Wife wants an SUV

[Angelo1]

Hey guys and gals,

My wife doesn't like driving my 200 and doesn't like the LX. Looking at the Cayenne S or GTS, LR4 LUX, Audi q5, BMW X5, MB ml. Anyone have experience with these? She wants something that absorbs potholes and bumps really well.

 

[stonepa]

I'd get her a Lexus RX 400H or 450H. Power, silent inside, good mileage, great dealer experience. My wife has an RX400h and loves it.

I came close to buying a CPO Cayenne S a few weeks ago. Everyone I looked at had a problem (after only 35k miles!). Accessories didn't work, doors didn't close straight, alignment was out, etc. And that was after the 'rigorous' Porsche dealer inspection. I walked out.

LR4 seems to be a good vehicle. Previous LR3 and Disco were a nightmare (as me how I know) and why I still drive my old Land Cruiser. No problems are something you get used to.

Audi Qs, BMW Xs, and MB GLs are great as long as you lease them. After 75k don't keep them. There's a reason you don't see a lot of old/ high mileage ones on the road.

You may also want to consider the Volvo XC60 (or newly restyled XC90 when it comes out next year). Fantastic. We've had 3 and they have given us ZERO problems over a couple of hundred thousand miles of driving.

 

[Angelo1]

Thanks for your input. My wife won't buy do the RX or Volvo...finds them boring. She's into high performance lux. My fault, I spoiled her by introducing her to my previous fun cars. She just drove over to MB since they were closed to poke around and came back with big eyeballs for a '13 black ML63 AMG. Dammit! Now I have to go test drive it. Apparently the certified pre-owns come with a unlimited mileage warranty. Not sure how many years that includes.

 

[arich]

We have a GL350. Wonderful highway SUV. I got the sport suspension which gives you 2 settings, sport and comfort. I call it his and hers. In comfort it's like riding on a pillow. We custom ordered it with many options. Interior is beautiful with 2 tone leather. Diesel gets ridiculous MPG. The GL63 is a little nuts.
What about the Q5RS? I thought it was cool just too small for my wife. I also think the Acura RDX with the new LED headlights is a pretty cool little.


...via IH8MUD app

 

[Angelo1]

We have a GL350. Wonderful highway SUV. I got the sport suspension which gives you 2 settings, sport and comfort. I call it his and hers. In comfort it's like riding on a pillow. We custom ordered it with many options. Interior is beautiful with 2 tone leather. Diesel gets ridiculous MPG. The GL63 is a little nuts.
What about the Q5RS? I thought it was cool just too small for my wife. I also think the Acura RDX with the new LED headlights is a pretty cool little.


...via IH8MUD app

My wife thinks the Q5rS looks a little small but she really doesn't need anything bigger and it's on our list to test drive. We haven't considered the RDX but will look into that one as well. The GL is a little big for her as to why I think she liked the ML63 much more.

 

[THEROK]

If I had a high maint wife, I'd get her into a cayenne gts because I'd actually like driving it. Another one to check out is the new range rover in 510hp form. These aren't suvs. They are lifted sedans.

Outside the g-class, Mercs have horrible resale. Esp the amg models. They don't drive great either. I really don't know why people choose this brand over bmw. Audi reliability needs attn. Overly complex being awd, change shapes almost every year so you never really own a fresh looking one, and same prob as Mercs except they don't make something iconic like the g.

When I see people spending $1k+ a month renting these things I just smh and wonder why.

 

[texas]

Range Rover Sport S/C is my vote.

 

[Sinister]

I had a Range Rover sport and the wife hated it. It was mine so she didn't drive it that often. But with the track record of it being in the shop I wouldn't get another one unless they start getting better in the reliability department. She has the BMW X5 now and she loves it, fun vehicle to drive. I take it once in a while just to beat it up a bit.

 

[Callahan Offroad]

New Range Rover Sport is a fantastic vehicle. The older one is okay, but its really just a Disco with a RR Sport badge on i. Can't go wrong with a real Range Rover either. Luckily Land Rover doesn't build their engines for the vehicles anymore, so the reliability has gone way up.

The BMW is just terrible. You'd be better off buying a 5-Series than a X5 or X3.

A G-Wagen is always a fun option, plus they are definitely the best looking of all the new big lux off-roaders.

My dad has a Toureg V8 (Porsche Cayenne with VW badges) and it is great. The acceleration is a blast and it drives great on the highway, 90k miles and no problems. Aside from the badges and interior pieces there is no difference between the VW and the Porsche.

Are you looking new or used? Does it have to be a SUV? Luxury cars are just better all around for ride-comfort, speed and well, everything else.

 

[Sinister]

The BMW is just terrible. You'd be better off buying a 5-Series than a X5 or X3.
.

I dont want to derail this tread but what makes you say BMW is terrible. We have had 3 full years of use with out it going to the shop for anything not even even once. The only thing I have done to it was the interval maintenance and changed the windshield wipers. Gas milage is great, plenty of power, everything always works, pretty damn good in the snow with the Xdrive, very fun to drive at higher speeds when dry, corners great, great visibility out all windows ect...I dont even want to get into BMW vs Range Rover discussion either because I havent been in the new ones yet. I really do love them (FFRR and the Sport), it was a blast to drive when not layed up in the shop and very good on the beach after I changed out the s***ty summer tires.

 

[arich]

Forgot that we checked out the X5 too. I love the look ofthe new one but have not driven it. I really wanted a Diesel and with the new model coming out we didn't want to wait and didn't want first model year. I would have loved to add another BMW to the family.
The decision to get the GL was my wife's (I chose to make it diesel). After driving her friends GL350 we were sold. She drove another friends ML and didn't like it. She's been driving Land Cruisers for 15 years and she never truly loved the 200 and wanted a change. I usually drive her hand me down trucks as my secondary vehicle and winter truck but this won't be the case with the GL. I wouldn't call my wife high maintainance (and would be offended if someone else did). We buy all of our cars don't lease (rent) them. The GL350 Bluetec has a much better residual over the GL450, 550 and GL63 and it's also nearly impossible to get. Very low US allocation. It's NOT an investment, it's a luxury.

I've come to realization that in order to make your wife happy let her buy what SHE wants not what YOU want. Happy wife happy life. THEN you get to buy what YOU truly want for yourself. If she wants the ML63 and she test drives it and loves it then as long as you can afford it let her have it. I made the mistake with our 2011 Land Cruiser. I bought it as a surprise for her birthday and even though she was appreciative she didn't LOVE it. She knew I bought it so I could take her beloved 100 and then get her new 200 in 4 years. She saw right through my plan and it cost me. No regrets, she got a new GL, I got her 200 and her brother got the 100. Only issue is now I have 2 car payments the same time while in the past I've always just had one. I got 1.75% on the LC and 1.99% on the GL. The GL350 might not have been the best decision but my wife is happy.

I feel like a marriage counselor now.

 

[THEROK]

arich nailed it. These are toys. Nobody needs a 200, an ML, X5, RRS, you name it. Nobody needs a 500+hp anything ahem AMG.

Many, many people get by with no car. Many, many get by with a CR-V and Jetta. Many people love their 80s running them till it doesn't fit their family needs any more (because it won't stop running).

So honestly, we're all splitting hairs. You really can't go wrong with any of these top 1% suggestions and I always laugh when people say they hate something about an inanimate, material object. Hate is a strong word.

I know that my buddy with a 2012 X5 diesel loves the thing to death, but now with twins, it's just too small for their willingness to sacrifice comfort for driving dynamic. Nothing but a full-size for them now.

I've got him looking into 200 LCs ( the 911 of SUVs dude) but it's more than they want to spend and his wife doesn't like the idea of 15mpg coming from a much more efficient diesel.

I hope I end up with an SO that doesn't care about cars, the brand, keepin up with the joneses etc. It's an expensive hobby that's for sure.

 

[texas]

They should just buy a minivan, it their self image was strong enough to counter the soccer mom image of one!

 

[arich]

They should just buy a minivan, it their self image was strong enough to counter the soccer mom image of one!

The Honda Oddessy is a cool Minivan, but I wouldn't drive one.

 

[Angelo1]

Thank you all for your input. Now I wouldn't say my wife is high maintenance, just works really hard for her money and wants to enjoy the drive to and from work, otherwise she's very frugal.

Anyways, I test drove the MY13 ML63 AMG with the performance pkg. and was literally blown away at how awesome this sled was. I have never driven a SUV around tight turns so effortlessly at fast speed as this one. I have driven a MY11 Cayenne Turbo and this thing just felt even more planted and sound of the exhaust is insane. The rear and front seat room is much better compared to Cayenne. I'm was never a MB fan but I certainly am with this vehicle. Reliability aside, it comes with a full 4yr unlimited mileage warranty and I will buy an additional 2yr. Unlimited mileage warranty ($4600) which is 100% refundable if I sell or trade the SUV in before 4yrs. otherwise it's prorated when it kicks in. The interior is absolutely amazing and the NAV is super easy to use. It has MBrace2 which allows you to send directions from your iPhone directly to the NAV without issue. You can see if Valet is joy riding in your car, etc. it's basically OnStar on steroids. I'm sold and the wife took it for a quick spin and thought big deal it's 557hp until I told her to smash the pedal and that's when she had the biggest smile followed by a huge giggle. That's when it's worth the price of admission.

 

[Angelo1]

They should just buy a minivan, it their self image was strong enough to counter the soccer mom image of one!

LOL! Using the same thinking we could just live in a mobile home but we occasionally prefer enjoying the fruits of our labor.

 

[Angelo1]

New Range Rover Sport is a fantastic vehicle. The older one is okay, but its really just a Disco with a RR Sport badge on i. Can't go wrong with a real Range Rover either. Luckily Land Rover doesn't build their engines for the vehicles anymore, so the reliability has gone way up.

The BMW is just terrible. You'd be better off buying a 5-Series than a X5 or X3.

A G-Wagen is always a fun option, plus they are definitely the best looking of all the new big lux off-roaders.

My dad has a Toureg V8 (Porsche Cayenne with VW badges) and it is great. The acceleration is a blast and it drives great on the highway, 90k miles and no problems. Aside from the badges and interior pieces there is no difference between the VW and the Porsche.

Are you looking new or used? Does it have to be a SUV? Luxury cars are just better all around for ride-comfort, speed and well, everything else.

Looking for certified used. I never buy brand new, prefer the first person taking the hit. Luxury cars where we live isn't a joy to drive as the snow opens up huge potholes and it takes the city forever to fill them. Also many people drive big trucks or SUV.s and it makes it difficult to see around them when you want to pass,etc. If we were in Scottsdale or the Bay Area she would have jumped to the Panamera T. I'm not a huge fan but she likes it and in the end that's what matters.

I tried pushing the G63 but she doesn't like the way it handles around turns and it's a very firm ride. If I had a six car garage and limitless funds it would make for a great weekend cruiser but I don't have either.

 

[jcmiro]

Id take a Cayenne Turbo any day for agility and sedan feeling. Id love to drive the new Macan turbo. Should be even lighter. Due to my everyday life I absolutely hate heavy cars. E90 M3 nut. The RR sport felt elegant but heavy, the AMG MB just felt or gave me the impression of a soccer mom van on roids, didnt love it. The Q5 felt a little cheap, but was fun as hell. (had a chipped 3.0T 360+hp engine) No lease option where I live. We must buy cars in cold hard cash or finance at 11% interest rates. The most depressing thing is waiting the 21 days for the license plate to process. Only then can you drive the car off the lot.
My choices would be
Cayenne Turbo or Macan Turbo
Q5 with a chipped 3.0T
X5 M (could be at or near the top with -500lbs for 2014)
RX400H
RR would never buy.

 

[THEROK]

If I were a multi-millionaire, I'd buy the newest G AMG available and send it over to Brabus for their wide kit.

Lifted sedan choice: Cayenne GTS

Big sedan choice: Panamera GTS

SUV: 200

 

[Angelo1]

Id take a Cayenne Turbo any day for agility and sedan feeling. Id love to drive the new Macan turbo. Should be even lighter. Due to my everyday life I absolutely hate heavy cars. E90 M3 nut. The RR sport felt elegant but heavy, the AMG MB just felt or gave me the impression of a soccer mom van on roids, didnt love it. The Q5 felt a little cheap, but was fun as hell. (had a chipped 3.0T 360+hp engine) No lease option where I live. We must buy cars in cold hard cash or finance at 11% interest rates. The most depressing thing is waiting the 21 days for the license plate to process. Only then can you drive the car off the lot.
My choices would be
Cayenne Turbo or Macan Turbo
Q5 with a chipped 3.0T
X5 M (could be at or near the top with -500lbs for 2014)
RX400H
RR would never buy.

My buddy has 2012 X5 M and hates it. Had it In the shop after a heavy ran storm because it sucked in too much water and they had to take the engine out and rebuild part of it. He also has issues with front alignment getting out of whack everytime he hit a large pothole but never happened to his mDX. Besides the X5 looks like a shoe (no offense) and after having 6 previous bimmers throughout the last 10years they have always had an electrical issue. I still love them but she wanted something more upscale without sacrificing performance.

The previous models 2011 and older ML63 is not anywhere the same as the 2013. Checkout and "test drive" a Black MY2013 ML63 with the performance pkg. and it will surprise you. It feels very solid but not heavy for a 2.5ton sled. She looked at the Macan but thought it looked whimmpy. My neighbor has the newer Cayenne Turbo and I do like it but after driving his and this one, the wife preferred the ML63. Again this rig is not for me.

11% is very high for a auto loan