Hunting for a Daily Driver SUV

[mremg]

I hate to be that guy but why an SUV for a daily driver? It is the ride height?

[overcoil]

Test drive a Honda Pilot.

[Carnifex]

Originally Posted by solstice

I'm tempted to get a new one but having had a garage of Xenon equipped cars the last years I don't think I can do halogens now. It feel like driving wth no headlights Hopefully Toyota give us that option for 2017. I also should get something with a useful 3rd row so now I'm waiting for the 2017 Nissan Armada, it's pretty much exactly the "new" Nissan Patrol sold in other parts of the world for a couple of years. An off-road worthy rig which competes with the Land Cruiser but to a lower price point.

The 14+ cars come with projector headlight housing and HID kits are cheap and reliable plug and play mods. I've got a 15 TRD Pro and love it.

[whats77inaname]

I'd say to get a VehiCROSS, but I might be partial.

[gtron]

Right now I like the Macan S or Audi SQ5 for SUVs.

Sorry, can't help it. Drove them both, love them both.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by gtron

Right now I like the Macan S or Audi SQ5 for SUVs.

Sorry, can't help it. Drove them both, love them both.

Had a Macan S for 6 months loved it was sad to see it go. Def don't need to spend the extra $ for the turbo.

[marrk]

I'm starting to learn towards the 4runner since it seems to be the most unique and can take a beating. Would love to go German but not sure it'll take the 200k miles of abuse that I plan to give it, lol. Plus the 4runner has a better aggressive look which I like.

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by mremg

I hate to be that guy but why an SUV for a daily driver? It is the ride height?

First thing I thought of too. Why the restriction to an SUV? If it's a "safety" issue I'd recommend a bus ticket.

+1 on the 4Runner tho.

[marrk]

Am going the SUV route because my wife wanted the space and ease in driving in Chicago winters.

Happy to do a wagon, like a WRX or 3 series but doesn't give the space we seek for the kiddo.

Originally Posted by Beartato

First thing I thought of too. Why the restriction to an SUV? If it's a
"safety" issue I'd recommend a bus ticket.

+1 on the 4Runner tho.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Had a Macan S for 6 months loved it was sad to see it go. Def don't need to spend the extra $ for the turbo.

Why'd you get rid of it?

[Beartato]

Originally Posted by marrk

Am going the SUV route because my wife wanted the space and ease in driving in Chicago winters.

Happy to do a wagon, like a WRX or 3 series but doesn't give the space we seek for the kiddo.

Gotcha. Just curious. Why not something like a van, like the Toyota Sienna? More room, better mileage, available AWD for winter? Seems more logical.

[edcvin]

Look into the first gen Lexus GX470's 03-07. The price has come down pretty reasonably on them. You cannot beat Toyota when it comes to reliability.


-Vin

[TheYoungConnoisseur]

Bentayaga

Never had a single issues w my cgt

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by marrk

I.....Would love to go German but not sure it'll take the 200k miles of abuse that I plan to give it, lol....

Another vote for MDX.
Not the prettiest one out there and gas mileage isn't the best, but pretty good SUV - should meet your criteria.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by marrk

Am going the SUV route because my wife wanted the space and ease in driving in Chicago winters.

Happy to do a wagon, like a WRX or 3 series but doesn't give the space we seek for the kiddo.

The new V90 is really, really nice.

[Sedoy]

I recently got used 2013 RX350 for $24,6K for wife. She loves it. Comes decently equipped:
- Double glass side windows
- Heated/ventilated seats
- Nappa leather seats
- 40/20/40-split backseat which also slide and recline,
- Navigation
- HIDs (the best headlights I have seen so far, at least 50% brighter/better than E70 X5)
- Parking sensors
- Back-up camera

The cargo is slightly larger than our previous E70 X5. Also reliability for those and resale value are the best on the market. Can't go wrong with Lexus.

.

[marrk]

For the same reason I bought my M3. I need something that meets my needs but also speaks to me and has emotion in its design and when using it. It needs to be fun, lol! Totally agree a minivan or something like a Pilot makes total practical sense. But being 33, I'm starting to realize life is too short to be too practical and not to enjoy everything in life, down to daily driver family hauler

Originally Posted by Beartato

Gotcha. Just curious. Why not something like a van, like the Toyota Sienna? More room, better mileage, available AWD for winter? Seems more logical.

[marrk]

I've added the Rx350 and MDX to my life, lol. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Sedoy

I recently got used 2013 RX350 for $24,6K for wife. She loves it. Comes decently equipped:
- Double glass side windows
- Heated/ventilated seats
- Nappa leather seats
- 40/20/40-split backseat which also slide and recline,
- Navigation
- HIDs (the best headlights I have seen so far, at least 50% brighter/better than E70 X5)
- Parking sensors
- Back-up camera

The cargo is slightly larger than our previous E70 X5. Also reliability for those and resale value are the best on the market. Can go wrong with Lexus.

[M235iguy]

the 2014-2016 Subaru Forester XT is pretty fun as a daily. Its a sleeper. It has the WRX engine and some nice power when you need it, with 3 drive modes like the STi has. The touring comes well equipped with a skyroof, leather, approach lighting, auto lift gate and plenty of room in the backseats and cargo room,. seats fold down for even more room. I had that before I got my M235ix. If I could afford two cars, I would have kept it. Its worth taking a look at.

[gtron]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Had a Macan S for 6 months loved it was sad to see it go. Def don't need to spend the extra $ for the turbo.

Seriously, sport chrono and done IMO.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Why'd you get rid of it?

Dads hip and knee are bad to the point that they should probably be replaced. Macan was difficult for him to get in and out of and it started wearing on him. No complaints whatsoever about the car.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by gtron

Seriously, sport chrono and done IMO.

The only down side to ordering the Porsche is it takes 8-10 weeks to wait for the car to be built and arrive after the 8-10 weeks it takes for review the option list and make all of the choices. I'm not a fan of big packages where you have to pay $6k for a bunch of crap you don't want just to get homelink, but the Porsche a la carte approach is a bit much.

For the Macan you def need the matching color side blades, IMO.