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SUV and never looked back?

post #1 of 46
8/31/09 at 1:54am
Thread Starter 
hi all,

just wanted to see what you well dressed folks might think. i've had my bmw 325 for a coupla years now, the lease is coming up, and i'm thinking i will never get a sedan again. i do a lot of snowboarding in the winter and it was a pain the f'n ass stuffing my board into the back seat cause the rear seat doesn't come down, and driving through snow in my rear wheel drive (with snow tires) contraption.

i admit it feels good to look at my car, feels good to look at myself step into it, look at myself stepping out, have my gfs look hot in it and squirm in the heated seat, and that it drives smoother than anything else, BUT...

i am really thinking the utility and lack of b.s. an SUV has to offer, not to mention cheaper, would be better. i also do a ton of stuff in the summer like mountain biking/cycling/sailing/etc. and it's just a bit of a bother dumping things in the back seat all the time and worrying about the f'n leather.

SO. i understand an SUV is great for families, but any SINGLE guys out there went to an SUV and never looked back? i'm thinking of getting an AWD chevy equinox or a ford escape...
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post #2 of 46
8/31/09 at 9:52am
I couldn't imagine myself going from a 325 to an Equinox or Escape. My girlfriend has had both an E90 328xi (crushed by a tree) and now an E92 328xi, and both have been fantastic in the snow. Tires are obviously the biggest factor, but the AWD system in the cars is very competent. It just seems a strange move, from a 325 to an Equinox. I've never considered justifying vehicles for the several times a year that they're really an inconvenience. If you make 15 snowboarding trips in a year, is that really worth the tradeoff for driving the Equinox the other 350 days a year? It's not going to be any better in the snow than an AWD sedan, the only benefit will be tossing things in the back (but be aware that the equinox and escape are both small platforms). I'd much rather a 328 or 335xi with a roofrack/Yakima box on top for the trips, and not deal with getting snow and salt in the car at all.
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post #3 of 46
8/31/09 at 9:52am
I've driven a Jeep since I was 16, had a Cherokee and now a Grand Cherokee. My next vehicle will probably be a Land Rover LR3. I'm an SUV kinda guy.

My brother has had a Grand Cherokee and an Explorer. No one has ever questioned whether we have kids or something.

That being said, the Equinox and Escape are pretty much the girliest SUVs I can think of. Get a Jeep, a 4Runner, a Touareg, or something. Alternatively, get another car so that you can enjoy your squirming women, and buy something sweet like an old Land Cruiser or Wrangler or something to take snowboarding.
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post #4 of 46
8/31/09 at 11:03am
I got a Nissan Murano a couple years ago (when I was single) and I love it.

I'm constantly using it to pick up stuff from the nursery or the hardware store (the joys of owning an old home), but the times when I actually clean it up it doesn't look out of place when I pull into a nice hotel or a high-end restaurant. It's not the biggest or manliest SUV, but it was within my price range and it had the right combination of looks/utility for my lifestyle.

My wife recently inherited a sedan, and it's nice to have that for times that the crossover may not be appropriate, but I'd say we still use the Nissan 90% of the time (her heated leather 80-way adjustable couch-like seats win out for long trips, though).
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post #5 of 46
8/31/09 at 11:24am
You will probably be disappointed with the entire dealership experience, going from a BMW to a Chevy. If you can afford a baby-Beemer, you could probably afford MB's entry level or mid level SUV. Why not look into that?
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post #6 of 46
8/31/09 at 11:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Piobaire View Post
You will probably be disappointed with the entire dealership experience, going from a BMW to a Chevy. If you can afford a baby-Beemer, you could probably afford MB's entry level or mid level SUV. Why not look into that?
I highly doubt that. The whole dealership experience is overrated window dressing for a car that is more expensive and annoying to maintain (and I own a VW, which admittedly falls into the same categoy-whether you agree or not). If you buy a chevy, get ready for cheaper oil changes, more readily available (and once again cheaper) mechanics when the warranty runs out and just generally a car that will be more reliable and cheaper over the long run. My brother has a GMC truck with over 150k on it. The car is still going strong with minimal maintenance and oil changes. The rest of the family all has audis or VWs which became expensive nightmares once they got past 100k. The GMC will probably end up rusting out before the engine dies. I like german cars a lot, but I also ski/sail/fish/bike and I have found myself wanting an SUV a lot of times.
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post #7 of 46
8/31/09 at 12:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CTGuy View Post
I highly doubt that. The whole dealership experience is overrated window dressing for a car that is more expensive and annoying to maintain (and I own a VW, which admittedly falls into the same categoy-whether you agree or not). If you buy a chevy, get ready for cheaper oil changes, more readily available (and once again cheaper) mechanics when the warranty runs out and just generally a car that will be more reliable and cheaper over the long run.

My brother has a GMC truck with over 150k on it. The car is still going strong with minimal maintenance and oil changes. The rest of the family all has audis or VWs which became expensive nightmares once they got past 100k. The GMC will probably end up rusting out before the engine dies.

I like german cars a lot, but I also ski/sail/fish/bike and I have found myself wanting an SUV a lot of times.

Well, first, I am assuming that since he is leasing the BMW, he will lease his next vehicle. That means you never have to worry about your warranty running out. Usually, but not always, you get scheduled oil changes on a complimentary basis.

So while I don't disagree with much of what you say, it is probably not applicable here. These are some of the many reasons I lease too.
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post #8 of 46
8/31/09 at 12:12pm
I can't imagine living in a winter snow area and not having some kind of four wheel drive. Get a Subaru for all the winter driving and summer tasks and a classic car for the good weather months to impress.
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post #9 of 46
8/31/09 at 12:15pm
I just moved from a European sedan to an SUV and I'm really pleased so far... I get out to the ski hill about 20 times per year, and also mountain bike and surf... it was a logical choice.
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post #10 of 46
8/31/09 at 12:20pm
You realize you can own more then one car? Most people I know have at least 2 cars.
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post #11 of 46
8/31/09 at 12:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Piobaire View Post
Well, first, I am assuming that since he is leasing the BMW, he will lease his next vehicle. That means you never have to worry about your warranty running out. Usually, but not always, you get scheduled oil changes on a complimentary basis.

So while I don't disagree with much of what you say, it is probably not applicable here. These are some of the many reasons I lease too.

Ah, I hadn't consider the leasing perspective. BMW/Mercedes/VW make a great product that is fun to drive. I am a loyal VW guy personally. If you don't have to worry about the ownership perspective I think you are spot on that an x3 or something like that would be a nice option.
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post #12 of 46
8/31/09 at 12:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CTGuy View Post
Ah, I hadn't consider the leasing perspective. BMW/Mercedes/VW make a great product that is fun to drive. I am a loyal VW guy personally. If you don't have to worry about the ownership perspective I think you are spot on that an x3 or something like that would be a nice option.

If I was going to buy though, I'd be with you on either a GMC or Toyota full size PU with the double cab. Should last forever and a day, huge interior room, and the ability to haul. My lease is up in November, and if residuals for PUs start to rise again, I might get the Tundra double cab, with that honking new 5.7L
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post #13 of 46
8/31/09 at 12:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Piobaire View Post
If I was going to buy though, I'd be with you on either a GMC or Toyota full size PU with the double cab. Should last forever and a day, huge interior room, and the ability to haul. My lease is up in November, and if residuals for PUs start to rise again, I might get the Tundra double cab, with that honking new 5.7L

Friend of mine has a Tacoma he bought right after college probably 6 or 7 years ago. Toyota replaced the frame as part of a recall, but otherwise the thing is a tank. As I said, it will probably rust out before the engine has any problems.
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post #14 of 46
8/31/09 at 1:29pm
Thread Starter 
hey all, thanks for the great replies! it's good to see that some of you have made the move and enjoyed it... one thing i'm discovering (too late) is i'm not too into leasing... i can afford it, but i can't help but watch every kilometer i take. i feel like i'm chained to the odometer. i drive a lot and i like the feeling of freedom, so i'm probably gonna buy the next car. i know it's not rational and that every kilometer costs, but it just feels better. so the next car will be bought... the bmw xi-s are cool but out; i just don't see the point of driving a great handling 3-series beemer that doesn't have 50/50 weight distribution and isn't rear wheel drive... that and the cost of ownership isn't worth it i think.. the two car thing is interesting and i've been bandying that idea about in my head; i might ultimately do it; SUV for winter, nice car for summer... a lot of my issues have to do with aesthetics... i love the utility of the subaru but my god it's ugly... similarly i like the interior of the lexus SUV but not the exterior.. the mb SUV looks like a benz version of a land rover, so bleh. and i wouldn't get the land rover cause of the reliability probs...
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post #15 of 46
8/31/09 at 1:43pm
For suv handling is never equal of car which is closer to ground. 4WD is necessary for some place, especially where there is much snow it is good to have suv with good ground clearance, but for daily driver I like 4WD car instead of suv. Ideal situation is to have 4WD car and 4WD suv, or if in place without much snow, then only 4WD car.
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