Help with SUV pick
 

Help needed from the Pelican car gurus!
My wife currently drives a 2012 4 Runner with 80k on it. Absolutely nothing wrong with it. During a recent service visit at Toyota I had time to wander and came across a pearl white 2019 4 Runner Limited with 5k on it and also 4wd. Asking $ 41,900 (which isn't a terrible price) Of course that started off the great SUV hunt for comparisons. We have looked at Audis Q5s (a real performance vehicle/very high tech) VW/ no thanks. Lincoln/Mazda/Subaru Meh. Kia/Hyonda not a chance.Although the Kia Telluride is pretty sharp.We aren't to interested in the Ford/GM/Chrysler offerings. Have not looked at the Jeep GW's yet. Didn't realize how many different makes of SUV's there were. Being a Porsche guy we have started looking at Macan's. We don't have a local dealer ( we live in Lakeland,Fl. and the closest is Tampa) so it makes it a little difficult. I just found a private seller with a 2018 Macan with 4,750 miles and a price of $47,500. It is a base model he calls it sport edition (not sure what that is). You guys know a lot about various vehicles (a lot more than me) so help me with some input. TIA
Dave

Jeep Trackhawk = 707HP / 645 ftlbs. 0- 60=3.6 sec. 1/4 mile = 11.6 sec. Top speed 173 mph. Carry's up to 5 people comfortably - tows up to 7500 lbs.

So........in the real world mass produced vehicles - nothing compares. Just sell everything else......

These things have proliferated like crazy over the last 30 years, and a lot depends on what you want, and price.

Subaru has the best traction (outside of real 4WD) BUT has a high incidence of cylinder head gasket failures. Both of mine have had it, and they want to stiff me for $3k of repairs on a 45,000 mile Forester so I will avoid them in the future.

I expect to buy a Mazda CX5 GT-R (which has a nice turbo in it). These drive very well (zoom-zoom) and have good (not great) gnd. clearance and traction. Pretty nice interior quality too. Reliable & few customer complaints.

Ford is about to update theirs, so it may jump up the spectrum.

A friend looked at the Macan and BMW Mseries and got the latter. I drove it on a fav 911 twisty last month and it was fun and fast - more fast than fun...
- views out the rear window are poor

** an expensive SUV doesn't make a lot of sense to me as I beat it around in the boonies some and the lousey nutball drivers here will beat it up in parking lots or on the road.

I have a bunch of notes on mid-range ones if you want - Honda, Nissen, Toyota... LMK & I'll post

It's pretty hard to beat Toyota. The lady in my life just bought a RAV4, and it's just amazing.

My wife is considering the new Honda Passport. V6, no CVT, etc. She drove everything out there and so far, the Passport remains in the lead. Might be worth a look.

I have a fully loaded Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, 2017. Put 49k miles on it already - I drive a lot. Love it. So far no issues, good gas mileage, unstoppable in deep snow and mud, feels like a real truck but excellent build quality and luxury. I have no complaints other than what they cost these days

You have the all-round best. Why change. Ya it needs the Tundra V8.

My wife's previous daily was a 2007 RAV4 we bought new , had a 3.5 V6 the vehicle was an appliance it never broke down . A little boring to drive and had quite a few recalls but it never let us down . Traded it in on a Volvo XC90 recently which is a very nice vehicle . I love the straight six , the comfort and the safety . Wife likes the extra room and the quiet and comfort .

My girlie wants a Macan. That means regardless of anything, I'm going to have to get a Macan.

The new one has a few TSBs, which the dealership should normally fix for free.
(while they try to bump up service)
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/4Runner/2019/tsbs/

But if it ain't broke why fix it?
But if she wants a different vehicle, that is another conversation though..

Thanks all,
I already have the Tundra. Just thought we should compare to other vehicles. Not many comments on the Macan,it's a pretty good deal. She said she'd take 45K. Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing!
Dave

Have you checked out the jaguar f pace pretty nice ride...

I don't understand the motivation behind selling a perfectly good 80k 2012 4Runner!? And then wanting to possibly buy a European luxury SUV? Recipe for a quick and effective money burn. Many of those cars you list will drop like a rock in value after warranty is up.

That's just my two cents. I never bought a new car for S&Gs, only really if I needed one because the old one was spent.

G

Keep the Toyota. Take your wife on a nice vacation.

Why the Kia and Hyundai hate?1443q

On the Macan, I just read that 15% of 2018 are still on the lots so I would think you would have some negotiation room. I had a Macan S for one year. It was great for an SUV but honestly too big for me. I like small and nimble. If you want any sense of a Porsche do not get the Base model. I found it underwhelming.

Good luck in your search!

Look at the Volvo XC60 or XC90. I had a 2018 XC90 Hybrid, really liked it, 400HP and very nice vehicle. I traded it b/c I needed a pickup truck again but otherwise wanted to keep it.

Hands down the best midsize SUV on the market is the Lexus RX350. We usually trade every 2 to 3 years and have been through many different SUVs. The ride quality and fit / finish is astounding. The road noise is almost non existent. Brand new, nicely fitted in the low 50's.
Drive one before you buy anything else.
We are on number 2 now!
Enjoy

XC90 all day long. It is an amazing SUV

Thanks for all the help,after a "sleepless night" my wife has decided against the Macan and I tend to agree. I didn't realize how much Porsche has flooded the market. There are thousands of them for sale. I tend to like vehicles that hold their value and the Toyota truck lines certainly do that. Her 4runner is still worth 20k! We still like the boxy old lines of the 4runner/Land Cruiser/Range Rover etc. So we stand pat for a while.