Which luxury SUV for towing 5000 LBS for $5000 dollars?

I've been a longtime proponent of towing with a car. Well, I'm full of E36 M3. I don't want to think about towing anymore. I don't want to think about whether or not the trailer is balanced just right or am I into the boost to long or any other nonsense. I just want to hook up the trailer (~ 1500 LBS), drive the race car on (-2200 LBS), throw my stuff in the back, and go racing. I don't want to live with a full size pickup truck in Toronto, so that's out. I'm going to use this for winter driving to work and hauling more than one other person in the summer (a summer two seater is also in the works).

Since I'm a Saab guy, the 97x is an obvious choice. I don't think I want anything German. I'm also thinking strongly about the Acura MDX in 2005ish vintage with the towing package. Anything else to consider? Anyone have one they want to sell?

I feel better all ready about my next race/towing outing.

MDX won't handle it well. For the money, an american frame on is best. Cady or Lincoln. Rover would also work, but reliability?

My thought went to the Escalade. "luxury", tows like any other Tahoe (meaning well) and parts are still cheapish.

Agree with MArk, a used MDX won't hold up well to that IMO. Especially the vintage you're looking at. The newer 07-up would be better but then you're not in the price range.

markwemple wrote: MDX won't handle it well. For the money, an american frame on is best. Cady or Lincoln. Rover would also work, but reliability?

Agreed. For the price you're looking at and the fact that you just want to hook up and forget about it, you can't beat an American made body on frame. Define luxury? An Escalade is just a loaded Tahoe/Suburban with more bells and whistles (i.e. things to break) and a bunch of chrome and Cadillac badges. A hard loaded with leather Tahoe or Suburban would do everything you want. Just make sure to look for the 5.3 or 6.0. The 4.8, while a cool motor, is rather gutless for towing.

-Rob

IME, a cheap Escalade is more likely to require large amounts of expensive repair because it wasn't bought as a truck, it was bought as a fancy lookin' car, and GOSH it's expensive to keep up so let's just sell it. Then you get to replace the transfer case, the front differential, some wheel bearings, all the brakes, most of the front end, and a lot of underhood maintenance, just to bring it up to tow-worthy.

Plus as noted, all the things that make an Escalade different from a Tahoe are usually inoperative or shredded.

markwemple wrote: MDX won't handle it well. For the money, an american frame on is best. Cady or Lincoln. Rover would also work, but reliability?

Going to disagree. We used the MDX as a comparator once, it's a fine tow vehicle. Really good.

If its rated to tow 5000lb, it was tested at a far higher weight and drag, under really hot ambient conditions, going up a long pass in Nevada.

If you like the Acura, go for it.

Infiniti QX4 is the droid you are looking for.

alfadriver wrote:

markwemple wrote: MDX won't handle it well. For the money, an american frame on is best. Cady or Lincoln. Rover would also work, but reliability?

Going to disagree. We used the MDX as a comparator once, it's a fine tow vehicle. Really good. If its rated to tow 5000lb, it was tested at a far higher weight and drag, under really hot ambient conditions, going up a long pass in Nevada. If you like the Acura, go for it.

How would the transmission hold up long term though?

(Serious question)

Gen 3 Montero.

mtn wrote:

alfadriver wrote:

markwemple wrote: MDX won't handle it well. For the money, an american frame on is best. Cady or Lincoln. Rover would also work, but reliability?

Going to disagree. We used the MDX as a comparator once, it's a fine tow vehicle. Really good. If its rated to tow 5000lb, it was tested at a far higher weight and drag, under really hot ambient conditions, going up a long pass in Nevada. If you like the Acura, go for it.

How would the transmission hold up long term though? (Serious question)

After 10 years slingin' parts for them, not well. There are always the exception to the rule for sure. There were some that lasted a long time (not towing). But many many more with issues. They were never meant to be a tow rig. They were meant to be a stylish SVU-looking Odessey.

Another issue, though is weight. The heavier the tow beast, the better for towing. Plus wheelbase. Our suburban is a great backup tow beast and gets 18 to 19 on trips not hauling and 14 to 15 hauling. It has a 5.3 and only part time 4x4. The Escalade is awd and that box has issues. The Lincoln has the ford motor with the spark plug issues. I'm in the Tahoe/ Yukon/Suburban camp. Plus the 01 to 04 fits your budget and is bullet proof. And at the 5k mark, you should get a lot of bells and whistles.

05-07 Sequioa. We tow 5k all over the place with ours. Never have to worry about it. They can be found easily on CL for that price range these days. Tons of luxury features, quiet, rides nice, etc.

Dumb question... if you don't want a full-size truck, how is a full-size SUV significantly different?

Seriously, 5k lbs is pushing it for anything less than a BOF vehicle. Would you consider a Roadmaster?

Sequoia seems to hold their value too well for that price point. For 5K and towing a decent trailer I'd say either a '04-'06 Suburban/Tahoe or the same year Expedition. Some people will whine about the 5.4 liter plugs but that's a once and done proposition. The ford has better brakes, better suspension, and arguably a better transmission. I had an '04 Expedition and it just worked. Cooled seats were luxurious enough for me

I loved our 9-7x but i had to replace the engine due to the displacement on demand failing and killing rod bearing. We traded it in a couple weeks ago with what might have been signs of transfer case failure

It was comfortable, handled well, was quick, had v8 rumbles, stopped nice and the seats were sweet. But i could never recommend one

mtn wrote:

alfadriver wrote:

markwemple wrote: MDX won't handle it well. For the money, an american frame on is best. Cady or Lincoln. Rover would also work, but reliability?

Going to disagree. We used the MDX as a comparator once, it's a fine tow vehicle. Really good. If its rated to tow 5000lb, it was tested at a far higher weight and drag, under really hot ambient conditions, going up a long pass in Nevada. If you like the Acura, go for it.

How would the transmission hold up long term though? (Serious question)

Bob answered that better than I know- I don't follow other car's specific durability issues.

But one of my favorite tow packages was a Ford Edge. I have a 700lb trailer and a 2400lb car to pull around. It was really nice to pull- it did a much better job than a Ranger rated for more. And I really don't like to have a truck- which is very wasteful when not towing relative to a SUV/CUV. And I know in many aspects, the Acura is a better vehicle (based on our tests).

I towed a few times with our pilot. 4k was hard work for it. Mileage sucked and felt like the tail wagging the dog. Although, I'm used to towing with a f250 crew cab 4x4 7.3 diesel. So that creates bias.

Pricing on a Sequoia might be a location thing, they are cheaper than comparable 4Runners, Tahoes and Yukons here.

What about the big Lexus? The LX470 I think? It's big and cushy and can tow 7k lbs. Toyota reliability? I know the mileage is abysmal but the few I've been in have been lovely to sit in.

In reply to mazdeuce:

Lexus LX was going to be my suggestion. I bet you can get one in that price range with some shopping. Often have locking differentials. Rugged as all get out. Early ones are a bit underpowered with the inline six.

A lx470 around here would be 10k with high miles

Brett_Murphy wrote: Pricing on a Sequoia might be a location thing, they are cheaper than comparable 4Runners, Tahoes and Yukons here.

More expensive here. And smaller with worse fuel economy. We were looking at those too but gm won out for us. I do like them. Absolute tanks.

LX470 is a Land Cruiser in a suit. So cross shop them if you're into that model. Can't really go wrong with either one.

My bad. Just checked and a lx 470 with a ton of miles can be had for under 5k. Earlier this year they were 10k all day long. Wow! Yeah a lot of truck for the $$. And they are hand built in their own factory with the land cruiser.

Explorer Limited (V8), Expedition, Tahoe