Need recommendations for new Vehicle

[Mossimo142]

I've seen a few posts in the past asking for vehicle recommendations and thought I'd give it a shot. My mom is in the market for a new vehicle and wanted some help figuring out what she wants. I guess I'll just list her ramblings:

New
Comfortable ride
Nothing smaller than a mid sized, wouldn't be opposed to a big SUV.
Good Gas mileage is a plus
Wants something that isn't common, i.e. not everyone in town has (she lives in a small rural Illinois town)
Car manufacturer would have to have a dealership in/near Champaign, IL as she wants to be relatively close for maintenance etc.
Doesn't want to spend over $80,000
She was originally thinking Mercedes/BMW luxury stuff, but she doesn't have the greatest grasp of technology and wouldn't use many technological features.
She really only drives like 2 miles each way to work, and occasionally drives ~30 mile round trips shopping.

I have looked briefly at Cadillac Escalades / BMW 5 series, but would like to know your guys opinions.

Thanks!

 

[punjabiplaya]

good gas mileage and a big SUV? what?

anyways, I'm going to suggest a Lexus (anything other than an IS really) and if she wants more mpgs, she can always get a hybrid one. Lexus's computer gizmos are really easy to understand.

 

[CraigRT]

The Acura MDX is a really nice SUV

 

[JulesMaximus]

I recommend she gets a Honda S2000 or a Lotus Elise. That way she could look cool and do track days! Plus, they aren't wrong wheel drive.

 

[Mossimo142]

Good gas mileage is strictly a plus for the car, not necessarily the SUV.
Her rationale for the large SUV was "so she could run people off the road if need to like I wanted to do today to two drivers." Obviously kidding, but likes the buffer zone they provide.

Last I checked I thought Suburbans were pulling like 18/21 MPG city/highway.

 

[mvbighead]

Good gas mileage is strictly a plus for the car, not necessarily the SUV.
Her rationale for the large SUV was "so she could run people off the road if need to like I wanted to do today to two drivers." Obviously kidding, but likes the buffer zone they provide.

Last I checked I thought Suburbans were pulling like 18/21 MPG city/highway.

I can't think of any woman that would like to park something like a Suburban every day.

If just under 80k is in her ball park, why not something like a BMW X5 or a GX Lexus?

 

[Mossimo142]

I can't think of any woman that would like to park something like a Suburban every day.

If just under 80k is in her ball park, why not something like a BMW X5 or a GX Lexus?

That was my Step Dad's reply, that she's not going to like the cumbersome size of a SUV.

 

[mvbighead]

That was my Step Dad's reply, that she's not going to like the cumbersome size of a SUV.

Honestly, it's a pretty legitimate concern. Hell, I am not a fan of parking my dad's Ram 1500, and a suburban is essentially a full sized truck based SUV.

 

[satyajitmenon]

http://www.landrover.com/us/en/rr/range-rover-evoque/

 

[DominionSeraph]

http://www.landrover.com/us/en/rr/range-rover-evoque/

That's something that you probably won't see too many of in Illinois. The nearest dealer looks to be in Peoria, though.

 

[Doppel]

$80k on an SUV and cares about gas mileage? lawls

 

[Emrys]

Have you considered the new Audi A6 or A7?

 

[nitrous9200]

Jaguar XF or XJ are both very nice looking, probably not overloaded with technology like the Germans and much less common (perhaps even a bit less expensive).

 

[Pulsar]

Hybrid Escalade.

 

[jmarti445]

An Acura would also make a very nice car(though I'm not talking about a European Accord(the TSX)). An Acura RL would make a very nice full sized car, its All wheel drive and very reliable.