Agreed, the SRX and CTS were the first GM products that were legitimate players in their respective markets. Today, most of GM's vehicles are competitive with the other foreign and domestic offerings. They have come a LONG way.

On a similar note, we test drove a 2005 Expedition and 2007 Armada yesterday. Absolute night and day difference. The Ford had obvious cheap hard plastic, fuzzy cheap fabrics, and glaring quality issues. It bounced all over the road, had a soggy brake pedal, numb steering, jerked when shifting gears, and had a rough, weak motor (5.4L). The Armada was nice and tight, awesome motor and transmission, good interior materials, and felt like a vehicle that actually had some thought put into it. Why anyone would buy an Expedition is absolutely beyond me. My wife's comment, "I'd rather keep my SRX".

2005 is light years ago.....

Try a new Ford.

I'm not interested in paying that much. We'll be buying something for the $20k we get out of the SRX. 2005-2006 Expedition falls into that range. The 2007 Armada was just for comparison, it was priced at $26,900. However, it's nearly identical to the 2004-2005 models that we can afford, so it was a fair comparison.

Good luck owning an Armada.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/cr_car_reliability.html

Audio system, body integrity, body harware, paint - and especially brakes SUCK on an Armada.

I've done plenty of reading, the brake issue gave the Armada a pretty serious black-eye in the CR ratings as it was a poor design, and affected every model. However, pretty much any 2004 model has been updated with a new front brake system that eliminated the issue, and the newer ones all have it from the factory. Next most common issue I've seen is interior rattles, which are normally fixed by the dealer.

FWIW, 04. 05 and 06 all have the same problem areas according to CU.

After driving that huge ass goofy looking Armada for a while, she is going to want something sporty. She's a woman, thats what they do.

Tighten the belt and buy her Seqouia, or a newerish Land Crusier. She seems to like Toyota's.

Bill

This is just an observation...but reading your posts you sound like you're saying anything to justify the Armada. No problems - you need to buy what you want. That 2005 Expedition sounds like a mistreated POS. We owned a '03 4x4 Eddie Bauer Expedition and at 40K+ miles was opposite everything you just said except for the numb steering. The 5.4 was meaty and flat out cruised at 80 mph on long freeway drives while getting 17-19 mpg. Tires make a GIGANTIC difference with SUVs. I tossed the crap stock General tires for Michelin LTX M/S - what a difference! The entire ride was dramatically improved. Interior held up great and that's with 2 young kids in sports. The only issue we had was the reverse sensors in the rear bumper. Oh and the DVD crapped out twice but then I don't know anyone with a working factory DVD in any make car.

But then what do we know...we sold the Expedition and went back to a Land Rover Disco - less room, 80 less HP, worse mileage, that British reliability...but the wife is happy and that's what counts.

The Expedition's 5.4L might seem meaty, until compared with the 5.6L Nissan motor. It's quite an engine. Toyota's 5.7L and GM's 6.2L are great too. Ford and Dodge are playing catchup (and will in the next couple years).

David, we went to test drive the Expedition because I wanted one. Reason being, we can get one for less money. Leftover money means I can get a different car.:) What would cost me $20k in an Armada would be $16k in an Expedition.

Sadly, it was a total POS compared to the Armada. I can't think of a single aspect where the Expedition was better. Even something simple like folding the 2nd row seat was a joke. Expedition had a lever on top to fold the upper, then a second lever on the side to fold the bottom upwards. The underside of the seat was exposed, including several hinges and latches that can scratch and snag kids. Armada? Just pull the lever on the top of the seatback, the seat folds down and forward in one smooth motion. The underside is nicely shielded with a plastic shroud.

Expedition had hard plastic everwhere, and cheap feeling fabric on the uncomfortable seats. The transmission was not smooth on down and upshifts. The engine was somewhat loud and thrashy, with only adequate power. Steering was very vague, the ride was soft and underdamped with lots of body roll. Doors shut with a rattle instead of a solid thunk. Every aspect felt CHEAP. The Armada is certainly no Lexus, but far superior in every way. This was a 2005 XLT 4x4 with 40k at a Ford dealership, and overall seemed well kept.

Bill, that's entirely possible. I'm at her mercy now however. She wants an Armada, and that's it. Doesn't like the Sequoia, and $20k doesn't buy much in a Land Cruiser.

Cool. I'll be interested in hearing how the $20K Armada compares. A '05-'06 should have another 20-30+K miles on the clock at least. I've never been fond of the rounded mid section of the Armada but I think Nissan makes great vehicles.

I think the Expedition is at the top for SUVs - after 1 month or so of brands comparisons the Expedition offered the biggest bang for the buck. So I worked like the devil and convinced my wife. Did you know the Expedition comes with a captain seat option for the 2nd row? It's the bomb - the kids can recline and get easy acccess to the 3rd row seats. Sure you reduce your total carrying capacity to 7 but for 99 of the time it was sooooo worth it. Of course the wife didn't like it strictly because you see them everywhere. So she was unhappy...which meant I was unhappy...which meant loosening my standards and going the feel good Disco :)

wow, you must be very wealthy to put gas in an Armada. My wife asked for an SUV, I said, not just no, but hell no. Costs $45 to fill up her A4 as it is, I'm not paying $100 to fill a SUV.

Jeezus Cool, have fun in the Armada. Visit her in the shop often and and say 'hi' to the the parts guy.
He'll see you often.

http://www.clubarmada.com/

Craig, I've been on Club Armada. That's where I got the information regarding it's past issues. The Pelicans that own them sure don't have any complaints.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/397499-slowing-suv-sales-not-around-here.html?highlight=armada
If you have another suggestion that will give us the same space, and isn't an Expedition, Sequoia, Tahoe, Yukon, Suburban, or Durango, let's hear it. Oh yeah, and the same/less age and miles as the SRX, for the same money.

Scott, you have a better idea for a vehicle with a 3rd row seat with room behind said 3rd row for stuff, that isn't a minivan, I'm all ears. As is, I'd be doing pretty well to get 4 MPG better with a minivan, so I'm not giving up much. No way I can carry my kids + stuff + friends in an A4.

David, I'll be looking at 2004-2005 Armadas with about 40k. Armada also has the captain's chairs as an option, but we're not interested. With a baby, it's nice for my wife to sit next to her in the 2nd row when she's fussing. Anything that cuts down on crying is great in my book.

i'll take the under on the Armada.

Dunno, my mom drove us around in a Chevy Citation, three of us in car seats. I can't see how how you would need more than one row of seats? Rest of the stuff I suppose went in the trunk?

Sister and i grew up riding in:

Dodge Aries
Chevy Chevette (a little known sibling to the lesser corvette)
Olds Firenza
Chevy Cavalier (2 door)

Junk like that. None of them big. None of them with enough space to haul an armoire.

I am trying to ease my wife back into a smaller vehicle but it's an uphill battle.

It was for me as well, but I expect to have her in an A3 this time next year :)

What about a Mercedes R350?
http://www.mbusa.com/models/main.do?modelCode=R350V4

I was behind a SRX the other day at a stop sign. I'm looking around and suddenly hear this muscle car get on it. It took a while for my eyes to believe my ears the way this thing was scooting away. It will be forever locked in my mind along with the Typhoon I seen do a four wheel burnout. That was the only time I had buyers remorse sitting in the Odyssey.