Any vehicles I'm overlooking?

[Imported]

To make it short..
Preference for four doors and AWD. New. Towing capacity a plus. Off-road capability a plus. More comfortable than a Miata. $40k budget. Kind of all over the board but here are my top four contenders so far:

Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road Premium - $42k
Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road - $37k
Chevrolet Colorado Z71 - $37k
Subaru WRX Limited - $33k

Don't want a Jeep. Not a fan of car based SUVs (CX-5, CRV, etc.). I'd consider the new Ford Bronco but that's 3 years away. Our only vehicle at the moment is a Miata which is driving me mad - I need more space and you feel every damn bump in the road. Miata is paid for so it'd be kept.

 

[Fenixgoon]

what do you plan on towing? do you want/need the size of a truck? what about one of the subaru wagons?

the only other vehicle i can think of would be something like an Audi A4/A6 allroad - not sure if you're fond of the germans though.

also, are you looking to buy new only? why not a used car?

 

[Crono]

Ford Fusion or Dodge Charger AWD if offroad isn't crucial, otherwise I'd lean towards the Tacoma.

 

[Imported]

what do you plan on towing? do you want/need the size of a truck? what about one of the subaru wagons?

the only other vehicle i can think of would be something like an Audi A4/A6 allroad - not sure if you're fond of the germans though.

also, are you looking to buy new only? why not a used car?

I have an old Miata in the garage that's a work in project track car.

Not a fan of going with a used German car. Maybe a used Lexus IS AWD..

We're not having kids so it's another reason to consider a non-family people mover.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk

 

[jlee]

I would go used -- GX460, 2008+ Toyota Land Cruiser, or Lexus LX570 would all be great options. You'll also get 6500-8200lbs towing capacity (depending on model).

Also this.. http://dashboard-light.com/reports/QualityIndexRating.html

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Buick Regal Tour X

http://www.buick.com/regal-tourx-mid-size-luxury-wagon/#/index

Ford Fusion Sport AWD & 325HP
https://www.ford.com/cars/fusion/2017/models/fusion-sport/

2018 Dodge Charger GT AWD

 

[Imported]

I would go used -- GX460, 2008+ Toyota Land Cruiser, or Lexus LX570 would all be great options. You'll also get 6500-8200lbs towing capacity (depending on model).

Also this.. http://dashboard-light.com/reports/QualityIndexRating.html

I'll have to check those out. My wife is averse to going used but working on it.

Buick Regal Tour X

http://www.buick.com/regal-tourx-mid-size-luxury-wagon/#/index

Ford Fusion Sport AWD & 325HP
https://www.ford.com/cars/fusion/2017/models/fusion-sport/

2018 Dodge Charger GT AWD

Forgot about the Fusion Sport! Thanks.

 

[Viper GTS]

If a WRX is on your list I'd include the Focus RS.

Viper GTS

 

[BurnItDwn]

If you like your Miata but just wish for something more comfortable, maybe Mazda 3 or Mazda 6 will fit your bill?

I know you don't like crossover wagon things ... but Mazda's magnetic AWD is supposed to be the best in the business (even better than Subaru) ...
Maybe worth sitting in a cx5? They cant tow much, but they can tow a small trailer just fine.


Otherwise, I like Jlee's recommendations. He has good taste and knows what hes doing.

 

[Imported]

If a WRX is on your list I'd include the Focus RS.

Viper GTS

I tried.. Focus RS rejected by the wife. Too boy-racer for her.

 

[herm0016]

If you actually want capability, I would go for the z71 over the taco. Much nicer ride, handling and engine vs the long in the tooth taco.

Have you looked at the Acadia? I was in one a few weeks ago and it was very nice. built on a mid size SUV platform, not a car. available with the "all terrain" stuff.

lx/gx is great but for 40 k you are looking at fairly well used and no modern conveniences. 100k miles and 5-10 years old. Great trucks, but you have to love them a lot to put up with the price.

I like the 4 runner for its capability, but the interior is cramped at best for that size of a vehicle. Its very unrefined. My inlaws have been buying them for a while and have had to trade in 2 in a row due to mice eating the wiring and living in the HVAC on them.

 

[jlee]

If you actually want capability, I would go for the z71 over the taco. Much nicer ride, handling and engine vs the long in the tooth taco.

Have you looked at the Acadia? I was in one a few weeks ago and it was very nice. built on a mid size SUV platform, not a car. available with the "all terrain" stuff.

lx/gx is great but for 40 k you are looking at fairly well used and no modern conveniences. 100k miles and 5-10 years old. Great trucks, but you have to love them a lot to put up with the price.

I like the 4 runner for its capability, but the interior is cramped at best for that size of a vehicle. Its very unrefined. My inlaws have been buying them for a while and have had to trade in 2 in a row due to mice eating the wiring and living in the HVAC on them.

The GX is basically an upscale 4Runner. Higher roofline, dramatically nicer interior, and a standard V8.

Other than Android Auto / Carplay, which features do you feel a 2008+ LC is missing?

 

[herm0016]

The GX is basically an upscale 4Runner. Higher roofline, dramatically nicer interior, and a standard V8.

Other than Android Auto / Carplay, which features do you feel a 2008+ LC is missing?

Infotainment stuff mostly.

also, horrible gas mileage

dont get me wrong, i would love a new 70 series 4 door ute. I had one when i was working on the outback.

 

[jlee]

Infotainment stuff mostly.

also, horrible gas mileage

dont get me wrong, i would love a new 70 series 4 door ute. I had one when i was working on the outback.

"No modern conveniences" is a bit of a stretch then. You had me looking up features on an '08 LX570 - there's a fair amount. Pre-collision, adaptive cruise, adaptive headlights, four zone climate control, etc. Horrible gas mileage is mostly a given when you want AWD/4x4, offroad capability, and tow capacity...but I agree, they are definitely thirsty.

 

[herm0016]

I honestly did not fathom that many of those things were available on that platform.

i get between 17 and 20 in my v8 5500 lb pickup. a new gx570 is rated at 13/18

what you are thoughts imported?

 

[Imported]

I'm leaning towards a 4Runner. Still need to do research on a used GX or Land Cruiser as I don't know much about them.. options, etc.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...chRadius=200&makeCode1=LEXUS&modelCode1=GX460 kinda caught my eye.

 

[NutBucket]

Lx/gx is great but for 40 k you are looking at fairly well used and no modern conveniences. 100k miles and 5-10 years old. Great trucks, but you have to love them a lot to put up with the price..

LX = Land Cruiser
GX = 4Runner, basically

The GX can easily be had CPO for under $50k. That's 2-3 years old with about 30k on the clock. Non-CPO would certainly be a bit cheaper. Agreed that an LX will blow right through the budget.

 

[Wuzup101]

I'd probably go with a 4runner or Colorado given your choices if you do want a truck (vs a car with the WRX that you were considering). I'd check to see what the actual price paid difference is between a z71 and a zr2 (and then just get the zr2). I'd also check out the F-150 w/ the 2.7TT if you can deal with the overall size of the truck (you can get a pretty nice 1/2 ton with 40k given that they have so many discounts).

Edit: okay maybe the zr2 is a bit over the budget lol...

 

[jlee]

LX = Land Cruiser
GX = 4Runner, basically

The GX can easily be had CPO for under $50k. That's 2-3 years old with about 30k on the clock. Non-CPO would certainly be a bit cheaper. Agreed that an LX will blow right through the budget.

Yep, GX is basically a 4Runner (well, a Landcruiser Prado, which is on the 4Runner chassis) with a V8 and Lexus amenities.

 

[Imported]

Just an update.. we ended up with a new Mazda CX-5 GT AWD. The $15k we saved vs a new 4Runner will go towards a truck next year. It oddly drives similar to the 228i I had.. just a bit taller and with less power.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Just an update.. we ended up with a new Mazda CX-5 GT AWD. The $15k we saved vs a new 4Runner will go towards a truck next year. It oddly drives similar to the 228i I had.. just a bit taller and with less power.

As far as tall wagons / CUV whatever you wanna call ems go .... the Mazda looks like one of the best out there. Hope you enjoy it for many years to come.

 

[Pulsar]

I would go used -- GX460, 2008+ Toyota Land Cruiser, or Lexus LX570 would all be great options. You'll also get 6500-8200lbs towing capacity (depending on model).

Also this.. http://dashboard-light.com/reports/QualityIndexRating.html

I'll continue bashing dashboard-light.com until they come clean on their magic formula that downgrades new models automagically just because they're new models. Their data is very questionable.

 

[jlee]

I'll continue bashing dashboard-light.com until they come clean on their magic formula that downgrades new models automagically just because they're new models. Their data is very questionable.

What is your preferred vehicle reliability index site?

 

[Pulsar]

What is your preferred vehicle reliability index site?

Truthfully I haven't had to deal with one since my last car purchase a while back, but at the time consumer reports had some pretty good data and so did edmunds. I can't say for sure that's still the case. I got upset with dashboard when I got into their numbers and they started adding random shit just because it was a new model or a new bodystyle. That's not a measurement, that's a guess on their part.

 

[NutBucket]

I'm I the only one in this forum that doesn't consult vehicle reliability sites? Come to think of it, there's only been one vehicle I researched for reliability reasons prior to purchase and that was a GMC.