Anyone out there shop for an SUV lately?

[cantdrv55]

Did you look at/test drive an Acura MDX? I have a 2001 4Runner that I'm thinking of selling. I'd rather have a Cayenne but can't part with >$60K. An MDX I can get for <$40K. Looking for more of a car-like drive than the 4Runner. Something that can take corners better than the truck.

[RickM]

Not sure if it's hi-scale enough for you but the two SUVs I hear very good things about regarding car like ride are; 1 - Highlander and 2 - Toureg.

[cantdrv55]

My brother has a Highlander and I don't like the seats too much. Also, it's kind of bland. The Toureg costs more than the Acura (no special Costco pricing) plus VW's reliability record stinks. I don't care about hi-scale, just something that can take corners better than the 4Runner but still large enough to carry 5 up to the snow and tow.

[mudman]

We have been looking at used Discovery II's, what a deal! They must take a $10,000 hit on resale right off of the lot. ~$10,000 '98, w/under 90,000 isn't bad for a wife's car. We live down dirt roads and trash cars if not careful enough!
-Jeremy

[RickM]

Originally posted by mudman
We have been looking at used Discovery II's, what a deal! They must take a $10,000 hit on resale right off of the lot. ~$10,000 '98, w/under 90,000 isn't bad for a wife's car. We live down dirt roads and trash cars if not careful enough!
-Jeremy

There's a good reason for that.

[mudman]

What do you think the reason is? I've always thought (at least in the case of Land Rover) it is because of who they are marketed to and who is familiar with the marque. People buy used Cavaliers, Escorts, Suburbans, etc all the time with little interest in other things they are not used to considering. Who really wants to buy a used Disco? That is really the question (or answer?), not very many people are as crazy as me!
-Jeremy

[JavaBrewer]

DII's came out in 99, the 98 you're quoting is a DI. Big difference's are the DII no longer has the center locking diff and replaced it with electronic traction control (ETC). ETC applies brake to slipping wheel to divert power to planted wheels. Both work well but ETC seems more error prone and hard on system. Also, the DII scraped Lucas electronics for Bosch, and has a bit more interior room and longer wheel base. Engines are the same until the 04 model.

For real off-road use you can't do better than a Disco. Disco handicaps include poor reliability, sparce service centers, and miserable MPG (12 on freeway). They are very comfortable and unique to drive.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
Looking for more of a car-like drive than the 4Runner. Something that can take corners better than the truck.

Then you should steer a wide path around Land Rover Disco.

[91C2wrencher]

I drive a 2000 Discovery II and it is one hell of a truck, underline TRUCK, the undercarrage is amazing, all forged and cast pieces, huge bushings, the thing is unstoppable in any weather. BUT, it is as finicky as any porsche and needs lots of attention. with 55 on odo, i've replaced rotors/pads, MAFS, air injection pump, a thing called a rotoflex which is poor example of a U joint and shocks. The ride is truck like but tolerable and yes it gets something like 12MPG..ouch, around here they are very popular mostly i think because they can be had so cheap, the dealer experience has been great, no really!, i was surpised. I will probably replace this one with a newer(used) one in a year or so...my $0.02 I should add that we bought it in 2002 and paid roughly half the list price and its really the wifies car, she loves it, all up in the air and bouncy, women, go figure...

[jrdavid68]

I'm biased, but would vote for a Touareg. We have 8000 miles on ours and have had no reliabilty issues. We also owned two Passats prior to this and had zero problems with those as well.

Another thing to consider is insurance. When I talked to my agent, I found out that insuring the Touareg was actually less than a Forerunner due to the fact that people that own Touaregs (or ML's) typically don't go off road.

[Eric 951]

Originally posted by 91C2wrencher
I drive a 2000 Discovery II and it is one hell of a truck, underline TRUCK, the undercarrage is amazing, all forged and cast pieces, huge bushings, the thing is unstoppable in any weather. BUT, it is as finicky as any porsche and needs lots of attention. with 55 on odo, i've replaced rotors/pads, MAFS, air injection pump, a thing called a rotoflex which is poor example of a U joint and shocks. The ride is truck like but tolerable and yes it gets something like 12MPG..ouch, around here they are very popular mostly i think because they can be had so cheap, the dealer experience has been great, no really!, i was surpised. I will probably replace this one with a newer(used) one in a year or so...my $0.02 I should add that we bought it in 2002 and paid roughly half the list price and its really the wifies car, she loves it, all up in the air and bouncy, women, go figure...

My buddy has had almost the exact same problems with his (at around 65K) MAF, misc. electrical issues, rust at all the body seams!!, I helped him do the pads and rotors a few weeks back--so that ball-n-socket thing is called a rotoflex? I thought that it was pretty wild, especially compared to a standard U-joint.

[RickM]

The Passat owners I know love their cars. Which models have reliabilty issues? I know of problems with Beetles....especially Turbo models.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by 91C2wrencher
...and its really the wifies car, she loves it, all up in the air and bouncy, women, go figure...

I have the mental image right now...verrrry nice

Yep our 99 DII is for wifey too. Also note that the Disco is definitely a chick car (think convertible bug, miata, cayenne), the RR is more for the men.

[91C2wrencher]

Originally posted by Eric 951
I helped him do the pads and rotors a few weeks back--so that ball-n-socket thing is called a rotoflex? I thought that it was pretty wild, especially compared to a standard U-joint.

No, the rotoflex is on the drive shaft, in various places for various years it seems, If you were up in the front those ball n socket things are called swivel pins, and yes the are strange, but apparrently very strong. And yes rusting is what rovers do best.

[nostatic]

This is an EASY choice imho. Inifiniti FX35. Under $40K, and they drive great...fast and good handling. And stylish (well, I like them...I suppose some people don't).

[91C2wrencher]

[cowtown]

We tried out the FX35, and I thought it was kind of cramped inside. I did like the CVT on the Murano a lot, just for the novelty.

My wife didn't like the MDX simply because it looks like a minivan. I had a VW Vanagon as my first car, so this aspect didn't bother me.

Ended up with a Touareg V8, which is a nice car for my wife to drive. Very luxurious - probably the fanciest car I will ever own. It's super-heavy, though. Drives like a tank, as opposed to the FX.

[vash]

my next SUV will be a used land rover defender.

[RickM]

Originally posted by unfixed
my next SUV will be a used land rover defender.

Those puppies still command quite the coin.

[Brillo]

Originally posted by dmoolenaar
DII's came out in 99, the 98 you're quoting is a DI. Big difference's are the DII no longer has the center locking diff and replaced it with electronic traction control (ETC). ETC applies brake to slipping wheel to divert power to planted wheels. Both work well but ETC seems more error prone and hard on system. Also, the DII scraped Lucas electronics for Bosch, and has a bit more interior room and longer wheel base. Engines are the same until the 04 model.

For real off-road use you can't do better than a Disco. Disco handicaps include poor reliability, sparce service centers, and miserable MPG (12 on freeway). They are very comfortable and unique to drive.

Not exactly right on the CDL, it's there you just don't have a way of locking it from the inside. Many have added the necessary parts so you can engage and disengage it. Either the 2002 or 2003 model does not have it at all and people screamed so much, that LR put it back.

I have a '99 first year DS II and have been surprised at how few problems, dare I say it has been quite reliable. Service at dealership has been great and was one of the best new automotive buying experiences I've had. Having said that I would not buy a used one without it being certified from a dealership and/or have an extended warranty. If things do go wrong, they are expensive.

My wife drives it on a daily basis, I drive it off road for search and rescue and tracking purposes. We both really like it. We got it with ACE (Active Cornering Enhancement), that really tames it on the road. Gas mileage for us on the highway has been around 15 mpg.

Keep in mind the replacement, LR3 as it is now to be called in the U.S., has been unveiled at the NY Auto Show. It is totally a different beast.