I have an Audi A6 3.0T. Love it. Great car.

I also have a 4Runner Limited. Also love it. Great car. Very different, but great.

If I had to keep only one car, I'd keep the 4Runner. It is not performance but is more versatile. And I am OK with the way it drives.

Interesting side: both the A6 and 4Runner have the center torsen differential. Great for traction.

Anonymous wrote:Insurance rates are not “extremely high on 4 runners because they are commonly used off-road”.

Admit it -you’re just completely making sh!t up, thinking no one will call you on it.

If 4runners were expensive to insure because they were commonly used off-road, then insurance on Jeep Wranglers would be flat out unobtainable.

+100

I’ve owned two 4Runners (a 2016 and a 2018) Insurance costs were not high at all

Insurance rates are not “extremely high on 4 runners because they are commonly used off-road”.

Admit it -you’re just completely making sh!t up, thinking no one will call you on it.

If 4runners were expensive to insure because they were commonly used off-road, then insurance on Jeep Wranglers would be flat out unobtainable.

Anonymous wrote:OP here-

...The BMWs are nice, I like the X3, but if you're going to go German and incur all the expense, why not just get a Porsche?

Porsche maintenance costs is likely double that of Audi/BMW. I have had good success with Porsche vehicles being repairable and continuing to work for a long, but maintenance costs are significant (a couple grand per annually).

I think the really question you have is what to type of vehicle you want to drive. Macan is a smaller (6 inches shorter in length and almost 9 inches lower in height) but sharper steering (like a sedan). The 4runner is for off road and feels like a truck, so the suspension is soft and steering is sloppy.

It may be as moot point though. Significant markups ($10K+) on new 4runners now. Also, insurance costs of 4runner are extremely high since it is commonly used off road.

Op here -
I think I'm going to try to see a Venza in person

I think they look better than Highlanders for sure+ I think Highlanders look very mom car.

40 mi to the gallon is really nice too.

But the Porsche still makes my heart ping! (They need a hybrid Macan, though, 20mpg, sigh)

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I just I looked at a Venza.

I've never heard of them.

I'm pretty sure I've never seen one in person. I'm trying to figure out what it is- l a bigger version of the Rav?

More luxurious?

I haven’t driven one. But this is from a writeup: https://www.motortrend.com/cars/toyota/venza/

“Dimensionally, the 2021 Venza shares a wheelbase with the RAV4, but its length splits the difference between the RAV4 and Highlander. The new Venza is set to compete with two-row midsize SUVs, including the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano, and Subaru Outback….The second coming of the Venza impresses, earning a finalist spot in our 2021 SUV of the Year evaluations. It almost feels more like a Lexus than a higher-end Toyota with available features including a clever auto-dimming panoramic moonroof and handsome two-tone interior.”

I also don’t like the way Lexus SUVs look, but I think the Venza looks good. I would have driven one if I could have found one to test by us.

Wow, I just I looked at a Venza.

I've never heard of them.

I'm pretty sure I've never seen one in person. I'm trying to figure out what it is- l a bigger version of the Rav?

More luxurious?

This is a tough one—I see your dilemma. I couldn’t figure out what I wanted (reliability vs. drivability) and after test driving everything i ended up with a hybrid Avalon. I just decided I would question anything that’s not a Toyota. I guess you just need to figure out which element is most important to you.

Have you considered a Venza or rav4 prime? They’re both going to be a step up from the RAV4 in fit and finish. I thought I wanted a V6 originally, but then I started liking how modern hybrids drive. They are pretty torquey on the low end.

I’m in a similar situation and I would get the car that makes you happy. I also work at home and will downsize from 3 cars to 2. I’m selling my BMW Bc it gives me luxury but no joy. I don’t need transportation, I need something I get excited about M-F.

I’m willing to take the slight hit on maintenance if any by going with a potentially more reliable car and my bmw has been solid. Considering you have a backup car, the Macan is a no brainer.

OP here-

I work from home, so any daily driving is going to be pretty minimal. It's really going to be for grocery store runs and occasional road trips.

Re cargo space, I think most of what I need is really essentially having four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive for snow and a roof rack for "toys". And some cargo space in the back for hauling around junk in general.

I think I've just always had incredibly good luck with Toyotas, which is why I'm partial to them. (I've had a RAV4 for the last 15 years and it's been an incredibly good car to me- in some ways I know it's the obvious choice here, but I want something different, I think.) I've also had a 4Runner which I loved. (It was a 1999 four-cylinder stick shift and it sipped gas and I liked driving it. It got totaled and I got an automatic 4Runner and really hated driving it and sold it. But I keep trying to tell myself that having a reliable car might be an acceptable compromise.) I still have a 2001 RAV4 and it runs great. I don't know that I'd want to take it on a road trip though - it's so old I worry that the safety technology is outdated and it's not that comfortable.

I think the problem is I acquired an Audi along the way, and I fell in love with the performance aspect of it BUT I simultaneously hated it every time it broke down.

I looked at Lexus SUVs, but I'm not in love with the way they drive or the way they look.

The BMWs are nice, I like the X3, but if you're going to go German and incur all the expense, why not just get a Porsche?

(probably tmi, but that that's how I arrived at this odd choice between a 4Runner and a Macan)