Still undecided!

Author
Discussion

Ultra Sound Guy

Original Poster:

28,791 posts

201 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
I’ve got a few cars currently but, due to my recent move to a new area, will be having a cull over the next few months. Because of the (very) rural roads in my area I will be moving away from the low cars with rubber band tyres and stiff suspension and getting a large (ish) SUV. Not for any style reasons, totally driven by necessity!
The replacement car I want to get needs to have a large load area, good ground clearance, enough rubber to protect the wheels from rough roads and 4-wheel drive to cope with the occasional foray off the road and harsh winters.
Comfort, the ability to cruise long distances at highest (legal) speeds and “toys” would be welcome for the regular 1000 mile round trips to our French factory.
The main necessity is reliability, I’ll be keeping 2 weekend cars which will keep my workshop busy!
I have a few cars under consideration and would appreciate any feedback from people with experience of the following to help me make the correct decision!
I’ll be looking at anything from 2010 onwards.
Preferably 3 litre(ish) V6 diesel, large engined hybrids will be considered.
Jeep Grand Cherokee (only up to 2011, so Mercedes powered).
Lexus RX (I need too see if it’s big enough!)
Volvo XC90
Audi Q7
Audi A6 Allroad
Mercedes GL
Porsche Cayenne
VW Tuareg

Any Others I’ve not listed?

Note… I don’t do Fords: and anything “Land-Rover” not listed on reliability grounds (convince me?)

biggbn

24,904 posts

227 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
Lexus from your list. Apparently bombproof, monotonously reliable and very easy to live with, incredible comfort and refinement. Not sure how well they would cope with brief off road forays though?

Ultra Sound Guy

Original Poster:

28,791 posts

201 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
biggbn said:
Lexus from your list. Apparently bombproof, monotonously reliable and very easy to live with, incredible comfort and refinement. Not sure how well they would cope with brief off road forays though?
thumbup

Off-road usage wouldn’t be like a 4x4 training ground, but should be able to move across grass/mud/snow without getting bogged down!

ZX10R NIN

28,351 posts

132 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
Ultra Sound Guy said:
I’ve got a few cars currently but, due to my recent move to a new area, will be having a cull over the next few months. Because of the (very) rural roads in my area I will be moving away from the low cars with rubber band tyres and stiff suspension and getting a large (ish) SUV. Not for any style reasons, totally driven by necessity!
The replacement car I want to get needs to have a large load area, good ground clearance, enough rubber to protect the wheels from rough roads and 4-wheel drive to cope with the occasional foray off the road and harsh winters.
Comfort, the ability to cruise long distances at highest (legal) speeds and “toys” would be welcome for the regular 1000 mile round trips to our French factory.
The main necessity is reliability, I’ll be keeping 2 weekend cars which will keep my workshop busy!
I have a few cars under consideration and would appreciate any feedback from people with experience of the following to help me make the correct decision!
I’ll be looking at anything from 2010 onwards.
Preferably 3 litre(ish) V6 diesel, large engined hybrids will be considered.
Jeep Grand Cherokee (only up to 2011, so Mercedes powered).
Lexus RX (I need too see if it’s big enough!)
Volvo XC90
Audi Q7
Audi A6 Allroad
Mercedes GL
Porsche Cayenne
VW Tuareg

Any Others I’ve not listed?

Note… I don’t do Fords: and anything “Land-Rover” not listed on reliability grounds (convince me?)
E Class All Road:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406070...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406070...

Uncle Meat

801 posts

257 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
I may have missed a budget but someting like this would be a better steer than most of the cars listed above (BMW X5 4.0D)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406050...

Ultra Sound Guy

Original Poster:

28,791 posts

201 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
Ultra Sound Guy said:
I’ve got a few cars currently but, due to my recent move to a new area, will be having a cull over the next few months. Because of the (very) rural roads in my area I will be moving away from the low cars with rubber band tyres and stiff suspension and getting a large (ish) SUV. Not for any style reasons, totally driven by necessity!
The replacement car I want to get needs to have a large load area, good ground clearance, enough rubber to protect the wheels from rough roads and 4-wheel drive to cope with the occasional foray off the road and harsh winters.
Comfort, the ability to cruise long distances at highest (legal) speeds and “toys” would be welcome for the regular 1000 mile round trips to our French factory.
The main necessity is reliability, I’ll be keeping 2 weekend cars which will keep my workshop busy!
I have a few cars under consideration and would appreciate any feedback from people with experience of the following to help me make the correct decision!
I’ll be looking at anything from 2010 onwards.
Preferably 3 litre(ish) V6 diesel, large engined hybrids will be considered.
Jeep Grand Cherokee (only up to 2011, so Mercedes powered).
Lexus RX (I need too see if it’s big enough!)
Volvo XC90
Audi Q7
Audi A6 Allroad
Mercedes GL
Porsche Cayenne
VW Tuareg

Any Others I’ve not listed?

Note… I don’t do Fords: and anything “Land-Rover” not listed on reliability grounds (convince me?)
E Class All Road:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406070...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406070...
Hmm… I didn’t know there was an ‘E’ Allroad but it doesn’t appear to have much ground clearance and those 20” wheels with low profile tyres wouldn’t last a month round here!

Ultra Sound Guy

Original Poster:

28,791 posts

201 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
NB… budget is below £15k, I know, but times are hard!

Ultra Sound Guy

Original Poster:

28,791 posts

201 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
Ooh! That crept under my radar! Very cheap too. What are they like on reliability?

Summit_Detailing

2,006 posts

200 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
Touareg for me given the criteria.

A neighbour swears by them and has had several, he tows a boat frequently and visits his place in France fairly often.

Note; he did flirt with an X5 a couple of years ago but it lasted less than 6 months and he went back to a Touareg.

I now have the same V6 diesel in an Audi and I prefer its smoothness and power/torque delivery to that of the equivalent BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar that I've also owned previously.

Cheers.

Ultra Sound Guy

Original Poster:

28,791 posts

201 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
Summit_Detailing said:
Touareg for me given the criteria.

A neighbour swears by them and has had several, he tows a boat frequently and visits his place in France fairly often.

Note; he did flirt with an X5 a couple of years ago but it lasted less than 6 months and he went back to a Touareg.

I now have the same V6 diesel in an Audi and I prefer its smoothness and power/torque delivery to that of the equivalent BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar that I've also owned previously.

Cheers.
Thanks, that’s just the kind of input I’m looking for!

ZX10R NIN

28,351 posts

132 months

Saturday 15th June
quotequote all
Ultra Sound Guy said:
Ooh! That crept under my radar! Very cheap too. What are they like on reliability?
They're very reliable I have family with them, the drivetrain is also used on the Nissan van range.

Most Nissan dealers will service them as well as most good indys.