Crazy Bimmer

Yep, already told him about that one.

List i sent him... order of my choice

MDX
X5
Q7
CPO GX 470
Highlander
ML350
XC90
Buick Enclave

Mokos23

I'd take for 3rd row seating the current gen MDX or maybe a used QX56.

For SUV's where you don't need 3rd row seats and spend under $35K, I would pick these:

1. Acura RDX w/o tech package
2. 09 Nissan Murano SL w/o navi
3. Mitsubishi Outlander
4. VW Tiguan

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

Q7(or Armada... which my Mother in law has and loves!!!) or MDX... we looked at these... then bought an 08 Suburban... because my wife wanted a big truck... and I wanted to be able to take road trips with all the kiddos and their stuff (or take more than one kid to the baseball field with all their gear...

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

LOL... our Subbi is like a vault... even on the 20's

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

When the Integra was alive and kicking we were a much higher percentage and since then the % has been going down for Acura. Either people have grown out of it or have moved on to other brands.

Crazy Bimmer

OK Q7 is off the list. He said he drove it and it felt too small inside.

He didnt know teh X5 had a 3rd row, so thats next to drive.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

I didn't know it had three rows of seats. What's the powerplant?

Crazy Bimmer

^ Its not much of a 3rd row. It would be a 3.0
Horsepower: 260 hp
Torque: 225 ft-lbs.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

if anything the kids would be in that last row judging by the size of the seats and the amount of leg room. Isn't that the same case for both the MDX and Q7?

Crazy Bimmer

^ he commented on how the 3rd row of the Q7 was small.

Not sure what hes expecting.

I told him to get a minivan and be done with it.

CL Type Slim

Wisc Badger

I'd go 4Runner as long as he doesn't care about gas. A new Limited fully loaded will run you about $43k sticker. With that being said the MDX is pretty close and is probably a little nicer however I can't STAND the front end of the new ones so if it was me I'd probably look for an 06 with VERY low miles.

X5's are amazing too.. more expensive and you'd have to go used but damn they are nice.

Even though you said road noise was bad in the Pilot I'd still consider it because of how much money he could save... maybe he wouldn't even notice or care if it was a little louder than others. He could probably get a great deal on a fully loaded brand new one in the low-mid $30's because a redesign is right around the corner, and walk away having saved $15k right off the bat.... tell him to go buy a boat.

I wouldn't touch an american SUV if you paid me to drive it, unless it was a Jeep but for a 3rd row seat you need a Commander which is almost like driving an RV.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

lol, actually, the odyssey is a nice van to own. My parents have one and for a minivan it drives pretty damn good. there's so much damn room in it too.

and you can always mod it if you want.

http://news.windingroad.com/aftermar...yssey-at-sema/

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

How about a Nissan Pathfinder or Armada?

Both have 3 rows of seats. The pathfinder can seat 7, the armada 8.

AcuraFan

I agree. The Vera Cruz is a great (but often overlooked) SUV. And you can save a few bucks and still end up with a pretty luxury ride.

phil2

Used lambo LM002!

Scrib

I recently had a MDX w/ Tech Package as a loaner and if I were in the market for an SUV, that would be my choice.

shooter

I will say MDX, GX470, X5, Pilot ... best way to decide is to test drive them all & compare for yourself .....

Good luck !

SodaLuvr

GMC Acadia or Buick Enclave, but they might be too big.

Why not try another RX350?

is300eater

I like the Buick... the RX has a 3rd row?

Street Spirit

How many people does he drive around on a regular basis? If he's going to need the third row seating pretty much every day, then yeah - he might as well get a van, be comfy, and have everyone sit in proper seats.

Crazy Bimmer

^ They drive my nephews and their friends around often.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

minivan sounds better if the space will be used more for hauling people than goods. Much more roomier depending on the van.

Crazy Bimmer

I have driven the Odyssey and love it. It drives like a car to me and felt very solid.

They are just anti-minivan.

GSI

Try a Chrysler Pacifica.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

I thought they stopped making that or at least are going to. That is going to make the resale value tank.

I also back up the MDX support caranddirver recommended it so it has to be good.

chungkopi

smart choice

1. hyundai veracruz
2. mazda cx9
3. toyota highlander

dumb choice
1. german SUVs
2. any thirsty v8's


think about it

lol

is300eater

what's wrong with German SUVs?

Crazy Bimmer

http://autos.nytimes.com/2007/BMW/X5...chRatings.aspx

Doesnt seem all that bad.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

Domestic SUVs are much better.

Street Spirit

More than three kids in the car at the same time, on a regular basis = van makes much more sense for room, storage space, safety, and comfort. If they're going to make good use of a third row, they might as well get something with proper seats and accessibility. IMO, SUVs third row seating isn't really meant for regular use and comfort.

EDIT: And since you said they keep their cars forever....Don't forget those children will continue to grow and eventually won't fit comfortably back there.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

See post #64.

We need to somehow get jesal's family an odyssey but make it look like an SUV.

Street Spirit

Yeah...I saw they don't like vans... But a third row SUV just doesn't make any sense to me. Just sounds silly.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

I'm totally with you. If I EVAR need to buy a larger vehicle to transport more people, I'd gladly look at a van first before even considering an SUV. Much more room, hell of a lot more comfortable depending on which van you go with and like Jesal, I also do love the way the Odyssey drives and it is very nimble IMO.

All around a van is more practical for what their needs are. Buying an SUV i guess is their compromise with getting something they like and that satisfies their needs reasonably.

Crazy Bimmer

They dont haul other kids around all THAT often.

Guess its more of an option of "Its there if i need it" type of thing for them.

They only have two kids btw. So its not as if they will be in the 3rd row.

Theres no convincing them about the minivan. Many people refuse to drive one even if it is the best choice.

Street Spirit

Ahh...that makes a little more sense to me (not that that matters). They'll still have room for another child to join them in the back seat, and then they'll have the third row seating for the off-chance they need another spot. IMO, that's really what those third rows are for, not so much for a day-to-day thing. I thought it was a regular routine for them to have more than three children in the car.

Has he only test-driven the Audi so far?

Crazy Bimmer

I had no real idea why they wanted a 3rd row till i asked them today.

They just said baby seats take up space in the 2nd row so they like the option to have more seats in case.

Only driven the Q7 so far. They just started the search and they didnt know which SUVs exactly had a 3rd row.

I will bet they will end up with the MDX or X5.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

I dont think the problem with the X5 is that its going to break down a lot more then its just overpirced IMO. I mean it costs more then the MDX and has a smaller engine? I just dont get how that works and I understand how sometimes BMW underrates there engines but even still its probably less power and still more money. Now if it was the 335 and 535 engine that would be a different story.

Crazy Bimmer

^ X5 3.0 with the options they care about came out to $52k.

Not all that much more than the MDX. Of course the MDX comes with more stuff near that price.

He likes that the BMW has free maintenance.

Quick google search found that the MDX is 1sec quicker 0-60. Not that they care.

JediMindTricks

other than the X5 and MDX, i'd take a look at the CX-9 as well.