OK. Honda, Toyota, Mercedes or Lexus?

[Flaxbee]

If you were going to buy a small SUV (or one of the SUVs that look almost like elevated cars, if you know what I mean), and assuming money wasn't a huge object - mostly you're looking to get a very good vehicle for your money - it's the only family car so we can pay a little more for it - what would you buy? Taking into account gas mileage, comfort, reliability, cost of maintenance, etc.

And, are any of the more recent years better than others? I really hesitate to buy a new car and lose thousands of dollars in value the second I drive it off the lot. I'd buy anything from 2004-2005-2006. Unless there are very good reasons to buy new as opposed to slightly-used; I'd be willing to hear arguments in favor of new.

Please, avoid environmental comments. I live in the mountains, off a dirt road, and my current 4-cylinder car just can't cope with some of the big mountains I have to go over. I work in the field of alternative energy, and just need a reliable vehicle, not a sedan, b/c I have to go over bad roads sometimes.

I'd also consider a very sturdy, smaller station wagon.

No Subarus. My husband has an irrational dislike of them, and ain't no way we're going to get one. So the choices are above. Maybe, maybe a Hyundai Santa Fe or their newer Tucson.

Comments welcome!

[JVS]

1. honda

[Ptah]

2. Oh Lord won't you buy me a

[Flaxbee]

6. yes, indeed.

can't say "Mercedes Benz" w/o that going through my head...

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

3. toyota, mercedes?

I think Toyota has a hybrid SUV. I'm generally impressed with Toyota.
I like the look of the older Mercedes diesel sedans. SUV?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

4. Toyota and Lexus both make hybrid SUVs.

Personally, I'd go with the hybrid Toyota Highlander myself. If I had the money, I'd get one. I know a few people who own them and they think they're great. They're landscapers, so they do take a beating and handle it well.

[ccjlld]

5. I have a 03 Honda CRV

and I love it! It gets fairly good gas mileage, I get around 18 mpg in town and around 24-26 mpg on the Highway. It has full time all-wheel drive. It's only a 4-cylinder engine but I don't know what Honda does, cause it acts and responds like a 6-cylinder. When I step on the gas, it goes! It is very comfortable even on long trips. Its fairly roomy and comfy for up to 4 adults. The back seats fold down to give you extra carrying room. The only quality complaint I have about the thing is very small. The drawer under the passengers seat seems to be not designed very well. Other than that, All the controls are convenient and easy to use. The console between the front seats folds down which is very handy. One of the things I love is that the floor mats all snap together and there are hooks that hold them down so they don't shift around. I've got the Ex model with the 6 Cd changes and auto everything, including a moon roof. It also has side air bags.

Honda has a scheduled maintenance every 20,000 miles that runs around $200-$300, and sometimes that irritates me, but other than oil changes and tire rotations, it's the only work I've had done on it.

All in all, it has been a dependable, fun, comfortable vehicle to drive. When I decide to trade this one in, I will probably get another CRV.

[Briarius]

18. I'd vote for a CRV

My grandmother had one before she passed on and she loved it! Heck, I loved driving it! Good in the snow and pretty peppy, it gave her no hassles.

[Hard_Work]

7. We have a 2004

Chrysler Pacifica we bought when we found out my wife was pregnant. This is an exceptional vehicle, very roomy, with gas mileage comparable to the others (except hybrids, of course). Since Mercedes is on your list, know that this vehicle was the first one engineered by Daimler after the merger(takeover).

It was also the first of the "elevated cars" you refer to. And it meets 5 star front crash rating thingy.

[Flaxbee]

9. I have admired the Pacificas before...

maybe we'll take a look at them, thanks for the input.

[LeftyMom]

8. Family car, mountains, dirt roads?

I hate to say this, since it's not what your better half wants to hear, but the Subaru's the way to go. They last forever, they're very nice inside and the Outback wagons handle steep grades without complaint. Up in the mountains here they make up almost half the cars on the road, for very good reason, they just handle that enviornment well. If he can't get over the dislike, Volvo and VW/Audi also make AWD wagons, but I think the ground clearance isn't as good and they're not as reliable as the Subies.

I don't think one of those mini-utes would hold up well to that kind of use, so my next choice would probably the Toyota Highlander, in the hybrid if the price difference were reasonable and performance was similar.

I agree with you, if at all possible a couple of years old is better than new, but for some of the cars with an AWD option or with they hybrids, that may prove hard to track down. Also, you may be able to get a good deal on an '06 right now that makes new worth it, especially if they're giving beter financing as well.

[billyskank]

23. Subaru Impreza WRX

That's the way forward. At a million miles an hour :rofl:

[Tyo]

10. Who could dislike a Subaru? Anyway.....

I'd stay away from Mercedes. They're beautifully designed, but they've had some serious reliability issues over the last few years and I don't think they've quite gotten them taken care of yet. BMW makes two nice little SUVs, the X5 and the slightly smaller X3 and I think they are actually designed for some moderate off road use plus they are dynamite on the highway.

Both Toyota and Honda have great track records in terms of reliability. I've heard a lot of good things about the Honda Pilot, but I'm not sure that the smaller Honda CR-V (or its Toyota competitor) is built for the kind of driving you do.

Can't really speak about the Korean products, although I think that they are right up there in reliability now, offer a good warranty, and give you a lot for your money in terms of features.

Although it's kind of big and kind of a gas hog, you might consider a Toyota 4-Runner. They are built to go just about anywhere you need to go and last forever. If you need serious off-the-freeway capability they are hard to beat in their price-range.

Anyway, these are my opinions. (I have no association with any of the manufacturers mentioned above) :)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

11. Subarus are ugly station wagons for lesbians. nt

[Tyo]

13. Does this mean my partner has to give his up?

I mean obviously he's a total failure as a lesbian.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

14. No, but it does mean I got to make fun of a straight coworker a whole lot

when she put a rainbow sticker on the back of her subaru "because it was pretty." It was even better the day that we had three subarus with the rainbow sticker parked directly across from the store.

[Tyo]

16. Oh man, was she ever hit on by women who had gotten the wrong idea? n/t

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

17. She said sometimes women would randomly wave to her when she was

driving, but she never knew why until I informed her as to what the rainbow meant. And the thing is, she's not an oblivious person. Politically, she's very liberal and very aware. Apparently, despite having quite a few gay friends, the rainbow thing just skipped over her head. She did take the rainbow off though and replaced it with a 'straight but not narrow' sticker.

I mean, it could be worse. My Republican stepdad has had to drive my Jeep a few times and in addition to the assortment of liberal stickers, it has a rainbow "Girls Kick Ass!" bumpersticker. That's definitely more awkward.

[LeftyMom]

12. Mercedes is really unreliable

My sister drives one. Well, she drives it when it's not in the shop, the rest of the time she's bumming the keys of my cheap but reliable Saturn.

[FILAM23]

41. I dislike Subarus

First brand new car I ever bought was a Subaru.
It was the worst POS car, new or used,that I have ever owned.
I'd check out SAAB

[LaurenG]

15. Toyota

I have owned them for years. They just keep going and going even after they have started to rust out. Change the oil regularly and you're nearly set.

[Scooter24]

19. I think you should consider the BMW X5...

I had a chance to test drive one last week when I purchased my new car (a 325Ci).

I highly recommend them.



the 3.0 model is reasonably priced at about $42,500.

[billyskank]

20. That thing doesn't even go off road

[Scooter24]

25. Considering the OP's requirements in a vehicle...

I think the above car would do very well as a family SUV.

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2006/bmw/x5/100653450/roadtests.html

A 9.0 out of 10 customer ranking. Plus all the road tests have are positive.

I think it's well worth a shot.

If she needs more power, the X5 comes in two more models at about $55k and $72k respectively.

[Scooter24]

24. .

[billyskank]

21. You don't want to go offroad then?

You don't HAVE to get an SUV to get lots of power. They do make powerful cars too...

[Zomby Woof]

22. Nissan

Not only more reliable and better designed than any of those you listed, but more affordable too.

[TK421]

45. My very first car was an 88' Nissan Stanza....I loved that car to death,

until some fuckstick decided to make an illegal left turn ten feet in front of me four summers ago totaling the poor thing.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

26. How about the new SAAB SUV thingy?

I've always been partial to SAABs in terms of comfort and reliability. I understand they're selling a new SUV thingy in the states now, but I haven't seen one over here in Europe yet.

If not, then something in the new Volvo station wagon / SUV line might work. You get a lot of the same benefits, and a hell of a lot more safe than a Honda or Hyundai.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

29. I feel it's wrong for Saab to make an SUV.

I can't wait until I'm driving my 9-3 again.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

31. '99 9-3 owner here.

The european non-turbo version. Wonderful car. My old 900 was built better, but the new one has superior ride & comfort.

[jmowreader]

43. Saab ain't exactly "making" the 9-7X

It is the same chassis, made on the same production line in Ohio, as the Chevrolet TrailBlazer. It handles better and it's probably a little more reliable than a TrailBlazer, but it's essentially the same car.

[Digit]

27. Honda CR-V is my choice

I drive a 2005 CR-V and love it. The reason I purchased a Honda was because the dealer is less than a mile from my house while the Toyota dealership is 25 miles from me, and secondly because I felt that Honda's were slightly better quality. (my daughter has a Toyota)

Really though, you need to test drive the models you are considering and buy what YOU like.

[sakabatou]

28. Tossup between Toyota and Honda

[ForrestGump]

30. Toyota

All the way.

Lexus would be nice, but it's just a more expensive Toyota, when you come down to it.

In general, Honda and Toyota are maybe the best car makers as far as quality/reliability/price combine, but I think Toyota has the edge for your needs if only because that company has the legendary Land Cruiser in its pedigree (too big for your needs, by the sound of it). But the little Subarus are good, and perhaps the best fit for your needs (I don't know much about them, but they're almost as ubiquitous as Toyotas in the developing-nation field sites I've worked in and that, to me, says a lot about their utlitarian value as working 4WD vehicles that are not just for show). Maybe getting him over the Subaru phobia would be a good idea. :-)

[AlCzervik]

32. what about the Audi A3? I saw that one on Motorweek and they gave

it excellent reviews.

links for reviews
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/auto/review/audi_a3.htm

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/wagon/112_0507_2006_audi_a3_20t/

[flvegan]

34. That's the one I want...

couple years, maybe.

[Metta]

33. Subarus have rotten, rotten customer service. In reality,

it's a dealer protection plan. They tried to run us back to the dealer after he negligently wouldn't help us. We eventually went elsewhere out of frustration.

[Flaxbee]

35. thanks everyone -- left yesterday afternoon and missed

a bunch of replies.

Sounds like Toyota and Honda get the best marks. I'll check out the Audi, too, as it looked pretty good in its write-up, and maybe the BMW. One of our local lots has a traded-in 2005, maybe I'll go check it out.

I don't do a lot of off-roading, and I don't go bouncing around like it's fun to run up and down washboard roads and get all dirty and muddy, but sometimes to get where I'm going I need to know I have enough clearance to get around and not worry about scraping out the bottom of the car. But I don't want a huge, raised up SUV b/c I do a fair amount of freeway travel as well - I just need a happy medium that gets good mileage/has hybrid technology, if possible.

My husband doesn't fit well in Subarus, for some reason. He's quite tall, and the visibility for him just doesn't work well for some reason - we've driven a few as rental cars and he just feels all cramped and hindered and grumpy. So, that's the reason for no Subarus.

[riderinthestorm]

39. We have a Honda CRV

A 99 that runs absolutely perfectly with 166k miles on it. We've driven it all over the farm (off roading if you like), down muddy tracks, down gravel horse roads - wherever, the thing handles like a champ.

My husband is tall also(6'4), all legs, and he feels really comfortable in it.

Good luck.

[Broken_Hero]

36. of the four you listed.

toyota for sure...:hi:

[begin_within]

37. IMO. Toyotas have a high reliability track record. My 1997 Corolla has had

almost nothing go wrong with it - just a couple of little things that didn't cost much. I'm about to hit the 100,000 mile point with exactly zero major problems. My Mom drove her 1981 Celica for 130,000 miles, also with no major breakdowns, just a few minor things. Based on my experience I think Toyotas are relatively trouble-free.

[CanuckAmok]

38. Toyotas are the best.

I've had many Toyota trucks over the years. They simply cannot be beat.

Also, Toyota's alert/recall programme is second to none. Where other companies only release recall notices when a recall will cost less than the potential cost of a class-action suit, Toyota offers voluntary recalls for anything that goes wrong.

Example: the new FJ Cruiser had a couple of days of production where one tire was incorrectly seated on the rim. No danger, no safety hazard. Ther tire would just slowly lose air over a period of weeks. Instead of sticking the customer or the dealer with the minimal cost of having the tire reinstalled, Toyota did a full recall on the defective install.

Part of your decision should be based on how long you intend to keep your new vehicle. If you're one of those people who trade in on a new model every year or two, then it really doesn't matter what you buy... most new cars will give you a couple of years of trouble-free service. But if you plan on keeping it for any considerable length of time, go with a Toyota or a Honda. Not only will they outlive you, their resale values stay very high.

I prefer Toyota over Honda because Toyota's been in the truck/4x4/suv market for decades, and Honda is just getting into it, and Honda's are more expensive to maintain when their warranties are up. I prefer the size of Toyotas (I'm 6'0"), and the quality of interior components; they just "feel" nicer than any Hondas I've ever been in.

on edit

difference in Toyota versus Lexus models of the same truck (LX 450 and LX470):

"premium" brand... paying for the name "Lexus"
Lexus has higher quality leather trim
Lexus has slightly softer suspension
Lexus has a factory subwoofer in its base-model sound system
Lexus has additional sound-dampening insulation in the body panels
Lexus has additional lower body cladding
Lexus has a different kind of overhead map/reading light system

If these are important to you, then pay the extra and get a Lexus; if not, buy the Toyota, and have the same vehicle for $10,000 less.

[LSK]

40. Check out the new Jeep Patriot

The SUVs you are talking about are not real 4x4s.

[mduffy31]

42. If I had my choice

I would get the Volvo XC 90, or XC 70. Safe and I think that they look good.

[TK421]

44. I'm still driving my 1988 Camry, and the thing has never let me down

even with 195K on it. I would buy another if this one ever decided to die on me. These things are really hard to kill

[jmowreader]

46. Hummer H3, strangely enough

I know we're supposed to be averse to all wheeled hummers (the other kind is okay), but the OP has a legitimate need for one--she lives up a dirt road, goes into the field for her work, and those smaller SUVs ain't got the frame to take all that abuse. If she starts out with a new compact SUV, she'll be in the market for another one in two years because the first one will have so many cracks in the frame it won't be safe to drive.

The H3, on the other hand, has enough steel under it to survive the pounding.

Alternate vehicles are few and include the Tahoe, which is the same frame with different coachwork; the Honda Pilot; Dodge's Durango; the biggest Cherokees; and MAYBE the Toyota FJCruiser.

[sendero]

47. The only difference between..

... a Toyota and a Lexus is the cost of repairs. When you buy a "prestige" name, prepare to pay triple for parts and double for labor when things go wrong.

This goes double for a Mercedes, generally good cars but an ignition switch will set you back $1,500.

Personally, I prefer value over status, but that's just me :)

[CatholicEdHead]

48. Redesigned 2007 Honda CRV

[femmocrat]

49. We had two Honda CRVs and they were excellent vehicles.

I highly recommend them. Went like a tank through the snow!