Hi from Canada,

I havent managed to take it for a test drive yet (hoefully in a few weeks) but im considerering an outie and have a few questions..

I was wondering if anyone also tested the 07 santa fe and what they thought of it and why they chose the outie ?

Also, the Nav package is quite expensive here in canada ($4000CDN) and im wondering what the people who have it think of it ? As a nav unit does it offer anything more than a Tom Tom or Garmin unit ? I dont care about storing music on it.

Thanks a lot.

 

I tested the Santa Fe, Rav4 and new CRV. I had decided on the Santa Fe until I saw an Outie ad on TV. Did a bunch of research and test drove the Outie. I liked both vehicles very much. In the end I decided on the Outie over the Santa Fe for the following reason:

The Outie is WAY more fun to drive!

Six speed tranny with manual shift capability is sweet. I thought the handling in the XLS was better.

And if price isn't an issue, spend the$4,000 on the MMCS - it is more than just a Nav system and music server. It also controls a number of different vehicle programming functions (anti-theft alarm function, keylessentry, lighting, wiper interval operations, one touch signalling, etc. - to name a few). Also remember that $4,000 includes the rear entertainment system so you actually have two DVD players and screens in car. Plus you can wire in a backup camera and get Sirius satellite radio through your head unit.

Loaded up the XLS will cost about the same or slightly more then the Santa Fe but is way more vehicle then the final price will ever indicate.

 

I hope this helps. I just picked up my 07 Outlander this past Saturday. The dealership where I got it also sells Hyundai. The Santa Fe just did not do anything for me. Didn't drive one, because I never would have purchased based on styling alone.

Here is what I can share with you. I got the XLS 4wd w/ Sun & Sound, Nav &Luxury packages.The MMCS that includes the Nav is wild. You can control things on this vehicle like you would not believe. If you are not into gizmo's though, the Outlander looks to be a solid platform in any regard. In general, the reviews that I read missed some of the more important items to me. I have no idea what planet Jame Healey from USA Today was on when he did his review. Interior mat'ls appear to be just fine to me.The V6 has plenty of around town torque at low end. And it isvery sporty compared to the '03 CR-V 5spd Man that I traded in and the rear seat is indeed functional for what it was designed for. The Mazda that he used as a reference for "sporty" would never even be in consideration for a CUV for me. That is astation wagon on steroids, and an ugly one at that in my opinion. What I was looking for in aCUV was an allaround people hauler that can also haul bags of cement & mulch from the hardware store, pull my boat, get mid 20s fuel mileage for daily driving, have 4wd capabilty when I want it, not just when it thinks I want it, decent styling, proven manufacturer quality and durability, abilty to carry 7 people and is stillsmall enough to fit in the mall parking spaces, while still being what I feel to be reasonably priced. I've never owned a Mitubishi before, but the Outlander fit exactly whatI was looking for. We have been looking the vehicleI described above for over a year to no avail. When I saw the Outlander on a recent episode of Motorweek it started me looking and a couple of weeks later, I have one parked in my garage.


My limited observations thus far
Pros:
[ul][*]keyless operation[*]Styling[*]6 spd Auto - smooth as silk[*]220 hp V6[*]Expected 25-26 mpg for daily commute[*]3rd row seat for the occasions where we want to haul more than 5 people. (two kids 9 & 10 fit just fine and not that hard to operate once you figure it out)[*]3500lb towing with no needed add ons other than a Hitch. I will use every bit of the 3,500lb limit from time to time and 1,800lbs on a regular basis pulling my Fishing Boat[*]Music Server (still don't need to buy an I-Pod)[*]No wind noise as noticed by others[*]Ride & handling (Firm & Sporty)[*]Storage space in the glove boxes, center console & in-dash compartment[*]Multiple 12v power points that are always powered. I can change that in the MMCS if I so choose.[*]6mos free Sirius Radio[*]5yrs - 60K Bumper to bumper (likely to need it a some point with all the electronics)[*]10 yrs 100K Powertrain[*]Steering wheel controls for Audio, Cruise & Bluetooth[/ul]
Cons:
[ul][*]Lack of storage space in the cargo area. I can not figure out where to put all the stuff thatcame out of the CR-V that I traded in. I thinkingsome custom made storage in the cubby opposite of the subwoofer is in order. This is my biggest Con by far. The others are all minor[*]Very noisy when starting[*]No power seat memory. (She is 5'-2" I am 6'-0")[*]Sunroof motor is noisy[*]Lack of Lumbar adjustment on the front seats[/ul]

 

thanks for the feedback, i look forward to test driving one soon.

I think the main hurdle to overcome is the fact its a mitsubishi and I have no experience with them. If it was a Honda or a Toyota then the choice would be easier as they are both more established, but to me mits is an unknown.

 

Keep in mind that well establilshed does not mean better.

As far as the comment about starting noise level, I cant imagine how that could be a complaint. They dont make any more noise than any other vehicle I have. However if the AC is on max ac the fan is loud but Its the only vehicle Ive been in that can sit in an airport parking lot for 3 days in hot weather and blow cold air in about 60 seconds after starting.

I experienced a 2006 Lexus and 2006 Toyota Sequoia this weekend hands down the sound level and ride in the Outlander is much better. In fact the noise in the Lexus was apalling for a luxury car it was rough and the tires pounded the bad spots in the road horribly with only 50K miles on it. The outie just glides over them I do have the LS package though.

 

Forgot one other biggie for me- the warranty. Best in class by a country mile. 10 year powertrain is pretty amazing. 5 year bumper to bumper with roadside assist is also awesome. The Mits engineers must be pretty confident.

I also had no experience with them but after my research I was more than comfortable. Mits has been around a long time even though they are lesser known in the NA market. They have been long established in Japan and Europe. Now they have product which should appeal broadly to the NA market, IMHO and time will tell.

But this is nowhere near the80's when Hyundai showed up with their Pony which had a lot of people saying "What a Korean car? You must.be out of your mind!" Now look at Hyundai.

 

You are right in that that is an odd comment. Lets say it is more of an observation than a Con. It is only a Con if it is due to, or leads to something being wrong with the vehicle. In a week or two, I probably won't even notice it. It just sounds so different from any street car I have owned prior. Very metallic. Not heard from inside the vehicle. I noticed it when they started mine in the showroom to pull it out for delivery. Maybe it is just a normal Mitsubishi starter sound, but it is unlike any other car I have ever owned from Chevys & Fords to VWs & Hondas. The only thing I can liken it to is the sound of a late model stock car starter. Aha, I've got it.... I'll move it to my Pros list... I bought a race car...jk .... As unusual as it sounded to be on my cons list, it really stood out to me. I figure it is a good thing when the only complaints are nit-picky ones like cheap sun visors and the sound that the starter makes.
I justt found this when searching for CRV problems....maybe Mitusbishi starter motors just make a different sound than some of are used to. It isn't just me......I told ya so :-P

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Dazed:
Don't buy a Honda or Toyota just for the name. Make sure what you buy is what you need. The media makes such a big deal about the difference in quality between manufacturers, when in actuality, they are all for the most part in a range that should be acceptable for any car buyer. I had a Recall and TSB within 6 mos of buying my 03 CRV. Every CRV that Honda has brought to the US with AWD has had or will have the dreaded rear diff noise due to the diff fluid breaking down within the first 15 to 30K instead of the expected 90K stated in the service manual. Just do a search on "CRV Rear Diff Noise". Honda's dirty little secret. It is not a problem if you want to pay the $62 that the dealer wants service the rear diff every 15K miles. Go too far without the fluid change and take a chance at need a whole new rear diff. On the other hand my 03 VW GTI 1.8T, which by most reports is a piece of junk living on borrowed time, has not had a single issue in 4years of ownership. My point is, figure out what cars offer you what you are looking for, do your homework and make sure there are no "known" issues with the vehicle you want and understand the full cost of ownership and not just your initial cost. You will have trade in or sell whatever you buy some day in the future. At this point in time Hondas & Toyotas have great resale value. Hyundais and Kias don't. Mitsubishi, Chevy & Ford are somewhere in between. A vehicle from any of the above could serve you well depending on your needs.

While I am not pushing any brand, I made the Mitsubishi choice and have no regrets.

 

Mitsubishi isn't as popular as honduh or toyota in the US butthey're quite quite popular in Asia and Europe. That's partly because of the popularity of the rally series thanks to the EVO monsters (love them) and the more aggressive presence in some of those countries. At the end of the day, they do build great cars both in performance and reliability. I won't comment on styling since that is really dependent on the individual and locale.

I have owned over a dozen cars in the last 10 years (not concurrently) of various brands including 3 mitsus. Have been very satisfied with all 3 cars. The only consistent annoyance I have with Mitsubishi is their dealers. Apart from one real straight shooter I got my Outtie from (near Dallas), every other Mitsu dealer I've talked to or even purchased from can be, at best, branded the typical sleazy pushy car dealer. That's from Seattle, WA to Dallas, TX. Maybe I just have really bad luck.

 

I will admit I havent owned a Japanese car for a few years, a lot of them have a sound to them that US cars dont. We used to say "it sounds like a rice grinder" the Outlander definately does have that sound, the high pitched starter and the happy tappety tap of a Japanese engine even the exhaust note of a V6 is different. But theyre all sounds I was familiar with, my first car was a 69 Corona, I had Japanese or Korean cars up until 2000 where I made the mistake of buying 2 GM products because my husband was a US guy. Now I laugh because he is now a Japanese or Korean guy.

I did make my decision to get a Mitsu based somewhat on the fact that Mitsu acts like they care about their standing in the car market and are willing to go the extra mile to put out a decent product and back it with decent customer service.

Whereas Toyota and Honda have become fat and lazy and not concerned with putting out crap, they know the sheep out there will keep buying them.

No car is perfect so customer service should be important too.

 

crunchie, you really need to try several dealers. Its hard to find a good one but theyre out there. Im soooo glad I didnt go with the dealer we first looked at, I would have paid much more than I needed to and then been met with frustration trying to get the bearings taken care of.