New work vehicle

[gr8fl4porsche]

I have been looking for a new work vehicle and can't figure out what to get.

I run a commercial painting company and drive around the metropolitan area doing estimates, going to meetings, etc. I drive around 25 - 30,000 miles a year. Much less these days due to the gas prices. I have been driving suv's since I have been old enough to drink. Currently drive a Mountaineer and am used to that sized vehicle.

Req's

1. Good mpg. My company's gas usage is in the 6 figure range. We need to do better.
2. Room for 4 with a large trunk to haul the occasional emergency order of materials or a paint sprayer. I must admit, I can't remember the last time I delivered anything but it could happen at any time. The back seat needs to be big enough for 2 large car seats for the little ones. We use the Britax 5pt harness ones big enough to last until the kiddies don't need car seats - they really are quite large.
3. Has to be a luxury type vehicle below $50k or so.

I have found quite a few vehicles that meet my criteria except for the mpg requirement. They only things that get anywhere near 30 mpg in the city are small cars and I don't think I can deal with that. I'm not a Corolla type of guy.

What kind of mileage are the Cayennes getting around town?

[legion]

How much weight do you need to put in the vehicle at any one time?

[TerryBPP]

Luxury and 30pmg? Keep dreaming.

[Dottore]

You should look at the Mercedes ML 320 CDI. I've had one for a year and am very impressed with it. In fact I think it is the best all around vehicle I've ever owned.

Mileage is great (8 or 9 liters per 100km — not sure what that is in mpg). And it certainly is luxurious.

The diesel has huge amounts torque, and the car is very quick. And although the car has lots of room inside, the outside dimensions are actually quite compact—for an SUV.

It's an amazing car really, that gets rave reviews—in Europe in particular. The first series of these cars had some quality problems, but the new series (since 2006) is built like a bank vault.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Honda Pilot gets 25 MPG, plenty of room. New Toyota Highlander is similar. Rav4 or CRV 4-cylinder will get you upper 20s, but a car seat would be pushing it. One of the new Mercedes diesels might be a good bet, one of our BBS members (forget who) has an ML and regularly gets 30+ MPG. If I recall correctly, I think the X5 will also soon be available with a diesel.

Edit: obviously I need to type faster. There's another BBS member that has a CDI ML besides Dottore.

[legion]

I was thinking one of the crew-cab, short-box hybrid Silverados.

With six-speed and the ability to shut-down cylinders, it should get decent mileage:

http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado/hybrid2009/

[VincentVega]

Accords, Camry's the similar Lexus and Acura might fit your bill. A loaded Accord is very close to TL pricing.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by TerryBPP

Luxury and 30pmg? Keep dreaming.

V70 2.5t. All that and a bag of chips.

not sure what the mpg figures are on the newest model V70 but if you insist on losing your ass on a brand new car i'll check for you

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

Accords, Camry's the similar Lexus and Acura might fit your bill. A loaded Accord is very close to TL pricing.

I drove a loaded accord (i think the v6's are all loaded by default) recently and was kinda unimpressed with the interior. NOT cheap either (nearly $30k IIRC)

[Porschephile944]

My Dad bought a Honda CRV last winter and gets almost 30 mpg cruising around town (suburbs). Should have enough room for two car seats in the back seeing as I'm 6'1'' and can fit back there comfortably. With the seats folded you should be able to fit a paint sprayer in the back. Also look at the Acura RDX if you want a little more luxury and a little more power and want to spend a lot more money.

[TerryBPP]

I just picked up a Mazda Tribute for a customer. Actually quit roomy and great mpg.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Dottore

You should look at the Mercedes ML 320 CDI. I've had one for a year and am very impressed with it. In fact I think it is the best all around vehicle I've ever owned.

Mileage is great (8 or 9 liters per 100km — not sure what that is in mpg). And it certainly is luxurious.

The diesel has huge amounts torque, and the car is very quick. And although the car has lots of room inside, the outside dimensions are actually quite compact—for an SUV.

It's an amazing car really, that gets rave reviews—in Europe in particular. The first series of these cars had some quality problems, but the new series (since 2006) is built like a bank vault.

We have one of these. It's absolutely the best vehicle we've ever purchased. Just as Dottore says, it is very powerful, fast, and returns amazing MPG. It also handles very well. I highly recommend the ML320. You're lucky you live in Missouri. In CA. NY, Mass., Vermont and Maine, the M-series diesel is not legal.

[gr8fl4porsche]

Thanks for the tips, the MC320 CDI looks interesting. I just built one on their site and it may fit the bill. I have not considered a diesel before, I need to go take one for a spin.

Is 30 mpg really possible? Their site does not mention mpg as far as I could tell.

[dd74]

Originally Posted by gr8fl4porsche

Thanks for the tips, the MC320 CDI looks interesting. I just built one on their site and it may fit the bill. I have not considered a diesel before, I need to go take one for a spin.

Is 30 mpg really possible? Their site does not mention mpg as far as I could tell.

30 is easy on the highway. For long extended periods of driving, we get close to 40.

But the fuel mileage is only part of it. The torque is amazing. It has 400 pounds of it, so when the ML320 gets going, it really flies. The only engine available in the M-series with more torque is their AMG V8. The ML320 is a 3.0 V6 turbo.

Regardless, I have no doubt the ML could give my 911 a run for its money up to 60mph.

You're going to love the ML320.

[turbo6bar]

Lexus RX hybrid?

[pwd72s]

Perhaps you need to talk to these guys?

http://www.customvehicles.com:80/

My bad...re-reading your post. I thought you wanted something set up for the job itself...

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by dd74

30 is easy on the highway. For long extended periods of driving, we get close to 40.

But the fuel mileage is only part of it. The torque is amazing. It has 400 pounds of it, so when the ML320 gets going, it really flies. The only engine available in the M-series with more torque is their AMG V8. The ML320 is a 3.0 V6 turbo.

Regardless, I have no doubt the ML could give my 911 a run for its money up to 60mph.

You're going to love the ML320.

One word of advice if you buy one: in the very latest Bluetec model they have elmininated the spare tire (because that's where the urea tank—affectionately known as the 'pi$$ tank' in MB circles—goes). Instead you have run-flat tires, which are not widely available and stupidly expensive to replace. So I would look for a 2007 or 2008 pre-blutec model. There are still plenty around—at least in these parts.

But they're brilliant cars. You won't be disappointed.

[Dottore]

Here's the way we roll...

[dd74]

Originally Posted by Dottore

One word of advice if you buy one: in the very latest Bluetec model they have elmininated the spare tire (because that's where the urea tank—affectionately known as the 'pi$$ tank' in MB circles—goes). Instead you have run-flat tires, which are not widely available and stupidly expensive to replace. So I would look for a 2007 or 2008 pre-blutec model. There are still plenty around—at least in these parts.

But they're brilliant cars. You won't be disappointed.

We bought a 2007 model. At the time, there were only two for sale in the entire U.S.

Supposedly pre BlueTec models have better power/performance than later ones, though it's marginal, IIRC.

Hey Dottore, what I'd like to do is import a B-Series Mercedes into The States from Canada. I saw a bunch in Europe. They're sweet little vehicles. The U.S. is getting the GLK-class, which doesn't look nearly as nice.

[svandamme]

current bimmers are brilliant when it comes to milage
the X5 does on average 1 liter/100km less then the ML

BMW X5 3.0 d Aut. (5d) 211pk
city driving 10.2 L/100km
highway 6.9
combined average 8.1

MERCEDES M-Klasse 3.0 320 CDI (5d) 224 pk
11.9
7.8
9.4

that's more then 10%