OT: which SUV would you buy?

I am looking at 4 SUVs: brand new 4runner- 4wd, roof, spolier v6 ~30.5K 03 infinity fx45 $29800 http://cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp...7&aff=national 03 BMW X5 4.4 $32K http://cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp...eadExists=true 02 Mercedes g500 $37K http://cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp...eadExists=true Any opinions on reliability or personal preference? Thanks, Jarrod

Last week I bought a Lexus RX330. Looked at the BMW X5, and volvo xc90 against it, just like the reliability record of the lexus... change the oil and forget about it. However if gas mileage and reliability wasnt a concern, I would go for the Gelendewagen.

infinitiy

4 runner.

used V8 4-runner The 4-Runner is the only SUV on your list that can go off road and tow well. The rest are just tall station wagons. Ever try to repair a BMW or Mercedes out of warranty?

Easy, X5

Are you kidding me that the 4 runner is the only one that can go off road and tow? The Gelendewagen could take you places the 4 runner could not even dream about. It is a military off road vehicle, ie around a Hummer H1. However with that (from a pocket book point of view) agree overall the best choice would be the 4 runner for maintenance, resale etc... (From the heart) the Gelendewagen would be my choice. To better help you maybe you should break down what exactly you want into a decision matrix and then weight each criteria based upon its importance and then you will have you choice, who cares what we think, it is you truck! Ie the old saying opinions are like a@@ holes everyone has one. Best of luck Cheers

I agree, the G500 is the "baddest" vehicle on your list. No Cayenne or Toureg option?

IMHO: have you ever watched PBS? everytime I see programs filmed in Africa, So America, etc. (real life stories) not Hollywood movies. All I see are Toy LandCruisers (now Lexus) and Range Rovers (Land Rovers). Does that tell you something? low expense and good reliability. Easy/inexpensive repairs/parts and low maintenance. The Gelendewagen would be the one I would buy if I had the $$. I dont like SUVs but if I had to have one i woud go w/ The Gelendewagen or LandCruiser. Depending on how much dough you have.

Yep good point from Einstein, Land Rover, Discovery 2, LR3 or Range Rover Non of the others are up for any real action, most are just scaled-up sedans. G Wagon was good in it's day, but it's one hell of an old design, it's past it. Try doing this in your X5 or G500 or Infinity! SE7 option on the D2 gives you seven seats if you need them. RR is just more of the same - depends on what you're after. Westminster Editions are nice if you can find them - lots of extras in that package.

I have a LX470 (Land Cruiser) and it is the best vehicle period I have ever owned (40+ cars I have owned). Goes anywhere, tows my race car, comfortable, quite and reliable. Have 105,000 miles and going like day one! Never owned a Toyota before but crappy Mercedes pushed me here and it is GREAT

Another vote for Lexus (RX, LX or my current fav...GX)...I have had 6 of them...best SUV and best service bar none. My Range Rover was the biggest POS I ever owned, my brother is getting his RR Sport replaced by the dealer after 1 year...too many problems.

I just purchased a new SUV myself. I have had the Disco 2 and loved it. This time I narrowed it down to a Jeep Grand Cherokee or a Toyota 4 Runner (wanted new and this these were in the price range. I actually ended up with a jeep Comander and love it. I was able to get soo much more on the Jeep compared to the 4 Runner and I like the drive much better. I think it is difficult to compare used Luxury SUVs to a new less than luxury. Fisrt off you repair costs will be a lot less on the 4 Runner since you will have a warranty and your starting price is less. What is your need? Most likley you will not be rock climbing with it so off road capabilities are probably not the most important item.

infinity

Wow, I hope that clears it up for you! You might want to say how you intend to use the SUV. Street car with an occasional ice storm, crossing deep streams, towing a race car, etc. The answers vary greatly.

Jarrod - maybe you should outline the expected use for this SUV. Is it going to max-out scaling the curb at CostCo and hauling a big load back from Nordstroms, or is it going to go off road, perhaps towing? Statman -I could say the same about my 2 x 986s - I'd have never bought my 996 if I thought in that way having had 2 for 2 blown engines.

P38 Range Rover, The best 4x4xfar. I wouldn't trade mine for anything else out there.

My personal preference would be the V8 4runner, just because I own one as well. My bro has an x5 and it could not go places 4wheeling like the 4runner, plus its a beemer, would you take it off roading and cry at the repair bills. Just got back hunting a couple of months ago. Used a Hummer H2 and my truck. 5k worth of dmg on the hummer, while my truck followed right behind every step of the way. And we're talking some ugly 2 ft worth of mud and snow. Went up a pipeline straight up a snowy slippery road on the hummer, while my truck went down it with no probs, that i wouldn't even try the hummer going down. Used the downhill assist and away it went on its own, considering they were still the orig all season tires to boot. Space considerations, 4runner has more cargo room than either, plus it tows my 4500lb boat with ease. As for looks, the bmw looks nice, better the mercedes. But the 4runner looks tough. I've even got a Borla exhaust and boy does it sound nice! Again, personal experience and choice. Now my C4 competes with the truck when it snows

I have an '04 4Runner as my daily driver, and it's been superb. Never an issue, just oil changes, and gas. It's not even that hard on gas. I have the V6, since I wasn't going to tow with it, and the V6 has 10 more HP than the V8 anyway (about 40 less lbs/ft though). I can't say enough about the 4Runner. Awesome vehicle. You can't go wrong with it.

If buying used, buy a Japanese truck. I like the styling of the 4Runner more than the Infiniti's. The German trucks are expensive to maintain once out of their service coverage periods.

comfort and luxury: the X5 or the G500......G500 is a little to dated looking for me...came out originally in the mid '80s...but now it is a handbuild car and a real terrain verhicle. I got an X5, and it handles like a sportscar.....you can corner it like a porsche!!...I have a 3.0i...so I can only imagine what the 8cyl 4.4i drives like.... I have driven a 4runner and to be honest..I hate Japanese cars...because they all look alike and are to plasticy to me...but the 4runner is a beast and very reliable.

thanks for all of your input. I am actually only considering an SUV strictly as a daily driver. I currently have a toyota tacoma prerunner, but I am looking for something that I can fit 4+ cargo. I am mainly a highway driver. V8 is not necessary but I do want awd or 4wd and possibly navigation system. I dont have any plans to do any towing. I know that the 4runner would be the 'smart' decision but there are so many of them on the road...

Amongst the first three it's all personal preference. I think the G's a bad choice as a DD, just too old a design. My mom drives a '99 Lexus RX (how's that for an endorsement). It's dull to drive but a good road car and bulletproof. I just bought an SUV last month. Since I was looking for a luxury SUV with a stick-shift, the choice was easy - '02 X5.

For the price range you are looking at, I would buy a new Pathfinder instead. The X5 is nice, but one that is 4-5 years old means no included maintenance $ and warranty $$. I have a couple of people who own them at work. One has the 3.0L and the other the 4.4. The only typical comment I get from both is they each want the 4.8is. I've had 4-Runners, FX-35s, Xterras, Caddy SRXs and Hummer H3s as rental cars. I actually like driving the Pathfinders the best...and yes they do fine off-road (wink-wink). I've had 4 or 5 as rentals and each has driven consistantly good. The have a tighter/more driver feeling than the 4-Runner and even tighter, although not as grippy or nimble, as the FX.

G500 hands down I have one ask me anything you want about it. It is a TANK!!! You will not find a better SUV unless you buy an H1. It will drive through buildings walls and still scream. It has every creature comfort stock. And they are no longer shipping them to the US.

Hmmm, I have a Range Rover AND the Infiniti FX. I like the FX - it is comfy and quick and all wheel drive. That said, I LOVE the Rover. I am sure people will get pissed, but I think it drives more like a Porsche than the Cayenne does. If you are looking to stay under $30K, I would say the Lexus or the Infinity. However, we got the Infinity new on a one year lease for $299 per month with AWD and touring pkg. Might make more sense than $30K for a used one.

Since towing and offroading are not priorities and highway driving is essential...I would skip the MB and the 4Runner (unless you are looking for the truck like ride). I can't comment on the Infinity as I haven't really ridden/driven long drives in one. Of the four you mentioned the X5 would be my choice hands down. However, I think there may be better solutions given your criteria. Why not something like an A6 Avant (fits 4 comfortably with cargo space, has quattro, great ride, and arguably better gas mileage than anything you listed). Or an Audi Allroad? If you want the look of the SUV, what about something like the unibody Lexus RX series?

Personally, I hate SUVs. As far as road use they are dangerous and the natural enemy to the finish of my car. You may do better with something like the Subaru, which at least is more car-like and pretty bullet-proof. Hey, they even have a boxer engine! No, it won't scale cliffs, but 99.999% of people buying SUVs never go off the shoulder of the road, let alone serious off-roading. However, if status is important the Subaru does not have a large wow factor. But it will be reliable and relatively inexpensive to own and drive.

try an X5 MArv and you will change you mind....that car really drives like a sportscar...well almost!! but then again it is an SAV and not a SUV....

That's one of my favorite topics! When I moved to the US 2 years ago I bought my first SUV as family car. On the one side it's nice to ride higher than in a wagon and speed limits as well as gas prices made it unnecessary for me to get a fast wagon or sedan. However, I testdrove a lot of cars and as I just wanted to sit a little higher but keep my spirited driving style, my shortlist came down to Infiniti FX and BMW X3. The old, first generation X5 is pretty heavy and I drove a 4.4i which still felt like a truck (BTW this is also valid for Cayenne, Touareg or M class). The Infiniti is a very sporty car but pretty small when you get behind the front seats, so I bought an X3 3.0i. The price is fair as it's priced like a 3 serie but spacewise it's as large as the old X5 (a little narrower but bigger trunk) and you recognize the weight gain over the X5 immediately. X-Drive (came first on the X3, the X5 only got it 2004 forward) is the best AWD system around for streed all weather use; that's at least what Autobild's large AWD test said. I love the car and it's right, sometimes I forget that I'm not driving my 996 but harsh though turns with the X3. I recently drove the new 2nd generation X5 and it's good but handling wise not better than the X3, just heavier.

I've had two 4-runners a 99 and now a 04 V8. These are the only vehicles I have ever owned that have been perfect. They have never needed any kind of repair. I sold the 99 to my son cheap. The V8 goes like hell. My wife's Mercedes is constanly failing, mostly electronics. I will never buy another. My 99 996 has been OK after all the small stuff was done early on under warrenty. RMS ect.

I've got an FX45 now and I love it. That said, I just bought a new Range Rover HSE to replace the FX. The FX was reliable and very fast for an SUV (errr.. crossover) but the service is so bad at Infinity that I literally can't bear to drive their vehicles. They're really not up to par with the other luxury brands.

what about an audi s4 avant, or volvo v70 r.... both can fit four and lots of stuff and they look a lot better then any suv..... and the s4 at least goes like stink and the volvo r is bad either

Jarrod, I just replaced my 4Runner with an INFINIT I FX35. Bought my 4runner 5years ago for the reason that I will have a toughvehicle for snow and some off road.....5 years later.. still no off road..and its kinda a rough ride. So with just on road travels, to include snow.. I went for change to the cross-over FX. Very nice smooth ride, and powerfull road manners and an "Inteligent" AWD system(automaticaly defaults to two wheel drive. Switches to 3 or 4 wheel drive in milliseconds when spin is detected from othe other wheels... ..oh and sexy too. **The parking garage photos are not mine, and the one with the girl inside is not mine either... Just want to show you the interior..errrrr..

Exact same concerns I had that made me replace the 4Runner. Through my research, I have come down and picked the INFINITI FX. Perfect with whatever you could throw on it on the road..plus sexy too . I love the 4runner and probably would have kept it if I live up on the mountains or go through some stretches of dirt roads. By the way, from your choices in your very first post, that early FX45 has some jarring ride if the roads are not in good condition..but very fast!! If your getting a new later model(06 or 07), I'd pick the FX over the bimmer. I'm a little bias too 'cause I have the FX but the interior alone, for me, the FX got it "hands down" over the X5 //a good source of info for the FX is www.infinitifx.org