<p>Have you looked at the Ford Explorer or the Ford Edge? These cars can be pretty luxurious if you get them loaded.
German cars haven’t changed much since I stopped driving them…lots of fun to drive, but very expensive repairs and in the shop a lot. </p>
<p>i really liked the size and features of the Edge, but found for my height/seat position there were too many blind spots Six foot son did not have this issue. </p>
<p>We bought the Acura RDX this year after driving Suburbans for many years. We really like the RDX. It is comfortable and has some get up and go. We opted for the higher end tech package when we bought it.</p>
<p>I’m struggling with going back to a more moderate vehicle after driving a German fun to drive car for the last 8 years. I know I just need to go drive a few.
These are the times I miss living in a metropolitan area with lots of dealerships. Our local dealers don’t have much inventory. I would consider certified used but it seems that they don’t seem to have many SUV or crossovers, mostly sedans.
Show mom- the Acura is on my list and we now have a Acura dealer. </p>
<p>If you are looking for a cross over, my husband and I are interested in the Lexus NX. None have been delivered to our dealership, but reviews look very promising.</p>
<p>I will look at crossovers and small SUV. I could get a sedan but I like being higher off the ground but I might drive one and keep an open mind.
I don’t need a lot of room. We have a Land Cruiser for when the whole family is together and that it’s the car we take when we travel. Most of my driving is around town with most destinations within 5 miles of my house. If I go on the freeway it is for maximum 10 minutes. Occasionally I’ll transport a good sized dog but mainly it’s groceries.
Gumbymom- I like that lexus and also the Audi q3 but I don’t think I will find either of them anytime soon. I can’t keep driving my car unless I spend the minimum of $3500.
Today I am stopping by Mazda, Lexus, BMW,Acura and Audi. I probably won’t drive anything yet.</p>
<p>I got a pristine used Toyota Highlander when my minivan died while we were on vacation. I love it, the interior (I have one of the higher trim lines) is great and seating is roomy enough for my 6’3" S to sit in the back. Handles very nicely but it does not have the same pick up as my H’s BMW. However, mine has not been in the shop and his BMW SUV is constantly in the shop for little and big things.</p>
<p>Personally I do place some importance on reliability because the inconvenience of having to take the car in is a big pain for me. For my H and for others, he will put up with the inconvenience and cost of repairs because he gets more pleasure out of the features on his car. To each his own.</p>
<p>My mom has the Toyota RAV4 and while it’s a great functional car, it definitely feels like a low budget version of my car.</p>
<p>Audi A4…</p>
<p>When I researched this in 2010, the top contenders in order were: Subaru Forester, Honda CR/V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue. The Honda appears to have superior engineering – lots of thoughtful interior features – but no pep to drive. It fell off the list. The Toyota was hard to get and something was going on with Toyota at the time (I forget what – something about lots of recalls, maybes?) that turned me off. I tried to rent both the Forester & the Rogue for a day, but the dealers let me have a day for free. I test drove my long commute. The Forester was noisy, and I was relieved to get out of it at the end of my commute. The Rogue was missing some features that I’d love, but it was the most comfortable, acceptably peppy with great gas mileage and I ended up getting it.</p>
<p>Last I checked…the Audi A4 was a sedan. This poster wants an SUV or Crossover vehicle. Read the thread!</p>
<p>Looked at CR-V, Outback, and CX-5. Pick up a new CR-V Touring (our 3rd CR-V) in a day or two, trading in our '08 CR-V. Much better value, imo, than the RDX, just doesn’t have the upside down ‘H’ on the hood. All the passive safety features are amazing, and they’re not even available on the RDX. And speaking from experience, Honda’s reliability is 2nd to none (also own a TSX).</p>
<p>I was all set to buy a CRV (which what niece just bought). Just before I made offer, I was gifted a nice used sedan, so have put my buying on hold indefinitely. My other niece bought the Nissan Rogue, which she’s happy with. H wants a sedan to replace his aging Volvo S70. He likes the pep, steering and other features of his current Volvo, but I’m getting tired of the repair bills. The car needs a new paint job and the interior is beginning to age rapidly (it is a 1998).</p>
<p>I adore my VW Tiguan, basically the same as the Audi, but fewer bells and whistles. We drove the Audi Q5 and it was lovely, but out of our price range, I have heard nice things about the Audi Q3. My friend has the diesel Tourag, definitely a size bigger than the Tiguan. I think I average 25-30 MPG in mine. If the offered a diesel Tiguan I would have given it serious consideration, but it does not sound like you drive much so maybe the mileage is less critical to you.</p>
<p>My car is several years old and we have not had anything wrong, but if we did, our local dealer has outstanding service. </p>
<p>Reporting in- I drove the Honda CRV. I was pleasantly surprised. It drove nicely and the inside was nice. I also felt the visibility was good. If I had a budget of less then 30000 it would be a strong contender.
Looked at the BMW X1 and I think I will test drive it with my H. I will also drive the Audi q5 as it is the same dealership. It is at the high end of my price range and bigger then I want. The sales person said that it is impossible at this point to find a Q3. I also looked at the Mercedes GLC and I didn’t love the visibility and it is at the top or over my budget. Sales person felt the Porsche would also be difficult to find. They had 1 but it was full of options and expensive.
Bringing me to the Lexus. Best selection of vehicles including several certified preowned. I drove a new 2015 and I liked it a lot. Enough pep that I don’t feel like I am losing that by getting rid of my BMW. Good visibility and easy to drive. My only concern is it is larger then I thought I wanted. They will give me a lot more for my trade in then I think it is worth which helps. They also have a lot of cars on the lot and it is the end of the month. I will bring my H to drive it.
I am unsure if it is worth driving the Subaru. </p>
<p>Well…you could buy the CRV and use that extra $20,000 to go on a nice vacation!</p>
<p>I’m sayin’ it again. I could have had any car that I wanted and looked at/drove dozens. I settled on the 2014 introduced Jeep Cherokee Limited and I am in love with it. Perfect size, wonderful features and powerful. Give it a test drive. </p>
<p>We have a Toyota Venza, which is a crossover vehicle and have really enjoyed it. We had a Toyota Sienna and find the Venza roomy and really comfortable - both passenger and driver. We like the features (especially the heated seats - SO nice in New England) and it has good power as well. </p>
<p>I have an X1 and I don’t have an issue with the seats. I had considered the 328 wagon but it wasn’t out yet. I also liekd an Acura wagon, I don’t remember the model #. I’ve had mine for 1.5 years, 21k miles. I really enjoy this car</p>
<p>Kajon-I would consider looking at the Jeep but I want something I can service in town. The Nearest Jeep dealer is an hour away. Same issue with the Subaru.
It’s been a long day. Drove 4 more cars tonight. </p>
<p>On recent vacation with LOTS of driving we rented a Nissan Xterra. It didn’t have all the bells and whistles being a rental but it was a great car. I particularly loved it. I drive a mini-van and like you like being up higher with no blind spots. It had great trunk room for its size, easy to see out, seats 5 comfortably. Smaller than my van so it was easier to park. Best part was the back seat is built up a bit higher that the front so those in the back can actually see out–no sitting in a hole and staring at a headrest. This was the first car my car-sick prone D could actually ride in the backseat. </p>