Time for a "new" DD. Mid sized SUV, need suggestions!

Ok, so I currently use my Cayenne as my DD, family hauler, ski machine and tow beast.  I tow ~4500lbs between the car/trailer so I want a tow rating of 6000lbs.

Looking for a "new" SUV, about the same size as the Cayenne.  If it's any taller than 69.5" it won't fit underneath my 4 post lift, which then means a lot of work to rearrange the garage parking situation or having to sell my current 4 post lift for a different one that lifts higher.  So, given that, I'd prefer an SUV that's no taller than 69.5".  Or so.

Price range can go up to starting with a $4x,xxx, but prefer it start with a $3x,xxx.  Will be trading the Cayenne in, maybe get $10-15k for it as a trade. 

So, usable back seat, tow capacity of 6000lbs, reliable.  Warranty would be nice.  Thinking a 13,14 Cayenne Diesel, 14,15 X5 Diesel or ???

What else is out there that's not a huge SUV that can tow 6000lbs?

My dad has a current generation Grand Cherokee and it's not a bad place to spend time. With the V8 Overland package, which I don't otherwise recommend since the regular non-SRT V8 isn't really faster than the 3.6L, it's rated for 6,500 lbs. The SRT is rated for 7,200 lbs. You can definitely find a used SRT in your price range. I imagine repair bills are cheaper than a Cayenne or X5.

Don't you have a turbo? Keep it!

I do have a Turbo and its been a great car.  However, it the last month it signalled that its time to move it on. 

So far I'm considering an '11-'12 Cayenne Turbo, '13-14 Cayenne Diesel, '14-15 BMW X5 Diesel or a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.

I've been a german car guy for decades, how does the SRT8 stack up?  Build quality, interior quality, reliability?

I'd say X5 Diesel or Grand Cherokee(they had a diesel version)...

The GC is most certainly a cheaper car, but is a nice place to spend time.  

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?listingId=472909907&zip=80014&referrer=%2Fcars-for-sale%2Fsearchresults.xhtml%3Fzip%3D80014%26fuelTypeGroup%3DDSL%26startYear%3D1981%26sortBy%3DderivedpriceDESC%26incremental%3Dall%26firstRecord%3D0%26endYear%3D2018%26modelCodeList%3DJEEPGRAND%26makeCodeList%3DJEEP%26searchRadius%3D25&startYear=1981&numRecords=25&firstRecord=0&endYear=2018&modelCodeList=JEEPGRAND&makeCodeList=JEEP&searchRadius=25&makeCode1=JEEP&modelCode1=JEEPGRAND

Diesel Tuareg?

Yup, Diesel Touareg is on my radar too.  Basically the same as the Cayenne diesel, just doesn't have quite as nice of an interior/electronics package.  However, they're quite a bit less expensive and that's a nice thing for sure.

What is signaling its time about your current Cayenne Turbo?

What are the thoughts on a Mercedes ML350 Diesel?  Or the '14-'15 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT?

Really hard to find a Cayenne diesel, let alone one with the air suspension.  No Touareg TDI Executive's for sale near me.

docwyte said:

What are the thoughts on a Mercedes ML350 Diesel?  Or the '14-'15 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT?

Really hard to find a Cayenne diesel, let alone one with the air suspension.  No Touareg TDI Executive's for sale near me.

 

 

Someone here has the GL diesel Merc. I would go GL over the ML personally my sedan has the same engine used in those the OM642 turbo v6 diesel. Known issues are oil cooler seals leaking but thats about it. And that was a 2k fix when it happened. Mine just hit 72k miles owned it since 27k and for daily use I love love love it. The chassis payload on the sedan is too low or I think it would tow better than my minivan easy

Ecoboost explorer?

In reply to Jaynen :

I've got the GL, but I'm pretty sure it's over the designated height.  I think the MLs are just as tall.  The new GLC doesn't have the towing capacity that you're looking for but it might fit under the lift.  In fact, I think that's going to be the main limiter as most of the 6k+ SUVs are going to be in the 72-74 inch range.

simplecat said:

Ecoboost explorer?

I occasionally drive one of these for work.  When I do drive it, I'm usually in it for 3 hours at a time.  I'm not particularly enamored with it.  Drivers wheel well intrudes into cabin where the left foot wants to rest creating an uneven surface that is uncomfortable.  Feels very wide compared to my Tahoe although it probably isn't.  Third row seating doesn't seem easily accessible although I haven't had a need to use it.

The Kia Borrego V8 tows 7500 pounds.  

Jeep Commander V8 tows 7400 pounds.  

Both out of production, but both making a comeback if you wait another year or two.  

In reply to pinchvalve :

Ahh...the Rondo SUV appears...

Friend has the Jeep commander.  I'm not a fan.  Feels like you're driving a gun bunker on wheels.  Plus the interior is really low grade, lots of hard plastics.  

Explorer wont fit under the lift.  Supposedly the Grand Cherokee SRT is 67.5" tall.

A friend also pointed out that I only tow 6 times a year.  For those times I could tow with my wife's gx470.  If I do that, then I can get whatever I want really.

So maybe an Audi RS3 or a Benz E63 AMG wagon.

I'm out of town now, but when I get back I plan on driving the SRT Jeep, the diesel Benz, diesel X5 and the AMG wagon and deciding....

What about a 4Runner?  An 09 V8 model is rated for 7000 lbs, but if you're cross shopping an AMG Wagon and X5, it may be a little lower market than you're aiming for.  Newer ones are rated for 6500, iirc.

Find the infamous 5.0 V10 diesel Tour Egg.  I think they only sold it in the states for 1 year.  I used to walk past one every day in Houston when I was down there for work.  It may have succumbed to Harvey as I didn't see it last time I was there.

My sister dailys a '14 X5 diesel.  Good lord is that car ever fast for a SUV.  I wouldn't want it now though.  Too many Michigan winters.  Two is too many.  

Edit: check Atlanta's List of Craigs for the V10 Egg.  I see them flash up every now and then.  I believe it's the one to have.

4Runner is too tall to fit under my lift.  Plus it's hard to find one of the V8 models used, when you can, they're $$$.

v10 touaregs are impressive but insanely expensive to own out of warranty, which all of them are at this point...

Talked with the Benz dealer, was surprised to hear a CPO only adds 1 year to the warranty.  That wagon is very expensive, and it only being under warranty for another 2 years with the CPO isn't very attractive....

Audi RS3 it is! I loved the RS3 and TTRS I flogged this summer on the track. 

RS3 is very cool.  Wagons just fit my lifestyle better.  

Havent had a sedan in a long time, wish they brought the hatchback too

Well, got a call from the Benz dealer, that AMG wagon sold last night.  Had barely made it through dealer prep too.  Oh well, guess that's what happens when you're out of town and can't jump right on it.  It was going to be stretch financially anyways, so perhaps its for the best.

Driving the X5 diesel and the SRT GC tomorrow.

Drove the Jeep SRT and the X5 35d today.  Drove the X5 first. 

Very nice ride, handled well, stopped well, was surprised it had single piston floating brake calipers vs a 4-6 pot.  Very slight diesel clatter on start up.  Very smooth power, good torque, very good pickup.  8 speed shifted well, nice interior, electronics were pretty killer but I'm comparing to my 2006.  Had the M sport package, light package and premium package, was CPO'd so under warranty for another 2 years or so.  

Drove the Jeep next.  Felt larger, had the "laguna" interior package, which looks nice.  Cheap plastics on the center console and in the hatch area, as well as around the rear seats.  Electronics were good, not as "finished" as the BMW.  Hemi makes awesome sounds!  Was fairly quick, but not as fast as I expected.  Definitely not as fast as my '06 Cayenne Turbo S.  What killed it for me was it was a 2015 with 27k miles on it and they wanted $51k.  Um, for a used Jeep?  That's $7k more than the BMW!  Which was the same year and same mileage.

So I've made an offer on the BMW.  Kind of a low ball, NADA trade value for my Cayenne, and $5k off their asking price, plus I want them to replace the run flat all seasons with a set of Blizzaks for me.  Curious to see where it goes, they did say its year end and they need to sell a bunch of cars today...

Back and forth with the BMW dealer, they don't want to budge off their price.  They're not going to keep my cayenne to sell, so want to give me auction price for it on trade, which isn't that surprising.  I'm ok with the trade value on it, but want them to come down a few grand on the price of their car.  Don't think that's going to happen tho.

So next plan is to move onto Touareg TDI's.  Several dealers have "new" 2016's for sale, so I'm targeting those, or low mile 2014's.  Advantage for the Touareg over the BMW is it's a much more reliable powertrain, the tow package is stock (would have to add it on the BMW to the tune of $1500) and my extra set of wheels for the cayenne will fit the touareg.

The '15-'16 Porsche Cayenne diesels have been released by Porsche for sale, but the discounts aren't very much, like $10k for a '16.  More to my issue, none of the cayenne diesels that the local dealers have are equipped with the air suspension, so I might as well save $20k and get the touareg, as at that point they're basically the same SUV.