Your Advice Needed on 2012 New Car?

I'd stay far away from the VW. I had one of those, a diesel, and I could have almost purchased another Prius for what it cost in maintenance alone. The most disappointing car I have ever had. Some of my co-workers have had gas VWs and none kept them for more than a year due to the unreliability and high maintenance costs. I've also had too many Fords that where "quality wasn't job one" to ever even think about getting another one. I've never had a Hyundai, but looking at the resale values doesn't inspire confidence.

The Prius is a great car: fun-to drive, reliable, low maintenance, and it's mid-sized so there is more room for friends and equipment. I purchased my first Prius (a 2001) for my wife. It was so good that I got a 2004 for myself. The 2004 Prius has cost 12 cents per mile for dealer maintenance, tires, and fuel combined over the 130,000 trouble free miles I've driven it so far. My wife doesn't keep a logbook but the costs appear to be similar. Both cars still run like new. Based on the high owner satisfaction rating it appears my good experiences are not unique

2004 Prius MPG from the logbook. (Complete years only):

2003-2004 -- 50.8 mpg 17,628 miles

2005 -- 52.6 mpg 14,688 miles

2006 -- 56.3 mpg 16,174 miles

2007 -- 57.3 mpg 18,384 miles

2008 -- 59.9 mpg 21,755 miles

2009 -- 61.4 mpg 16,177 miles

2010 -- 65.2 mpg 12,134 miles

2011 -- 66.9 mpg 11,272 miles

First of all no Hyunda. I don't trust any of those Korean car. May be i am bias, however i don't trust any of those stuff like Kia/Hyunda/Daewoo. The are cheap because they are crap

The Prius is nice and green. However if might not be powerful enough if you are going up and down hill. I personally love the Jetta. It is cute and have a nice engine in it. I want one but i don't have the money for it ...

there is Volkswagen pick up on market in rest of the world

do not buy diesel sucks in maintenance go for gasoline or golf

buy new only, do not get push buy salesman

Tuscan Second best choice more gas mileage than ww

no prius because it will not last as long as gasoline engine

take care

I'd go with the Tucson it sounds like.that's your favorite pick and its just the dealer holding u back..Just go to a differant dealer don't let one dumb salesmen ruin u from getting the vehicle u really want.

I think you should visit UK's best online car sale website http://www.broadspeed.com/

This company Broadspeed offers lowest rates for used and new cars in all over the UK.

To be honest I wouldn't go with any of these. I know exactly where you come from. I camp aswell and I have a car that can take the bumpy forest, etc. I'd look into fords. These are the absolute best. The new explorer is unbelievably economical, looks great, isnt too big, can jump mountains, and comes with a ton of great features.

As with the exterior, the Ford Explorer interior design brief was to modernize, making soft-touch surfaces and occupant comfort key priorities. A goal was to make the Ford Explorer interior a three-row medium for the technology, convenience and connectivity it contains, while inspiring driver confidence in dynamic driving on any road, anytime, anywhere.

The feeling of the interior is one of an upscale, premium vehicle, from the choice of materials to the high levels of fit-and-finish.

"Make it look expensive: That was my goal for the new Explorer interior," said Mike Arbaugh, interior studio manager. "This is a vehicle that challenges higher-end SUVs like BMW X5 and Audi Q7, so the interior design, craftsmanship and fit-and-finish should play in that league."

The new Ford Explorer interior package is a best-of-both-worlds approach, combining premium European design cues - imparting a sense of driving dynamics - with a sophisticated and uniquely American familiarity. The graceful, seamless flow from instrument panel into the doors and the forward-leaning center stack reflect the sporty, European theme while the command seating position bestows the sense of security so important to SUV buyers.

The 2011 Ford Explorer was designed and developed to deliver best-in-class levels of NVH control and to rival premium SUVs in quietness. Customer research told the Ford Explorer development team that the interior of an SUV should be serene and soothing.

Ford Explorer's quiet ride began in the design phase. A unibody configuration with fewer parts means reduced opportunity for squeaks and rattles. The front bolster housing the radiator is one single component, whereas a key competitor requires 11 separate pieces to perform the identical function. In addition, Ford Explorer features a hydroformed front structure to add strength, save weight and reduce NVH.

Ford Explorer development employed NoiseVision technology and statistical modeling to optimize NVH balance. NoiseVision consists of a sphere with hundreds of tiny cameras and microphones that allow engineers to pinpoint individual sounds at various frequency bands. This enables isolation and correction of potential noises early in the process.

To provide a quiet ride, Ford Explorer features acoustic-laminated glass, an acoustic headliner, a driver's side hush panel, full-perimeter hood seal, underbelly pan, a lofted high-density hood insulator, mass-backed barrier carpet and mastic floor treatment. Inner-dash and tunnel insulators, a dash doubler, a spare tire carpet cover door, liftgate and pillar trim absorbers all contribute to interior quietness.

The Ford Explorer 3.5-liter V6 is offered as standard equipment across base, XLT and Limited models. Delivering an anticipated improvement in fuel economy of more than 20 percent versus the previous Explorer model, this smooth and powerful V6 enables intelligent four-wheel drive (4WD) with terrain management. The improvement in efficiency helps Ford Explorer to surpass fuel economy figures for the 2010 Honda Pilot and other vehicles in the segment.

Using Ti-VCT for optimized fuel economy and reduced part-throttle emissions, this engine delivers an estimated 290 horsepower and 255 lb.-ft. of torque.

This V6 engine has been highly developed for the Ford Explorer application, with multiple actions that enhance mechanical efficiency, increase fuel economy, lower emissions, reduce operating costs and bolster durability.

Mechanical efficiency, performance and fuel economy have been improved through Ti-VCT, a low-tension drive belt featuring a one-way clutch for the alternator, a direct-acting mechanical bucket (DAMB) valvetrain with polished buckets to reduce friction, piston-cooling jets, improved bay-to-bay breathing through the cylinder block and composite cam covers that reduce engine weight.

This car is amazing and will serve you well. You can also maybe look into the ford edge. I honestly doubt that any of the cars listed above can even do half of what this can do.