Why did you buy the truck/SUV that you did?

[mdxtasy]

Just wanted to see what the reasons are (for all you who own trucks/SUV's) for buying what you did. 

We purchased a 2004 MDX 2 years ago when we were expecting our first child.  We did not originally look at a midsize but found that the CRV, RAV etc was just not up to what we expected.  We moved up to the Pilot and Highlander and found them both to be very competent and nice choices.  They made it to our shortlist.  We then tried the Murano and wasn't too fond of the interior.  Plus, it wasn't all that big given the competition.  For fun, we decided to go look for the upscale fancy versions of the Pilot, Highlander, and Murano.  So off we went and found that the extra in price did get you more.  Nothing you needed but some things you wanted.  The Pilot/MDX drove most like a truck amongst the three with the Highlander/RX330 a comfortable 2nd.  The Murano/FX35 was very sporty and drove more like a car.  We took it off our list because of it's shortcomings in size.  That left us with the Honda/Acura vs the Toyota/Lexus.  We decided if we were going to go into the midsize segment, we might as well get all the toys I wanted....so the Honda and Toyota was out.  Down to the RX and MDX. 

MDX Pros:
Good value for money
Great interior space
Basically loaded as is.
Good powerful engine

MDX Cons:
Leans in corners
Fake wood a joke
Size makes visibility not the best

RX330 Pros:
Fantastic interior
Feels lower to the ground
Quiet and smooth engine

RX330 Cons:
Expensive when compared to the MDX
Lots of options to check off
Smaller interior
Not a fan of the rear tail lights

Both are very competent cars and I would have been happy with either one.  In the end, the extra interior space and the value of the MDX was hard to pass up.  A tad over 30K, the MDX has been flawless.  Gone in for one TSB for the brake clunk but other than that, it has been a reliable family hauler.  We run Mobil 1 in it and premium fuel only. 

[si]

Fake wood a joke

reminds me a lot of this no joke.  I've never owned an SUV but have driven many.  I think the local climate dictates the need for AWD, but still I would probably look into an AWD wagon before a ute.

[ovr50]

Anyone that's been on here since last April knows why I have the Highlander (if it really can be called a SUV?). I will be VERY brief for any newcomers as I do not wish to bore anyone.

I feel I need a "SUV" of some kind due to:
- often carry a 115# dog behind the rear seats,
- need a four door, 4 person vehicle
- prefer AWD or 4x4 due to location in Kelowna (wnter trips to Coast can be trying on the Coquilhala)
- prefer the driving position of the higher vehicle.

I had an '04 RAV4 but found the seat comfort low, and didn't mind going up one size for transporting 4 adults.

Narrowed it down to a Murano or the Highlander. Both were about the same price at I wanted them equipped. In the end, I dropped the Murano due to: hearing of some problems with the CVT and alternators in the MO (Nissan subsequently issued a TSB on the alternators); the rear carry area was not as large as would seem due to the roof lines; concern over the 18"wheels/tires in terms of winter tires (cost/availability) and several other small things.

As I was trading a 15 month old RAV, Toyota made me a slightly better deal on the HL than I could get on the Nissan. I also have an excellant relationship with the local Toyota store, whereas the Nissan experience would be a new one for me. Resale values are important to me.

I am very plesed with the HL so far. I have had it 6 months now and have about 6300kms on it. Solid quality ride. I believe I made the right choice for me in the circumstances.

[barrie1]

I drive a pickup truck for many reason including the ability to haul loads of goods when I have to which is actually about 2 times a week. Besides the size of this vehicle scares most folks beside me into not trying to run me short on the road as they know they will lose. I am not a pushey driver but do get the road respect I deserve with my vehicle. 

[a4_tom]

Does a baby sportswagon classify as a Sport Utility Vehicle?

[mdxtasy]

Here's my family-mobile:

[si]

Great truck you've got there MDX.   I've driven one of those, reverse camera was neat but I just wished it had HIDs.  I forgot you had the Navi + DVD.   Great bluetooth feature eh.

[mdxtasy]

Thanks.  No Bluetooth for me.  Mine's a 2004 and the wireless came out in 2005.  I wish it had HID's as well.

[si]

Thanks.  No Bluetooth for me.  Mine's a 2004 and the wireless came out in 2005.  I wish it had HID's as well.

Too bad.  I can't use bluetooth as well because my cellular provider (telus) doesn't offer any bluetooth phones!    A friend of mine integrated his phone and it works flawlessly, with a sexy voice too. 

Now I can't remember, does your trim level come with 2 wireless headphones?

[mdxtasy]

2 wireless headsets...yup.  Used them once.  They sit in the rear cargo area under the floor.  My Blackberry has Bluetooth, but my car doesn't.  Ah well.....no biggie.  I try to stay off the phone while driving anyway.

[Snowman]

The main factors for leasing the Highlander are similar to Ovr’s:
1.   Require primary family vehicle for four people.
2.   Daily driver for Wiffy
3.   Higher ride height for entry/egress and visibility
4.   cargo capacity for long trips (all relatives are 5-7 hours away)
5.   Full time All Wheel Drive or Four Wheel Drive system for safety

We were also considering the Honda Pilot, Subaru Forester, and Subaru Outback at the time. We decided on the Highlander because of the quality and reliability history of Toyota. I liked the car-based platform for weight and ride quality. The seating room and cargo space is large and comfortable.

It is the most boring vehicle I have driven but it is also the most practical for our needs.

[Trainman]

Unlike Ovr, this is not brief  :

After being downsized from a forestry position in a large company, I decided to try out the consulting field in forestry/environmental management.  So I needed a truly capable 4wd.  I wanted to keep costs down so I could have lower rates, so I looked for something reasonable economical.  Also wanted something that could hold the family of 4 and that my wife would be comfortable driving.

Truck had to have the following:
True 4wd with 4 high and low range
Good off road ability (good ground clearance and approach/departure angles)
Limited slip rear diff
ABS and A/C
Good reliability record
Low overall operating costs


After much research, it came down to this:
Had $23,000 available
Looked at:
97-99 Toyota 4Runners
Pro: Meets all my requirements
Con: High prices

99-01 Nissan Pathfinders
Pro: Meets all my requirements
Con: Not thought of as “true” off road vehicle, possible image problem for clients

02-04 Jeep Libertys
Pro: Price, off road ability
Con: Poor ride, spotty reliability, higher operating costs than the others, lack of ABS as standard

What really happened
Sent word out to dealers in Kamloops, Kelowna, Vancouver and Victoria.
Got word back on a 2002 Pathfinder with 62,000 km in Victoria that meet all the requirements but had to taken as is for $22,000.  This was about $5,000 less than the asking price for similar Pathys on other dealers lots.  So red flags go up, what is wrong with it?

Looked at it, it was a lease that had gone over its km by quite a bit and the lessee wanted to minimize his loss by getting rid of it rather than paying the penalty.  Also had seen a lot of us eon the ski hills, so the paint and windshield was quite chipped.  No biggie for a bush truck.  Passes its safety inspection at the dealer, just needed new brakes.  Very clean underneath, no sign of rocks/dirt in any of the areas that stuff can get lodged in.  So bought the beast.

Since then, it has had the windshield replaced, the battery replaced (-36 was too tough for it) and proper LT 10 ply rated tires installed.  Been a great truck, gets good fuel economy for what it is (25 mpg highway).  Looks classy in black and gives the kind of image I want for my business.

[Shnak]

Trainman, good looking vehicle, I always liked those Pathfinders, unlike the new square behemoths that replaced them.

But I'm wondering, in your "99-01 Nissan Pathfinders" description, you say as a con that it is not seen as a "true" off road vehicle, that you might have a possible image problem with clients... and then, in your conclusion, you say that your 2002 Pathfinder looks classy in black (which I definitely agree with, great looking vehicle!) and that it gives the kind of image you want for you business...  as far as I know, 2001 and 2002 Pathfinders are exactly the same, no? So why were you worried about the 99-01 Pathfinder's image, but are liking the image the 2002 Pathfinder projects? Just wondering! 

[Bullet Blue]

MDX, what do you think of the face lifted MDX. I saw one in white and it looks much more upscale than the current one. It even looks bigger from the rear. Must just be the redesign of the tail lights.

If I recall you also looked at an XC90 did you not? I'd be interested in hearing your pros and cons for that vehicle as well.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I liked the older Pathfinder a lot, and less so the new one at first. Now that I've seen a few, I've really grown to like the new one quite a bit though.

What I don't like at all is the 4Runner now.

[ktm525]

I bought my current truck (2002 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab V8 5 speed AWD) to replace my last truck (1997 Dodge Dakota Club Cab V8 5 speed 4WD) which was bought to replace my truck before that (1988 Toyota 4*4 long bed V6 5 speed). Each move in truck has increased the cab size at the expense of bed size. This reflects my growing family and the fact that the truck must be able to be a secondary family car when needed. I have always had a truck around and I am not sure I could do without. Most times I also have some sort of sporty car to go alongside.

What do I put in the back of  my truck?

-dirtbikes
-mountain bikes
-firewood
-dirt/compost
-purchased furniture
-goose/duck decoys
-recycling stuff to bulkt to fit our wagon
-friends furniture


I am really hoping that in the next few years Honda (Ridgeline) offers a diesel and a slick shifting 6 speed standard or Dodge throws in a Mercedes CRD in the Dakota.

[Snowman]

I liked the older Pathfinder a lot, and less so the new one at first. Now that I've seen a few, I've really grown to like the new one quite a bit though.

What I don't like at all is the 4Runner now.

My mother has a previous generation Pathfinder and I have driven it quite a bit when I visit. I enjoy the “real” off-road abilities and have been on some fun adventures up north at the cottage. The only problem I have is in the seating position for people over 6’. The seat height is too low and not good on long trips. The back seats have the same issues. Has this been addressed in the new platform?

[mrthompson]

The CRD in the Dakota would make for an impressive package.  What do you think of the recent facelift, Ktm?  I prefer the previous style (up til 2004), especially the Quad Cab models.

Edit:  Why doesn't D-C commission Cummins/Navistar (?) to produce a mini Cummins diesel for the Dakota/Durango, etc.?
 

[Drivesideways]

My mother has a previous generation Pathfinder and I have driven it quite a bit when I visit. I enjoy the “real” off-road abilities and have been on some fun adventures up north at the cottage. The only problem I have is in the seating position for people over 6’. The seat height is too low and not good on long trips. The back seats have the same issues. Has this been addressed in the new platform?

I have only driven the previous gen Pathfinder once...quite a long time ago.  I remember being put off by the low seating position as well.  The car mag reviews when the Pathfinder first came out all seemed to rave about the "car-like" seating position, though.  For whatever reason, for me a more chair-like seat feels right in a truck or SUV.

[ktm525]

The CRD in the Dakota would make for an impressive package.  What do you think of the recent facelift, Ktm?  I prefer the previous style (up til 2004), especially the Quad Cab models.

I don't care for the new style, especially the guppy-mouth front. The new interior is so-so although the seats are an improvement from the previous generation.  I guess they extended the front to give better crash protection. I drove a new V8 and it felt very sluggish compared to my 02 even though the engines are the same. I thought it was just the one truck I drove but I have read about others having the same experience. Perhaps Dodge is trying to tune for better MPG. This would be good because my 4.7 is thirsty, perhaps related to the AWD..