Time for a new family mobile
 

The lease on the POS 2004 ML 350 is up in a couple of months. My experience with that car is going to keep me away with MB for a very long time.

Here are the Reqs. 7 seater, decent gas mileage. Prefer lease cause wife wants new car every 3 years :(

I am thinking new Honda Odessey or Acura MDX. Was lobbying for a used Land Cruiser but gas prices have knocked that one out.

Ideas or suggestions?

What about the Honda Pilot? Seats 8, good gas mileage and runs on regular fuel. Newly re-designed last year I think. The MDX looks dated to me and is going to have a new design next year.

I'd go with the Honda Pilot idea or wait till 08 and get the Jeep Gladiator and have 3 sit in the truck bedhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1155098278.jpg

We looked at the Pilot and ended up with a Volvo XC90. Much nicer fit/finish and appointments for marginally more dollars. Been very happy with it (Third Volvo as well).

early 90s Astro Van. She needs to be broken of that new car habit.

We are 3 years into our Lexus RX330. Absolutely happy on all fronts.

Odessey. Huge space, great features, awesome performance (for a mini-van) and handling. Also pretty strong MPG compared to the other features that I just mentioned -- which in the long run is going to become more important. We've had a 2000 Odessey since new, and wouldn't trade it for anything.

Complaints: all minor. After 6 years, the throttle body has become sticky which is noticable off of idle on light throttle. Honda says that it will be at least $275+labor to replace. Occasional door alarms. Given the way the car is driven, they really should have some sort of diesel option. It almost never sees anything more then 4000 RPM. If they could put in a comparably sized engine using VW's TDI technology, or better yet turbo TDI, it would be absolutely unbeatable. Alas, we can dream...

Now, I owe it to myself to tell you, Mr. Griswold, that if you are thinking of taking the tribe cross country, this is your automobile. The Wagon Queen Family Truckster. You think you hate it now, but wait till you drive it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1155130209.jpg

I vote for the MDX great deals, as the 2007 is around the corner and is all new.

Michael

I bought my wife an '06 Odyssey Touring with all the goodies. Very nice vehicle. She loves it. Gets around 20mph average. More on long highway trips. Has about everything you would want in a luxury kid hauler.

Honda Pilot. If ya gots to have an SUV, this is the one to have. Fairly decent mileage, good amenities, decent tow capacity, seats 8, really good AWD system.... IMHO, the extra $$ for an MDX over the Pilot is not justified after looking at both of them..

+1 for the XC90, my wife loves hers. We looked at the Honda's and Acura's but to be honest, my mom has had nothingh but problems with her Acura TL.

The rear seats in the XC90 disapper under the floor too, which i think is pretty dang cool. The non turbo one gets decent gas mileage for an urban SUV of its size.

The safety is what I like too. We had an S60, and it survived a 40 mph fornt end collision with my wife and Daughter walking away unhurt. That was enough of a sales job for me.

Bill

Buy this and run it on homebrew. You will absolutely be the envy of anyone who has ever twisted a steering wheel, including me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-2006-TDI-TOUAREG-DIESEL-V-10-LAST-ONE-TILL-2008_W0QQitemZ110018713463QQihZ001QQcategoryZ84167 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It will get exactly double the mileage of a Range Rover on cheaper fuel and walk all over any SUV other than a Cayenne Turbo climbing a mountain road. :cool: