[nickm]

My kids are in the same age range and they love pickup trucks. The upper trim versions (in half ton trucks) have just about every conceivable option. I admit I'm impressed by the leather covered dash in my f150 every time I get into it and wonder "why the heck isn't that standard issue in a Touareg exec"

the rr sport and Denali dmax canyon are both great in their own ways IMO.

 

[Mythdoc]

Question: is the Audi Q5 backseat room the same as the Tiguan? Or is there more? If more, I'd be very interested in a Q5 TDI.

 

[HotRodW]

Question: is the Audi Q5 backseat room the same as the Tiguan? Or is there more? If more, I'd be very interested in a Q5 TDI.

The Q5's backseat offers about 1.5" extra of both leg and shoulder room.

 

[mscot]

I've all but decided to go down market and get a new 4Runner. I want something I can take overland to get away from the Colorado crowds and I want a vehicle with robust aftermarket support - unlike what we've had with the Treg.
Toyota should be releasing a new model for 2018. If it has a better drivetrain than the current version then I will definitely go in that direction. Praying they give the 4.6 v8 as an option.
We have a four month old and I'd rather spend money on him, my wood shop, and travel (eventually) than on a RR.
I could use the buyback money and only finance 10k and have what I've saved for a down payment on making it a bit more off-road capable.

 

[xylene]

I look and look and look at the various replacements... What I don't like is most comparable replacements lack the fuel economy and torque and have much smaller fuel tanks... I'm spoiled... That and interiors tend to be more cramped because anything in this size segment is a tad longer than a touareg and stuffed with 7 seats.

The only possible replacement I would like to check out but can't is the 2018 SQ5... That seems be many months away... But so is any official buyback.

For now it looks like the 2 year span to take the buyback will be to my advantage. Maybe there will be an all electric or better hybrid that will suit my desires.

 

[Xplore]

I've all but decided to go down market and get a new 4Runner. I want something I can take overland to get away from the Colorado crowds and I want a vehicle with robust aftermarket support - unlike what we've had with the Treg.
Toyota should be releasing a new model for 2018. If it has a better drivetrain than the current version then I will definitely go in that direction. Praying they give the 4.6 v8 as an option.
We have a four month old and I'd rather spend money on him, my wood shop, and travel (eventually) than on a RR.
I could use the buyback money and only finance 10k and have what I've saved for a down payment on making it a bit more off-road capable.

I doubt we will ever see a V8 in the 4Runner again. I loved my old 4.7 4Runner.

Toyota is likely going to use the new Tacoma engine, 3.5L. This is a horrible engine and the reason I switched to a Nissan Titan after 3 straight Tacoma's. It is horribly underpowered and does not tow and do truck things at all.

It is to bad that Japanese car makers only ever offer the bare minimum in their vehicles, while German auto makers have quite a variety of engine options gas/diesel/hybrid, low power, high power, good and bad gas mileage.

 

[MtnPass]

We own a Toyota now it has 130k miles on it and it has never been to the shop of a repair. We looked at Toyota again and came to the same conclusion as you, under powered and bad mileage.

 

[skyfree]

This weekend my wife and I looked at the GLS 450 and Suburban. We are interested in upsizing to 3 rows and 90+ cubic feet of cargo space behind the front row so that limits our choices. The GLS is very plush and rides great on the air suspension, but I can't get over the stupid shifter that is pretty much just like a Prius. Also, it doesn't really have enough space behind the 3rd row, and I am concerned with maintenance costs. Mercedes doesn't include any service, so you are on the hook right away. The sales guy told us that 55% lease -- especially with a GLS. We need to buy though because we put on so many miles (20-25K annually) which I don't think I would be comfortable with for that car.

The Suburban was sluggish with the ancient 6-speed transmission, but the size is right. I would need the Z71 package which is very hard to find though. I don't think I would buy one until they put an 8-speed in it. Maybe next year.

In the end we decided to keep the Touareg until at least next fall when the '18's come out. Hopefully there will be something we are interested in, but for now we don't want to give up our sweet ride for something that doesn't suit us as well. We really want something that is simple, not too expensive, but high quality like our TDI Sport with Nav.

 

[Philth]

I feel the Suburbans are WAY overpriced for what you get.

 

[skyfree]

I feel the Suburbans are WAY overpriced for what you get.

I feel that way too, but what else is there if you need 4WD, decent gas mileage, and room for 8 passengers and gear? I'm definitely not going back to a minivan!

 

[nickm]

Question: is the Audi Q5 backseat room the same as the Tiguan? Or is there more? If more, I'd be very interested in a Q5 TDI.

The Tiguan is q3 sized (they share chassis), the q5 is bigger in every dimension and overall is a much better driving vehicle. W had a twiggy and it got replaced with a q5 to get more backseat and cargo room for the kids.

 

[nickm]

I feel that way too, but what else is there if you need 4WD, decent gas mileage, and room for 8 passengers and gear? I'm definitely not going back to a minivan!

Merc gl 350 bluetec, huge, 4wd and excellent fuel economy for a giant SUV.

 

[nickm]

The GLS is very plush and rides great on the air suspension, but I can't get over the stupid shifter that is pretty much just like a Prius.

I have that same shifter on my Benz, at first it annoyed me but after a week I loved it. I prefer the console space over the console shifter any day.

 

[Mythdoc]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I am hot on the Q5 TDI now...also mulling it in the 3.0 gasser engine that delivers 298 lb-ft of torque and gets 27 highway. Plus, Audi have rolled out a new hybrid engine that gets over 30 mpg. Their 2.0 engine won't do.

That said, the Merc GLC 300 is about the same size and only ships with a 2.0 gasser but it does generate 270 lb-ft. Anybody checked it out? I'll try to take a look see when I get to Knoxville next.

 

[lml999]

The Q5's backseat offers about 1.5" extra of both leg and shoulder room.

Aside from the differences between the engines, how would you compare your Q5 and Touareg? Ride, handling, rear seat room, luggage capacity?

Thanks!

 

[skyfree]

Merc gl 350 bluetec, huge, 4wd and excellent fuel economy for a giant SUV.

Took your advice and looked at one today. Liked it enough to talk price, but they wanted thousands above the top of the KBB CPO price range and wouldn't budge. The 2013+ 2nd generation is definitely rare around here, and demands a premium I guess. For CPO you really want a 2015 if possible because the 5-year CPO warranty starts when the car is first put in service. We would have had 3-years on this one.

I never have any luck buying used cars. Every time we try we end up buying new.

 

[nickyt]

I will not buy any vehicle that has a center return joystick shifter in it. Just my opinion.

We could go with the a joystick that does not do a center return, or we could go old school with push buttons to select gear, or we can keep the big old clunky design.

Put that center loaded crap in a vehicle, and I will tell the salesman the second that I see it... I won't buy any vehicle with that safety defect in it!

Notice that my problem with it is the center return design. You can not just glance at it and see what gear you are in. People have died because they could not tell the vehicle was or was not in Park. Unforgivable.

Design out the center return feature and I will reconsider.

https://www.google.com/search?q=gearshift+joystick+safety

 

[nickm]

I will not buy any vehicle that has a center return joystick shifter in it. Just my opinion.

We could go with the a joystick that does not do a center return, or we could go old school with push buttons to select gear, or we can keep the big old clunky design.

Put that center loaded crap in a vehicle, and I will tell the salesman the second that I see it... I won't buy any vehicle with that safety defect in it!

Notice that my problem with it is the center return design. You can not just glance at it and see what gear you are in. People have died because they could not tell the vehicle was or was not in Park. Unforgivable.

Design out the center return feature and I will reconsider.

https://www.google.com/search?q=gearshift+joystick+safety

Benz auto engages the brakes anytime the door is opened and puts it in P automatically as well so even if you forget that you are in drive the car can't move (brakes on) and the trans is locked in P. It also always engages the brakes anytime you shift, for example put it in R and you'll need to apply throttle to unlock the brakes and move the vehicle, same concept as autohold, so it has to be intentional as you need to goose it enough to unlock the brakes.

I get that FCA has issues but MB has it properly sorted out and there really is no comparison at all on how the two systems operate. The MB setup has way more safety locks in it than console or tree shifts do.

 

[nickyt]

I get that FCA has issues but MB has it properly sorted out and there really is no comparison at all on how the two systems operate. The MB setup has way more safety locks in it than console or tree shifts do.

I am glad that it is working for you. I am just not comfortable with the joystick. I would be ok with a miniature gear shift selector that did not do the center return. I just want to be able to look and see that it is in park.

I still think that a set of five push buttons P R N D S might be nice. It would be very retro if nothing else. And the switches would also take up a lot less space.

 

[BeemerMikeTX]

Macan Radio/Nav

The wife is jonesing for a Macan, and frankly I like it also. We're happy with our 2013 Touareg TDI, but depending on how the settlement works out we may be tempted to move on. One big incentive to move on would be to get away from the ridiculous, difficult/expensive-to-update RNS 850 radio/nav system in the Touareg. Does anyone know if the Macan radio/nav is better and more convenient for updating?

(Yes, I know I could ask the Porsche dealer, but my VW dealer told me that updating the RNS 850 maps was a $99 DVD that I could do at home. )