Need a new Wifemobile....

[Hohn]

Car shopping sucks as a car guy! The more you know, the worse it gets.

So far I've been able to narrow it down to a couple choices:

1) Toyota Highlander
2) Toyota Four Runner
3) Acura MDX
4) Honda Pilot
5) Lexus RX330
6) Nissan Murano
7) Nissan Pathfinder


Note that #5 is a fancy version of #1, and #3 is a fancy version of #4.

Criteria?

-- Three rows of seats. If it only has two rows, I might was well buy a sedan and get better performance and MPG.

-- Kid friendly. Car seats have to fit easily and quickly go in and out (LATCH is a must). Vehicle has to sit high enough to where my wife and I don't have to bend over so much to install the gov't-mandated safety crapola. I'm over 6', and wifey is 5'10", so tall is good in our case.

-- "quality". I mean interior fit and finish, decent drivetrain, sound deadening, etc. I'm not paying $30K+ for something that feels like I could make it for $1k with a MIG welder.

-- MPG matters, but not all important

-- Power is not a huge consideration. If performance was comparable to my 97 Maxima, then she'd be happy. I'm guessing in an SUV, this means 250hp+

-- Styling is only important to where it can't be butt-ugly (think Pontiac Aztek, Chevy Avalanche, etc)



I've realized that the most important part of a vehicle to us is the interior. Seat quality, A/C effectiveness, pollen filter, visibility, dash lighting, fit/finish-- THESE are what matter most.

After all, the interior is how you interact with the vehicle the most. I've ridden in so many vehicles that had terrible seat quality. There's NO reason why you should get out of a vehicle after a couple hours have have numb or sore legs. Shoulders/arms, yes-- but not hips and legs. They are just sitting there! My first Honda (1987 Accord) had the worst seats ever in a car!


So, we want a spacious SUV that gives easy access for car seats, looks ok, has REALLY good interior quality, gives reasonable performance and mpg, and seats 7.


Is there such an animal??? Or am I seeking a billet unobtainium custom ride??
(EDIT: though I say "I", my wife and I are on the same page-- if it was just me, we'd have a minivan)

Justin

 

[RustyJC]

My wife currently drives a 2000 Durango SLT+. Based on our experience with my Acura 3. 2TL-S and her test drives, she's already decided that her next vehicle will be the Acura MDX.



Be advised - there's supposed to be a new MDX coming out in 2007, which means it could be introduced any time since Acura isn't a stickler on calendar/model year timing.



Rusty

 

[Turbo1Ton]

A friend of mine has a Honda Pilot and I am really impressed with it. Fit and finish are very nice. It rides and drives very nice. It is pretty much optioned out. I believe that it is an '04 but it could be an early '05.



If I could get behind the whole foreign based automotive companies, I might just buy one. But if I am spending my money on something like that, it will be with a company who's beginnings were here in the U. S.



Jeff

 

[The Adjuster]

Hohn,



Have you looked into one of these.



They are AWD, quality control is very good, plenty of power and 5yr/60K drivetrain warranty.



I am over 6'1 and weigh ... well lets not go there ... but am a big guy and these are roomy.



They are classified as a SUV but the interior is minivan size.



Kevin

 

[TORQUE THIS]

We have a Honda Pilot at work, REALLY nice vehicle, I agree with the above comments totally!

The Tribeca is also a really nice vehicle BUT there is NO room in the 3rd row of seats!

 

[JApol]

A friend of mine has a Chrysler Pacifica. That thing is HUGE on the inside. He is 6-3 heavy and I'm 6-6 skinny, we can sit in just about any seat mostly confortable

 

[GiesJ]

if it was just me, we'd have a minivan)



Justin

I need to get back to wyoming - STAT! NO Minivan talk! (unless it does under 11 in the quarter). No. NO!



J

 

[Hohn]

We have a Honda Pilot at work, REALLY nice vehicle, I agree with the above comments totally!

The Tribeca is also a really nice vehicle BUT there is NO room in the 3rd row of seats!

My thoughts as well on the B9. VERY nice interior, and Subaru has a pretty good reputation.

But it gives the impression that it's really a 5-passenger ride pretending it can hold 7. Perhaps 5. 5. 5? (5 adults, 2ea half pints?).



Anyway, we don't NEED 7 pax seating, per se-- but I don't want to have the additional expense LATER of having to part with this ride prematurely because we DO need one with more space. Thus, the preemptive desire for a family hauler.

As I said before, if this vehicle is not larger than our car by sufficient margin, then the justification for an SUV vice a sedan goes away.


I *really* wish we could use a sedan (E320 CDI, anyone?) for our purposes (and we could, because we have been), but I'd rather think a little longer term.



My wife LOVES the Pacifica, if for no other reason than the styling. I personally don't care for the 3. 5L DC V-6. When it was first produced (rated at 214hp), I drove it and it just lacked refinement. That, and the fuel economy is pretty bad for an engine of its power and displacement.

Keep in mind that we're coming from driving a Nissan Maxima with the legendary VQ series V6 (VQ30DE in our case-- 195hp); this engine is *THE* gold standard for V6s in ANY vehicle. The newest VQs, the 35 and 40 (3. 5L and 4. 0L, as you may have guessed) are continuing the reputation.

That said, I've been duly impressed with the Acura 3. 2L V-6, and Toyota builds a pretty decent engine as well.


I think we've gotten to the point where ALL the engines and trannies are so good that they aren't the main factor in the decision. For once, I can focus on the rest of the vehicle-- especially the interior.



Call me weird, but I think my dream family hauler would be a Mercedes Turbodiesel Wagon. Too bad it's not to be. .


Justin

 

[BarryG]

I cant speak to any of the vehicles except the Toyota 4 Runner. We bought our first one in 02. It was a used 01. It was pretty much the base model. It held up well, though we only put about 75k on it and it never saw the dealership again after we took it off the lot until we traded it in. Not one bit of trouble. My wife is retiring this year and she wanted to get a new vehicle before she did. I could not talk her into a fuel efficient sedan, jetta, honda whatever. She just wouldnt have it just had to have something four wheel drive that she could use to take to the mountains for her hiking forays. When I pointed out the other vehicle (the CTD) in the driveway was more than capable of handling anything she was going to throw at it she just looked at me and said well I just dont like driving it. When I mentioned that she has only driven it twice in 5 years and both times she did when she got back she mentioned how much she liked it and understood why I liked it so much. However I quickly understood that I had already lost so I quit and just caved. Apparently she had her heart set on a new 4 runner. We picked up a new 05 after the 06's came out. It was a step up in models we got the sport this time. The new ones are nicer, quieter, larger and more powerful than the 01 we had previously. We have had it since september and it has been perfect so far. Mixed mileage seems to be 18-19 and all highway has been up to 22.



This may or may not matter at all but a certified used toyota has a much better warranty than a new one, go figure.

 

[RobertP]

i dont know if this will help or not but i just bought my wife a toyota rav 4 which is a smaller version of the 4 runner. for being a smaller suv this thing is pretty nice. for what we need it for its great the only thing bad about it is that the fuel tank is very small.

 

[nps]

My wife has a Lexus RX330 and loves it. It is the AWD model with leather interior, roof rack, but only 2 rows of seats (don't need 3 rows anymore). Gets about 16mpg around town, mostly stop and go and VERY short trips - after 18 months it only has 3500 miles on it!



The interior and exterior finish is excellent and the ride is also excellent - far better than the Mercedes ML320 she had. If we were to ever take it on a road trip we could use the reclining rear seat - you fold down the front pass seat, recline the rear seat, and it turns into a La-Z-Boy on wheels. The dual memory settings for everything but the rear view mirrors (side mirrors, steering wheel position, seat position) makes for happy 2 driver use. And it fits into a single car garage door opening.



The only real complaint we have is,,, well,,,, none!

 

[ThompsonS]

We have over 200K on our 1996 4Runner, just a starter and brakepads.



The new 4runners even come with a V-8.

Ive ridden in the Pilot, its a very nice car, smooth quiet.



Couldnt go wrong with either one.



the pathfinder and Xterra and nice too. (and the xterra is WAY cheaper than the rest. )



The FX45 would be the coolest wagon to have. but most chicks dont like em. Too much power I guess.





DO any of the VW TDIs have third row seats?



But with a VW, all you saved on fuel, youd probably spend on repairs.

 

[loncray]

My wife is very pleased with her new Odyssey - it's a very nice ride even if it's not the torque monster my CTD is. My pre-truck vehicle was a 12-year-old Acura Integra that I drove into the ground - Honda products are very hard to kill. If Honda made a 2500 pickup with a CTD in it, it might last as long as the engine itself (and I'd be first in line to buy one).

 

[wcaldwell]

Wife has an '03 Buick Rendezvous - she loves it. Seats 7 (has the 3rd row back seat). Gets an average of 26 - 28 mpg. She says it will do 85 - 95 with no problems. Has over 55k on it now - had 37k when we bought it the first part of November. She's travelling from the Albuquerque area to Grants/Gallup and those surrounding areas every couple of weeks.



I don't care for it, but she loves it - and since she's the primary driver, that's all that matters.



Wayne

 

[nps]

Wife has an '03 Buick Rendezvous - she loves it. Seats 7 (has the 3rd row back seat). Gets an average of 26 - 28 mpg. She says it will do 85 - 95 with no problems. Has over 55k on it now - had 37k when we bought it the first part of November. She's travelling from the Albuquerque area to Grants/Gallup and those surrounding areas every couple of weeks.



I don't care for it, but she loves it - and since she's the primary driver, that's all that matters.



Wayne

But does it pass this requirement:

-- Styling is only important to where it can't be butt-ugly (think Pontiac Aztek, Chevy Avalanche, etc)

 

[loncray]

If my wife had wanted an Aztek, I would've tried very hard to talk her out of it, then gritted my teeth and gotten it for her. The number one Husband Commandment: Keep the Wife Happy. Fortunately, she has enough sense of taste to avoid the truly disastrous automotive choices (though her sense of what constitutes 'good looking' is constantly in question; ref: her husband) and the Ody isn't really all that bad looking.

 

[wcaldwell]

It's NOWHERE near as butt ugly as that God-awful Aztec and Avalanche (and it's derivatives). And it's comfortable too - but I still don't care for it.



Wayne

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the elusive VW Touareg V10 TDI...



Matt

 

[slowmover]

My thoughts as well on the B9. VERY nice interior, and Subaru has a pretty good reputation.

But it gives the impression that it's really a 5-passenger ride pretending it can hold 7. Perhaps 5. 5. 5? (5 adults, 2ea half pints?).



Anyway, we don't NEED 7 pax seating, per se-- but I don't want to have the additional expense LATER of having to part with this ride prematurely because we DO need one with more space. Thus, the preemptive desire for a family hauler.

As I said before, if this vehicle is not larger than our car by sufficient margin, then the justification for an SUV vice a sedan goes away.


I *really* wish we could use a sedan (E320 CDI, anyone?) for our purposes (and we could, because we have been), but I'd rather think a little longer term.



My wife LOVES the Pacifica, if for no other reason than the styling. I personally don't care for the 3. 5L DC V-6. When it was first produced (rated at 214hp), I drove it and it just lacked refinement. That, and the fuel economy is pretty bad for an engine of its power and displacement.

Keep in mind that we're coming from driving a Nissan Maxima with the legendary VQ series V6 (VQ30DE in our case-- 195hp); this engine is *THE* gold standard for V6s in ANY vehicle. The newest VQs, the 35 and 40 (3. 5L and 4. 0L, as you may have guessed) are continuing the reputation.

That said, I've been duly impressed with the Acura 3. 2L V-6, and Toyota builds a pretty decent engine as well.


I think we've gotten to the point where ALL the engines and trannies are so good that they aren't the main factor in the decision. For once, I can focus on the rest of the vehicle-- especially the interior.



Call me weird, but I think my dream family hauler would be a Mercedes Turbodiesel Wagon. Too bad it's not to be. .


Justin

So, . . . what was the answer all these years later?

I still have the same pickup, your dearest been thru a few wifemobiles?

.

 

[GroundSquirrel]

wow, thread from the dead