Wagons and SUVs?

Accumulator said:
Heh heh, I kinda like the utterly functional interior for a dog-hauler (and the no-frills body too, what with all that plastic), but yeah...the Element is scary-slow. We'd never be able to pull out of our neighborhood in something like that.
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Wow - that's odd. We have an 06 4wd Element, and it will get up and go fairly well with the Vtec engine. I also tow our utility trailer with it, and have had over 2000 pounds on it, and hardly felt the weight back there. In terms of the interior, I have a custom piece of carpet that covers the entire floor...it's 2 sections...1 for the rear, and 1 for the front. I can take the carpeting out to clean, and put it right back in. The 4wd works well, and the gas mileage isn't bad. Performance parts, such as turbos, exhaust, and CAI are also readily available.



My warranty runs out next month. I am thinking of adding a turbo and CAI, and taking it to the local dyno shop to be tuned in. I want to turn it in to the ultimate sleeper vehicle. ;)



The entire reason we bought it was because we have 2 dogs, and foster others. I was tired of dogs scratching the rear bumper when getting in and out (as mentioned earlier), and it seemed like the perfect vehicle. The rear seats also come completely out, and I can fit my entire detailing arsenal back there, which is helpful.



THE NEGATIVES...not the greatest ride in the world, and there is a bit of wind/road noise.



It is definitely a love it or hate it vehicle, but for us, there was nothing else on the market that would handle *our* needs like the Element. It also isn't a luxury vehicle, and probably wouldn't be an "upgrade" for you, but I can tell you since we have had ours', I wouldn't trade it for anything else...to darn practical.
 
Accumulator said:
Well...in my sense of the term the big nail marks *are* marring, just a really nasty version of it ;)



I'm pretty fanatical about this one; I train my dogs how to behave/not around vehicles and I keep their nails *VERY* short. Still, getting them in/out of vehicles (a few times *every* day) without anything getting messed up is a challenge.
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My dog is a total wuss about his nails, he makes it very difficult to cut his nails. Not that I blame him, but yeah. I was thinking that if his nails got really into the rear bumper, it'd take paint off. Is that still marring? :P



:bounce
 
XRL said:
My dog is a total wuss about his nails, he makes it very difficult to cut his nails. Not that I blame him..
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[Off-topic Warning!]



I sympathize with you there, I've had to clipper-chill dogs that had big-time issues with them. No exactly fun with, say...dogs who won't hesitate to bite humans.



FWIW (maybe just an idea for the next dog...) I do *some* kind of nail-trimming exercise every night. Yep, *every* night, even if I just go through the motions. I start this the first night after I bring a new dog/pup home and they get used to it pretty fast. My dogs learn how the nightly routine works and become completely blase about it.



With clippers, try to "shave" off a thin slice of nail instead of using them like bolt cutters. Yeah, for this you gotta replace the clippers now and then unless you can figure out how to sharpen them.



If you do cut the quick beyond what a stypic powder will fix, try SuperGlue.



Also/really, using a cordless Dremel (the 7.2V model) makes the whole thing a lot easier, far less chance of a "oops" too. I used the clippers OK for *decades* (I'd go months or even a year without that "oops" happening) before finally accepting that the Dremel was simply the better way to go.



[/Off-topic]
 
[More Off-Topic Spam on Dogs]



That's a good idea about trying to clip the nails more often. The dremel thing reminds me of the Pedi-Paws that we have (we got it as a gift). He does NOT like it. He's not a big fan of having his nails ground off with sandpaper.



[/Spam]
 
XRL- Eh....That Pedi-Paws thing (got ours as a gift too) is junk IMO. I wouldn't say ours *like* it, but they, uhm...acclimated ;)



OK OK, returning to "wagons and SUVs" :o
 
weekendwarrior said:
Wow - that's odd. We have an 06 4wd Element, and it will get up and go fairly well with the Vtec engine.
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I agree that is odd, the Element does get up a go. My buddy has an 04 4wd and that thing is a pretty descent mover with that vtec engine. Of course things may get a little relative if you just got into one after driving an A8 ;) :)
 
The Magnum has a rear bumper cover and after several entry/exits a day for over a year it is mar free, wish I could say the same about dog hair, LOL.

For the nails a cordless dremel is the way to go, start off real slow if your dog is scared of it. Just let him sniff it when its off & hear it run the first time. Next time do a nail or two & soon he will nap straight through, treats can allso be very helpful.
 
Big Jon said:
The Magnum has a rear bumper cover and after several entry/exits a day for over a year it is mar free...
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Ah, glad to hear that. I'm probably being paranoid about it, but at this point they're used to going in/out the sides.



I did like loading from the rear back when I had vehicles that didn't seem vulnerable back there.
 
I owned a 2005 WRX wagon for a little while- What a joy to smoke the "tuner" civics. -While hauling all the family pets, big TVs and a band equipment.



-By the way, you know subaru makes the AWD saab wagon right?!
 
HappyWax said:
I owned a 2005 WRX wagon for a little while...-By the way, you know subaru makes the AWD saab wagon right?!
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I kinda like the way SAAB has put their mark on the WRX, might be worth the added $ to somebody like me, but I dunno how others would feel about it :think:



Regulars here have heard about my feelings regarding my (2002?) WRX wagon a zillion times...by the time the dogs outgrew it my wife and I were ready to get rid of it ASAP anyhow, just not the right vehicle for us for a lotta reasons... but that's just us.
 
HappyWax said:
-By the way, you know subaru makes the AWD saab wagon right?!
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Teh Saab 9-2x is no longer in production. It was available for maybe 2 years. IIRC they could be had for less than a WRX because Saab being a GM sub. they fell under the employee discount program at the time. I can't remember the last time I actually saw a 9-2X
 
My dad in Massachusetts has one (Saab 9-2) and loves driving it. It's the family's dog hauler. JP, the dog, is probably about 70 pounds and fits just fine in back.
 
It's too bad you can't find a Lexus IS300 wagon - I think I've seen 2 in my lifetime. Did I say wagon?! I meant "sportcross"
 
UpNorth- That oughta be a great car for your dad :xyxthumbs



HappyWax- Now *there's* a vehicle you don't hear mentioned every day!
 
Accumulator said:
UpNorth- That oughta be a great car for your dad :xyxthumbs
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Thanks. I'm happy for him and the dog. Dad likes the seats and perhaps the drive in the "saabaru" better than my mom's BMW. My sister gets credit for picking it out for him. (She used to just pick his ties.)



For me, I just ordered a Volvo C30 and am downsizing from my Mazda CX-7. I don't presently have a dog, but if (when) I get one, it should be a relatively small one with the C-30. (I will order a bumper cover before getting a dog.)
 
UpNorth- Heh heh, your sister sounds pretty swell :D



That C30 is a neat little package! Heh heh, I bet I could be pretty happy stuffing one of my Beaucerons in the back of it :D What color did you order?
 
There's a thread on the C30 forum I visit that has pictures of owners with their dogs. Some of them are pretty good sized. I've not seen a beauceron in person but they look like an amazing dog. I think with the backseats down, one could be quite happy in a c30, and certainly stylin'.



As for my purchase, I ordered a Black Sapphire Mettallic R design. Given that I park outside, in Alaska, it was something of an insane choice. But the color is just spectacular, and I think looks really smart on the C30. I'm sure my detailing skills (including wash technique) will improve as I take on this rather unforgiving project. The good thing is, I really enjoy detailing. (Thanks to what ive been learning on this forum!) And since the C30 is on the smaller side, I should be at less risk of burning myself out.



I can hardly wait for it to arrive in late May or early June.
 
Infiniti FX35. It has the room of smallish SUV but drives and handles like a sports car. Tons of fun to drive. Beautiful to look at. I suggest test driving one.
 
UpNorth- Heh heh, that color might not be as bad as you think ;) My current dog-hauler, the DenaliXL, is metallic black (just happened to be the best example I found for the money) and I was wondering what a huge black vehicle would be like in that role. Turns out it's not all *that* big a deal; clearcoat is clearcoat.



That *does* sound mighty nice all right! And yeah, since you actually enjoy this stuff (heh heh heh) the small size oughta make it a fun thing to keep really nice. My last truly small dog-car (Honda CRX way back in the day) was metallic black and I really liked it.



gchristopher9- Yeah, the only criticisms I recall about the FXs is that they're long on "sport" and short on "utility", which is a *good* thing IMO.
 
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