My wife wants an SUV. I will let her get what she wants, since she hates the MINI and let me have it anyway.

This SUV will be replacing one that we have already that has 100,000+ miles. Being that it was a "sport-cute" (Ford Escape), we probably overused it and abused it on our off road trips. So it is time for a new one.

The current SUV gets driven off road. We tow a trailer every once in a while. We travel with kayaks, bikes and an BIG dog. It is amazing how much fun they can be when you actually use them for their intended purpose, rather than just taking them to the mall.

Being that I respect my fellow MINI drivers taste in cars, what SUV would you get, if you were to the point where you had to have one.

 

Well, if she must....Ford Escape Hybrid is here isn't it?

 

Man asks: My wife wants an SUV, what would you get?

Mini owner replies: A divorce!

(rim shot, please)

I don't know much about SUVs, but I couldn't resist that joke.

If you need something with actual capability, the Grand Cherokee seems like it would be a good fit. Assuming it lives up to its commercials.

Not an SUV, but could probably get you where you want to go is the Subaru Forrester (available with 250+ hp, too).

 

Doesn't SUV stand for stupid useless vehicle?

 

Toyota 4Runner
4x4 Sport Edition V8
5-speed Automatic

235 HP / 320 ft-lbs
7,000 lbs towing capacity



BTW, I'm not sure if you have a boat or not, but it also has an anti-roll back feature which can be used to prevent you from rolling backwards down a boat ramp when you are transferring from the brake to the gas when starting off. :smile:

 

Porsche Cayenne Turbo

 

In addition to the Cooper S, we also own a 2002 GMC Envoy. It's been absolutely trouble free (knock on wood), and we're extremely pleased with it. You should definitely check them out.


Other SUVs:

Honda Pilot
Lexus RS330
Acura MDX
Volvo S70
VW Touareg (drooool)

 

If I were to get an SUV, (or if the wife insisted) and we had the money...for sure...hands down...100%...no hesitation...FX45.

 

I was going to make a snide remark about SUVs, but it sounds like this one is to be used for the right purposes.

I'd go with a BMW X3 SAV. They are relatively compact but would get the job done without seeming pipolar of you. If you wanted to drive it to the mall as well, regretful HV owners would be jealous. So what if they list at just over $30,00. That's only about 1 1/2 MINIS.

Do not, I repeat, do not buy a 1986 Izuzu Trooper from me. The only good things I can say for it is it was great for hauling dogs and I never worried about dings.

 

The coolest, most comfortable SUV I have ever owned is a Suburban. If my trailer wasn't so heavy I would still have it. Having said that, I was in the same sort of predicament a couple of months back..... settled on an Audi ALLROAD.....awesome machine....very happy with it... might be worth a test drive.

 

I think the Toyotas are nice but if you are going to go off road and carry kayaks and stuff I doubt you will want risk damaging a Porshe or Acura or any of those luxury SUVs. You might just want to get a Chevy Tahoe because they are pretty cheap, about the same as a new MCS, and you probably wouldn't lose a lot of sleep over it getting beat up, used and abused.

 

well, here are two suggestions:

1. Toyota RAV4. Small, yes, but attractive and not the behemoth that most of the big three make these days.

2. Scion xB. TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL!

Though not an SUV, please for the love of GOD stay away from the Dodge Magnum. I think I took a dump once that looked vaguely like that freak-nasty heap o' metal.

Marty

 

Infinity FX45 hands down. The exhaust note sounds awesome

 

My wife and I just test drove a Mazda Tribute and she really liked it. We are looking to move up to something bigger than her Civic no that we are with child.

 

A lot of the car magazines like the new VW Touareg. It's built on the same platform as the Porsche Cayenne and costs less than half as much. (Different engine of course.) And it's supposed to be able to handle real off-road use, according to what I've read. It would be my choice.

And by the way, here's to you for using an SUV for its intended purpose.

 

I think that one last horsepower on the Tribuite (201hp) is its
differentiator from other underpowered SUV's.


I think Im more of a RAV/Tribuite kinda guy myself. I just don't like paying
$40+ on gas every week on a commuter especially if Im only going to be
hauling myself + wife. Im in no rush to get to work either.

For instance, I drive a 2L 4cylinder car to work and I only fill up once a
month. Now that my wife and I are commuting together on her Corolla,
its like once every 2 months?

(my mini and wrx is a different story though...they are very hungry).

 

Thanks for the help guys!

It looks like we are either getting a Ford Explorer XLS. One of the dealers were selling them at $9,000 off the MSRP, so we will be paying about $21,000-$22,000 for it. It is pretty basic looking and has the vinyl interior, but has the offroad and towing package. It looks like the ones the EMS or the power company uses, but it is going to get thrashed around anyway, so it works out well. It would be nice if they made an SUV where you could hose out the interior!

Like sbgobig said, it would not make sense to abuse a luxury SUV, like a Cayenne or a BMW, as nice as they are. We drive a Grand Cherokee, Explorer, Xterra, Jeep Wranger Inlimited (long wheelbase) and BMW X3, all very nice, but for about the price of my MINI, the Explorer seemed the most useful. It combined the car-like drive that we got used to with the Escape, yet has pretty good 4x4 capability. It was not too bad for as little as we will end up paying for it.

We will just have to make sure not to put Firestone tires on it

 

In my gargage, next to the 2004 MCS that I drive, is a 2004 Honda Pilot EX. Tons of room inside, 3 rows of seats, good gas mileage, AWD, and decent towing capability (with the tow kit... hitch, transmission cooler, etc.). Built like a swiss watch, and a good deal too! Ours with leather and the nav kit was $31K.

D.

 

Did you get your recall done recently? My boss has a 04 Pilot and already
been in several times for repairs.

 

Do not, I repeat, do not buy an X3 or an X5. My brother and I both had them - I stress HAD.

My wife put 24K miles on hers in three years and I don't think the thing stayed out of the shop for more than 45 days at a time. My brother had the same problems with his, culminating with a cracked block at 19K miles. Check the BMW boards - the X5 has been riddled with problems - I would expect the X3 to be just as bad.

That Subaru Forester XT looks sweet...........I hear they are coming out with a 265 HP version soon.

 

Keep one thing in mind RE: buying an explorer at $9,000 of sticker. While it will be a good deal to buy, reselling it will be a function of that $9,000 off... In other words- don't expect good resale. However, if you plan on keeping it a LONG time, then it shouldn't be a big issue.

Wow $30,000 for an SUV with vynil seats? Yikes I would expect it to at least have cloth and the basics (full power accessories, uplevel stereo...)...

If you could swing it, a Touraeg TDI- whilst pricey, has a motor to go for quite a long time. The Liberty diesel also has a motor built to last (not so sure about the rest of it, tho )

 

Is a van out of the question?

 

Here's my completely subjective, incomplete summary:

Ford Explorer: bring a spare transmission with you. You'll need it. Has the resale value befitting its quality. (Ditto for the Escape/Tribute)

Jeep GC: We have an old Cherokee classic that belongs in an Arnold movie it's been so tough. Believe me, I've tried to kill it. The GC, however, has been trouble for owner-friends. The new Liberty gets the thumbs-down from a friend who works for Enterprise and rents a lot of 'em.

X3/X5: Questionable quality and the normally fawning press even wonders why someone would buy an X3.

Murano/FX45: (Swoons) Love the exhaust sound, performance and batmobile looks. Don't know about offroadworthiness. The new hotness.

Touareg: The newer hotness gets phenomenal marks all-round without the sting (or bodgy looks) of the Porsche. Woof. Sign me up if I had the dosh.

RAV4/CRV: LOL!!! Please. Don't make me laugh.

4Runner: The unsexy one that deserves a 2nd look. Even with 800# of people and the V6 my buddy's accelerates surprisingly well. Built like a rock, and probably the one I'd buy. Don't know anyone uses it for towing

Suburban: Have something heavy to tow? Look no further. See horse farm for confirmation. By all accounts bulletproof. (Note: disregard CR reliability ratings, which usually note that the trim or some such falls off.)

Land Rover: Better hope that your mechanic is as pretty as this thing, as you'll be much closer to him/her as its owner. (Love the look, though. Should come with something tweedy and a golden retriever as accessories.)

Subie Forrester 2.5xt: If you're just doing fire roads why not? Haul groceries to 60mph in under 6 secs!

Rest o' the GM crew: (Tahoe, etc.) If I were towing lots I'd begrudgingly give them a look. The only 'merican mfg. I'd consider for my money. I don't like the looks, the interior feels cheap, and I think that they're overpriced, but they don't have exploding transmissions, have engines sized appropriately for the task, and are sensible. The people I know who race almost exclusively use these to haul bikes and cars, and have trucks that last for years.

Enough rambling--good luck with your purchase. I'm going to be in the same position later this year so it's good to look about and ponder the choices.

--Jeff

 

Oooooh Louay, I couldn't agree more! I was hoping someone here would mention the FX... absolutely gorgeous. The only SUV on the road that gets me to look twice. As a fairly anti-gigantic vehicle person, I reason that if I had a NEED for a larger, gas guzzling car (ie family, travel, etc), then this would be the one for me. Could the seats BE more comfortable? I could live in that thing. And I agree that the exhaust sounds verrrry dreamy. This SUV strikes the perfect balance between attractive and aggressive WITHOUT being insanely oversized. Quite tasteful.

 

If I had a need for a SUV with 4WD, I'd get one of these:



...but in a raised-roof conversion type and with a diesel engine. I have a conversion van and nothing beats a big box on wheels for hauling stuff.

I'd also consider an extended cab pick-up like a Ram 2500 Cummins.