SUVs: What are alternatives to Acura MDX (trying to avoid a "chick car")

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid the jeeps. Nothing but trouble. If you must have a third row the highlander/pilot or max are really your best bets (I have not liked Hondas, but the redesign of the pilot looks very nice).

If your boy doesn't like driving whatever sub you buy he can take the minivan or a bike. I am sure he will be happy to drive anything he can get his hands on.

The newer highlander and pilot (even MDX) don't look that girly, but you do see a lot of 40-something women driving them because, well, they have three rows. You won't find a three row suv that isn't driven by a bunch of moms. If you spend extra on an suv that is worse in gas mileage and reliability just because it has a more aggressive grille, you're just dumb and no one can help you with that.

OP here. LOL. That's true -- if my teenage son doesn't like whatever SUV I buy, he can always drive the minivan or ride his bike. I think he'll just be grateful to be able to drive anything.

So bummed that no one is chiming in for the Jeep Cherokee since I like the look of it.

I agree that my criteria are not entirely rational. I've always bought such sensible cars and was looking to have a little fun.

We just sold my wife's grand Cherokee (she got a forester, as she has a longish commute). So happy to see the jeep go. We have had several in our extended family and they have all been trouble. The new ones do look nice, but it's just a big turd wrapped in a candy wrapper. Don't bite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid the jeeps. Nothing but trouble. If you must have a third row the highlander/pilot or max are really your best bets (I have not liked Hondas, but the redesign of the pilot looks very nice).

If your boy doesn't like driving whatever sub you buy he can take the minivan or a bike. I am sure he will be happy to drive anything he can get his hands on.

The newer highlander and pilot (even MDX) don't look that girly, but you do see a lot of 40-something women driving them because, well, they have three rows. You won't find a three row suv that isn't driven by a bunch of moms. If you spend extra on an suv that is worse in gas mileage and reliability just because it has a more aggressive grille, you're just dumb and no one can help you with that.

OP here. LOL. That's true -- if my teenage son doesn't like whatever SUV I buy, he can always drive the minivan or ride his bike. I think he'll just be grateful to be able to drive anything.

So bummed that no one is chiming in for the Jeep Cherokee since I like the look of it.

I agree that my criteria are not entirely rational. I've always bought such sensible cars and was looking to have a little fun.

If sensibility is somewhat out the window then there are some fun choices posted above. I'd probably get a Land Rover, Q7, X5 M, G Class AMG or Cayenne GTS if you want something that's fun.

OP needs to define - fun to drive or fun to pay for, fun to fill up, fun to drop off at the shop frequently, fun to worry about parking downtown, etc.

OP here. Such good points! Fun and sporty. Not too difficult to park downtown. Does not need a 3rd row as we have a minivan. Am OK with mediocre gas mileage. Reliability is a top criterion. Plan to keep for 10-12 years, as I've done with my current Highlander. BTW, I don't love the tail lights on the new Highlander.

[Anonymous]

Actually, if you are considering some of the luxury vehicles and you can wait a bit, have you considered the tesla model X? Very accessible 3rd row. The extra you would spend would be offset by the tax credit and paying basically nothing to drive it. They say delivery will be early 2016. Husband can't say a tesla is a chic car.

If it drives anything like the model S, it will be quite a drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, if you are considering some of the luxury vehicles and you can wait a bit, have you considered the tesla model X? Very accessible 3rd row. The extra you would spend would be offset by the tax credit and paying basically nothing to drive it. They say delivery will be early 2016. Husband can't say a tesla is a chic car.

If it drives anything like the model S, it will be quite a drive.

that's not out till '16

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure my parents didn't give two rips about how I'd feel about being seen in the hand me down ford probe I got. Can't believe this is playing into your decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoid the jeeps. Nothing but trouble. If you must have a third row the highlander/pilot or max are really your best bets (I have not liked Hondas, but the redesign of the pilot looks very nice).

If your boy doesn't like driving whatever sub you buy he can take the minivan or a bike. I am sure he will be happy to drive anything he can get his hands on.

The newer highlander and pilot (even MDX) don't look that girly, but you do see a lot of 40-something women driving them because, well, they have three rows. You won't find a three row suv that isn't driven by a bunch of moms. If you spend extra on an suv that is worse in gas mileage and reliability just because it has a more aggressive grille, you're just dumb and no one can help you with that.

OP here. LOL. That's true -- if my teenage son doesn't like whatever SUV I buy, he can always drive the minivan or ride his bike. I think he'll just be grateful to be able to drive anything.

So bummed that no one is chiming in for the Jeep Cherokee since I like the look of it.

I agree that my criteria are not entirely rational. I've always bought such sensible cars and was looking to have a little fun.

If sensibility is somewhat out the window then there are some fun choices posted above. I'd probably get a Land Rover, Q7, X5 M, G Class AMG or Cayenne GTS if you want something that's fun.

OP needs to define - fun to drive or fun to pay for, fun to fill up, fun to drop off at the shop frequently, fun to worry about parking downtown, etc.

OP here. Such good points! Fun and sporty. Not too difficult to park downtown. Does not need a 3rd row as we have a minivan. Am OK with mediocre gas mileage. Reliability is a top criterion. Plan to keep for 10-12 years, as I've done with my current Highlander. BTW, I don't love the tail lights on the new Highlander.

If you're going to keep it 10-12 years, I would definitely go with something Japanese.

[Anonymous]

You should consider the RDX

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure my parents didn't give two rips about how I'd feel about being seen in the hand me down ford probe I got. Can't believe this is playing into your decision.

OP here. LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should consider the RDX

OP here. It seems just a little bit too small. Anyone driven it and like it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should consider the RDX

OP here. It seems just a little bit too small. Anyone driven it and like it?

This doesn't make any sense to me. Your husband thinks the MDX is for "chicks", but the RDX is not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure my parents didn't give two rips about how I'd feel about being seen in the hand me down ford probe I got. Can't believe this is playing into your decision.

He should fit in pretty well at Langley with the Tesla. Not top of the heap, but he should be able to land a date or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should consider the RDX

OP here. It seems just a little bit too small. Anyone driven it and like it?

I love my RDX as my commuting car, but it IS small. It would probably be an okay teen car, but mine is newer and turbo charged, and it is super quick. Not sure I'd want my teen son tooling around in that.

I hate our Mazda CX-9 - it's a jangly bucket of bolts compared to the Hondas and Acura. Not solid, crappy engine, just feels cheap. So mad at myself for buying it.

[Anonymous]

I like the look of the Volkswagen Touareg. But why is it so much more expensive than what I think of as comparable SUVs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should consider the RDX

OP here. It seems just a little bit too small. Anyone driven it and like it?

I love my RDX as my commuting car, but it IS small. It would probably be an okay teen car, but mine is newer and turbo charged, and it is super quick. Not sure I'd want my teen son tooling around in that.

I hate our Mazda CX-9 - it's a jangly bucket of bolts compared to the Hondas and Acura. Not solid, crappy engine, just feels cheap. So mad at myself for buying it.

What year is your CX-9? It's been heavily revamped recently and is due for another refresh for the 2016 MY.

[Anonymous]

4Runner. Easy to drive, can navigate any terrain, lots of space, and looks super manly