Best SUV
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 1
From: Santa Monica/West LA
Sorry but the phrase reasonable gas mileage and the word suv are causing me cognitive dissonance.. 
I'd say go for RX300 as it does look much nicer and has better gas mileage compared to the rest. It also has HID's as an option, something that is not available on any of the other SUV's with exception to the QX. And, lets not forget the Lexus customer service. There are no car companies that provide better customer service in comparison to Lexus.. NONE. Just took in my moms GS today and it was amazing how they promptly approved both my warranty repairs with no questions and no attitude. And, the service advisor was actually knowledgeable about the car! I'm so used to poor to mediocre service with bad attitude at the local Honda dealer that I was astonished at the quality of service the Lexus dealer gave. They have a fully stocked waiting room that has a nice big TV, a fridge full of soft drinks and water, fresh baked cookies.. I was like
It's like night and day compared to HonDUH.
I'd say go for RX300 as it does look much nicer and has better gas mileage compared to the rest. It also has HID's as an option, something that is not available on any of the other SUV's with exception to the QX. And, lets not forget the Lexus customer service. There are no car companies that provide better customer service in comparison to Lexus.. NONE. Just took in my moms GS today and it was amazing how they promptly approved both my warranty repairs with no questions and no attitude. And, the service advisor was actually knowledgeable about the car! I'm so used to poor to mediocre service with bad attitude at the local Honda dealer that I was astonished at the quality of service the Lexus dealer gave. They have a fully stocked waiting room that has a nice big TV, a fridge full of soft drinks and water, fresh baked cookies.. I was like
It's like night and day compared to HonDUH.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,504
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From: Boulder
Originally posted by krazik
A friend is looking for a new SUV for less than $40k.
Any opinons?
A friend is looking for a new SUV for less than $40k.
Any opinons?
I really like the X5 3.0, but it's right at $40K with zero options and likely little discounting. Damn thing feels like a sports car! Well, not an S2000...
The MDX is very nice, but highly street oriented. Starts at about $37K, again no discounting likely. Maybe even premiums.
If he really wants a decent on-road utility vehicle at a bargain price, the Subaru Forestor might be worth looking at. Available in the very low $20K's. Not really an SUV, but then again neither are most of these others...
I own a Land Rover Discovery, and while it's a great SUV for those who truly venture off road and don't mind a few idiosyncracies of British vehicles, for those who will rarely go off road, there are better choices. When I bought mine, it was one of the only full-time four wheel drive, manual transmission, V8 SUV's out there. No option Disco's can be had for about $32K, making it somewhat of a bargain compared to the Bimmer and Acura.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,209
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From: Anchorage
Two years ago I was sold on the BMW X-5 after doing the "ultimate driving experience" at Texas Motor Speedway. Basically, they put you in an X5 with a semi-pro race driver and drive the wheels off the damn thing. We did some stuff you would NEVER do on a test drive, trust me the thing performs very well. Of course the X5 with the V8 & loaded comes in around $60K. I was going to buy the V6 version, however, the dealer in Anchorage wouldn't pay for the "light truck franchise" so they weren't available here (they couldn't service them either).
So, we ended up with the the ML 320 (Sport Package) for right around $39K. It's an OK truck although Mercedes Benz is such a pain in the ass to deal with. Never Again. Mind you these are just "minor" warranty issues....what idiots! The silver lining is that because they were such dimwits, I didn't buy the SLK, but bought the S2000 instead! I win!
If I had it to do over again...I'd buy the BMW.
So, we ended up with the the ML 320 (Sport Package) for right around $39K. It's an OK truck although Mercedes Benz is such a pain in the ass to deal with. Never Again. Mind you these are just "minor" warranty issues....what idiots! The silver lining is that because they were such dimwits, I didn't buy the SLK, but bought the S2000 instead! I win!
If I had it to do over again...I'd buy the BMW.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,736
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From: DC
When I was looking for an suv I was looking for:
1) Has to handle well. As car like as possible.
2) Good breaks
3) Good gas mileage
4) reasonable power
5) can haul stuff
6) can haul people
The SUV would be 95% driven on regular streets and 5% off road.
I test drove everything out there made by the Japanese, Germans, and USA. The stuff made in America are death traps in my opinion.
Came down to the BMW X5 and Acura MDX
Because of #6 I got the MDX fully loaded for $40k. The MDX has a third row of seats you can fold up and sit 7 adults!
Or you can fold down the 2nd row and 3rd row seats flat and carry sheets of plywood in the MDX!
If It wasnt for #6 and #5, I would get the BMW. No SUV handles like the BMW.
1) Has to handle well. As car like as possible.
2) Good breaks
3) Good gas mileage
4) reasonable power
5) can haul stuff
6) can haul people
The SUV would be 95% driven on regular streets and 5% off road.
I test drove everything out there made by the Japanese, Germans, and USA. The stuff made in America are death traps in my opinion.
Came down to the BMW X5 and Acura MDX
Because of #6 I got the MDX fully loaded for $40k. The MDX has a third row of seats you can fold up and sit 7 adults!
Or you can fold down the 2nd row and 3rd row seats flat and carry sheets of plywood in the MDX!
If It wasnt for #6 and #5, I would get the BMW. No SUV handles like the BMW.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
How do you like their DVD based Navigation System?
[QUOTE]Originally posted by KaiWang
[B]When I was looking for an suv I was looking for:
1) Has to handle well. As car like as possible.
2) Good breaks
3) Good gas mileage
4) reasonable power
5) can haul stuff
6) can haul people
The SUV would be 95% driven on regular streets and 5% off road.
I test drove everything out there made by the Japanese, Germans, and USA.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by KaiWang
[B]When I was looking for an suv I was looking for:
1) Has to handle well. As car like as possible.
2) Good breaks
3) Good gas mileage
4) reasonable power
5) can haul stuff
6) can haul people
The SUV would be 95% driven on regular streets and 5% off road.
I test drove everything out there made by the Japanese, Germans, and USA.
