What vehicle for someone too scared to buy a Land Rover?

[MarcusBrody]

Too lazy to look all the way back through the thread. Has the appropriateness of a Sienna hybrid AWD lifted an inch or two been debated yet?

I'd definitely consider it. I'd want the new Hybrid version though if it was going to be the main car. Journeys Off Road makes a version of their well-regarded lift kit for it, but I kind of want more anecdotal evidence on how it turns out over time and there isn't much on the Sienna forums compared to the old generations.

Though really if I wanted a lifted Sienna, I should probably just consider a Grand Highlander hybrid (non-Max). As far as I can tell, it's basically the Sienna with an SUV body and comes with an extra inch and a half of ground clearance to start with. It only has marginally less max cargo volume despite being slightly shorter. I do love the van body-style though.

Driving Sports TV is my favorite Youtube reviewer of the off road worthiness of non-off road vehicle. I think he does a very good job of testing things like their ability to use wheel breaking to prevent spin, while acknowledging they clearly have limitations (he tests more worthy vehicles on a tougher course). He was impressed by the Grand Highlanders off road traction modes and wheel breaking power distribution. Much more so than the Volvo I just drove. He was in the Hybrid Max version though, which has a few extra driving modes over the standard hybrid (and I assume the Sienna).

[MarcusBrody]

In terms of "questionable" purchases:

Most of my purchases are questionable, but I don't really regret any of them. The Transit Connect has definite drawbacks, but it has served as a great mini-camper then gear hauler and gone places of its kind venture with few complaints. Now that hybrids have become prevalent there are better options on the efficiency/space front, but I'm not sure there were when I bought it. My 1998 BMW has all the downsides of a 25 year old BMW, but has generally been reliable and is fun to drive in the way that a 25 year old light, stick shift, rwd BMW is that is hard to replicate today. So I don't regret it, even if it randomly leaks fluids and drops the window into the door at times.

[gravitylover]

Yup, hybrid of course because there's no reason to get 15mpg less. Yeah, I'm almost as allergic to SUVs as sedans but somewhere in my function-over-form brain I'm good with minivans. If everything could be hatch or wagons I'd be happy. The Highlander is definitely the better dirt choice and other than interior height you're not losing much of consequence but gaining all of those other things.

[BmillsSkier]

Any Front Range Mags know if this thing is still in Georgetown? Think of all the cool nicknames you'd get if you went this route Marcus.

[El Chupacabra]

Any Front Range Mags know if this thing is still in Georgetown? Think of all the cool nicknames you'd get if you went this route Marcus.

^^^ This is precisely what OP needs.

Bitchin.

[mcski]

10/10. Would buy

[fatnslow]

You are a blessed person...

Did you grow up in a trailer park ?

[MontuckyFried]

I guess it has some notorious problems with the CVT. It's been in the shop for 9 out of the last 12 months. I told her to get a Maverick, but bad decisions prevail.

Oh geez. Duly noted! Had no idea. Yeah, the Maverick probably would have been a much better choice.

[MarcusBrody]

Any Front Range Mags know if this thing is still in Georgetown? Think of all the cool nicknames you'd get if you went this route Marcus.

Anyone remember the Local Motors Rally Fighter? That would be an amazing vehicle to drive out here just for dirt road fun.

[BmillsSkier]

^^^ This is precisely what OP needs.

Bitchin.

[skaredshtles]

Did you grow up in a trailer park ?

No. But close. Poor rural Michigan.

I was mostly commenting on the fact that neither of those vehicles apparently failed catastrophically while he owned them.

I mean - a late 80's Olds Toronado?

Blessed, I'm tellin' ya.

[skaredshtles]

Any Front Range Mags know if this thing is still in Georgetown? Think of all the cool nicknames you'd get if you went this route Marcus.

Pretty sure that bad larry is still parked up at the trailer park in Georgetown.

[alpinevibes]

Very affordable... $100K?

Well built?

Capable?

Inconceivable!

Sorry sorry, under $20k with under 100k on the clock. Otherwise, I think the other three are somewhat verified.

[fatnslow]

No. But close. Poor rural Michigan.

I was mostly commenting on the fact that neither of those vehicles apparently failed catastrophically while he owned them.

I mean - a late 80's Olds Toronado?

Blessed, I'm tellin' ya.

I read it as those were a couple of your dream cars from that era. The grand prix was in the company car offerings at a previous job a life time ago and my coworkers that had never repeated but I was even worse with a POS Tempo I didn't get to choose.

[BmillsSkier]

Tempo? Did they also offer any Mercury products like the Topaz?

[skaredshtles]

I read it as those were a couple of your dream cars from that era.

Oh, hell no. Even growing up in Michigan, we knew most GM products in that era were crap, at best.

[XXX-er]

In terms of "questionable" purchases:

Most of my purchases are questionable, but I don't really regret any of them. The Transit Connect has definite drawbacks, but it has served as a great mini-camper then gear hauler and gone places of its kind venture with few complaints..

Ran into an old buddy rocking the Transit , always a smart guy, said he researched it heavily and claims at some point there will be some expensive maintenance on a sprinter and so the Transit is a better option

He also said to be careful where you put a screw when you are camperizing cuz they were all built as l passenger vans with airbags in the back

you see to see a LOT of Sprinters but a lot less Transits


shouldn't the thread title be " What vehical for someone too smart to buy a Landrover ? "

[riser4]

Ran into an old buddy rocking the Transit , always a smart guy, said he researched it heavily and claims at some point there will be some expensive maintenance on a sprinter and so the Transit is a better option

He also said to be careful where you put a screw when you are camperizing cuz they were all built as l passenger vans with airbags in the back

you see to see a LOT of Sprinters but a lot less Transits


shouldn't the thread title be " What vehical for someone too smart to buy a Landrover ? "

I've mentioned before that we met a retired teacher that had a pretty well setup Transit Connect. She is small and likes to do fun summer outdoor stuff. It is perfect for her. Mini-Sprinter for a lot less $$$. Even with her custom interior, she could put the bike and Kayak inside if she needed to leave it somewhere that you didn't want that stuff outside. I don't think she could sleep that way, but who wants to sleep in a van in a sketchy location anyway? Unless you like meth. Or you're smoking doobies in a van down by the river!

[fatnslow]

Tempo? Did they also offer any Mercury products like the Topaz?

No, if I remember right it was Tempo, some Chrysler sedan and the Grand Prix. I was a new hire and was just assigned a car. I was 22 , living at home still. My dad couldn't believe somebody gave me a job with a company car and sent me plane tickets to go to training events.

[BmillsSkier]

No, if I remember right it was Tempo, some Chrysler sedan and the Grand Prix. I was a new hire and was just assigned a car. I was 22 , living at home still. My dad couldn't believe somebody gave me a job with a company car and sent me plane tickets to go to training events.

And life was good. No shame in free cars, ever.

[skaredshtles]

And life was good. No shame in free cars, ever.

This. I'll drive pretty much anything if someone gives it to me.

[The Reverend Floater]

MB, not sure if anyone posted this but headrests in modern cars are fairly static and often uncomfortable due to airbag position and interaction.

My Superduty has the same issue and I occasionally have neck issues, so I'm familiar with your wife's plight.

FWIW, the common hack is to simply put the headrest in a vice and bend the posts accordingly....in my case, so it's not so far forward.

Just my $.02, but finding dynamic headrests could be really difficult.

Sent from my SM-S928U1 using Tapatalk

[riser4]

This. I'll drive pretty much anything if someone gives it to me.

Fastest cars are free cars, right? Followed by rentals.

[BmillsSkier]

Fastest car is still a rental.

[Touring_Sedan]

I read it as those were a couple of your dream cars from that era. The grand prix was in the company car offerings at a previous job a life time ago and my coworkers that had never repeated but I was even worse with a POS Tempo I didn't get to choose.

I had the Tempo's successor the '93 Escort Wagon, followed by....

'95 Escort Wagon
'89 Celebrity Wagon
'02 LW200
'89 E350
'02 Escape
'95 Blazer
'00 Expedition
'04 Escape
'13 Tahoe
'16 Tahoe
'22 Tahoe