Peter Kuykendall

Thanks 103. I need a configuration that I'm quite sure doesn't exist yet (XLT Premium wagon with taxi package and a couple of other options), so I'll have to order it. I can wait. Oddly enough, the last new car I ordered also took about 7 months to arrive. That was in 1979. Since then I've only bought used. Now I'm essentially forced into buying new, but it's OK.

I found a dealer who has a used XLT Premium wagon in stock. That gave me an opportunity to test drive what I think will be my next new vehicle. I was very pleasantly surprised. After reading a lot of critiques on the web, I expected it to be very noisy, rough, and underpowered. None of those problems were evident. It was much better than I was led to believe. Maybe the cargo vans suffer those ills more than the wagons. What is evident is an abundance of headroom, easily 6" more than even by 2002 VW, which itself has easily 4" more than a Flex or Odyssey or Pilot. Finally something that I fit in, hurray! Now I'd like to rent one for a week. About 10 days from now I'll be driving to Las Vegas, about 1,500 miles round trip, for business. I figure that will show me any intolerable flaws (e.g. uncomfortable seats or noise or whatever) before I drop about $50K over the next 5 years (~$28K purchase plus all the other costs that will be incurred). I'm basically marrying it for the next 10 - 15 years so I want to be sure it's a good fit. I've Googled around and can't find a rental outfit that offers them. Does anybody know of one? Thanks - Pete

I'm saddled with a very long spine. The TC is the only vehicle I can find, besides the 2000s VW New Beetle, that has enough headroom for me. Even the Flex doesn't have quite enough headroom for me (without the sun roof, which kills another 3+ inches of headroom). So, despite the less than ideal creature comforts and power, I probably will buy a TC because I have no other option. Yes I've tried Honda and they don't fit either. I'm currently replacing my 2002 turbo diesel VW due to endless reliability issues. Great design, incredibly bad parts, especially electrical. No mas; I'm crying "uncle". I'm wondering if the TC wagons arrive at the dealer any quicker than the cargo versions, since they don't need to have the windows and rear seats removed to beat the chicken tax? Presumably there is less or no modification after they arrive in the US. Is that the case? My configuration would be the XLTpremium wagon with the taxi package, as the additional 3" of rear legroom and the rear HVAC are critical for my needs. I'm wondering if that adds further delay? Thanks for any input.