12 to $15K price range and the dealer will sell to me at a small profit.
It seems the easiest '07 and newer for us to get is a GLS with a 2.7L and either FWD, which I don't want, or AWD, but it seems there is some dispute as to what the tow rating actually is. Most of what I see says only 1650# (my trailer weighs 1K empty), whereas the 2.7L '06 and older is higher... is this because of the newer B-W tranny or what is the reason? The 3.3L has a higher capacity, so does it use the same or a different transmission? We have an '06 on one of our lots, but I really like the '07 and newer style. We must have sold an '08 2.7L AWD GLS today as I no longer see it on our website... it was still there yesterday.
I know this is long to get the answer to a simple tow rating question, but I'm kind of long winded :whistling: .
I'm a new member here and looking to buy a small to mid-sized SUV. First off let me say that I drive vehicles for a fairly large independent dealer with 3 locations and have been doing it for a few years since I retired. As such, there isn't a heck of a lot I haven't driven. Like many people, I am not totally without prejudice, so there were vehicles that were eliminated right from the start, namely GM because the majority I have driven are junk, and anything Japanese because I didn't like the fact they tried to kill one of my uncles at Pearl Harbor. That leaves Chrysler, which isn't much better than GM, or Ford, European, and Korean vehicles. I have driven several Hyundai Sonatas, Azeras, Santa Fes and Tuscons and have really been impressed with every one I have driven.
I need to replace my old F-150 and I really don't need a full sized pickup any more. I have a utility trailer I haul anything of any size on anyway because it's handier than loading it in a pickup with a topper. I have some items I haul with me almost all the time, but they would easily fit in the back of a small SUV. I have narrowed my choices to two models... the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner (edited) platform or the Hyundai Santa Fe. Requirements are automatic w/ AWD or 4WD, and enough power to pull the Colorado mountains with 3 or 4 people and tow capacity enough to pull a total trailer weight of 2500#, but not at the same time. Trailer would be pulled maybe one or two times a month for maybe 20 miles, and rarely more distance than that. I am trying to stay in the $12 to $15K price range and the dealer will sell to me at a small profit.
It seems the easiest '07 and newer for us to get is a GLS with a 2.7L and either FWD, which I don't want, or AWD, but it seems there is some dispute as to what the tow rating actually is. Most of what I see says only 1650# (my trailer weighs 1K empty), whereas the 2.7L '06 and older is higher... is this because of the newer B-W tranny or what is the reason? The 3.3L has a higher capacity, so does it use the same or a different transmission? We have an '06 on one of our lots, but I really like the '07 and newer style. We must have sold an '08 2.7L AWD GLS today as I no longer see it on our website... it was still there yesterday.
I know this is long to get the answer to a simple tow rating question, but I'm kind of long winded :whistling: .