Hey RL Peeps,

This is not an RL thread but I like they way you guys think so I thought I would run it by all these years of experience.

My wife's 2004 Pacifica has 127,000 miles on it and the front end is shot. They are telling me about 3K in work before the wheels eventually just fail. The mechanic does not think it is a safety issue but it will slowly get worse.

Two options: Get rid of it now and trade it in for about 2k on a used MDX/Pilot or wait until spring, her father has a 2010 Chev Suburban that he will sell us for below wholesale/trade in. The problem is that even at trade in the Suburban is pretty expensive for us but we can make it work.

We need the bigger SUV we have 4 kids all younger than 14 and in all kinds of sports, etc.

What do you think?

PS She keeps finding "reasons" to drive the RL.

 

if you can make it work the burban is a no brainer with 4 kids.

Be careful with that pieceofshitica and driving your kids around, you could easily loose control if something fails in the front end.

 

The only reason we bought the Chrysler is because of the same deal we got with her dad 8 years ago.

I have seen Suburbans with mega miles so I feel better about buying one.

 

Is the Suburban a guaranteed deal? Something about your explanation just screams to me that it won't be there when the time comes. What kind of deal are we talking on the Suburban? It sounds to me like the MDX is already cheaper, and driving around a time bomb waiting for a larger payment doesn't make sense when the MDX is on the table. Also, putting all of your eggs in a one car basket is rarely a good idea.

You are already accustomed to the stigma of driving a minivan (), so why don't you buy another? The Sienna SE or an Odyssey EX-L are both wonderful options that should last you a decade even used. What is it about an SUV that is appealing enough to give up a low loading deck and sliding doors? The EX-L is (embarrassingly) close to the RL (even the front end), and you wife will surely love the similarities.

 

She doesn't see the Chrysler as a minivan. The Suburban is a guaranteed deal. He wants us to have it because he knows his daughter wants it. I have no idea why he is waiting until spring to sell it to us even after I told him about the problems with the POS. I think he will sell it to us pretty cheap compared to retail. I priced it out at 30-32K retail, KBB has it at 26K trade in. I bet he sells it to us fro around 22-24 but it might be cheaper in 6 months. It's amazing the amount of depreciation takes place in 6 months. I found a 2011 Pilot EX-L around here with 16,000 Miles for 28K. Waiting seems cheaper but the Chrysler has some value now and there is the breakdown worry.

 

Oops. I was thinking Town and Country.

What is the history on the Suburban? Like I said before, there a 10,000 Pilots and MDXs. There is only one Suburban, and that may not be the best solution. After all, the last car he sold you only lasted 9 years and 127k miles.

 

Intellichoice says the 2010 Suburban would cost you $48,000 to own over the next five years (excluding the purchase price). A 2010 Odyssey would cost $38,000. Now, half that difference is the Suburban's depreciation, so you can dent that difference significantly if you get an eye-popping deal up front. But there's no scenario where getting the Suburban is the best move from either a cost or convenience standpoint.

You're right about the depreciation that takes place in 6 months, by the way. Intellichoice says a 2010 Suburban will depreciate more than $7,000 this year. Interestingly, starting next year that bleeding slows dramatically to only about $2,000 a year for the next four years. Must be something about a 3-year-old car versus a 4-year-old one. Wonder if it has something to do with warranties or bank financing.

 

Thanks for all the feedback. I stupidly didn't realize that the ultimate decision is going to be hers and she wants the Chev as of now. I will keep working on her about it. A mutual friend told her about his Yukon and all the problems he had with it after 100k, he now owns a Toyota and a Lexus.

 

I have an '04 MDX. Just turned 115,000 miles yesterday and it's been very reliable. Torque converter went twice, fixed both times under warranty, but other than that, just minor things. But, for with four active kids, it may not be large enough. If the Suburban is well maintained and in good shape, I'd go for that. Everyone I know that has a Suburban (or other GM equivalent), swears by it (not at it).

LL