Something to think about...

[PT]

...the merc a-class had to pretty much rebuilt on that one test

They used the same excuse as Ford in the Explorer case: blamed the tires (Goodyear). They can be right about the tires, but looks like when ther tires have some kind of fail, it becomes more evident in high center of gravity vehicles. It astounds me how the ordinary cars are getting more and more height every day. The new Ford Fiesta is almost a minivan! That happens because car manufacturers don't know what else to do to gain internal space...then cars are getting more and more dangerous...

Don't mean to be too technical, but they were Firestone tires that Ford had a problem with.

 

[Gato_Solo]

Actually...larger cars do not always equal a higher center of gravity. A horizontally opposed (boxer) engine can dramatically decrease the C/G of a vehicle without sacrificing space. Another way to make a car larger without compromising CG is to add length and width. SUV's are high-centered because they are designed that way. Can't have ground clearance without height. The only SUV that has overcome that failing has been the HUMMWV, and those are both ugly and expensive. The Hummer, BTW, overcomes the inherent stability with it's high CG by being wider than any other SUV...It also only seats 4...six in a tight pinch.

 

[halamikage]

*remembers Na saying, "I will never own a minivan"*

I got a '96 Honda Passport SUV, myself. I have to admit that its not the greatest car in the world but it looks good.

I'd really prefer a truck though, Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500, diesel or Ford F250 or 350, diesel. *dreaming*

 

[Gato_Solo]

Get an Escape, Miki. If you don't haul a lot of supplies, spend a lot of time off-road, or have a large family, then IMO, a smaller SUV is all you need. Seriously...how much space do we...erm...you need?

 

[halamikage]

Gato, we...um, I need the room. I like bigger rather than smaller.

But I'm trying to find my escape, I really need another car but it just doesn't look like its happening anytime soon.