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MDX drivetrain and tires transmit a lot of road noise and you will have to opt for a softer profile tire to avoid the drone.Quote:
Originally Posted by whyturn
The allwheel power is biased to the front and makes for a less than comfortable driving experience.
Yeah the 4R rides like a truck because it is but they run forever with very little maintenance. We have one for towing the boat and family truckster vacations out west where we do mild off roading with it. We have had ours for years and I am blown away by the reliability.Quote:
Originally Posted by VTeton
Wife's parents have a 2015 Highlander and that is a sweet solid riding vehicle with a plush ride. No comparison to the 4 Runner for comfort. Before you buy anything take one for a drive.
Forester is still available with a 6 speed MT and would be by far the most fun to drive but cramped trunk space.
For the Pilot, yes.Quote:
The allwheel power is biased to the front and makes for a less than comfortable driving experience.
The MDX has the far superior SH-AWD. The MDX is also a lot pricier.
Same for the MDX. Makes for lurchy starts and requires strange inputs in a yaw.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Tortoise
I've seen a couple of the new XC90s running around. If I was in the market for a lux Euro crossover, that thing would be an no brainer.
No mention of timing or budget.
I'd look at the new/upcoming mazda cx 9 - looks pretty sweet, announced at some show late last year, but not sure when it hitting showrooms.
Higher budget euro the volvo xc90 no doubt - that thing pure luxury inside and relatively good value for money.
Urban warrior don't need 4R
The Pathfinder and Pilot will take more of a depreciation hit. Then the Highlander.
A 4runner is quite possibly the best mid size true SUV on the market.
For those saying its too much car, WTF does that mean? It's the only one that is a SUV, the rest are crossovers. The OP wants a mid size SUV, and would prefer all Toyota products if they weren't too big (LC, Sequoia, GX). Even though the GX is a Lexus 4Runner with a V8. For fucks sake the 4Runner is the only choice.
It will take a curb better. It will be the most reliable. At trade it will make the most money back. What else is there to discuss?
If you want to spend more money and get the GX, then you will get a more detached luxurious ride. I have a 12 for my wife. The 4runner drops you down to a V6, and less luxury. Both are great buys. Both are SUVs. The GX has kind of a wonky rear door, but I like it. 4Runner gets a roll down back window.
Fuckn Pilot.... Who the fuck are you JimmyPio?
Well he said his wife tends to hit shit, so...
Definitely get a 4runner or GX. Prob a 4Runner, as it take the hits better has more clearance, and doesn't hurt as much at the body shop.
Curbs, speed bumps, medians, animals, the elderly... All will be handled better in a higher up, truck based vehicle.
I didn't buy my wife a real SUV for the Baja 1000. I bought it because she is rough on cars. Safer too.
Is the USA now china? It's cheaper to kill the people you hit rather than pay their hospital bills?
What?
All the cars mentioned, would create relatively the same amount of damage at whatever speed.
According to her, the shit hits her.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtngirl79
Thanks for all the insights. All of the rigs I mentioned float around the same price point with the new arrival of the Volvo and maybe MDX probably increasing that a bit, so I'm less concerned with saving a penny here and there than I am about getting what I need.
Sounds as if the Nissan isnt receiving huge confidence in reliability so maybe we will forego that, as well as the Venza as my wife isnt really into the minivan thing. Albeit a bit old, I get to drive a pretty fun car, so if my wife had to fire up a van everyday, I'd hear about it. New arrivals include the MDX, Volvo and Tribeca. Plan is to now let her drive the 4runner and see if it has enough room and whether its too "truck-like." I agree that if she gave it the seal of approval, I couldnt necessarily make a mistake purchasing one. But I think she needs something a bit more for a road warrior.
Anyone own an LR2, 3, 4? I know I shouldnt even be bringing those things up as I've heard about reliability issues, that they are sluggish, cargo isnt that great despite looking large and that they have some body roll, but call me curious to hear any horror stories.
I'm just going to pretend you didn't say Land Rover.
Nissans are plenty dependable. People who say they aren't, don't know what they are talking about.
JD Power named the Murano as the 2015 most dependable mid size SUV.. Yeah, it beat the Highlander. http://www.jdpower.com/ratings/study/2015-Vehicle-Dependability-Study-%28VDS%29-by-Category/433ENG/Midsize-SUV/1134
^? Faulty CVT's. My dad is retired so for part time work he transports cars for Hertz. He's always telling me the CVT's are garbage in the Nissans he drives which are all newer. Lots of problems. Maybe they are working things out but the track record hasn't been good.
https://www.google.com/search?q=niss...sm=93&ie=UTF-8
Nissan has extended warranty on some models but not Pathfinder afaik.
http://www.nissanassist.com/faqs.php?menu=3
I wouldn't get one myself.
I drove a Suburban last weekend in Summit County. What a piece of junk. The transfer case binds on tight radius turns and traction was squirrely at best.
Personally, I have owned many Nissan/Infiniti products, and I have had no issues. I currently daily a Pro-4X Titan (Best truck value out right now).
I like Toyota better, but Nissan next for sure. Better product than Honda/Acura. All are relatively just as reliable as the next, with Toyota having the top spot.
Drive the new Jeep Grand Cherokee...
If i was in the market for an SUV that's what I'd buy. Wouldn't give it even a second thought.
Yep JGC is nice. I've driven the Overland with the Hemi, and the SRT8. Both are nice.
Won't compare to Toyota or Nissan, as far as reliability.
I know you said no German cars, but a used Touareg TDI would be a cheap beast of a road tripping, grocery hauling, diesel/NOx spewing vehicle. 400 lb-ft of torque, good in the snow, and (not that you care) 30 mpg highway. Yes, there's the whole dieselgate thing, but it's already got a diesel exhaust fluid system, and the fix (to be announced Feb. 2) is likely going to be just an increase in running that system (and perhaps a 5,000 mile interval to re-fill, rather than the current 10,000).
When my wife recently bought her new XC70 there were a few of the new XC90s on the lot. I looked at them and liked them a lot. Really slick looking inside and out, especially in black. Wife made the final call and wanted wagon over the largish euro SUV like the X5 she was getting out of. She loves it and the handful of times I drive it I really like it too. It's comfortable, has 300hp, high ground clearance and drives better than a lot of crossovers it competes against. Tons of space too, way more than an X5 but no 3rd row, not sure if that's a must for you. Has built in booster seats for your spawn too.
I've rented a new Pathfinder in the last few months and as much as it pains me to say, (my favorite car ever was my 94 Pathfinder) as bastardized as the model has become, it was a really nice ride. Didn't have any issues and fit 6 of us just fine.
My mom drives a Lexus RX and I drove it for the first time recently. I've never been a fan but it had plenty of room for a smaller crossover and drove... well, like a Lexus.
Also rented a new Highlander recently, wow those things got big. Comfortable and typical Toyota goodness. Didn't see any faults with it.
In sum, if you want to to spend a bit more in the crossover/small-med SUV segment I'd look to the Volvo. Except the XC60, that thing doesn't know what it wants to be.
For Christ's sake. He's now thinking about Land Rovers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Beer Drinker
Been consistently impressed every time I've driven or ridden in a friends WK2 GC. He just bought a new one to replace the first that got beaten on with long commute, mountain bike shuttling and winter driving in the mountains. an interior that could have come out of a German luxury brand too. Very, very nice car.
Big fan of the LR4 styling and Tata's ownership of Land Rover has improved the brand's products, reliability included. Not that I'd pit the average LR product against the average Toyota product, but I'd own one. 2014 LR4s received a supercharged V6 in lieu of the V8 without much benefit in fuel economy (~15 MPG combined). LR4s are a version of body-on-frame so ride may be closer to the 4Runner than a crossover. Low miles 2013 LR4 could be a nice truck.
Another Bay Area attorney checking in. 2013 4R SR5 with the third row is what we have.
Test drive the Limited with X-REAS. I drove it back-to-back with a Highlander when we were shopping 2.5 years ago and the handling was comparable around turns. We were close to the Limited, but didn't need the leather or Entune bad to warrant another $6k. Full-time 4WD with the Torsen diff would've been nice though. Moving the switch in and out of 4WD can get a bit annoying, but I haven't noticed much bind in turns when I forget (which is rare). If we got the Limited, I would've immediately ditched the 20s for the SR5 or Trail 17s. Very few good tire options for the 20s.
My rec is 4R Limited with X-REAS (or maybe the Trail Premium, but you lose the F/T 4WD). GX if you want more lux.
Deciding factor for us was that we were replacing my older beater lifted Cherokee and I scared the shit out of my wife enough with threats that I'd destroy a Highlander or Pilot on nasty FS roads and Eastside approaches.
We have 17 month-old twins. We've used the third row a total of twice in 2.5 years of ownership. Though I'd imagine that changes if we keep the truck for as long as I think we will and haul older children. Bummer is that you lose quite a bit of interior space with the raised cargo area the seat folds into. Thule box was/is mandatory, IMO.
Carry on...
Edit to add: I've liked new JGCs recently too. Reliability though...
Toureg is same platform as Porsche Cayenne. Now you are talking $2k brake jobs and worse. Friends had one. Money pit. Seriously expensive to maintain. The t-case failed (common).Quote:
Originally Posted by FormerKnuckleDragger
"you should buy what works for me"