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Help choosing cost effective, reliable CUV
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Dylan296
New User
Jun 6, 2017, 10:33 AM
Post #1 of 8
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Help choosing cost effective, reliable CUV
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Hey there! I'm the manager of a small (but growing) non-emergency medical transportation company and for various reasons we are looking to shift our fleet over from minivans to CUV's in the next couple years. The boss tasked me to start looking into the myriad of options available and come up with something to fit our needs.
We are looking for the most:
-widely available (we buy used so the more there are on the road the better)
-dependable (we realize there is no perfect vehicle and repairs will happen, just can't have major known issues such as wide spread head gasket or trans failure)
-affordable
-rust resistant (we are based in Michigan so right in the heart of the rust belt.)
Thanks for any and all replies. I don't expect there to be one perfect answer, but anything to help me get my research going in the right direction would be greatly appreciated!
(This post was edited by Dylan296 on Jun 6, 2017, 11:48 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 6, 2017, 2:18 PM
Post #2 of 8
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Re: Help choosing cost effective, reliable CUV
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Yikes of a question? Do you mean vehicles to accommodate assorted handicaps to seat as many as possible right? IDK for sure where you get additional equipment as needed such as the lifts for wheel chairs or more?
There is a specialty place certified in those installations I'd even have to search where and be local enough. These things are all over the place - no doubt assorted mandatory equipment and safety features is what I'm thinking you are after.
Transmission failures you could minimize with just added trans fluid coolers.
Rust now not legal TMK for under side once was a thick oil not done anymore as oily chunks could drop off I guess but that helped.
I'm not convinced you can defeat all rust or other corrosion.
Head gaskets? IDK - don't allow overheats and change out antifreeze on time or early wouldn't hurt and only maybe help. Tend to cooling system services pro-actively not re-actively.
Hey - if buying used I would hope you can just choose ones with features you need already there and working. Hope info on who made what is available if ever needing parts.
Plenty to know and find out was not ever my job on this. I'd probably begin with just asking a new vehicle dealer that sells the models to send out and how or who they use when new.
I did work on some very used limousines then found out the cars new were purchased as such knowing they would be cut and altered so just came with extra cooling, HD suspension systems.
These left to assorted smaller companies with names and had specs to cut where and how much to bolster frames and were horrible for information mostly wiring and how done to control the rear from the front and disable everything to the rear as well. I'm speaking of vehicles that were made to be cut in half and how long they ended up was not known for sure by original automobile maker just sold as "Limo Prepared" I think was the option - cars not trucks you see now,
T
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Dylan296
New User
Jun 7, 2017, 9:03 AM
Post #3 of 8
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Re: Help choosing cost effective, reliable CUV
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To clarify, I'm not looking for wheelchair accessible CUV's or those that can be converted. For wheelchair access we will be staying with ramp equipped vans as those are simply the best option for that kind of vehicle.
The CUV's will be replacing our "daily runners" I guess you could call them. We're updating and modernizing our fleet from regular minivans to regular crossovers, and I'm just looking for some direction on what makes and models we wouldn't be spending tens of thousands of dollars on in repairs yearly. Like I said above, I realize nothing is bulletproof, just something reliable. :)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 7, 2017, 9:34 AM
Post #4 of 8
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Re: Help choosing cost effective, reliable CUV
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I see this stuff of assorted brands mostly on the newer side all the time not older? Not my thing for adding equipment very much needed no question.
Right - nothing is going to be mechanically "bullet proof" as you put it. I just see what you do out there. No complaints known yet from the Ford Transit w very high roof as well as a Benz plain see the ads new for $22K no clue what the includes but suspect bare metal painted inside and two seats up front they you take it from there.
Then the Van noses with the back all custom ordered no doubt a coach company just pick what you want which is what you are tying to do.
Personally don't know how to judge vehicles dependability for the first several years just me perhaps. I do favor RWD a "V" engines and would NOT pay extra for diesel right now as a guess on extra cost up front wouldn't pay off for the use it got by miles or time vs gas.
Just history for costs to maintain or repair. The Benz would be out as always costly to just maintain ordinary things you expect. Transits a big question now once made in Turkey for Ford? OMG - can a company just leave so easily with that area fast if needed and be ready quickly? May have already done that?
The high Chrysler/Fiat owned tall van looks great but no info on them for costs.
This is a chore for you. I can't be sure what I would choose if it was my job to pick and choose what it would be able to do and which one. Think a lot would matter how close any wild repairs could be done quickly as there would always be something beyond local shops or yourself the more unique something gets.
Not a lot of real help for you so wish you luck. Keep asking and maybe there's a targeted site for such vehicles and the equipment made that's best to choose the maker of wouldn't be the vehicle manufacturer TMK,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 7, 2017, 12:23 PM
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Re: Help choosing cost effective, reliable CUV
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Tom, I think you are misunderstanding what a CUV is. It is a crossover, meaning like half car, half SUV. Like Honda CRV or Toyota RAV 4 which would be my recommendations as they are the most reliable made, not cheap but extremely reliable.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 7, 2017, 2:00 PM
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Re: Help choosing cost effective, reliable CUV
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Lost. When people carrying was mentioned was thinking the "C" UV would be custom Utility Van like not a flipping 1/2 way car. Can't think of a one I would want to always deal with people with a handicap with those?
Wrong vehicles IMO for multiple people transportation,
T
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 8, 2017, 10:11 AM
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Re: Help choosing cost effective, reliable CUV
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OK, sorry as I asked you said "wheelchair accessible" in a reply.
It's your call for type but I've had a ton of time transporting a late family member unable to walk so equipment needed. I couldn't fit the stuff in these CUVs and was just one person's gear.
Had to take things apart to fit in a full size now antique Lincoln Town Car with a trunk that's deeper than cars are tall now.
No problem buy what you think will work out for you. I do like dependability of the Asian cars probably Toyota best of what you listed but not cheap even used.
Why 4X4? That just complicates the drivetrain, more items to wear out and costs lots more both price and time to work on for many things.
Bear with me, I live in a snow belt and some hills and go out even if unplowed to a point or wait. FWD has all plain traction on fronts like get out of a parking space it's all you would need. RWD handles lots better driving along than just FWD. Not joking, not the time of year but try accelerating way too much on a curve is slippery you'll go off the road but can correct that with RWD easily.
Do you really want the cost as almost everything is FWD and 4X4 is just a waste IMO. I watch, they all still sit too low to drive thru even 8" of snow alone so what good is the rear doing?
IDK - said your call but have driven Scion xBs, Kia Souls so boxy they have room and just FWD for far less bucks.
The best reason vehicles ever came with FWD at all is so they could put engines in sideways which makes interior more room but sold it as bad weather improvement and better handling. Please tell me which sports car totally about handling is FWD only? NONE.
I plow snow and have to. Rear only on a truck can't move for crap. That needs the fronts to work for that and shut that off instantly when not needed as primary is rear only.
Some vehicles add front wheels but are rear wheel drive layouts which is more of a mess of tangled junk to deal with when older or repairs needed.
Think about this - I live it,
T
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