3rd row SUV choices?

[mikev]

Yeah but Stan will be done with it before it's first service. He's fine.

 

[Holeshot]

Haha!

 

[Archimedes]

That looks really bad though. Porsche can't design a 4 door sedan/wagon to save their lives. Stick with the converted Audi SUVs as cash flow generators and well built sports cars.

Well that's still partially camo'd and what matters most is how it performs, and evidently the new Gran Turismo delivers. If it performs anywhere near as good as the new Panamera sedan, it'll be a beast. Of course, the price is beastly as well.

Would have been great if Audi brought the RS Avant to the U.S. with the new V8 motor from the last RS5, but sadly those days are gone forever.

 

[Phanuel]

would have been great if audi brought the rs avant to the u.s. With the new v8 motor from the last rs5, but sadly those days are gone forever.

* ∞

 

[Johndicezx9]

I mean cmon.

So much better looking than the standard Panamera, and I like the new Panamera. (The first gen was f'ugly.)

 

[augustiron]

So back to the ORIGINAL question and budget...

Next spring I will be replacing an 01 4runner and returning a VW TDI sportwagen.
Looking to merge into one vehicle for the wife and kiddos.

3 row, AWD or 4wd, under $40k are primary metrics.
Comfort, fuel economy, reliability, space are secondary metrics
.
Don't need high performance of bling, car will take a beating in the winters up here.

Ok with used, prefer it somewhat as someone else takes the hit.

Looking at outback ( no 3rd row, hate the CVT), Highlander, Pilot, new gen 4runner....What else?

She doesn't want a full-size SUV, Tahoe, etc.

 

[Blankpage]

Looks like the new Panamera comes with an IMAX screen.

If I owned that car I'd look for any reason to take a roadtrip.

 

[stan23]

So back to the ORIGINAL question and budget...

Next spring I will be replacing an 01 4runner and returning a VW TDI sportwagen.
Looking to merge into one vehicle for the wife and kiddos.

3 row, AWD or 4wd, under $40k are primary metrics.
Comfort, fuel economy, reliability, space are secondary metrics
.
Don't need high performance of bling, car will take a beating in the winters up here.

Ok with used, prefer it somewhat as someone else takes the hit.

I'd look for a current gen 4R with the pseudo 3rd row seat. There are not many 3rd row SUVs out there. The '15 Pilot with 4WD we had was pretty good for the snow, but that's just weekend trips to Tahoe. Not sure how it would fair being a full time living-in-the-snow type vehicle.

If you want to up the budget, I cannot recommend our '17 XC90 T8 enough. It's gets like 500 miles to the tank, 400hp, sophisticated AWD with electric motors, and one of the best interiors i've ever seen in any car. We have the R model with seats that are more comfy and sporty than even my new M3! Jeremy Clarkson seems to like it too

 

[stan23]

Looks like the new Panamera comes with an IMAX screen.

If I owned that car I'd look for any reason to take a roadtrip.

The new S class is similar. I am really_really liking the Panamera. I just don't like the overall size of the car. For a GT, I totally get it. I just don't think I can make it my DD.

But who am I kidding? I'll probably pick one up.

 

[insyder]

So back to the ORIGINAL question and budget...

Next spring I will be replacing an 01 4runner and returning a VW TDI sportwagen.
Looking to merge into one vehicle for the wife and kiddos.

3 row, AWD or 4wd, under $40k are primary metrics.
Comfort, fuel economy, reliability, space are secondary metrics
.
Don't need high performance of bling, car will take a beating in the winters up here.

Ok with used, prefer it somewhat as someone else takes the hit.

Looking at outback ( no 3rd row, hate the CVT), Highlander, Pilot, new gen 4runner....What else?

She doesn't want a full-size SUV, Tahoe, etc.

We have a 2013 Ford Explorer Limited.

• Comfort - good though I've sat in better driver's seats
• Fuel Eco - we get around 18-19 in mixed driving
• Reliability - So far so good, chiming in at 112k miles
• Space - The third row is fantastic. The trunk take a little hit because of that, but still quite usable.

 

[augustiron]

2 reasons to avoid the xc90, especially a new high end model

- living in tahoe, even with a garage KILLS the car's exterior and interior. Our friend bought a new s line Q7 in the fall and it has all kinds of scrapes and dings all over it. Ouch for a $70k car.

-previous Volvo depreciation and service trauma - wife bought a new V70R in 2004 for about $50k IIRC, put about $17k into service and parts in 8 years and sold it for $10k with 60k ish miles on the clock. Ouch.

Stan, I know you'll cut me a sweet bro deal on yours in the spring when the next shiny thing rolls by... hehe

 

[Mike95060]

^ $17K in maintenance over 8 years is bananas. Getting $10k on the sale is just as bananas. I guess selling it was cheaper than keeping it.

 

[stan23]

2 reasons to avoid the xc90, especially a new high end model

- living in tahoe, even with a garage KILLS the car's exterior and interior. Our friend bought a new s line Q7 in the fall and it has all kinds of scrapes and dings all over it. Ouch for a $70k car.

-previous Volvo depreciation and service trauma - wife bought a new V70R in 2004 for about $50k IIRC, put about $17k into service and parts in 8 years and sold it for $10k with 60k ish miles on the clock. Ouch.

Stan, I know you'll cut me a sweet bro deal on yours in the spring when the next shiny thing rolls by... hehe

We got the XC90 specifically for trips to the snow, i've learned to live with the dings.

The new gen Volvo stuff cannot be compared to the past. It's like a new company!

Honestly, it sounds like a 4R is right up your alley.

 

[augustiron]

Electronically controlled struts are expensive...

 

[stan23]

Electronically controlled struts are expensive...

When my M3 gets out of warranty and the electronic suspension goes belly up, i'm getting these. Ohlins TTX.

 

[Holeshot]

I'd look for a current gen 4R with the pseudo 3rd row seat. There are not many 3rd row SUVs out there. The '15 Pilot with 4WD we had was pretty good for the snow, but that's just weekend trips to Tahoe. Not sure how it would fair being a full time living-in-the-snow type vehicle.

If you want to up the budget, I cannot recommend our '17 XC90 T8 enough. It's gets like 500 miles to the tank, 400hp, sophisticated AWD with electric motors, and one of the best interiors i've ever seen in any car. We have the R model with seats that are more comfy and sporty than even my new M3! Jeremy Clarkson seems to like it too

I like Stan's suggestion on the XC90 Karl. I don't like 4runners for two reason: high resale value (if you're gonna keep it a longish time), meaning used you pay too much AND the body on frame design and how they incorporate that into a higher floor line which seems to intrude on leg height. Maybe that's changed in 16', I don't know. Those are my two gripes. On the used market, purchase whatever is good and depreciates the fastest. Usually that IS a Volvo and I agree with Stan: they appear by all indications to be well done since the Chinese took them over.

Absent those choices, Explorers are your best bet for value/use ratio. There's a shit ton off lease and they're quite good. Look for a 15' +.

When my M3 gets out of warranty and the electronic suspension goes belly up, i'm getting these. Ohlins TTX.

I'd suggest looking at the Penske product. Much more configurable and custom for the specific use. Ohlins stuff is now built and assembled in..you guessed it: China.

 

[augustiron]

Thanks Stan and Berto

I will have a hard time convincing the wife to get a Volvo or Ford but we will check them out. She has had some nice cars but said the worst new vehicle she ever had in her adult life was a ford ranger. She will have resistance to volvo, Ford oh and Mini too haha.

 

[madsen203]

Thanks Stan and Berto

I will have a hard time convincing the wife to get a Volvo or Ford but we will check them out. She has had some nice cars but said the worst new vehicle she ever had in her adult life was a ford ranger. She will have resistance to volvo, Ford oh and Mini too haha.

I was reading Ford fourms when I was looking at the Fusion or the Edge. They have sensor problem galore. I am personally a fan of N/A power over the new turbo stuff unless we are talking about diesel.

I saw one of these recently. Owner was a grow-bro-dozer.

But for that SUV taste:

F350 custom. Looks relatively easy to come by if you plunk the cash down. Probably as expensive as those XC90's.

 

[dadaR6]

The 9 speed? It's trash. Lots of shift quality issues. Two software updates for shift quality and engagement concerns and it's only marginally better. FCA has had even more issues with their version of the ZF 9HP. We've seen some reliability issues right off the bat too. The heat exchanger leaks and lets engine coolant into the transmission fluid and it's a total loss. Speaking of that fluid, it's a special ZF spec fluid that costs $55/qt. My biggest complaint about the thing is when you're doing 65 and cruising in 9th, and you punch it to make a pass? The time it takes you to read this sentence in its entirety is probably equal to the time it takes to make the downshift and give you 3rd. The benefits of this transmission are that's it's incredibly compact and because of its dog clutches, it can take a tremendous amount of abuse.

Our old 6 speed auto was totally fine. But they had to keep up with the Jones and have more gears. The hilarious part? A 2015 MDX with the 6 speed gets equal to or sometimes even slightly better mileage than the 2016 with the new 9 speed. Haven't driven a Odyssey with the new Honda built 10 speed, but I gotta imagine it's way better.

With the Honda Pilot, you still have the choice between the old 6 speed auto and the new 9 speed auto depending on which trim you pick. You would pick the lower trim just to get the 6 speed auto then?

The 9 speed is now mechanically OK on the 2017 models?

I am torn between a Pilot EX-L and a Pilot Touring...

 

[TheRobSJ]

With the Honda Pilot, you still have the choice between the old 6 speed auto and the new 9 speed auto depending on which trim you pick. You would pick the lower trim just to get the 6 speed auto then?

The 9 speed is now mechanically OK on the 2017 models?

I am torn between a Pilot EX-L and a Pilot Touring...

You get the old 6AT if you don't get the Touring or Elite trim levels. However, in order to get navigation, panorama moonroof, 20" wheels, or the very excellent blind spot warning system, you have to step up to those packages. Which of course means you're also stuck with that shitbox 9 speed.

I don't think the 2017 9 speed is any better than the 2016 model other than software tweaks. I just drove a 2018 Acura TLX with the 9 speed, and there are some marginal shift quality improvements I suppose. But some of the same infuriating things For me are still there. Mainly taking frigging forever to downshift from 9th to make a pass. And the shifter itself. I like a real lever. I can work it without looking and I know it's in the gear I want. Sometimes with the push button setup the 9 speed has, maybe you don't push it down all the way or whatever, and you don't actually get into Drive. Which can be interesting if you were coming from Reverse.

I dunno. Go drive them both. If the 9 speed doesn't bother you, then you'll probably be fine. Honda has a 5/60 powertrain warranty. If something catastrophic is going to happen to that transmission, it will probably happen earlier than later, so you'll be covered.