FiverBob

Both my sons have Jeeps - - they love them. The one has 156,000 on his 2002 - - still looks new, zero in repair bills. The other has 241,000 on his, replaced the main bearings but nothing else (???) and it is running great and it is lucky to get an oil change every 10,000 miles. He has now relegated that one to the "around the house" vehicle and bought a newer one for out and about.

cmnspwr

Mercedes Gelaendewagen (Pre MBUSA), hands down.

Saving up for a diesel import for my fiance.

texaspower19

my sister and grandmas all got that lexus suv, its very nice, i like how the back seat will recline

hotdram

Justin,
Do the RX-330 (now the RX-350)/Highlander or the MDX offer 3rd row seating? Our RX-300 doesn't have it (not offered when it was purchased), nor was it offered in the MDX (when we looked a few years ago)?

~Rob

Fronty Owner

Have you looked at the Nissan Armada?
I have a friend with a titan (same platform as the armada)
For the truck, its 18 mpg
Well balanced (in 4x4, it handles like a rally car)
Comfortable

hotdram

Whew, I was going to suggest the new R class from Mercedes because it has 3 rows (that way you could keep it in the Daimler-Benz family ), but the "cheap" one starts at $48K

EDIT: Maybe that is not out of your range, I know it is out of mine. Good luck.
~Rob

3500Dooly

i would say the Pathfinder or the Pilot.
both have good re-sale value and longevity.
and the Nissan has one of the best drivetrains i the world
and the Honda well its Honda....need any one say more?

there not American but the Nissan would have been almost built in Tenn. so thats not bad.

slimpicken

Aren't these funny little things like $90k to $103k , or is that a different model that looks similar?

Mexstan

Pathfinder or the Infiniti. The QX 56 has 7-8 seating and is based on the Titan and Armada chassis. There is also the FX 45. If those are to big for you then there is the QX4 which is a fancy Pathfinder.

HOHN

I was under the impression that the MDX offered 7 pax but maybe I'm wrong. I'm pretty sure the Pilot does.

Likewise, the Highlander offers 7 pax, but the RX350 does not. I think the luxo models are targeted to a demographic that doesn't have young kids. Grandkids, perhaps-- but not young kids.

After further briefing from Commander In Chief, Home Theater-- I've been informed that 7 pax seating isn't a must, but it has to have good room if it only seats 5.




As for the Nissans, I have to say that I'm inclined to look at them because my ownership experience with my 97 Maxima has been superb. The total amount of non-ruotine maintenance it has needed in 6 years and 100K of ownership is $0! Just oil & filter changes, brake pads, shocks, tranny fluid, tires, and a pair of fuel filters. Best of all, it has been FUN to drive while offering comfortable interior and decent mpg (30 if babied, though 26 is more typical).

So, on this experience alone, I feel I *have* to consider a Nissan-- I owe it strong consideration based on positive experience.

I also like the Nissan interiors a lot. I like the fact that you can get 7 pax seating that is 2+2+3 instead of the more typical 2+3+2. Those Captains chairs in the middle make rear access a little easier and car seats are a snap.


My only fear of Nissans is that I had a friend that had a Pathfinder with more gremlins than a B-17. Electrical system on that thing was in need of exorcism for sure. That said, I believe the P.O. of the vehicle tried to install a lot of aftermarket electronics and FUBARed it quite badly.

Nissan's styling as of late is a little avante-garde for me, but styling lacks pretty low overall, or so we keep telling each other.


Justin

HOHN

Let's just say that the day I buy a 48K vehicle is the day I can write a check for it! Which is to say, not happening any time in the next 20 years.

Heck, the 31K I paid for the truck was too much.


My personal "guidance of thumb" is that if you can't afford the payments on a 3 year loan, you can't afford the vehicle. I would say "rule", but I'd prefer not to call it that having broken it so much.


That said, I tend to keep vehicle as long as I can, so financing longer doesn't bother me so much. I still think the 3yr "guidance" is good policy, though.

jh

hotdram

I stand corrected, the MDX does offer 7 passenger seating. I don't remember that in the one we looked at, but it has been a few years. The new RDX looks cool too, but I don't think it has 7 passenger seating.
We test drove a Pilot and it had 3 row seating. However, after driving the Lexus and MDX we never considered the Pilot again.

$30k is the new $20k in the car market
~Rob

Geico266

Agree.

Hohn, It's all about resale. Toyota rocks.

DetroitDiesel71

Just get her a CTD

AlpineRAM

If possible try to rent each of the candidates for a week and ask for the rental co for the one with the most miles on it- you will get to know how you feel after some hours of driving and you won't be out of the $$$ you would have spent if you had bought it.
I've got very good experiences with the Toyota LandCruisers. (Father in law almost 200 k miles 0 Euros except regular maintenance and crash parts, vehicle has been submerged etc but took no harm- my own HJ60 with 100 k miles in 4Low in Africa and almost 300k miles total- most of them in desert and sahel conditions, no engine, drivetrain or electrical troubles.- rusted away peacefully )

AlpineRAM