The Lexus

[D21FJ60]

The best I have ever gotten highway in my GX470 (basically a V8 4th gen 4runner) was 18mpg at 60mph before any mods. You might get another 1 mpg out of a 4runner because it has a 2wd t-case rather than full time 4wd in the GX. Realistically though, at 70mph you're getting 16-18mpg in the 4runner and at 80 you're getting 14-16. Even a 2021 V6 4runner is rated at 16/19mpg so a sequoia is the same or 1mpg worse with a lot more space. A minivan makes a lot of sense if all you want is good mpg on road and to get from A-B comfortably. My parents old odyssey got 26mpg highway at 80 and 18 city in the real world.

Yeah i've been thinking about a Sienna, although a minivan isn't as appealing its more logical. Why must there be logic involved?

 

[afgman786]

Yeah i've been thinking about a Sienna, although a minivan isn't as appealing its more logical. Why must there be logic involved?

If you get the v6 though its got enough power to drive like an idiot and cops won't generally look at you. Just assume kids are acting up or late to practice

 

[D21FJ60]

If you get the v6 though its got enough power to drive like an idiot and cops won't generally look at you. Just assume kids are acting up or late to practice

So i've spent part of the morning looking, and there are a lot more affordable in good shape units to choose from- for example, a 1 owner 2009 xle for about $6600. 175k and tons of dealer records going back to new.

Whereas that same level of mileage and maintenance on say, an MDX, would be about 11k.

I can be a van man...

 

[D21FJ60]

Well here I come back to this thought again.
Down to the cruiser and our family car, and I need something that gets better mpg to put miles on.

Limited budget so pickings are slim, and the late 90s-Mid 00s Volvo wagons have caught my eye. A lot of them with over 200k on the odo, are these things junk?

 

[captainva]

My buddy has had two of those since high school. They seem to be pretty reliable as long as people kept up on oil changes. Avoid the turbos as they will all blow up eventually. My buddy bought a 98 turbo and the shaft literally broke in half one day so we bolted on a much bigger from a later car. That was stupid fast for what it was. His didn't have great tires on his but it would one tire fire anywhere you went up to abut 50mph if you matted it. All of them are a bitch to work on especially compared to Toyotas IMO. Not enough clearance to get sockets/wrenches on some bolts or get your hand down where it needs to be to fix things. Especially on the turbos. NA ones seem to be dead reliable from a mechanical perspective but have dumb problems because of old plastic.

 

[D21FJ60]

Well here I am again asking for some insight.

I should be in a position in the next month or so to purchase a second family car.

While japanese is always the go to, I do want to try somethin european. Above I asked about Volvos, and they seem to be pretty solid.

However, I really like the look of the first gen GL450s and first gen Q7s, preferrably TDI.

LR3 and LR4s are out because no latch or anchors in third row.

Anyone have first hand or significant second hand experience with the GL, Q7 or XC90?

Internet forums are all across the board (literally).

 

[captainva]

Get a V8 XC90. The engine in those was designed by Yamaha. No idea about reliability but the sound

 

[76FJ40]

Check with Consumer Reports, as I recall, Volvo is near the bottom in reliability.

 

[ace10]

No used Germans unless you secure a good extended warranty.

 

[CrabCake]

No used Germans unless you secure a good extended warranty.

Agreed...Audis will bleed you dry if you need to go anywhere near a dealer for service...

 

[D21FJ60]

Thanks guys, wasn't going to be going to a dealer, would find an indy shop that specialises in whatever I end up with for things that I can't trouble shoot.
I've been seeing some good things about the Volvo T5 and 3.2 Dont think the v8 was offered in the years i'm trying to get.