Which SUV?

[bob shiftright]

OK, I've thrown in the towel. Just one too many near-death experiences on the Interstate.

I was thinking about buying another Volvo, maybe a V70R.

Except, when we went to pick up wife's Oddy from the dealer's service department on Friday I saw they had two Volvo XC70s on their used-car lot. Different years, same color. Hmmmm. Maybe I don't want another Volvo.

[larchmont]

This would be a good, Democratic kind of SUV:


http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040820/040820_Smartshowroom.h2.jpg

[TSX 'R' US]

I noticed the Cayenne on there... is there a certain price range you're looking for? How bout performance?

[TSX 'R' US]

This would be a good, Democratic kind of SUV:


http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040820/040820_Smartshowroom.h2.jpg
um...he did say he's had one too many near death experiences on the interstate :D

[vp911]

bob: do you want a smooth ride, or do you want a sporty ride? im going to be honest, if its sport you arnt going to get any better than the fx35...but DONT GET IT! lol you know about my problems with it...

if you want the smooth ride... the rx330 is the best (of course)... we have an rx300 and we will get the rx330 when the lease is up

i have heard with the porsche - the biggest engine is the only way to go... i know somebody with the v6 and says its just wayy 2 slow...

personally, i like the mdx...except the center console.. looks kind of... ehh boring compared to the tsx and tl.. hmm

good luck though :)

[Master47]

I think Volvo used to be able to differentiate their vehicles from the competition by being the "tanks" on the road. Anymore I think safety is the standard and an expectation from the whole market. I wouldn't get caught up in Volvo's 1980's/90's marketing.

A quick search at jdpower.com may prove me wrong, I don't know.

[HondaMan]

Porsche Cayenne is pretty bad ass...with turbo and all (it got my vote).

I really like our Pilot and I'm sure I would love the MDX as well.

[vp911]

Porsche Cayenne is pretty bad ass...with turbo and all (it got my vote).

I really like our Pilot and I'm sure I would love the MDX as well.


I know quite a few people with the Pilot, aside from the recall on the transmission they all like it.... the service manager for the acura dealer here was saying he was upset with the gas mileage on the mdx was crappy.. but arnt all suv's?

[bob shiftright]

This would be a good, Democratic kind of SUV:

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040820/040820_Smartshowroom.h2.jpg

Fortunately, our Republican government has the sense not to allow us to buy that Germano-Frankish method of population control. (Not nearly as effective as their awful female fertility statistics, but every little bit helps!)

No, the Cayenne may be the finest SUV built today, but it isn't a serious choice. At least not to be thrashed on my Interstate commute. I'm going for my fourth windshield for my Volvo.

Since both of the Volvos at the Honda dealer were the XC70 Cross-Country model, and both were the same color, and they were about 3 years apart, my guess is that the owner had a sudden moment of inspiration and traded them in on a couple of Hondas.

I suppose I "could" go for any SUV on the list, just like I "could" go dig in the garden wearing an Armani suit. Not that it would be a good idea. I'm leaning to the Pilot. Not much emotional attachment there, but it's supposed to be a disposable, utilitarian device.

[larchmont]

I still say the Smart. :D

But if not.....why wouldn't you just get either the Pilot or the MDX?

[ChinchillaX]

I still say the Smart. :D

But if not.....why wouldn't you just get either the Pilot or the MDX?

I don't think the Smart is sold here yet. I know its sold in Canada, but not in the US until 2006 or something.:donno:

Other than that, I say see if Porsche Cayenne, Lexus RX330, or the Volvo XC90 are worth considering. They are nice and aren't as dated as the MDX is. The MDX has been around since 2001, needs to be redesigned IMO.

[bob shiftright]

I still say the Smart. :D

But if not.....why wouldn't you just get either the Pilot or the MDX?

I think you can buy the Smart Car in Canada now. Something else for the across-border US refugees from November 2 to look forward to. We saw one in Quebec City this summer, but only one. (Not US refugees, Smart Cars.)

http://www.canada.com/finance/moneywise/story.html?id=d149f1ff-dd1f-4a57-9890-3ec0f7677721

I'd like something with a 6-speed manual and about 500hp and a Smart Car-like price tag, but I know that's unlikely, even from Kia or Hyundai. The X5 3.0 is available with a 5-speed but it's slower than the Pilot. The V70R has 300hp and a 6-speed, but minimal ground clearance, important to me after a flying chunk of truck tire did an incredible amount of damage to my Volvo's undercarriage last year.

http://forums.atvconnection.com/i/GalleryImages/598/SM_crusader2.jpg

This would be about the right-sized SUV for my commute....

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/m1-tank-ch.jpg

This might offer about the right amount of crash protection....

http://autoweek.com/images/articles/100249

...with the driving dynamics of THIS. I'm not asking for much, am I? :D

[larchmont]

This should fill the bill:


http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2003/st_cloud/edsel6001a.jpg

[tradsf]

Porsche Cayenne is pretty bad ass...with turbo and all (it got my vote).

I really like our Pilot and I'm sure I would love the MDX as well.

Cayenne Turbo is a great vehicle, but it comes with a greater pricetag. Ouch!

[tradsf]

This should fill the bill:


http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2003/st_cloud/edsel6001a.jpg

Now, that's a vehicle with class and charisma...

[HondaMan]

Cayenne Turbo is a great vehicle, but it comes with a greater pricetag. Ouch!

True, but if price was no object...I would be all over it.

[tradsf]

True, but if price was no object...I would be all over it.

Drool... Drool...

[bob shiftright]

True, but if price was no object...I would be all over it.The Carrera S is about $10,000 less than the Cayenne Turbo!

http://content2.us.porsche.com/prod/911/911_common.nsf/Resources/c_gallery_exterior05/$file/stg_5.jpg

Given the choice I'd go for an old Volvo and a new Carrera S instead of the Cayenne Turbo ... I think we're going around in circles, here!

[TSX 'R' US]

Cayenne = overpriced Toureg :D

I'd probably go with the RX330

[bob shiftright]

This should fill the bill:


http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2003/st_cloud/edsel6001a.jpg

It was raining full bags of garbage on the interstate yesterday morning. The VW Jetta ahead of me hit one dead center and pulled over, he may have broken something.

So you may have a point, larch!

Did I mention that the commute out to what I laughingly tell people is "Site R" ("Site R" is under Raven Rock Mountain in Pennsylvania and where VP Dick Cheney is sequestered during times of crisis) is a 100 mile drive each way? Reliability is a consideration. And I doubt your choice would receive a "good" rating from IIHS for the head restraints, since it doesn't seem to have any.

[larchmont]

.....("Site R" is under Raven Rock Mountain in Pennsylvania and where VP Dick Cheney is sequestered during times of crisis).....
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

(We don't want the Russians to find out!)

[bob shiftright]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

(We don't want the Russians to find out!)

I don't think the big danger is the Rooskies any more. Putin is best buds with W now, unless he isn't, which is only because of a "business decision". Ya gotta ditch the first section of that Nooo Yawk Times, they're sooooo 1960s!

....out to what I laughingly tell people is "Site R"....

The HQ is 2 blocks from Ground Zero, the "Site R" idea is the same, though. If only I were just a pretty face and didn't actually DO things I could take the train into New York!

http://www.crispyneurons.com/situation/images/strangelove_war_room.jpg

[larchmont]

I don't think the big danger is the Rooskies any more.....
That's what I meant too. :D :nod: :D