Author Topic: My Favourite Time of the Year(s) (Read 16394 times)

BJB · « **on:** August 28, 2007, 02:17:43 pm »

Well, it's been 3 years with the Porsche Cayenne and it's time for my mom to give it back (after a couple more incidences of tires exploding and a/c flopping on a road trip). My mom absolutely loved the porsche even though it was terribly built and had the worst electronics you could find. Yesterday my parents were back at the dealer to test-drive the new Cayenne as this is what my mom wants. To their dismay the looks have not changed and it really isn't an upgrade over what they have - the kicker, they raised the price on the lease by almost 40% over what my mom is paying now.

My mom must now consider other cars in addition to the porsche. Her wants are an SUV, luxurious, has prestige/cachet, V6 or V8, only 2 rows (no need for a third) and ideally within a budget of $10,000 down and less than $1,000/month lease rate.

I've narrowed it down to the following:
Acura MDX - kinda boring, not much cachet, worth a look
BMW X5 - hated it when leasing the porsche a few years ago
Infiniti FX35/45 - liked it, but no cachet
Range Rover Sport - I like it, may be too expensive
Audi Q7 - I like it, reliability issues like a porsche
VW Tourag - seen as a step down
Porsche Cayenne - $$$
Mercedes GL - may be too big
Caddy Escalade - likely way too big
Lincoln Navigator - likely way too big and ugly

what else is out there, any comments or suggestions?

wing · « **Reply #1 on:** August 28, 2007, 02:30:52 pm »

Get the X5, it is WAY WAY WAY better after the redesign.

Why does your mom want an SUV anyways? Sounds like a Big Merc / Lexus / BMW would suit her well instead.

$10,000 down $1000 a month to rent a car

what a waste.

DockMan · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2007, 02:32:19 pm »

Malibu Maxx? - Too much cachet!

ovr50 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2007, 02:41:07 pm »

Quote from: wing on August 28, 2007, 02:30:52 pm

Get the X5, it is WAY WAY WAY better after the redesign.

Why does your mom want an SUV anyways? Sounds like a Big Merc / Lexus / BMW would suit her well instead.

$10,000 down $1000 a month to rent a car what a waste.

I agree, look the new X5, a much improved vehicle over the previous one.

Personally, I would look at the big sedans from BMW, MB and Lexus also; but I guess she wants what she thinks is cool. "Image" is obviously a driving factor here. IMO the sedans bring more "cachet" to the table than the SUV/SAVs do. Land Rovers are problematic. The new MDX might be my choice of the one's listed, but I suspect it's not enough "image" for her (actually the X5 would be my choice, if money no object). Escalades and Navigators are "bling-mobiles" IMO and look trashy (particularily the Nav

). Why isn't there a Lexus on the list??

quadzilla · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2007, 02:47:53 pm »

Is the Merc ML500 too small?

Can you talk her into a BMW 535Xit or S4 Advant?

BJB · « **Reply #5 on:** August 28, 2007, 03:16:29 pm »

Wing - Likely can't talk her out of an SUV. My guess is that the S550, 750 or Lexus LS are too expensive for the budget.

I'll let her know to look at the X5, but she really didnt like it last time - neither did I.

OVR - I did forget about lexus when making my list, RX too blah, GX - I think it's an odd truck and I doubt my mom would like it, LX - too big.

DockMan - Malibu Maxx - great call

Quad - She was also not impressed with the ML last time, but I'll have her take a look. the others wouldn't interest her.

The only thing I'll add at this point is that she LOVED the Lexus SC when she was looking last time, I don't think she would get a similar car, but it's always a possibility.

Craig · « **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2007, 03:30:34 pm »

Quote from: wing on August 28, 2007, 02:30:52 pm

Get the X5, it is WAY WAY WAY better after the redesign.

Why does your mom want an SUV anyways? Sounds like a Big Merc / Lexus / BMW would suit her well instead.

$10,000 down $1000 a month to rent a car what a waste.

A brand new X5 pulled up next to us last week. I think I could talk the wife into one, but the bank account would not be so easily swayed.

Those are financing terms for some nice cars, especially when it doesn't sound like she needs off-road capability. Ouch. It's her money..

Quote from: wing

What I'm Driving: 2007 Mazdaspeed3

Bastard.

sirAQUAMAN64 · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2007, 04:01:04 pm »

A great ride/handling crossover of manageable size would be the Cadillac SRX. Likely wouldn't meet the cache requirement. Too bad you can't get Sport pkg with Magnetic Ride Control.

Really like the Benz GL but that's huge. GL CDI

(saw one yesterday). Audi Q7 is bigger than it looks too, tho think it's proving far more reliable than the Cayenne. At least you don't see Q7's at every interestion, and think the brand is intent on focusing on prestige and profit rather than volume. For all its girth, don't think it's very space efficient inside (with short seats to boot) but still sorta sporty overall. S-Line is hot.

Land Rover used to be hit or miss reliability, but again have improved a lot. I always think of the urban owners as the SUV equivalent of Jaguar owners... very eclectic bunch. Probably less female LR owners than Jag. Who knows what will happen with these low volume brands if/when Ford sells 'em? Range Rover Sport is less expensive than I thought it would be, and it does feel and look quite rich and unique.

I like the new front end on the Touareg 2. Supposedly drives a bit better with the changes under the skin and the display is up to date now, but it's still heavy and not very sporting. V8 with Teak/Sienna interior is pretty nice, and the seats are huge and very comfy. Little less than the other German options to buy, dunno about when leasing.

Pfaff has an '07 Touareg V8 Black w/ Teak (but I'd go with the '08 if you were doing it):
2007 Touareg V8 ( stock V3767 )
Black with Teak Leather
Includes Luxury Package
48 month lease special - $857 per month + tax
20,000 kms. per year
$28,931.65 residual
$0 down payment
$1,887.55 on delivery

ML63 AMG would be smoking, but better be at the $96 MSRP. ML's have improved so much since first generation it's night and day. Love AMG blue glass.

The X5 - any X5 - may be a good bet since she's used to such a sporting SUV, but don't know that they look all that special. I doubt I will ever think the new front looks right unless they tweak it... too many angles and shapes tho I like the angel eye halo headlights.

CyberNick · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2007, 04:03:21 pm »

Mazda CX-9... looks good to me... might not be what she wants but maybe worth a look.

DockMan · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2007, 04:19:10 pm »

New Caddy SRX with
- V8
- AWD
- Mag Ride Control
- DVD Nav
- Ultraview Roof

$76,735 MSRP
$1,057 per month lease with NO down payment

Take the 10 G's go to cabo.

G0dspd · « **Reply #10 on:** August 28, 2007, 04:20:50 pm »

Quote from: ovr50 on August 28, 2007, 02:41:07 pm

Quote from: wing on August 28, 2007, 02:30:52 pm
Why does your mom want an SUV anyways? Sounds like a Big Merc / Lexus / BMW would suit her well instead.

$10,000 down $1000 a month to rent a car what a waste.

... but I guess she wants what she thinks is cool. "Image" is obviously a driving factor here. IMO the sedans bring more "cachet" to the table than the SUV/SAVs do. ...

I assume that the choice of a SUV is also to have the illusion of safety.

BJB · « **Reply #11 on:** August 28, 2007, 05:28:32 pm »

Quote from: G0dspd on August 28, 2007, 04:20:50 pm

Quote from: ovr50 on August 28, 2007, 02:41:07 pm
Quote from: wing on August 28, 2007, 02:30:52 pm
Why does your mom want an SUV anyways? Sounds like a Big Merc / Lexus / BMW would suit her well instead.

$10,000 down $1000 a month to rent a car what a waste.

... but I guess she wants what she thinks is cool. "Image" is obviously a driving factor here. IMO the sedans bring more "cachet" to the table than the SUV/SAVs do. ...

I assume that the choice of a SUV is also to have the illusion of safety.

nope, choice of SUV has to do with being able to see around things no the road, she couldn't care less about safety

BJB · « **Reply #12 on:** August 28, 2007, 05:29:55 pm »

Quote from: DockMan on August 28, 2007, 04:19:10 pm

New Caddy SRX with
- V8
- AWD
- Mag Ride Control
- DVD Nav
- Ultraview Roof

$76,735 MSRP
$1,057 per month lease with NO down payment

Take the 10 G's go to cabo.

Nope, won't happen, her two prior cars were Caddy STSs and we will not be getting another cadillac (at least if I have anything to say about it). It took a lot of effort to get my mom away from that brand and I'll be damned if that effort was wasted.

BJB · « **Reply #13 on:** August 28, 2007, 05:32:33 pm »

Quote from: sirAQUAMAN64 on August 28, 2007, 04:01:04 pm

Really like the Benz GL but that's huge. GL CDI (saw one yesterday). Audi Q7 is bigger than it looks too, tho think it's proving far more reliable than the Cayenne. At least you don't see Q7's at every interestion, and think the brand is intent on focusing on prestige and profit rather than volume. For all its girth, don't think it's very space efficient inside (with short seats to boot) but still sorta sporty overall. S-Line is hot.

Land Rover used to be hit or miss reliability, but again have improved a lot. I always think of the urban owners as the SUV equivalent of Jaguar owners... very eclectic bunch. Probably less female LR owners than Jag. Who knows what will happen with these low volume brands if/when Ford sells 'em? Range Rover Sport is less expensive than I thought it would be, and it does feel and look quite rich and unique.

I like the new front end on the Touareg 2. Supposedly drives a bit better with the changes under the skin and the display is up to date now, but it's still heavy and not very sporting. V8 with Teak/Sienna interior is pretty nice, and the seats are huge and very comfy. Little less than the other German options to buy, dunno about when leasing.

ML63 AMG would be smoking, but better be at the $96 MSRP. ML's have improved so much since first generation it's night and day. Love AMG blue glass.

The X5 - any X5 - may be a good bet since she's used to such a sporting SUV, but don't know that they look all that special. I doubt I will ever think the new front looks right unless they tweak it... too many angles and shapes tho I like the angel eye halo headlights.

I like the Tourag2, test drove one a couple of weeks ago and found it to be a nice ride, only problem is it that it would be downgrading from a porsche which I don't think my mom would like to do.

ML63 is too clandestine and frankly to my eyes a boring suv - and more importantly to my mom likely not worth the money

X5 is sounding like it may be worth another look, I can't wait to go shopping, I love car shopping!

DockMan · « **Reply #14 on:** August 28, 2007, 06:40:18 pm »

The thrill is indeed in the chase.

dr_spock · « **Reply #15 on:** August 28, 2007, 08:07:59 pm »

How about a Denali?

ovr50 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 28, 2007, 08:10:25 pm »

Quote from: dr_spock on August 28, 2007, 08:07:59 pm

How about a Denali?

Cachet? Nope...

airbalancer · « **Reply #17 on:** August 28, 2007, 08:12:27 pm »

If I had the cash, X5 would very very close to the top
Still, why does someone put down money on a lease?

Snowman · « **Reply #18 on:** August 28, 2007, 08:19:12 pm »

I had a 1 hour ride as a passenger to a golf course in a 2007 ML500 and was totally amazed.

DockMan · « **Reply #19 on:** August 28, 2007, 08:20:52 pm »

Quote from: airbalancer on August 28, 2007, 08:12:27 pm

If I had the cash, X5 would very very close to the top
Still, why does someone put down money on a lease?

'Cause they like to pay for that depreciation up front instead of over time, of course.

Or because they would rather have a $1,000 lease payment instead of a $1,277.77 lease payment and they like to make sure their $10,000 doesn't do anything crazy like make interest for them!