4 vehicles in our household
2008 Cadliac Escalade 114k miles
2010 VW Touraeg V6 80k miles
2008 Jeep Liberty 110k miles
2008 Jeep Commander 140k miles
We tend to keep our vehicles for a long time. I prefer large a SUV because of comfort during long road trips. It is like driving a large club chair that can also carry just about anything you need to carry. I purchased it as my 3rd choice so to speak. 1st choice was a Mercedes GL550. I test drove 2, at 2 separate times. Each time I had a lower back ache after 20 min. At least for me, it seemed that the pedals were offset to the right of the foot-well, requiring me to sit in a certain way that was uncomfortable. 2nd choice was a GMC Denali (previous SUV was a 2000 Denali purchased with 30k miles and sold with 275k miles...), but I could not find one in my price range; everyone wanted a premium and they sell very quickly as used. I noticed that Escalades consistently sold for several K less than Denalis even when adjusted for condition and use. So I purchased an Esclade. I initially received some strange looks when people saw me driving it or getting out of it....I guess I don't fit the "profile" of the average Escalade driver.... But it is fast and very comfortable.
My wife drove a succession of MB E wagons for a long time and wanted something a little bigger. She initially test drove a MB ML SUV, but felt it was too similar to her wagon and she realized she also wanted something different. Then she test drove a Volvo XC90 and a VW. She thought the interior of the Volvo felt cheap vs the cost. She liked the VW so a Touraeg it was. I joke that the VW is a Porsche Cayenne without the spice, and an Audi Q7 without the zeros on the end of the check ! I have friends that drive Cayenne, Maccan, Q5 and Q7, and non believe me when I tell them that our lowly VW came from the same assembly line, and has the same basic engine and transmission. So far it is good vehicle- reliable, but a few small issues that are more nuisance than debilitating. My wife likes it, but admitted she will probably go back to an MB when it is time to purchase another vehicle.
Our children drive the Jeeps. We love Jeeps (long time Cherokee owners previously). The Liberty is really an updated version of the Cherokee. The Commander is a Liberty stretched to its limit. I think the Liberty is the better of the two trucks. The market seems to agree as I see many more Libertys on the road now than I do Commanders, as both or now at least 5-8yr old for the last model years.
2008 Cadliac Escalade 114k miles
2010 VW Touraeg V6 80k miles
2008 Jeep Liberty 110k miles
2008 Jeep Commander 140k miles
We tend to keep our vehicles for a long time. I prefer large a SUV because of comfort during long road trips. It is like driving a large club chair that can also carry just about anything you need to carry. I purchased it as my 3rd choice so to speak. 1st choice was a Mercedes GL550. I test drove 2, at 2 separate times. Each time I had a lower back ache after 20 min. At least for me, it seemed that the pedals were offset to the right of the foot-well, requiring me to sit in a certain way that was uncomfortable. 2nd choice was a GMC Denali (previous SUV was a 2000 Denali purchased with 30k miles and sold with 275k miles...), but I could not find one in my price range; everyone wanted a premium and they sell very quickly as used. I noticed that Escalades consistently sold for several K less than Denalis even when adjusted for condition and use. So I purchased an Esclade. I initially received some strange looks when people saw me driving it or getting out of it....I guess I don't fit the "profile" of the average Escalade driver.... But it is fast and very comfortable.
My wife drove a succession of MB E wagons for a long time and wanted something a little bigger. She initially test drove a MB ML SUV, but felt it was too similar to her wagon and she realized she also wanted something different. Then she test drove a Volvo XC90 and a VW. She thought the interior of the Volvo felt cheap vs the cost. She liked the VW so a Touraeg it was. I joke that the VW is a Porsche Cayenne without the spice, and an Audi Q7 without the zeros on the end of the check ! I have friends that drive Cayenne, Maccan, Q5 and Q7, and non believe me when I tell them that our lowly VW came from the same assembly line, and has the same basic engine and transmission. So far it is good vehicle- reliable, but a few small issues that are more nuisance than debilitating. My wife likes it, but admitted she will probably go back to an MB when it is time to purchase another vehicle.
Our children drive the Jeeps. We love Jeeps (long time Cherokee owners previously). The Liberty is really an updated version of the Cherokee. The Commander is a Liberty stretched to its limit. I think the Liberty is the better of the two trucks. The market seems to agree as I see many more Libertys on the road now than I do Commanders, as both or now at least 5-8yr old for the last model years.