I have been thinking about this for a while now...and thought I'd throw it out there for discussion. What do you salesmen have for a daily driver / bow hunting rig? I am responsible for my gas bill each week for my commute(45 mins 1 way) and for my sales calls(all over), which is why I drive a VW TDI. It gets like 40-45mpg usually which is awesome. But, I also hunt before/after work without going home....go to Ohio for work and hunt there too. Now I have hunted out of this car last year, and it works....but not pretty. Especially when I shoot a deer, or need to get somewhere remote. Is there a certain vehicle that can be good on gas, roomy enough to take a customer to lunch, but still get the job done when it comes to all things bow hunting? I understand I work 12 months out of the year, and hunt 3....just curious what any others have been happy with.
I've got an F-150. I don't get the best mileage (22ish on the highway if I keep it around 65, 17.5 around town), but I need a truck for all the stuff I do when not at work. I pay out of pocket for my travel to/from work (25ish miles each way). I get to expense any company mileage though so that helps me quite a bit. For me, it just didn't make sense to have a cheaper car to rack up miles on when you add in cost of maintenance, insurance, registration, etc. So I got an F-150 with the SuperCrew cab and I love it.
I have potential for travel too....not the same degree but travel...and it is the only reason making me consider an AWD SUV over a truck for my next purchase. Still haven't fully decided. I've often thought about getting a work nice commuter car and then just buying a cheap beater 4x4...
Going to be hard pressed at that mileage. what I would look for is something big enough to be able to fit your gear, have a hitch installed an get a hit rack that will fit inside that you can pull out and load on the occasion you get something.
I like the 2010-2012 Escapes for this type of set up and a low mileage one may honestly make the practical sense for me this next year when searching for a new vehicle.
I drive a 2010 Escape. I get about 27 mpg in mixed driving. For a smaller SUV I really like it. Rides a lot more like an SUV than most other crossover types. If you put a hitch on it you could easily haul a deer Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Good to hear. What engine you got in yours out of curiosity? You pull a trailer much with it or boat?
I only have a four cylinder in it. Was driving 60 miles round trip to work at 3.75 a gallon when I got it so I was focused on gas mileage. Haven't hauled any boats. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
I have a 6 cyl AWD Ford Escape. Lots of power, 24 mpg mixed driving. It will pull an aluminum boat no problem.
If I do end up going the route of a SUV the Escape definitely has my eye more than any other. Ability to get good gas mileage yet haul a trailer or hitchrack is appealing.
which TDI do you have? If you like it, wouldn't the SportsWagen suit your purpose and not lose the mileage?
The hitch idea isn't bad. Anyone ever think of a 4 cyl jeep or truck? Mileage? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If I was gonna go to a 4 cylinder truck it'd honestly be a Tacoma if price was no concern....otherwise either a Nissan Frontier or a Canyon/Colorado (confirmed they are made in 4 cylinder in some years). I personally don't like the small feel of a Ranger but they make a heck of a truck some of my buddies swear (granted they both have their's lifted and bigger tires on them but..... Modern 4 cylinders are capable of what many old 6's did...just like modern 6's can nearly do just about all an old 8 could. I have always been a 5 cylinder or bigger kinda guy, but honestly the 4 cylinder's get good reviews just lack the overall raw power to do any serious pulling...but could easily tackle the tasks I throw at a truck and maybe you as well. Bonus is better gas mileage all around.
used to own a Jeep... the 4 cyl. is way under powered if your getting much off road or pulling a trailer... once the warranty was up I put an 8 in it and it was great... now have a Darango with the tow package... not bad mileage, more room inside without being too big to fit some of those over grown logging roads, throw a plastic tarp down in back for blood if/when I get one... and if I need more room, set up to pull the trailer... for around town or carrying extra people the seats fold back up and carries 7
2013 Passat. It's a nice car and I do like it - besides the fact I can't do anything that "cool" in it but can/I have made it work. Sport wagon is still 2wd. I have a Yukon for the times when I really need to haul a boat or trailer so that's not an issue. I've owned two Cherokees before they were ugly and liked the 4.0 motors. But that was a while ago. I'll have to look into the 4 banger trucks and jeeps/escapes for mileage. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
How's the mileage of those 5 cylinders? Power? Seems to be a happy medium and the trucks aren't that tiny Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I know nick (coheley) loves the two he has had and says plenty of torque for getting the job done. Wanna say mileage is 15/22 for them but I'd look that up cuz that now seems maybe touch lower than perhaps actual.
Yea thats literally cutting my mileage in half.....which may be a sacrifice I need to make. The trailer hitch idea may be what I look into next for the passat.... The new ugly cherokees/ jeep patriots both get close to 30...add a hitch and you have it all i guess.
The Ford Escape is getting attention from me...as much as I want a truck, I keep thinking the smart thing is an AWD SUV and keeping my old F150 RWD for the days I truly need the bed + trailer
