Shoofin

I never thought I would have such a hard time deciding what to do...

The lease on my wife's RDX is up at the end of June. Problem is, my lease payment is relatively low for what it is (RDX AWD Tech - $400/mo). I'm the spender, the wife is the saver. I'm willing to spend a little more to get her next car but she doesn't want to. Biggest issue right now is everything going in with the Japan disaster turned the market upside down. Every Japanese car whether built there or not has been affected, resulting in price increases everywhere you look. I'd love to get an MDX but it's too much more expensive, plus she doesn't want (or need) something so big. She wants to keep the size similar to the RDX that she has now. And she doesn't want another RDX. She wants another small crossover similar in size to what she has now and has had in the past.

At some point I was considering a downgrade to a loaded Rav4/Rogue/CR-V. I would prefer more the CR-V or Rogue, but don't love the thought of the downgrade. Being in the car business, I have to "represent" to some extent..

Wife wants options: Nav/Rear View Camera, Leather, Sunroof, Heated Seats and Steering Wheel (But can do without the wheel if it comes down to it), and REALLY wants a power liftgate this time around. The power liftgate and heated wheel pretty much eliminates any of the downgrade cars above.

I'm only looking to lease. Payment is important. I really wanted to get her back into another X3 (she had one before the RDX), but it's waaaaay too expensive a lease. I gave up on that thought.

I started thinking about a GLK350. I never liked the way it looked, and I'm not the biggest fan of MB. Even though I deliver them all day long and think certain models are really good cars, I just have no interest in owning (or leasing) the brand. BUT I can get it in my budget, and it's her car, and if she likes it i'll go for it. It's got everything she wants (except for the heated steering wheel, which she can do without). She wants to drive one, so I hope to go with her to check it out tomorrow.

Then again, I delivered an SRX recently and thought it was decent. Nicely optioned, it has everything she wants (again, except for the heated steering wheel). The ride is smooth, the initial 0-10 acceleration could use a little more oompf, but anything is better than the laggy startup on the RDX. I showed her a few pics, she said she didn't like the way the front looked, said it looked like "a stretched RDX" - I told her it's 8" longer than the RDX, she wasn't too happy about it. I told her the GLK is 8" shorter than the RDX, it didn't bother her. I guess I have to get her into one to see if she really would consider it or not. Between the GLK and the SRX, i'd rather the SRX. She said she would want to see/drive one to decide.

Another option is the VW Tiguan. It's a little bit of a step down, but I would get one loaded to the balls (SEL with Nav/Dynaudio). It's priced slightly higher than the MB or Caddy, which discourages me in the thought of paying more for a VW. It's also a lot shorter than any of the crossover's discussed in this thread. Interior isn't as nice, but features are not bad. It's probably more fun to drive than the others, too. Has everything she wants except for the liftgate and heated wheel.

I can't think of any other small SUV that she would like. Any thoughts? Remember, size is important, and i'm looking to LEASE, not buy. Looking to keep the payment as close to $400 as possible.

I'm confused... I never thought with me being in the business and having access to any car I would have such a hard time making a decision.

FWIW, this was the SRX I delivered back in February:





I took this video to show my wife some of the features of the car - and no, I wasn't watching what I was recording while driving, I was just moving my phone around the car while driving, so no animals were injured in the recording of this video

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lELajpZPkQg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Discuss.

phee

iTrader: (5)

Perhaps an fx35? Or is it the ex35? (basically a lifted g35)

Have you seen my gold thread?

Shoofin

She doesn't like the FX. I/my brother had an '03, she hated it back then, and she still hates it today, even thought he new one is that much nicer. Plus it leases out probably $150 more per month than what i'm paying now. We thought about the EX35 but I think it's too small..Plus the G35x I had back in '05 was jinxed, so she's got a bad taste in her mouth about the Infiniti brand.

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

What about the Veracruz? I've always like the look of it. Don't think it has the power liftgate though.

Shoofin

Too big, don't want a Hyundai.

65 Fury Convert

I had an SRX as a lonaer and was impressed with the ride. I thought it could use a little more power down low. It had this sunroof that opened up to the 2nd row of seats - it was huge! All in all I liked it.

65 Fury Convert

How about the Lexus RX?

Shoofin

It's more expensive. I don't mind it, but my parents have one too. And the thought of me driving the same car my parents have =

charliemike

Maybe a Q5 2.0T?

Even thought it's probably expensive as hell ...

Ford Edge Sport Plenty of technology and it looks great.

SpiderX1016

Ford Edge?

Shoofin

I'd love the Q5, but the cars are very hard to get, dealers are gouging prices, leases are over $700 per month for a Premium Plus Navigation model

Ford Edge, not really my cup of tea..

AZuser

VW Tiguan/Touareg?

Mazda CX-7/CX-9?

Subaru Tribeca?

Toyota Venza?

Street Spirit

If it's her car, why not let her decide --- your thoughts about the look or brand aside, as long as it meets what she wants, what she needs, and the payment you are looking for? You drive what you want and let her have the same enjoyment with her car. If she'll be driving it five days a week (maybe you borrow it here and there), *she* is the one who needs to like everything about it.

Not sure what else to add to your list since you have a better idea than anyone what payments are like right now, but make the biggest list of what falls within both hers and your criteria and let her decide from there, then throw in your two cents after she's had a chance to see and drive them all.

speedemon90

I was gonna suggest ford edge since you said no to the main ones. Whats left that hasnt been said?? Do you want a toyota or honda? Doesnt subaru have a decent crossover? But I dunno if it will have all the bells and whistles you're looking for.

PortlandRL

And what is wrong with Hyundai?

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

X3

TSXmeister

+1

neuronbob

Your only solution is to keep showing your wife CUVs until she finds one she likes. FWIW, the 2012 SRX comes with a punchier engine. Has she actually sat in one? It's not bad.

How about a Pilot or (if that's too big for her) a CRV? Our Pilot is fracking bulletproof.

Shoofin

Mazda CX7 she actually likes, but the lease program sucks nuts. When there were programs on the CX7/CX9, the 9 was actually a cheaper lease with the exception of a base stripped 7 sport. But now, Japan has a huge impact on the Mazda brand, so a bad lease program is actually worse right now. Ditto the CX9. Plus the 9 is too big for her.

Subaru - too big, and also affected by Japan.

Venza - Japan. Plus she doesn't like the style of it.

VW Tiguan is a contender, but considering it's more expensive than the MB or Caddy, I would rather drive those two than a VW for the money. Touareg is nice, but hard to get and expensive (over 600/mo).

Shoofin

I have to get her into an SRX for her to decide. Since I delivered that one back in february, I always kept it in the back of my head. It wasn't until yesterday, I got something from GM with rebate offers that would further lower the price that made it a contender. I would probably go for the 2011 model, not wait for the 2012 to come out. I don't think she will have a problem with the performance of the current engine.

Honda Pilot, too big. Also expensive now as a result of Japan.

Shoofin

Don't like the look of their SUV/CUV's.

Shoofin

She has no idea what she wants. The last time I waited for her to decide on what she wanted was a watch for her, it took over 2 years before she found a watch that she liked. Every other day she asks me what she's getting next. She is expecting me to give her the ideas, and once she considers it, then we go to look at it. She knows about 1% that I know about cars, so as long as I give her options, she considers based on my choices. Sucks.

pttl

Tiguan = MORE than a MB?!?!?

Carnac says MB is in your future. :swami:

dannyboy10

Looks like you may have to bump up the payment if you do not want the RDX again or "downgrade" to a CRV/RAV4 model.

Volvo XC60's are nice but the residual is not as good as other makes.

How about the Audi A4 Quattro if she does not have to have a CUV ?

huy33

Do the total opposite and surprise her with a convertible...and some hand towels?

HBaJ

Yeah, any issues with wagons? An A4 wagon/TSX wagon would be really nice. Also are you set on leasing? Maybe finance a 1 or 2 year old MDX/Toureg?

Bilybobjef

Going a little more upscale than the Edge with the Lincoln MKX suggestion even though they are very similar. Just haven't seen it mentioned yet.

phee

iTrader: (5)

cayenne?

How about my TDI thread?

Shoofin

CR-V and RAV4 + Japan effects = high price

I like the XC60, she does too, priced it out, the way we like it is well over $600/month.

She doesn't want a sedan. I can get some great deals on the A4/328xi/C300 4Matic, well under $500/month but she doesn't want a sedan, she wants a small SUV.

Once you get a woman into driving something higher up the road with a more commanding view, they never want to drive something lower to the ground again. I go through this every day with my customers too.

Shoofin

She doesn't like convertibles, she likes her "privacy"

Shoofin

I'd love a Cayenne, but not for $800+/month

TDI - I can steal an ML350 Bluetec, well into my range, but she hates the MB electronic stalk shifter. I was convincing her to get the ML but once she realized it has the shifter on the stalk, she nixed it. She wants a shifter on the floor. The GLK has the floor shifter, which was why we shifted the the GLK initially.

Street Spirit

But that's exactly what I mean --- give her the entire list of everything you come up with that fits both her needs and the budget, then take an entire day (or two days in a row) and take her to test drive all of the ones *she's* narrowed it down to. Then you'll have her decision. Certainly not suggesting you wait for her to come to you if she's not the type of person to do all of the research first.

My point was just that there were already quite a few suggestions here, but you mentioned things like *you* didn't like how it looked or *you* didn't like how it drove, but why not let her decide.....she might end up liking one that you aren't *as* fond of. Wouldn't that be okay?

Shoofin

She doesn't like the way the MKX looks. It's also a bit out of my range.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Give up the RDX, wifey can take the Cooper, and you get the Elise

Street Spirit

I know you mentioned Subaru's price has gone up.... Would the Outback still fall within your price range? It's a GREAT 'car'...a little bit of both worlds...not the typical CUV look, but higher ground clearance than a sedan. The more powerful engine was GREAT but maybe she'd be fine with the base engine...

Shoofin

That's what I've been doing. Of all the cars I've mentioned we have it narrowed down to the ML and Caddy. She doesn't "love" either of the two but is willing to take a look at them. Either way, I want to have some sort of like to what I get her too. Even though I might drive her car once a month or so, It would be nice to enjoy driving it too.

Street Spirit

Can you just hang onto the RDX for another year or two and see how pricing on other vehicles settles in after this whole Japan issue?

Shoofin

She doesn't like the Subie. Tried that one already.

Shoofin

Push comes to shove she knows that she has the option of extending her lease for 6 months to a year. Only annoying part is that i'll have to pay about $40/month more than what I'm paying now to cover the tax on each payment. You have no idea how frugal my wife is, she makes everything so much more difficult to decide. I end up getting things I want behind her back because if she ever had a say, I wouldn't get what I want when I want.

pttl

Kia Sorento SX V6 Korean...Lots of features.