Full size SUV recommendations?

[EarlyPorsche]

The Benz GL450 is a good one as mentioned.

[Danimal16]

I like my 2011 tahoe.

[Hydrocket]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

I also manufactured components for domestic and import vehicles for 20+years...yes there IS a difference and it's not insignificant.

Same here. Still doing it. And yes, there IS a difference.

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by kaisen

Past tense? What year did that stop?

Three years ago

[jwhcars]

I like our 2012 explorer. It is about a foot longer than the 06 LR3 we had. Ford owned Land Rover for a short period of time and the all wheel drive control is almost the same. So far this is the closest thing I've found that reminds me of the Rover.

[dedbird]

If you are thinking about the LR3, I cannot say enought good things about ours. Others may have negative comments but my experience has been great with the LR3. It is our third Land Rover after two Discos, 2000 and 2003. Discos were good but had issues. The LR3, bought new in 2008, now has 90k on the clock and has been a fantastic vehicle. The only real problem has been a steering rack failure at 80k. Still not sure if the dealer was shooting straight with us on that one.

Wife drives the car and we live in the mountains. Snow performance is as good as it gets. Climbs the hills with no problem. Third row seating is better than most I have seen and we use it all the time. We get around 18 mpg which seems pretty average for the SUV's.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by yazhound

I have 2004 Sequoia and love it.

Note that the 04 had upgraded brakes and transmission (OD). I would consider a later 1st gen model. The 4x4 is very nice - I have climbed some nasty stuff with the Sequoia and while the ABS module makes a racket, it really does very well. Just be aware that it isn't a slam dunk / never have a repair buying a Toyota.

G

[RWebb]

ok, I have a related question...

a dear friend of mine wants to rent a mondo-size SUV here, drive to Kansas and then drive back with a 500 lb. rock and some other stuff in the back

possible?

safe?

[speeder]

Originally Posted by RWebb

ok, I have a related question...

a dear friend of mine wants to rent a mondo-size SUV here, drive to Kansas and then drive back with a 500 lb. rock and some other stuff in the back

possible?

safe?

The weight would not be a problem in any full-sized SUV based on a truck frame, safety depends on whether it can be secured properly, i.e. not move around too much in an accident or hard braking, etc.

[MMARSH]

Originally Posted by kaisen

[rant]

Well, from working with GM during that era (the GMT800 platform) I can tell you that a LOT of the problem stems from incorrect replacement bulbs.

Note the AC Delco 4114 bulb I referenced earlier? It is a glass-base bulb. It is exactly the same style and wattage as a clear 3157 turn signal bulb (plastic base). MANY early afermarket parts guides spec'd the 3157 as the replacement bulb because it was the correct connection-style, size, and wattage. In other words, it plugged in and lit up.

Trouble is, a turn signal bulb is used infrequently and intermittently. It doesn't have the chance to get hot. When used as a DRL, it gets so hot that the plastic partially melts and the bulb fails. Not the filament, the base. So using the incorrect 3157 bulb may cause a much shorter life span than the "correct" 4114 bulb.

Still to this day you can walk into some Wal-Mart, NAPA, or Autozone and look at their bulb guide and see the 3157 listed.

GM's thought here stemmed from what had been common practice to run DRLs as a lower-current run through the high-beams of the headlights. That was causing premature headlight failure and GM thought by switching to a dedicated light it would be safer than risking running with no headlight. And since headlight bulbs are $10-20 versus $4 for the correct DRL bulb, it would be a benefit to their customers.

So shame on GM for adding the cost of having a separate DRL. And shame on them for allowing it to be confused with the wrong bulb by the aftermarket, by clueless morons who will later blame the truck itself.

Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and VW have all had similar issues with "almost-right" bulbs being used in the aftemarket and making problems for the manufacturer.

But it's GM's fault....

[/rant]

Interesting. Girlfriend has a 2003 Tahoe that is a fantastic truck. It has 265K on it and I could not be more impressed.

The one time it broke down, we were driving south on Highway 1 from Monterey. The battery light came on. As I continued to drive hoping to find a place to safely stop, different systems were slowing shutting down. It finally died just north of Cambria. Used a payphone to call AAA and got towed to an auto parts store in Paso Robles. When I got there, they had the alternator waiting and let me borrow their tools. I put it on in the parking lot and we were on our way in no time. Point is, there isnt a domestic auto parts store that isn't gonna have GM parts.

We have had to the same problem with the DRLs, great info. I'll be checking them this weekend.

[Paul K]

+911 for the LR3.

I have an '08 and it's been a great rig. The Jaguar-sourced 4.4 V8 is a fantastic engine, and gets respectable gas mileage considering the cars weight.

[stomachmonkey]

Our Tahoe has t be one of the best vehicles we've ever owned.

If we had to downsize to one vehicle hands down the Tahoe