When we still needed the space we bought a Ford Flex Ecoboost Limited AWD instead of an SUV. It’s based on the same platform as the Explorer but we found it to be more spacious and better to drive. The interior is equivalent of a last generation Ford but they are very well equipped, nice to drive, and have great power. The third row seats are also actually usable and they have plenty of space behind the third row and everything hauls flat for hauling.

I guess most importantly I’d say to drive and check out your multitude of options. I’ve had newer 4Runners as rentals and found them to be cheap inside, underpowered, and more truck like than my F150s. My parents have a loaded Highlander and I despise it, the transmission is dim witted and heavily biased for MPG and everything has a lag, like having to hold the trunk handle for a half second before it responds. The Pilot is basically the same platform as the Odyssey but less practical due to packaging but still a solid choice. The Explorer isn’t bad and you can get more sport oriented models that are better to drive. Another interesting option is the Durango, the R/T is great to drive and has a great Hemi V8. One other option would be a Mercedes or Volvo wagon, you get a massive hauling area with car dynamics. Finally I’d concur to not write off a new 1/2 ton truck, they are huge inside and drive great, and you have the bed space for hauling stuff. For a few years my wife drove an F150 as our family car and it did great.

Another vote for the Porsche Cayenne. Very capable SUV, very reliable (I’ve already more miles on mine than my two previous Nissan Xtrerras), drives like a sports car, puts a smile on your face, and used ones are a great bargain. You can definitely find a great low miles example for under $40k. I’ll never own another brand of SUV, just upgrade my 2008 with 168k miles, eventually.
The nice thing with Porsches is they keep driving very well as they age, because the starting point is so good.

We replaced our 2003 4Runner Sport this year with a 2020 4Runner.

My wife raves about it. Not as quick or nimble as the Sport but it is the real deal in her mind. I have driven it twice. On trips South to see the kids, I may get some seat time.

Works for me. She'll drive it for 15 years since her idea of a perfect car is one that has AWD and starts and goes every time she asks. She wears cars like a pair of slippers: Once they fit right, she's in.

Again, there are more great cars out there than ever before. I could own 10 cars that fit your criteria and be delighted with each, Macan at the top of the list after the Highlander.

There a Porsche dealer near the new house?

Logistics is the tie breaker.

What about a Toyota Sequoia or a Lexus GX?

She definitely doesn't want anything that big.

We saw a couple of highlanders today (we actually went and "cased" the parking garage at our apt to check out different sorts of SUVs). She's thinking they seem a little long.

She may consider a smaller Lexus, maybe.

What she really wants is a miata, BMW Z-something or Porsche Coxster.

If this makes sense, the Highlander looks longer than it drives. I thought my wife wouldn't like the Highlander but she loves it. I'd suggest you drive one. The blind spot monitoring gives an extra level of comfort when driving one.

Here's my opinion, Steve. Get her what she wants, haul kids only and not materials or plywood. Buy yourself a dirty pickup for a few thousand bucks and leave it at your house. You will need a vehicle to haul fulls sheets of plywood and other even dirtier supplies for the house if you are going to play part time cabinet maker renovation contractor. Stuffing all that dusty lumber in back of your wife's van or whatever newish car she buys only having to spend half a day cleaning it after. Give me that useless Cayman and I will give you my second best condition pick up truck.:D

My experience w/ others experience reinforcing it, is that VW/Audi are fine when new but you don't generally want to own one 8 yrs down the road, I did have 1 particularly good experience w/a V8 Q that I kept for 18yrs, but that was the exception.

It's be hard to match Toyota for reliability and low maintenance costs, I have a 2008 4 Runner V8 that has only needed an annual oi change, all of $40 at the dealer, It's so cheap and convenient that I don't even DIY anymore

It's probably more truckey than what you are looking for but a Highlander might be just the ticket for you.

Our 2008 4 Runner is for us is the perfect vehicle. It's gone 100,000 miles over the 12 years with very little maintenance, brakes, tires, oil etc. The only thing that ever went wrong was the alternator at 90,000. It hauls lots of stuff, can pull at least a 5,000 pound trailer, the interior wears like iron, everything still works. We will buy another when the time comes.

2015 or 2016 Diesel Cayenne

I second a 4 runner if that's what she's looking for, but it doesn't haul plywood or lumber too well. 95,000 miles coming up real soon. Absolutely no issues at all but brake pads and oil changes. My factory radio did go out but it was an easy fix with aftermarket unit.

I've always wanted a suburban

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-Chevrolet-Suburban-4x4-Trailering-Special/284076672670?hash=item42244a069e:g:66wAAOSwuohfINe 1

-Until I saw the price (more than my sc?):rolleyes:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1605445272.jpg

You're not going to find a cheap pick up in Texas so you can take that off the table as a 3rd vehicle.

I vote for Cayenne with a small utility trailer for big loads.

Of course the most practical vehicle would be.... a mini van :)

Narrow down the list of anything feasible and then get out and put your butts in some seats.

I would certainly drive the Cayenne and see what she thinks. My wife has a 15 Macan with close to 75k on it. It looks and feels brand new. We bought it used CPO. Look at the new Honda Pilot. I like the styling a lot better than the old ones. I've always liked Toyota products. I have a few friends with Mazda C5's. They are very nice vehicles. Also small in the back like the Macan though, maybe C7? VW Atlas looks nice. There are so many out there. Time to start test driving!

Mazda CX-9 is nice and drives really well but the 3rd row seats are useless. Nice SUV if you never have more than 4 people riding in it.

The new stuff from Hyundai and Kia is also really really nice. We seriously considered a Stinger, really nicely made and great driving car. The Koreans aren’t second rate anymore.

My wife loves her Volvo XC90 , it is very comfortable with three row seating and legionary Volvo safety . Hers is a 3.2 inline six and front wheel drive . Fold the back seats down and lots of room for stuff .

On the highway we get 23 mpg with the cruise set on 70 . And it runs on regular unleaded vs premium whick is a plus. . I also enjoy driving it , to me it is very comfortable and quiet .

First vehicle that came to my mind.

Fold the rear seat into the floor. Remove the middle seats and you can fit plywood in there.

How about a Subaru Outback? With the seats folded down, there's quite a bit of room. They are lower to the ground than a typical SUV but perform extremely well in the snow.