DogCars.com: The line-up for summer reviewing
By Gina Spadafori
June 1, 2007
As some of you know, every week I get a new van, SUV, wagon, hatchback, truck or crossover vehicle to evaluate for its suitability as a vehicle for dogs. Once a month, I run a review in our syndicated newspaper pet-care page; those reviews and all the others appear on our DogCars.com Web site. Dogcars.com also will have reviews of pet travel gear, and already has a forum for discussing dog travel, vehicles and more.
I just got my review vehicle line-up for the rest of the summer, so I know what I’ll be driving and writing about. Starting next week, in order:
- Mazda CX-7 Grand Touring AWD
- Chevrolet HHR LT
- Volvo XC90 SPORT V8 4WD
- Mini Cooper S
- Kia Rondo EX
- Hummer H3
- BMW 328XI wagon
- Dodge Sprinter 3500 Cargo
- Mercedes GL450 4MATIC
- Mercury Mariner 4WD
That’s a great line-up, with everything from the Mini to the Dodge Sprinter. This week I’m driving the Suzuki Forenza wagon, by the way. (I keep wanting to call it a Fur-enza.)
I’ll be starting a thread on the DogCars.com forum this weekend, so folks can ask questions about the vehicles as I drive them. (I have them for a week at a time, so I can really put them through their paces.)
The only bad thing about reviewing dog cars? I never get to test convertibles. Thank heavens my brother Joe has one, so I can get my summer drop-top fix. (That’s Drew in my brother’s T-bird.)
Boy, you’re getting all the fun - a Hummer and a Mercedes too - trying not to turn green here reading the list!
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 9:40 am
Yeah, but it makes driving my own beat-up Plymouth Voyager less than a pleasure by comparison.
Guessing I won’t be getting a lot of sympathy. :)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 1, 2007 @ 9:42 am
Nooe - not an ounce
Comment by Linda — June 1, 2007 @ 9:47 am
I can vouch for Volvo being an excellent vehicle but don’t know much about the others. I don’t mean to put a damper on all your good work Gina, but while you are investigating these cars it might also be wise to look into just how safe they would be in a rollover accident. If you did so, it would certainly help bring some much needed attention to drastic changes that need to be made to the current proposed rule for roof crush standards. Here’s a link to my sister’s website (Paula) that addresses this issue:
http://www.peoplesafeinrollovers.org
Please read her report ‘Deadly by Design’ that she co-wrote. You can find a link to this report on the left side of the page, scroll down.
Going up against the petfood industry and the FDA is a daunting task indeed and everyone participating on this site has done an unbelievable job keeping them honest, but try going up against the auto manufacturer’s and NHTSA…not so easy.
Comment by Barb — June 2, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Well, why not? Let’s take on another big industry!
Actually … I always note that the DogCars.com review should be read in context. I’m looking at them solely as dog cars. You need to look at other reviews for other features. I’m not a “gear head” — I’m dog-lover!
But thanks for the link.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 2, 2007 @ 2:01 pm
Yes, I realize you’re just looking at them as dog cars and I thank you for that, but thought I’d plug my sister’s efforts. She’s been trying to tell this story for 7 years. Finally fed up a few months ago she decided to host an Emergency World Summit this July in DC and recently started a non-profit (still pending.) Publicity on this topic is always welcomed!
Scary thing is the current proposed roof crush standard, which is to go into effect in Oct. 2007, happens to include a preemption clause which states that any manufacturer who follows this standard (which we’re hoping to change) cannot be sued by anyone who is ever killed or catastrophically injured due to the roof crushing in an auto accident. That is UNACCEPTABLE! And the motoring public needs to know about it.
Comment by Barb — June 2, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
Thanks for the info, Barb.
We had a Volvo wagon years ago, and I wish I still had it. Loved that car.
Comment by TC — June 2, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
Check out the Volvo XC90, which does have the stronger roof. Unfortunately, Volvo has had to keep its detailed test results secret due to pressure from Ford, who now owns Volvo. Yup! Ford knows how to build stronger roofs but won’t!
Comment by Barb — June 2, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Ford owns Volvo??? omg. I am getting way to old to handle this much change, lol…
I have a Ford crew cab, with not only a little wussy roof, but man, you should see the side top rails of the pickup bed bend and dent when I’ve accidently tossed a 80# hay bale down from the loft, and not taken proper aim:) And yes, in the dinosaur days, those side tops could handle a lot more than that. And I do love my Ford despite its shortcomings (they all have them, so lesser of evils deal again). The credit I give it was its front end folded exactly as planned and the engine compartment stayed put and outta the front seat when a similar large Dodge truck hit it head on at 60+mph in a snowstorm. Otherwise, my dh would be dead. Of course, without side airbags, had that truck t-boned him on the driver’s side, well, that would have been a real bad ending.
Thx, I will check out the XC90.
Comment by TC — June 2, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
I just bought a 2003 Lexus RX300. It fits three large dog crates and one nine-year-old in the back seat. With better gas mileage than my old 1994 Lexus sedan, I’m in heaven. Review a Lexus next!
Comment by Dr. Patty Khuly — June 3, 2007 @ 5:34 am
We bought the BMW 325xi after taking our dog (GSMD) to each dealer and testing the cars.
The only one he really felt comfortable in was the BMW. He did not like the larger 500 series wagon as the step up was too high. Same thing with any SUV and forget about a Hummer… the gas mileage and horrendous repair bills will kill you. (Neighbor HAD one, sold it within a year).
Comment by Gindy — June 3, 2007 @ 10:00 am
We have a 2004 Lexus RX330 and our three medium-sized dogs love it. Yes, review Lexus next.
Comment by Dog Bowl — June 4, 2007 @ 9:55 am
I’m so glad you are going to be reviewing the Sprinter. I’ve been thinking about getting one of the larger vans. Any plans on reviewing the E class vans from Ford or the Chevy Express?
Comment by Cathy Lynch — July 25, 2007 @ 10:57 am