Random rants about new SUV shopping - none of which are directed at dealerships

I need/want to replace my 2007 Explorer that has 145k miles on it. My wife drives it mostly to haul 2 kids (almost 6, almost 2) and the dog in her crate. It is our weekend and travel vehicle. Tows various things occasionally and at least once a year hauls a 17' boat with gear in it and canoe on top on a 10-12 hour trip. Random rants:

1. My wife won't participate in the decision. Wife: I don't care - get whatever. Me: But you drive it mostly - you have to be comfortable in it. Wife: Whatever is fine. Me (sarcastically) Ok - I'll get a Suburban XL (being wholly unnecessary and ill suited for her driving/parking/etc. Her: Fine. SMH! This may seem like a bonus, but I just know there will be stuff that she doesn't like. I may not hear about it, but it still bugs me that she won't put thought into it. I'm not asking her to shop with me or go buy it - just help think about what she needs/wants and maybe do a quick test drive.

2. I feel like my options are limited. I know the market has shifted from SUVs to more car like CUVs etc. I need something with usable third row at times, 4x4 or AWD, and a decent towing capacity (to me 5,000 lbs. is the minimum I should have). I just don't see much out there. A truck makes no sense for us. I drove and liked the new Explorer, but I'm concerned about power and weight when loaded down and towing. I've never been drawn to chevy or GMC's offerings, but I may have to go look at the Traverse.

3. I actually enjoy car shopping - I like the hunt, the negotiation. My problem is time - I just don't have it. I can't buy something that costs as much as a new car without putting the research into it to be confident I'm doing well on price - I just need to get time to do it. I've decided I want to trade the existing Explorer before it crosses 150K. I have a month or may be more. Who needs sleep.

Wife doesn't care, until you bring the wrong SUV home. Then she'll care forever.

Sounds like a Suburban would be the right call.......

Acura MDX maybe?

And as for trading in the Explorer with 150K? I can't imagine the dealerships are going to give you anything for it, better to sell it privately and go into the dealer with cash. Most places won't put something with that many miles out on the lot, it just gets sent to the auction.

Suburban/Yukon XL, Tahoe/Yukon/Denali, Expedition, Sequoya, Armada/QX9000, LandCruiser/LX470.

There are few others but those seem like your major choices. I know there are a few other crossovers that will do 5000+ but they are few and far between.

Start with your price range. You want a 20k vehicle or are you looking up into the 30k or 40k or.......

Start there. There really is a lot of options. If you do not care about mpg, its really open. If you pay attention to that, well then you can start to dwindle down.

Also, with a 5k tow rating. There is quite a few with that. Traverse I think has it, new exploder, X5, Q7, Touareg, Edgemaybe I cant recall. But all of these can be a if equipped with this ONE thing.

http://duramaxsuburbans.com/

All the above plus toyota highlander. Properly equiped they can tow 5k--both the current and previous gen. That is rather high for a cuv. If you are adventurous, try the land rover lr3/4 also.

Swank Force One wrote: Wife doesn't care, until you bring the wrong SUV home. Then she'll care forever.

Which will be what ever you bring home.

What others have said is correct. No matter what you bring home, it's the wrong car. Unfortunately your wife has played the "I don't care" card, which is very nearly the ultimate card in the woman arsenal for getting what she wants. My advice? Buy the biggest, scariest thing you can afford. Go for broke. Whatever happens, you're hosed, so you might as well get something out of the deal. If my wife pulled that on me, I'd be driving a diesel Excursion right about meow. Black on black with cop bars, FBI style.

Thanks all. My thinking (and we'll find out if it's right fairly soon) is that I'm at the last point of any possible useful trade in before it makes more sense to drive it until it dies. I'm hoping to legitimately get 8K or more on trade in. I think it will sell here for $9,995, but you are right, they might wholesale it. It's really clean and loaded though. I plan to clean it up and see what they say when I've decided on what I want and go in to talk numbers. One of the reasons to upgrade and not keep it are I just don't want to have to worry about major repairs at this point and being out that vehicle. I bought it very well and it has served us well - it's just time to upgrade to low mileage newish ride. I do have a Jeep Grand Cherokee with 180K that I just can't seem to let die, so I don't need 2 of those (the next $500 repair needed on the jeep, and it's gone).

As far as size, a suburban or Yukon XL really is bigger than we need. Our current Explorer is just big enough. Room-wise, I think the new Explorer will be just fine - its bigger in some areas and smaller in others. I actually prefer the more car-like ride for most of what we'll use it for. It still seems to be adequate for the gravel off road, snow etc. use it will get. I just imagine it might be a little more sluggish than I'd like loaded and towing. Do they make a bolt on turbo? ;)

I plan to look at the regular Yukon too, but it is just so much more money.

Fullsize van. More room, same MPG, cheaper to buy.

hotchocolate wrote: All the above plus toyota highlander. Properly equiped they can tow 5k--both the current and previous gen. That is rather high for a cuv. If you are adventurous, try the land rover lr3/4 also.

The Highlander also has a third seat, FWIW.

Do the new 4Runners have a third row? I know the previous generation did (but the previous ones also had V-8's, which I think now you can only get a 6). If not then I'd second the Highlander.

Ford Expedition is still available or short Yukon rather than XL version.

Big Jeep or New Dodge Durango?

Gearheadotaku wrote: Fullsize van. More room, same MPG, cheaper to buy.

Astro Van IMO. Fits the bill in everyway, lower cg compared to suv's so they handle better, super comfy, better mpg.

I remember looking at the Highlander when I bought my 07 in early 08. I'll have to look at that one.

I love the new gen 4Runners.

Rated for 5K towing.

Remember OP said 5K tow rating MINIMUM. Something that squeeks it likely isn't going to cut it.

I did say 5K minimum, but 5k should be adequate if the powertrain is up to the task and the vehicle won't be overloaded when packed (I've seen a few listed at 4,000 or 4,500 and thought they probably would squeak by at best). I don't need 8K towing. Seeing that the 4 runner is at 4,700, I probably should do some math on what I'm towing and see what my limit really is - I'm surprised the 4 runner isn't higher.

I guess I'm that odd shopper that actually needs and uses 4wd/AWD in actual off-road situations regularly enough (dirt, grass and/or gravel, with some ground clearance required that a minivan or wagon (save Outback) probably wouldn't handle), that hauls people and gear for 4-8 days, with a usable roof rack, that can tow a 17' V hull aluminum boat and sizable motor, while not feeling underpowered doing so, and while still doing it in relative comfort and still be reasonable as a day to day commuter and grocery/kid getter. Is that too hard to ask?

I do want a new or newish ride, probably 2013 or newer, with under 15K miles. It will put on 17-18K miles a year or more, and I'll pay it off in 4 and keep it for 7 years or more if I like it. I'd keep my current Explorer if I wanted a cheaper high mileage vehicle. It has been paid for for awhile, but annual maintenance averaged per month is starting to approach half a car payment or more (plugs, suspension, coils, A/C system, etc.) and that situation will only get worse.

I sprang for a 2003 Xterra recently, cool little trucklet. The 2005-up is available with everything you list except 3rd row seating. The only weak point I've heard of on the later ones is transmission cooler failure.

JohnRW1621 wrote: Ford Expedition is still available or short Yukon rather than XL version.

I happen to like the long version of this Yukon but I 2nd what JohnRW1621 posted. Those are two good options and if it helps my wife was way less worried about how big the vehicle was. She cared much more about how high up she was sitting and her ability to see further down the road and over cars. Thus the expedition was the vehicle of choice over the Yukon

Just get another Exploder.

Check out the new Durango R/T with the V8. We almost got one but decided to go used/cheaper instead. I drove it and it drives "small" and almost sporty (especially compared to our plodding Sequoia). The 3rd row is a 2-person seat, but with adult legroom. The engine is STRONG...it gets up and goes. And the style is low-key and stylish (IMO) and your wife will probably like it. The non-R/T rides and handles nice as well, and even the V6 is pretty smooth and strong I thought.

Again though the big thing is that it seats 7 adults comfortably, has nice fit and finish, and drives like a smaller truck (good for the wife). Plus it tows 7k or 8k, IIRC. The chassis is the Benz GL-class chassis, so it's solid and good ride/handling.

Wasn't one I would have thought about until I drove it. Still kind of regret not getting it, and that's saying a lot since we really like the Sequoia.

Then again, my wife DID care and it's her daily...so I had limited options needing a functional 3rd row and a vehicle she actually liked the look of.