Which SUV as a DD

[1MOREMOD]

Thunderbuddies

[sid369]

Hi all,

I am trying to work through my buying process and thought maybe some of you can help me with my thinking.

So I want to replace my car, currently a RAV4 V6, and was thinking about all these:

1. XC90 (still unsure, with all the issues reading the forum)
2. MDX (good value, but dated interior)
3. Highlander(standard safety features etc, but mid $40k)

Also torn between a 5 vs. 7 seater. We don't tow or take a lot of road trips, just around the city with occasional road trip maybe once or twice a year.

This led me to think, would it be better to get a CPO instead of spending $50,000 on a new car?

CPO consideration

1. GL450
2. ML350

Would the safety tech in these cars from 3 years ago be adequate enough for a 7-8 years of ownership?

Also, has anyone bout extended warranty from GIECO instead from MB etc?

[KingOfJericho]

Didn't we already discuss this at length in the last thread you started on the exact same topic?

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1340024

[R3dliner]

guy doesn't own a M let alone a bimmer and comes here for advice on other vehicles?
OP did you post on the rav4 forums?

BTW I have a 2015 highlander and its a exceptional vehicle. 3rd row seatings a plus and its a great car overall minus gas mileage.

[KingOfJericho]

We have a '16 Highlander Limited and it's fine. The part that bothers me to no end is the cheap, hollow sound when closing the doors. We have a Rav4 Hybrid that the au pair drives and it doesn't have that problem but the Highlander and 4Runner are plagued by it.

[R3dliner]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

We have a '16 Highlander Limited and it's fine. The part that bothers me to no end is the cheap, hollow sound when closing the doors. We have a Rav4 Hybrid that the au pair drives and it doesn't have that problem but the Highlander and 4Runner are plagued by it.

lol funny you mention that. Irks me after closing the M and getting into highlander the doors feel like paper. also the factory wipers crapped out less than a year on it.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by R3dliner

lol funny you mention that. Irks me after closing the M and getting into highlander the doors feel like paper. also the factory wipers crapped out less than a year on it.

You mean the blades or the actual mechanics of the wiper?

[R3dliner]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

You mean the blades or the actual mechanics of the wiper?

wiper blades. The factory ones stink and they refuse to replace it on the free maintenance plan.

[sid369]

haha....we did and yes I don't own either a M or a BMW....I used to does that count? haha. However, guys started talking about other cars and was not kept to the point.

My RAV 4 doors don't sound hollow, however, they don't sound as solid as the German cars. How do you guys like the driving dynamics of the highlander, when I test drove it last, it felt a little underpowered.

Did you guys look at any luxury CPO's and what made you go with the highlander. reliability?

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by R3dliner

wiper blades. The factory ones stink and they refuse to replace it on the free maintenance plan.

Funny you should mention this since I feel like I'm constantly replacing the blades on ALL of our cars. I got so frustrated that I went on Consumer Reports a few weeks ago to do a little research. To my amazement, they said they no longer review replacement blades because they found that no matter the cost or quality of the blade, they all degrade VERY rapidly after about six months (basically just buy whatever you want). I then went to Amazon and placed a subscribe-and-save order of Bosch blades which will arrive every six months. Easy fix...

Originally Posted by sid369

haha....we did and yes I don't own either a M or a BMW....I used to does that count? haha. However, guys started talking about other cars and was not kept to the point.

My RAV 4 doors don't sound hollow, however, they don't sound as solid as the German cars. How do you guys like the driving dynamics of the highlander, when I test drove it last, it felt a little underpowered.

Did you guys look at any luxury CPO's and what made you go with the highlander. reliability?

Driving dynamics on the HL are fine. It's very car-like and it's quick enough if you step on it. FWIW, my Hemi-powered '14 Grand Cherokee Overland has nearly 100 more horsepower but doesn't feel much quicker, though weight is surely a factor and it defaults to eco-mode, keeping the car on 4cyl much of the time.

We wanted a 3rd row and low payments so we snagged a leftover '16 right when the '17s were rolling in. We leased it since we won't need three rows for very long. We didn't look at anything luxury but I have yet to come across a person saying they've had a trouble-free Mercedes and I will tell you my BMW experience was less-than-stellar (being very nice) from a reliability standpoint.

[BEM-S4]

Are there still any new leftover 2015 XC90s floating around? Would have to think they'd be very cheap. That was a solid car.

[David70]

After 4 pages on the same question, why start a new post with the same question?

[sid369]

What do you think will be a better buy.

2-3 year old CPO GL450 with low miles for around less than $55,000
or
the new XC90 for around $60,000

[KingOfJericho]

Hadn't you already scratched the Volvo from your list due to catastrophic failures?

[Spinnetti]

Originally Posted by Jacblack

2017 Toyota Highlander some nice improvements for 17 on them, tons of space and reliable of course. And it's going to hold its value better than all of the choices you mentioned.

I just ordered one for the wife. For myself, I'd rather walk that have ANY suv as a DD.. what's the point? I can't seem to get an M2, so I'm thinking a used R8 as my DD, and we use the wifes car when we need to haul people, rather than my intended R8 which will make people haul (a$$).. lol.

[sid369]

I am reconsidering it back again, as there have been reports that the new software updates have fixed most of the issue and hopefully the 2018 model will not have any of the issues.

so trying to take that into consideration.

[dsad1]

I have a 2016 xc90 and get frustrated with it every day. The software issues have not been fixed, some guys on that volvo forum are overly optimistic, or just don't want to admit Volvo is incompetent.

That being said, I haven't had any major issues. The car has always gotten from point A to point B with no mechanical issue. It's just annoying infotainment issues, like with HUD position resetting all the time, or spotify not working, or the whole system rebooting while you are driving.

The other issue I have with Volvo is that their service department doesn't compare to a bmw, lexus or Mercedes. Most of their service advisers have no clue what to do with the newer vehicles. I would really recommend researching your local dealer before buying a volvo.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by djsaad1

I have a 2016 xc90 and get frustrated with it every day. The software issues have not been fixed, some guys on that volvo forum are overly optimistic, or just don't want to admit Volvo is incompetent.

That being said, I haven't had any major issues. The car has always gotten from point A to point B with no mechanical issue. It's just annoying infotainment issues, like with HUD position resetting all the time, or spotify not working, or the whole system rebooting while you are driving.

The other issue I have with Volvo is that their service department doesn't compare to a bmw, lexus or Mercedes. Most of their service advisers have no clue what to do with the newer vehicles. I would really recommend researching your local dealer before buying a volvo.

You also have to remember that you have the newest most expensive car they offer. I had similar issues w my $50k Touareg at VW dealer they see 1,000 Jettas for every one of those. Just don't see them often enough to be familiar.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

You also have to remember that you have the newest most expensive car they offer. I had similar issues w my $50k Touareg at VW dealer they see 1,000 Jettas for every one of those. Just don't see them often enough to be familiar.

Might be an OK excuse for VW but the XC70 represents nearly 50% of the vehicles Volvo sells in the US. Definitely not a fair comparison.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Might be an OK excuse for VW but the XC70 represents nearly 50% of the vehicles Volvo sells in the US. Definitely not a fair comparison.

He didn't say XC70 he said 90 which is a completely new platform for them. If you think a random mechanic is as familiar with that as an S60 for example you're nuts. Maybe in a year or two but not now.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

He didn't say XC70 he said 90 which is a completely new platform for them. If you think a random mechanic is as familiar with that as an S60 for example you're nuts. Maybe in a year or two but not now.

Typo on my part. I was talking about the XC90 and my post stands. Volvo sold 3,472 vehicles in January, 1,556 of which were the new XC90. That's 45%. My point is that they're seeing more of them than any other car, new platform or not.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Typo on my part. I was talking about the XC90 and my post stands. Volvo sold 3,472 vehicles in January, 1,556 of which were the new XC90. That's 45%. My point is that they're seeing more of them than any other car, new platform or not.

Sure but how many of them have come in for service aside from the electrical stuff. I still maintain that they do more service on other cars. Can't imagine many have even been due for an oil change yet. No matter how many they sell it's still a tiny number compared to all the older stuff that's still out there being driven every day that comes in for routine maintenance.