What suv to buy for $40k?

[SLO-BOB]

Let me quickly say that I'm the first to bash the typical suv owner. Unlike that person, I actually need something that hauls a lot of stuff and has a large towing capacity. I need to haul my 911 to DEs and my '17' fishing boat to lakes. I also need to carry heavy tools to jobs, so I need room and hauling hutzpah. I want a fully optioned suv so the kids can watch dvds on trips and I can take out clients w/o looking like a putz. The 40k limit keeps me out of the Yukon/Expedition range, but it does put me in the Jeep Commander, Dodge Durango, and H3 range. I've driven the Durango-nice, bad mileage, a little plasticky inside. The back seats don't easily fold down, and I'm not sure if they'll go flat at all, which won't work. I've never driven the H3 or Commander. The H3 looks cool, but it has a V6 only-not ideal for towing which is reflected in it's 4500 lb towing cap. The Commander, fully optioned, has a "Hemi" (uh-huh ) V8, and a much higher towing cap of 7200 lbs. It seems to have a ton of room inside and I like the way it looks in black with some big, chrome 22 inch wheels. So far, it's in the lead-onpaper. I have yet to drive one.

Any thoughts? Anyone have one of these vehicles? Anything else I should consider?

TIA

PS-What I really want is a 545 wagon or S4 wagon. Unfortunately those wouldn't meet my towing needs-and they're a little more pricey. Worth it I'm sure.

[Paul K]

Range Rover. Buy mine so I can buy a 911!

Cheers,

Paul.

[cantdrv55]

Well since you really want a 545 wagon, why not a used X5? Check this out:

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/124503961.html

[yellowline]

Look at one of the new Tahoes? If you need to pull a boat, you're probably going to want a fullsize SUV.

[Rob Channell]

Suburban, baby. 3 rows of seating AND luggage space. Oh, and it's good for towing. Get a nice used one and save the other $20,000 for your 911.

[SLO-BOB]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
Well since you really want a 545 wagon, why not a used X5? Check this out:

http://www.craigslist.org/sby/car/124503961.html

Hmmmmm-6000 lb towing cap. I have to say I'm very surprised. Not too bad on cargo room by the looks of it either. That does indeed merit a looksy. Thanks.

[Paul K]

Bob,
Range Rover towing capacity is 6500 with trailer brakes. Plus the trunk is way bigger than that of the X5.
PM'd you...

Cheers,

Paul.

[Porschephile944]

The Ford explorer might be worth a look also. They made a bunch of improvements for the current model year, although you can't tell by looking at the exterior.

[HardDrive]

As above. Explorer has a solid V8, and up to 7140 towing capacity. I have owned a ford truck as was extremely pleased. I solid if off during a move with 130k miles on it, and in 8 years had spend about 200 bucks total on unexpected maintainance (broken brake slave cylinder). No body rust after 8 years of living in salt heavy Michigan.

Forget all that. Get what my father has. F350 turbo diesel king cab. The power is EPIC.

[yasir]

How about a certified LX 470 seats 7 with 6500 towing capacity too..

[Rob Channell]

One of our local driving instructors can put a Ford Explorer on 2 wheels with nothing more than 2 corrections:

1. Direction change to avoid accident.
2. Direction change to recover after accident avoidance move.

A little tall and tippy for my taste.

[onewhippedpuppy]

How about a 4Runner? Ours is nice for a SUV, with the sport package the handling is good for something heavy and tall. With the right hitch ours is rated to tow 7000 lbs, and that's with the 240 HP V6. V8 is an option, and you can get them with a 3rd row seat. We've gotten up to 24 MPG on the highway, try that with a Suburban!

Others I would suggest would be a new Pathfinder, recently restyled and has a high HP V6. As much as I usually bash GM, the new Tahoe is supposed to be a huge improvement, probably worth a look. My first choice would be a used X5, probably be the funnest to drive.

[Rot 911]

What Rob said. What ever SUV you buy get a low mileage 1-2 year old one, not new. You still have plenty of warranty and someone else took the depreciation hit. You will get a lot more SUV for your $40K than if you look new. All SUV's took a huge depreciation hit this year due to higher gas prices and all the rebates the manufacturers were offering.

[IROC]

Yeah, my in-laws just traded in a perfectly nice loaded 2000 Tahoe (8 passenger seating, V8, leather, DVD player the whole 9 yards) for $11k. What a bargain.

Mike

[MikeWinDC]

Jeep - My GC is great with 6500 lb towing (I've only done 5,800lbs) and plenty of up hill passing torque. Great in the snow too... better w/ the BFG All Terrain TA/KO's. No QC problems either. 95K and still going strong.

I'm sure the 5.7 is even stronger for towing in the Commander. Someone here at my office has one, looks mean in black.

H3 only has an I-5 IIRC.

[onewhippedpuppy]

H3 is the poser Hummer, don't do it. Of course, all Hummers are kind of a posers anyway.

[JeremyD]

I have been very happy with my Nissan Armada =

The engine on it is strong - tows my 911 on a trailer - tows my boat. "The brawn of a 305-horsepower V8 with up to 9,100 lbs of maximum towing capacity."

[David]

The new Tahoe and upcoming Suburban are getting good reviews from all the magazines. That would be my choice. I'll probably replace my 01 Silverado when the new trucks come out.

It looks like they've done a lot to improve mileage which is always an issue with the large trucks. Plus, they're big which makes towing easier and safer.

[kang]

Originally posted by onewhippedpuppy
How about a 4Runner? Ours is nice for a SUV, with the sport package the handling is good for something heavy and tall. With the right hitch ours is rated to tow 7000 lbs, and that's with the 240 HP V6. V8 is an option, and you can get them with a 3rd row seat. We've gotten up to 24 MPG on the highway, try that with a Suburban!

I second the vote for a 4Runner.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Sebring77
Let me quickly say that I'm the first to bash the typical suv owner. Unlike that person, I actually need something that hauls a lot of stuff and has a large towing capacity. I need to haul my 911 to DEs and my '17' fishing boat to lakes. I also need to carry heavy tools to jobs, so I need room and hauling hutzpah. I want a fully optioned suv so the kids can watch dvds on trips and I can take out clients w/o looking like a putz. The 40k limit keeps me out of the Yukon/Expedition range, but it does put me in the Jeep Commander, Dodge Durango, and H3 range. I've driven the Durango-nice, bad mileage, a little plasticky inside. The back seats don't easily fold down, and I'm not sure if they'll go flat at all, which won't work. I've never driven the H3 or Commander. The H3 looks cool, but it has a V6 only-not ideal for towing which is reflected in it's 4500 lb towing cap. The Commander, fully optioned, has a "Hemi" (uh-huh ) V8, and a much higher towing cap of 7200 lbs. It seems to have a ton of room inside and I like the way it looks in black with some big, chrome 22 inch wheels. So far, it's in the lead-onpaper. I have yet to drive one.

Any thoughts? Anyone have one of these vehicles? Anything else I should consider?

TIA

PS-What I really want is a 545 wagon or S4 wagon. Unfortunately those wouldn't meet my towing needs-and they're a little more pricey. Worth it I'm sure.

You might consider a Ford F150 Supercrew. Room enough for 5 with front buckets, or six with a (yuk!) bench. These have enough towing capacity for your described needs, and can be well equipped within your price range. The 5.4 liter OHC 3-valve percylinder engine has lots of aftermarket parts for it, should you desire to tinker.

Speaking of 550i wgons, we'll be in the market in a couple of years, but it looks like BMWNA won't allow Americans to buy one. They're trying to force us into an X5, and that ain't happening.