Car Experts of HROT......

[jaffarosenfels]

Looking for something for the wife that will also work for our towing needs. Just looking for a bit of advice on anything to stay away from. Maybe certain engines on certain models to stay away from etc.
Wants:
3rd Row Seating
Tows at least 3500 lbs
4wd or AWD
2007 or newer
100k or less on the odometer
$15k or less on the pricetag(paying $$ as we don't want a payment)
Not a huge truck looking thing(No Tahoes or Expeditions)

Been looking at Acura MDX, AUDI Q7 and Volvo XC90. Any thoughts on these? Like I said, engines within these models to stay away from?

Anything else I should be looking at?

Side note, I have done some research but figured I would check with the all around knowledge here at HROT before I get any deeper on this.

 

[moral_victory]

I'm not sure HROT is the place to come for advice on vehicles costing less than 15000.

 

[Madman_1]

I'm not sure HROT is the place to come for advice on vehicles costing less than 15000.

Agreed. Now, if you are looking for TIRES less than $15,000.00, that would be different...

 

[91hawki]

I would stay away from the Volvo- just not reliable as other choices.

 

[jaffarosenfels]

I would stay away from the Volvo- just not reliable as other choices.

Thanks. Any idea some of the major co$t issues with the Volvo after 100k miles? I think I read they having a timing chain so that helps.

 

[The Tradition]

I always thought the Acura MDX looked like a sweet ride.

But any of those choices will involve being raped by the dealership for anything needing to be done. The difference in pricing on parts between Acura vs. Honda is ridiculous.

 

[QChawks]

Toyota Highlander would be perfect but would hard to find in the price. Spend a $25K and get a nice leliable ride.

 

[jaffarosenfels]

I'm not sure HROT is the place to come for advice on vehicles costing less than 15000.

How about this: Hi, I am looking to buy a SUV and hope to drive it til it has 200k miles. What is best?

 

[Hawki97]

Based on what you want and within the parameters you've set - an MDX is the obvious choice IMHO. Bought one 12 years ago for the same reasons you're looking at one and it still sits in my garage as a 3rd car option. Q7 is going to push you over your $15K (and the engines didn't get great until the 3L came out anyway) and as said earlier I'd stay away from the Volvo unless you feel like rolling the dice on repair costs. MDX is going to give you a reliable car, many luxury level options at that price, and be able to tow light and have 3rd row seating.

 

[95Hawk]

We're obviously going to need a pic of the wife to understand if she is a Volvo/Honda/Toyota/GMC/Ford type of gal and how good her mileage is.....

 

[ICWestfan]

What are you towing and what distance?

 

[jaffarosenfels]

Toyota Highlander would be perfect but would hard to find in the price. Spend a $25K and get a nice leliable ride.

These are nice but I'm reading the towing capacity is only 2000 lbs.

 

[jaffarosenfels]

We're obviously going to need a pic of the wife to understand if she is a Volvo/Honda/Toyota/GMC/Ford type of gal and how good her mileage is.....

Have to resort to the 'post your pic' thread.

 

[jaffarosenfels]

What are you towing and what distance?

We would be towing some sort of pop up camper up into the mountains here in CO. This is why I need to be a bit thrifty on the automobile since this will be the next purchase.

 

[Catfish_ Crazy]

These are nice but I'm reading the towing capacity is only 2000 lbs.

Is the Acura rated more than this?

 

[ICWestfan]

You arent going to find much. That said I'd look at Jeeps but doubt you'd find the 3rd row seat. A popup isn't going to tear up your vehicle like a boat or travel trailer would so there is that.

 

[jaffarosenfels]

I always thought the Acura MDX looked like a sweet ride.

But any of those choices will involve being raped by the dealership for anything needing to be done. The difference in pricing on parts between Acura vs. Honda is ridiculous.

I hear ya and agree on the looks of the MDX. Funny thing is the Pilot(which misses on the looks a bit) is just as expensive to get off a used car lot.

 

[ThorneStockton]

I would take a look at consumer reports

 

[jaffarosenfels]

Is the Acura rated more than this?

Yup. 5000 lbs

 

[jaffarosenfels]

I would take a look at consumer reports

Yeah and I have and will some more. I just know there are a few folks in the business who seem to have really good knowledge on the topic.

 

[stillh8unlv]

My brothers on his third MDX, swears by them, runs them up over 200k and gets another one.

On a side note, he uses his Suburban to do real towing though - says the MDX will do most of it, but it's much easier on the Sub, and may explain the longevity of his MDX's

 

[QChawks]

These are nice but I'm reading the towing capacity is only 2000 lbs.

With towing package up to 5000 lbs.

 

[jaffarosenfels]

With towing package up to 5000 lbs.

Ah thanks. Will look into it.

 

[Honda Hawk]

To get less miles and longer use I'd say the Nissan Pathfinder or Honda Pilot. You need the higher end stuff? I'd rather go down 30/40k in miles and get more out of it if you're looking to be at $15k

 

[91hawki]

The Acura will be more reliable and cheaper to maintain than the Volvo or Audi.

I would also take a look at the Toyota 4 runner and the GMC Acadia.

 

[Funky Bunch]

All of the car makers put out really good products today. Don't buy what someone else tells you they like. Get what fits your needs.

 

[Funky Bunch]

To get less miles and longer use I'd say the Nissan Pathfinder or Honda Pilot. You need the higher end stuff? I'd rather go down 30/40k in miles and get more out of it if you're looking to be at $15k

Hey Honda Hawk. Did you watch the new Ridgeline introduction? It was kind of lame. I'm on my 2nd RL since 2005. I still love it but this one isn't gonna last long.

 

[91hawki]

They are ugly, but pilot would be a good choice

 

[Honda Hawk]

Hey Honda Hawk. Did you watch the new Ridgeline introduction? It was kind of lame. I'm on my 2nd RL since 2005. I still love it but this one isn't gonna last long.

Sure did. They're still doing some cool things, but I HATE the looks of that truck. In my opinion the front end needs to be bolder/squared off. Instead it looks as though they cut a Pilots third row out and made a bed.

The flat trunk, 400 watt plug in, wider bed, and the speaker set up in the bed are all pretty cool/interesting ideas. I don't sell Honda anymore...I'm curious to see how they do with this thing. Great ideas, just think the styling is going to have people run the other way (Tacoma).

 

[QChawks]

Tacoma Sport owner here. Very happy.

If your into tech savvy stuff look elsewhere though. It's very simple but runs and rides like amazing.

 

[IowaHawkIT]

How about this: Hi, I am looking to buy a SUV and hope to drive it til it has 200k miles. What is best?

We have a 2006 XC90 with about 207,000 miles. Hope to get another year out of it.

 

[IowaHawkIT]

I would also be interested in hearing about the service side of Acuras. When we do get rid of our Volvo, I would really like to get an MDX but we don't have an Acura dealership near us and I didn't know if that would be a big deal when it came to service.

 

[longliveCS40]

Honda Pilot covers the bases you've mentioned and gets good long term test ratings.

 

[IAFootball#1]

The difference in pricing on parts between Acura vs. Honda is ridiculous.

Are you talking about like a 2:1 markup? I just bought a Acura RSX, as a work car, knowing that it sometimes has an issue with its idle.
Have a appointment with the dealership tomorrow to get it looked at. Praying for a cheap fix.

 

[linkshero]

I just happen to have something that might work for you. It had a bunch of custom work done to it, custom windows, custom paint, the GPS in it was state of the art, it can even drive itself. I will post a pic.

Full disclosure, it was slightly damaged after this pic was taken.

 

[IAFootball#1]

Jaffa- Thank you. You inspired me after a vehicular accident left me in a coma, and needing brain surgery.
While in rehab, you always wheeled a tv into my room. And you would sit there and watch the football games with me.
You have no idea how much my family and I appreciated the care that we received.