[Schumi]

OK lets say hypothetically I know someone back in Missouri looking to buy an SUV.

This person is pretty dead set on a Jeep product, since previously they have owned a Jeep Liberty (2005) and really liked it and the warranty and service. They are currently looking at a new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4-door Unlimited. At first I said yea, whatever, the new Jeeps are pretty good and the warranty isn't bad and the new Pentastar motors are pretty nice... so why not.

Then I saw that this thing is like $30K. WTF.

You can get a 2006 Cayenne S for like 25K now. And the ride quality and build quality is on a whole different level. Wranglers ride like Wranglers. Thats not a bad thing if you into that, but I don't think this person is.

Their excuse is that it snows a lot in MO in the winter, and this person has some extreme terrain to traverse in the snow. Lots of hills & bad roads.

But it's snow. Not deep water & mud. As far as snow goes I cannot see a Cayenne (which has some of the best stability control in the world) be worse than a Jeep (which has solid axles front and rear still, if I am correct).

The other excuse is that the Porsche wouldn't have a warranty and the nearest Porsche dealer is 60 miles away. The new Jeep would have a warranty through a good reputable dealer that is 15 miles away.

This car is going to be drive 99% of the time in fair weather for a short commute 15 minutes a day. The ride and comfort of a Cayenne would be 10x better, IMO, than the Jeep. And no, I haven't driven the 2012 Wrangler, but I drive the last version and while I know the new one is better, I still cannot see how this could be a consideration.


So, if you were in this situation with 30K$ to blow, what would you do and why?