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 Post subject: Rented a 2.4L Latitude
PostPosted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 7:14 pm 
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I had to rent a car for three days and had the opportunity to rent a 2.4L, FWD Latitude. I consider that configuration to be a Car, and not a CUV, but I did learn some things.

It's a nice vehicle. The 2.4L engine had respectable power. I would certainly opt for the 3.2L Pentastar and am sure that would have plenty of power. The transmission was fine. MPG varied between 19 and maybe 25 mpg, which is consistent with reported mileage on fuelly.

One unpleasant surprise was the lack of visibility in the rear. The pillars are massive and the windows are small, no doubt because of modern crash safety requirements. But I found myself multiple times trying to check my blind spot to make a lane change and not being able to see much.

I would only consider something like the Trailhawk with 8.7 inches of ground clearance, which matches the ground clearance of current Subarus. We have a 2005 Outback which originally had 8.4 inches of ground clearance and I lifted 3/4" in front and 1" in rear, so it has in theory well over 9" of ground clearance. I consider that low even for poorer dirt roads.

The car handled well. I've read that there is no camber adjustment in the front (or rear) and the front control arms are difficult to replace; I don't like that as it means the suspension geometry can't be modified even a tiny bit.

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LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
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Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank


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 Post subject: Re: Rented a 2.4L Latitude
PostPosted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:45 pm 
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What sort of driving did you do with it?
Was the interior very quiet?

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 Post subject: Re: Rented a 2.4L Latitude
PostPosted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:16 pm 
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Gageraid wrote:
What sort of driving did you do with it?
Was the interior very quiet?

I was driving in Northeast Oklahoma, around town in Tulsa and then went up to Bartlesville on via state highways 11 and 123, returning on 75. So it was all driving on paved roads, with some hills but generally not steep grades.

I'm pretty sure the interior was quiet. I don't know if it was very quiet.

_________________
2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank


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