So I have to share my trip to Phoenix last week to work on and re rent my rental house there. I dread the drive from the top of the rim to the valley floor this time of year because those huge mountains to travel up and down in triple digit temps can be really tough on an engine. There are MANY burn marks on the upside shoulder were many an engine has met its demise. I blew the head on a 90 ford 7.3 pre powerstroke on one trip about 5 years ago.

So I leave the valley with the XC fully loaded with two passengers, and cargo in the back of fabric and luggage to the ceiling for the trip and some tools etc. I could tell the weight was there when I braked but really felt no difference in acceleration.

I get on the (B line) the road from the valley to payson were all the BIG ONES are , set the cruise at 70 and with all that weight, a/c on full. The car pulled those hills, passed pretty much everyone and the temp gauge NEVER moved above normal....NOT A HAIR!

We even stopped to say by to a few old neighbors before the trip were the car sat idling in 102+ temps for prob. 30 minutes!!!!!

seriously this is amazing to me!

We have this car for 1.5 years now, has 125 k on the clock and my only complaint is the lack of leg room in the back seat cause the two of us are over 6 feet tall and have to pull forward for most adults to sit in the back.