Looking for recommendations on a family SUV~!
03-26-2010, 11:15 PM
#1
Looking for recommendations on a family SUV~!
My family is growing and I need to add a vehicle to the stable. My wife and I want a third kid and now have a cute little puppy that will grow into a large dog very quickly. I have always enjoyed a bit of the outdoor activities and therefore would like to pick up a SUV sometime in the next year. Tell me about your current favorites and why.
At this time I have my eye on the V8 Touareg but have read some bad things about reliability and one problem car in the family is enough. The touareg is also a bit on the high end of my budget for overall cost and maintenance.
I like the Trailblazer SS but not so much the interior. I would like the jeep Cherokee SRT but it’s a dodge. Your thoughts?
At this time I have my eye on the V8 Touareg but have read some bad things about reliability and one problem car in the family is enough. The touareg is also a bit on the high end of my budget for overall cost and maintenance.
I like the Trailblazer SS but not so much the interior. I would like the jeep Cherokee SRT but it’s a dodge. Your thoughts?
03-26-2010, 11:38 PM
#2
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
Toureg's are very expensive but if you get one get the V-10 Diesel one. The simple questions are, do you want to tow? Do you want four wheel drive? How many seats? My ex drove a Nissan Murano and a Mitsubishi Outlander and both were great from a reliability stand point but very different animals.
My dad is president of a Nissan and heavily involved in the Lonestar Jeep club and he has had both an Xterra and Cherokee go over 200k without issue but they are very small.
If you wanna stay cheap, the new Kia Sorrento is actually really nice. The options are limitless man. If you want seven passenger get the Nissan pathfinder.
My dad is president of a Nissan and heavily involved in the Lonestar Jeep club and he has had both an Xterra and Cherokee go over 200k without issue but they are very small.
If you wanna stay cheap, the new Kia Sorrento is actually really nice. The options are limitless man. If you want seven passenger get the Nissan pathfinder.
03-26-2010, 11:41 PM
#3
Heh123
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: canada
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Although the reputations gone downhill.... why not look at 4 runners or highlanders. The incentives and red tag day is like 0% financing for 60months + cash rebates.
My family owns a 2009 rav4 and i find fitting got 2 large dogs, 2 adults, and camp stuff is already pushing the limits. So for a family of 5... outlander and rav4 type of cuv is too small since they do have a large dog. By the time you fit 5 people and a dog, there is no room for camp stuff.
My family owns a 2009 rav4 and i find fitting got 2 large dogs, 2 adults, and camp stuff is already pushing the limits. So for a family of 5... outlander and rav4 type of cuv is too small since they do have a large dog. By the time you fit 5 people and a dog, there is no room for camp stuff.
Last edited by Poop; 03-26-2010 at 11:48 PM.
03-27-2010, 12:02 AM
#5
Nope Never grunge. In fact the opposite I want to not have to drive the RX everyday and want to keep it around for awhile. (besides you know the only reason i would get rid of it is because mazda put the speed three engine in the miata.) The goal is to have a Three car family. I Really Really like land cruisers. I would prefer to buy used.
I am not looking for a Hard core off road beast but want something I would not feel bad doing just that.
I am not looking for a Hard core off road beast but want something I would not feel bad doing just that.
03-27-2010, 08:38 AM
#9
The RX-8 is missed
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i just picked up a used x3 with sport suspension, it is amazing. so comfortable but still very sporty.
but like 9k said...do you need 3 rows? do you want something rugged that you don't have to worry about (with kids and a dog, that might be good)? If so, an fj cruiser or xterra might be good. do you want something nicer that you would still take out and not let the kids dirty up? then maybe a pathfinder, acura rdx/mdx. who knows man. ford flex maybe? that would work, but it's kind of quirky.
but like 9k said...do you need 3 rows? do you want something rugged that you don't have to worry about (with kids and a dog, that might be good)? If so, an fj cruiser or xterra might be good. do you want something nicer that you would still take out and not let the kids dirty up? then maybe a pathfinder, acura rdx/mdx. who knows man. ford flex maybe? that would work, but it's kind of quirky.
03-27-2010, 10:00 AM
#10
Yeah I like the flex but love the MKT. I do not require a third row but it would be nice. If I did not have a third row a Large two row would do the trick. I will most likely be buying used.
The X3 is really nice and in my price range but may be a little small.
The MDX well I am not in love with its styling but know it would be a Great car for my family, even used ones are still very expensive.
The X3 is really nice and in my price range but may be a little small.
The MDX well I am not in love with its styling but know it would be a Great car for my family, even used ones are still very expensive.
03-27-2010, 01:46 PM
#11
The RX-8 is missed
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
yeah those do look nice. i really the style of the caddy suv too.
the x3 is DEFINITELY not big. coming from an 8, it seems huge, but it's not really that big.
the x3 is DEFINITELY not big. coming from an 8, it seems huge, but it's not really that big.
03-27-2010, 03:04 PM
#13
The RX-8 is missed
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i like the previous gen mdx styling better than now, which is good i guess b/c you want used. but yeah i can see them still being expensive.
what about a used pathfinder? i like the old body styles of those too. like early 2000's i guess.
what about a used pathfinder? i like the old body styles of those too. like early 2000's i guess.
03-27-2010, 05:57 PM
#16
Registered
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
Posts: 1,134
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Toureg's are very expensive but if you get one get the V-10 Diesel one. The simple questions are, do you want to tow? Do you want four wheel drive? How many seats? My ex drove a Nissan Murano and a Mitsubishi Outlander and both were great from a reliability stand point but very different animals.
My dad is president of a Nissan and heavily involved in the Lonestar Jeep club and he has had both an Xterra and Cherokee go over 200k without issue but they are very small.
If you wanna stay cheap, the new Kia Sorrento is actually really nice. The options are limitless man. If you want seven passenger get the Nissan pathfinder.
My dad is president of a Nissan and heavily involved in the Lonestar Jeep club and he has had both an Xterra and Cherokee go over 200k without issue but they are very small.
If you wanna stay cheap, the new Kia Sorrento is actually really nice. The options are limitless man. If you want seven passenger get the Nissan pathfinder.
03-27-2010, 08:56 PM
#18
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
get a used 05+ pathfinder, nice interior, great off road ability, 3 rd row seating that folds easily and makes huge trunk space, hands down get it. I am actually about to get a xterra and sell the 8, and I almost decided on the pathfinder, but i want more off road ability and dont need all that space, but it's a great vehicle, I loved it when i drove it.
03-27-2010, 09:09 PM
#19
I would avoid any CRD till the HPFP issues are resolved. $10,000 in repair costs at 30,000 miles is a hard pill to swallow especially when VW has the tendency to claim "bad gas" and wants you to foot the bill.
03-27-2010, 10:02 PM
#21
SARX Legend
iTrader: (46)
Nissan Armada/QX56 are a nice rig, I drove my bosses old QX56 to Houston once. The Endurance V-8 is great. They also make a Pathfinder V-8 now but it seems like a bit of over kill.
Only down side to the pathfinder off off road is IFS in the rear I believe. But I doubt you will ever go off road. You would be surprised where a properly tired 2WD can go.
Only down side to the pathfinder off off road is IFS in the rear I believe. But I doubt you will ever go off road. You would be surprised where a properly tired 2WD can go.
04-11-2010, 04:45 PM
#22
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm in the hunt for the fiance a SUV to daily drive.
First never buy new, let someone else take that depreciation hit.
I am eyeing a LR3 Land Rover.
They are great, can find them that seat 7 (3rd row seat for kids only). Have very good cargo room, 7000lbs towing, can go every where, handle as good as any SUV I've ever driven, have that Euro car ride feel. They are also very dependable believe it or not.
I worked for a Land Rover dealership in Atlanta for two years as a tech (07-08). These things are great. They have a Jaguar 4.4l DOHC V8 which is part of Fords modular engines, and in fact the new 5.0 Coyote is a redesign of this same engine.
The only problems we saw over and over were the coolant level sensor in the over flow tank had issues, but they are cheap and easy to replace (sensor comes with new bottle for about 25$ and takes a whopping 2 minutes to replace). There was a recall on the air suspension compressor which was due to a spring coming apart inside them. After the recall's they never came back with any problems. The air suspension has been very much improved over the old designs, the air bags have a kevlar component to them and they no longer dry rot and leak like the old ones.
They have some very very neat features.
HSE 7 models are the top end with all bells and whistles including 7 seats.
They have electronic rear diff lock.
The most advanced traction control system I've ever heard of. The car actually senses when you are off road, automatically locks the differential, turns off the SRS air bags so when you hit a bump they don't accidentally go off, Hill Decent control which when you are going down a steep slick hill you hit the button take your feet off the pedals completely and just steer it keeps the vehicle at 3 mph, they have special programs which you select things like rocks, sand and snow, ect... and it remaps the engine and throttle response, they have auto disconnect sway bars that when you are off road it detects it and disconnects the side to side sway bars to give the suspension more flex, on road the sway bar is hydraulically actuated to increase handling.
They don't have transfer cases they have center limited slip diffs. This in conjunction with the traction control system and the front and rear limited slips the vehicle will pretty much go any where as long as one wheel has traction.
The air suspension has 4 settings, 3 that are user selectable. You have normal ride height, off road ride height which raises the vehicle about 4-6 inches, valet height which lowers the vehicle 4-6 inches to allow lady friends ect in and out, and then highway height which isn't selectable but when the vehicle gets above 55mph it lowers for better aero and handling.
They have blue tooth hands free built in.
All the bell's and whistles you can think of, nav, cd changer, 12 speaker systems with amps.
The best part about LR's that people often overlook is the chassis and suspension design. They are uni-body on full frame which after space frame and F1 type chassis are the most rigid. The frame on these are truly heavy duty I mean looking like what you would see under a heavy duty full size truck. They are full hydrofoarmed square tube frames. The suspension/drive train (control arms, knuckles, axles ect) are also heavy duty. A lot of the components are made by Dana, Leyland Truck (heavy truck mfg in the UK), and the transmission is a heavy duty ZF unit which in the dealership I worked at had never replaced one in a LR3 model.
They are aluminum except the frame so no rust.
Off road capability is way up there, I would say in the current US market only the Wrangler can out do it. People don't like independent suspension on off roaders because you can't get the most flex and wheels lift off the ground. This isn't the case with the LR's. When the abs/traction control system detects it is off road it ties the air suspension bags side to side together. There is a line going side to side with a valve in it and it opens so basically when say the right front wheel gets pushed up the air from that spring goes to the left front spring pushing it down just like a solid axle would work.
They are very hard to roll over because of the aluminum bodies 85% of the weight is below the belt line.
You can wade them (submerge them) to the belt line a little more then half way up the doors, they are water tight to that point.
There are ton's of accessories for them, roof racks, brush guards, ladders to get on the roofs, tents for the roofs, winch kits ect... all can be installed by the LR dealers they are very big into the off road lifestyle/image. You will never see a suit or tie at a LR dealership most wear shorts and polo ***** because thats how they see there brand. They also have owner off road events sponsored by the dealerships.
Can you tell I like these things? :P
I love off roading currently own a 06 Wrangler Rubicon the baddest of the bad, but I'm trying to find the woman one of these cause someday it will be mine to tinker with!
The thing about the LR's and why they get a bad wrap here is because they are basic vehicles every where else in the world. After speaking to some of the engineers they don't give a damn about all the electronics and luxury items that is in this market, they want to go off roading so when they send one here they up grade everything to make it luxurious and those are the items that give LR a bad wrap here, things like tv's and fiber optic communication cables (yes FIBER FREAKING OPTIC) in a car for all of the audio visual wiring (just the Range Rover though not the LR3/RRSS). It's rare one of these leave you stranded. The Range Rovers 03-05 had front diff issues (drive shaft splines stripping) but that was a BMW design not the Ford designs of the LR3+ models. On that subject BMW made some of the crappiest vehicles I've ever seen and ruined LR. Think about the Free Lander, Discovery series one and two, Range Rover 4.0/4.6 and the new Range Rover before Ford replaced all the engine and drive train components. They are highly dependable vehicles they had data (or marketing) that said 75% of all Land Rovers ever built are still on the road, and that's since 1948.... Also pretty cool that per them the first vehicles every seen for 65% of the people in the world were a Land Rove.
Sorry can you tell I like these things?
Then again I have all the factory service manuals and wiring diagrams, special tools, direct link to parts at cost, Current IDS software with VCM and cables (the factory laptop/scanner/reprogrammer) ect... and am a ASE and LR Master Tech so I'm not too worried if something goes wrong.
First never buy new, let someone else take that depreciation hit.
I am eyeing a LR3 Land Rover.
They are great, can find them that seat 7 (3rd row seat for kids only). Have very good cargo room, 7000lbs towing, can go every where, handle as good as any SUV I've ever driven, have that Euro car ride feel. They are also very dependable believe it or not.
I worked for a Land Rover dealership in Atlanta for two years as a tech (07-08). These things are great. They have a Jaguar 4.4l DOHC V8 which is part of Fords modular engines, and in fact the new 5.0 Coyote is a redesign of this same engine.
The only problems we saw over and over were the coolant level sensor in the over flow tank had issues, but they are cheap and easy to replace (sensor comes with new bottle for about 25$ and takes a whopping 2 minutes to replace). There was a recall on the air suspension compressor which was due to a spring coming apart inside them. After the recall's they never came back with any problems. The air suspension has been very much improved over the old designs, the air bags have a kevlar component to them and they no longer dry rot and leak like the old ones.
They have some very very neat features.
HSE 7 models are the top end with all bells and whistles including 7 seats.
They have electronic rear diff lock.
The most advanced traction control system I've ever heard of. The car actually senses when you are off road, automatically locks the differential, turns off the SRS air bags so when you hit a bump they don't accidentally go off, Hill Decent control which when you are going down a steep slick hill you hit the button take your feet off the pedals completely and just steer it keeps the vehicle at 3 mph, they have special programs which you select things like rocks, sand and snow, ect... and it remaps the engine and throttle response, they have auto disconnect sway bars that when you are off road it detects it and disconnects the side to side sway bars to give the suspension more flex, on road the sway bar is hydraulically actuated to increase handling.
They don't have transfer cases they have center limited slip diffs. This in conjunction with the traction control system and the front and rear limited slips the vehicle will pretty much go any where as long as one wheel has traction.
The air suspension has 4 settings, 3 that are user selectable. You have normal ride height, off road ride height which raises the vehicle about 4-6 inches, valet height which lowers the vehicle 4-6 inches to allow lady friends ect in and out, and then highway height which isn't selectable but when the vehicle gets above 55mph it lowers for better aero and handling.
They have blue tooth hands free built in.
All the bell's and whistles you can think of, nav, cd changer, 12 speaker systems with amps.
The best part about LR's that people often overlook is the chassis and suspension design. They are uni-body on full frame which after space frame and F1 type chassis are the most rigid. The frame on these are truly heavy duty I mean looking like what you would see under a heavy duty full size truck. They are full hydrofoarmed square tube frames. The suspension/drive train (control arms, knuckles, axles ect) are also heavy duty. A lot of the components are made by Dana, Leyland Truck (heavy truck mfg in the UK), and the transmission is a heavy duty ZF unit which in the dealership I worked at had never replaced one in a LR3 model.
They are aluminum except the frame so no rust.
Off road capability is way up there, I would say in the current US market only the Wrangler can out do it. People don't like independent suspension on off roaders because you can't get the most flex and wheels lift off the ground. This isn't the case with the LR's. When the abs/traction control system detects it is off road it ties the air suspension bags side to side together. There is a line going side to side with a valve in it and it opens so basically when say the right front wheel gets pushed up the air from that spring goes to the left front spring pushing it down just like a solid axle would work.
They are very hard to roll over because of the aluminum bodies 85% of the weight is below the belt line.
You can wade them (submerge them) to the belt line a little more then half way up the doors, they are water tight to that point.
There are ton's of accessories for them, roof racks, brush guards, ladders to get on the roofs, tents for the roofs, winch kits ect... all can be installed by the LR dealers they are very big into the off road lifestyle/image. You will never see a suit or tie at a LR dealership most wear shorts and polo ***** because thats how they see there brand. They also have owner off road events sponsored by the dealerships.
Can you tell I like these things? :P
I love off roading currently own a 06 Wrangler Rubicon the baddest of the bad, but I'm trying to find the woman one of these cause someday it will be mine to tinker with!
The thing about the LR's and why they get a bad wrap here is because they are basic vehicles every where else in the world. After speaking to some of the engineers they don't give a damn about all the electronics and luxury items that is in this market, they want to go off roading so when they send one here they up grade everything to make it luxurious and those are the items that give LR a bad wrap here, things like tv's and fiber optic communication cables (yes FIBER FREAKING OPTIC) in a car for all of the audio visual wiring (just the Range Rover though not the LR3/RRSS). It's rare one of these leave you stranded. The Range Rovers 03-05 had front diff issues (drive shaft splines stripping) but that was a BMW design not the Ford designs of the LR3+ models. On that subject BMW made some of the crappiest vehicles I've ever seen and ruined LR. Think about the Free Lander, Discovery series one and two, Range Rover 4.0/4.6 and the new Range Rover before Ford replaced all the engine and drive train components. They are highly dependable vehicles they had data (or marketing) that said 75% of all Land Rovers ever built are still on the road, and that's since 1948.... Also pretty cool that per them the first vehicles every seen for 65% of the people in the world were a Land Rove.
Sorry can you tell I like these things?
Then again I have all the factory service manuals and wiring diagrams, special tools, direct link to parts at cost, Current IDS software with VCM and cables (the factory laptop/scanner/reprogrammer) ect... and am a ASE and LR Master Tech so I'm not too worried if something goes wrong.
Last edited by Doctor7474; 04-11-2010 at 04:57 PM.
