Fleet of Cars

[detroitsprings]

What kind of cars do you have for your fleet? We have Xtera's and Escapes. We are thinking of going with sedans, something like a Hyundai Accent GLS, Chevy Sonic 2 LS, Kia Soul 4-Door Hatchback or the Honda Civic DX.

We are toying with the idea.

[Silverado61]

I would stay with the Escapes if you can, unless you are OMB's, then it probably doesn't matter. I don't know where you are, but if snow is an issue front wheel drive at least. That's my 2 cents worth.

[marstaton4]

Currently have Grand Cherokees moving to Ford Focus's. Corporate decision.

[JoeyO38]

We have Ford Explorers. We've had lots of problems with the radiators and thermostats, but other than that for the most part they are fine. No matter what, I would fight for 4-wheel drive. You don't want to fall flat when covering a major weather story. Snow/Ice/Mud/Backroads in a Hyundai Accent doesn't work. Trust me, that is my personal car. Also, there is no way I could fit all my gear in an Accent.

[svp]

I don't think the new model Escapes are good for news. The Hyundai Sante Fe works well.

[jeremycohn]

I used to have a Hyundai Santa Fe for news and it was awesome.

The Escape's are easier to install gear in (scanners, etc) but much less space and power than the Santa Fe. As svp mentioned, the 2013 Escape isn't looking like a great vehicle for news.

While I don't know a lot about them, I really like the new Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the Ford Explorer.

[Silverado61]

Originally Posted by marstaton4

Currently have Grand Cherokees moving to Ford Focus's. Corporate decision.

We did the Chevy Blazer to Escort wagons, as with you it was a bean counter decision, they lasted about 2 years, thankfully I only had it for about a year before I got a 2 door Explorer, would of preferred a 4 door but we didn't have much say in the decision. About the only good thing about them was the remote with the keys to unlock the doors. We now have Nissan Rogues, they have enough room and they get about 23 miles a gallon combined. Not bad for a crossover loaded with gear.

[phxtvwatcher]

We have Honda Pilots and we love them. Lots of room and very reliable.

[photoguy603]

we have a mix here, sedans (ford taurus and kia optima) and a subaru forester. Honestly it all depends on weather. I HATE the sedan in the winter....they are terrible in snow. I use a hyundai accent for a personal car...great on gas but to carry gear it would be very small. The taurus has decent room for 2 people but anything more than a camera and tripod then your stacking the back seat with gear...I wish we had a cage or something in case of an accident...the last thing you need is 100 pounds of gear flying around...

I've also used explorers at previous shops. I like them in the snow...I understand they are pricey.

I would really have to lean towards a small SUV...Jeep Liberty, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson or Santa Fe something like that...and if snow is an issue try to go with all-wheel drive....don't want to get stuck. just my 2 cents.

[Latin Lens]

We currently have a fleet of Ford Explorers. We got a desert climate and they've done well. 2 other stations here use Ford Explorers (well actually one of those two have Mercury Mountaineers, which are actually Explorers) but another station uses Xterras. I do not have much cold weather experience but Explorers seem to hold up well in all conditions (as long as maintaince is taken seriously). Heard good things about the Hyundai Santa Fe.

[1911A1]

Originally Posted by svp

I don't think the new model Escapes are good for news.

This. It's more like a crossover than an SUV (IIRC, it's built on a Ford Focus chassis).

We run a fleet of Ford Explorers, ranging in age from 2005/2006 to 2012, with one 2009(?) Ford Edge. Some of the older Explorers need replacing, but for the most part they've been good vehicles.

I'll echo the comments about getting 4WD or AWD if you can. Unfortunately, that battle has been fought...and lost...at my station. In the name of fuel economy, they don't buy 4WD vehicles any more. BTW, the new Explorers are front wheel drive, not rear wheel drive like they've always been. Until I got my new ride, I don't think I'd ever driven a front wheel drive vehicle before.

[PhotoJones]

We have a mix of Ford and Chrysler mini-vans, an older Jeep Cherokee, and two Ford Escapes. I drive one of the 2010 Escapes and like it a lot, but I also drive an Escape for my personal vehicle too. It's too small in the cabin for some people, but with the smaller rear seat folded down I've got all the room I need. Ours are not 4WD but they are front-wheel drive and do quite well in the snow. We've found anything Jeep needs a lot of maintenance, and so have other stations in our market that used Liberty's. We've found the Ford to be the longer lasting mini-van but our newer mini-vans are Chrysler's because they're thousands less than the equivalent Ford. I've used an older Taurus we had years ago and HATED getting the gear in and out of the trunk! No matter what you get, regular oil changes make a HUGE difference in the longevity of the engine. If you get a Ford Escape or Focus, use the recommended 5W-20 oil. It does make a difference!

[PhotoJones]

Sorry, I forgot to mention our only Ford Edge. For the size of the car, it has very little room for gear and plastic wraps all around you in the cabin area. It's a smooth ride but that's all it's good for.

[SoMissTV]

We've got 1991 and 1994 Ford Aerostars. Gotta love state agencies.

[newz2me]

We got a couple of Ford Eacapes. Small but at least it has 4 wheel drive. The rest of the fleet are Nissan Rogues. Some AWD, some front wheel drive. slightly smaller than the Escapes but good pickup. I have an Escape. I like it for the most part but after only 2 years, it's starting to rust.

[newsshooter]

I have a Honda Pilot and love it. Any of the SUV type cars would be great. I like to have room to move. Sometimes I have to shoot from the car. My tahoe was great for that. Lots of room in the back for those hidden camera stories. Lots of news crews have ford explorers but from my experience they never last over 100,000 miles without having issues. Bean counters love the cheap car but look for something you can make an office and work out of. If management got a deal on a smart car or the new Fiat they would buy them.

[bphotog]

I have a Ford edge and love it. There is enough room in the back for gear. Camera, tripod and light kit along with some plastic shelves. I use the seat behind me for other stuff, mainly maps and run bag.

[nightteamnews]

All the shops that I worked at we had 4 runners, explorers, cherokees. Most of the last shops I was at we had take home crown vic interceptors. But of course we didn't have snow etc. Hurricanes yes. But most of the time in flooding areas we ran in the live trucks. The vic loved it. Powerful, can run the hell out of it. Room. I had in the trunk, tripod, porta-brace gear bag a big one, light kit, over night bag, run bag. reflectors attached to the trunk, two folding chairs with umbrellas for sit and waits. Mini display tent for rain live shots. and still had enough room in the trunk. I keep the camera in the back seat in a porta brace seat belted in. In front had a bank of scanners, and a lap top stand, reporters loved it. They were able to type scripts, use internet etc. while we were on the move. Cars where unmarked, with spot light and police rims. So everyone got out of the way , never got a ticket, and parking spots were not hard to find at all .

I do freelance and stringer work now. And bought one for that. Had a 2003, just sold it with (260,000 miles on it and still running like a champ) and got a 2009 with 60,000 miles on it for $3500.00. But for at one shop I had a take home 2 door 4X4 tahoe and loved it. Tons of room.

[TVPhotog213]

We just replaced the entire fleet a few months ago with new Explorers. They seem wider then the older models we had, but the trunk area apears smaller length ways, still lots of room to fit big camera case, light kit, stands, laptop, backpack etc. Has lots of new "Ford sync technology" so its kind of fun to have a smart car so to speak, quiet smooth ride. AWD did well in the little bit of snow we had this past winter. All in all a good set of wheels to ride around in.

[detroitsprings]

Thanks for all the response. After sleeping on it, went to GM and said Sedans were not a good call. He agreed. We are getting Escapes. We currently have 4, we like them a lot.