In the market for a mid size SUV

[Speedoholic]

So I'm in market for a mid size SUV and am considering the following (in order):

- Land Rover LR3 V6
- BMW X5 3.0i
- Lexus RX
- Mercedes ML350

I've listed the LR3 first because it's among the roomiest of them all and yet bears the lowest sticker price. However, rumor says that Land Rover has some serious reliability problems (especially with the recently departed - Discovery). Land Rover owners will tell you that the LR3 has nothing in common with the Discovery and that it's a brand new vehicle.

As far as I'm concerned, it may be a new vehicle but still same manufacturer.

Anyone can recommend/discourage any of the above vehicles. Please take into consideration price factors. I'm especially interested to hear about the LR3.

TIA

[NaztyG]

The lexus RX350 is by far the best SUV on the market.. Im a lexus technician and it is sickk. the ride is so comfortable feels like a car, the NAV is amazing. just comfortable, the looks are smooth. just everything about it. very nice ride.. u cant go wrong with the lexus man. Go look at one in person and drive it ull love it

[omgitselaine]

speed ....

all the above mentioned are good suv's. my parents have the lexus rx330 and its been nothing but reliable for them. my significant other and i have also been looking for a suv ( for my shopping and our ski trips ) and the one suv you had not mentioned was the new 07 acura mdx. its a new model from the ground up with acura reliablity/service PLUS it has a 3rd row. granted the 3rd row are for people you DONT like but neverthess its good to have when really needed

[filanj]

my mom just replaced her mb '03 s55 amg with the rx400h... kinda pissed about that... she hated the s55, i loved it ...so now she has two rx's ..300 and 400h she loves them like no other (obviously)

even though it was a $100k downgrade, it was an upgrade to her... i wanted her to get the new bodied s55 but she wanted that d@mn rx lol

[BigPuppy]

If looking new, you definitely want to consider the redesigned Acura MDX a poster mentioned earlier. Pricing does quickly escalate near that $50K mark once you add in all the goodies, but it compares favorably to the new X5 3.0 due out this month.

For preowned, the Lexus RX has to be the most sensible choice but it evokes absolutely zero passion in me -- still, I'd opt for it over either the current X5 3.0 or ML350.

Now, the LR3...unfortunately reliability problems are more than just rumors. I believe Land Rover came in dead last on JD Power's initial quality rating for 2006 -- worse yet, the list of 10 least-reliable luxury vehicles included both the full-size RR and LR3. Remarkably, the Range Rover Sport escaped that fate even though it's based on a shortened version of the LR3. However it, too, was cited for numerous problems.

That said, a neighbor of mine drives a white LR3 and the fact I see that car pass by my house 2-3 times on almost a daily basis over the past 6 mos leads me to believe that problems are not as serious nor endemic to all LR's.

Since the Range Rover Sport is near the top of my list for my next vehicle, I've been lurking around Rover forums and have, for the most part, been able to validate that a great majority of problems seem to be more minor annoyances or have been resolved with dealer software updates/TSB's -- particularly true for late-build 06's. I also find that people typically speak of LR's with much more passion and enthusiasm than you'd likely find on a ML or RX forum.

One thing to keep in mind is resale value -- LR's have historically had terrible resale. The Sport broke that trend when it was named ALG's winner in-class for highest residual, but I'm afraid that regionally (read - outside of SoCal,) some of that luster has wore off as folks are getting upwards of $7K off MSRP on outgoing brand new 06's -- despite the fact that 07's have yet to arrive.

Obviously, you will have a different set of values for each variable in your ultimate decision, but hope I've at least given you a few worthwhile things to think about.

Happy hunting!

[Speedoholic]

Originally Posted by BigPuppy

If looking new, you definitely want to consider the redesigned Acura MDX a poster mentioned earlier. Pricing does quickly escalate near that $50K mark once you add in all the goodies, but it compares favorably to the new X5 3.0 due out this month.

For preowned, the Lexus RX has to be the most sensible choice but it evokes absolutely zero passion in me -- still, I'd opt for it over either the current X5 3.0 or ML350.

Now, the LR3...unfortunately reliability problems are more than just rumors. I believe Land Rover came in dead last on JD Power's initial quality rating for 2006 -- worse yet, the list of 10 least-reliable luxury vehicles included both the full-size RR and LR3. Remarkably, the Range Rover Sport escaped that fate even though it's based on a shortened version of the LR3. However it, too, was cited for numerous problems.

That said, a neighbor of mine drives a white LR3 and the fact I see that car pass by my house 2-3 times on almost a daily basis over the past 6 mos leads me to believe that problems are not as serious nor endemic to all LR's.

Since the Range Rover Sport is near the top of my list for my next vehicle, I've been lurking around Rover forums and have, for the most part, been able to validate that a great majority of problems seem to be more minor annoyances or have been resolved with dealer software updates/TSB's -- particularly true for late-build 06's. I also find that people typically speak of LR's with much more passion and enthusiasm than you'd likely find on a ML or RX forum.

One thing to keep in mind is resale value -- LR's have historically had terrible resale. The Sport broke that trend when it was named ALG's winner in-class for highest residual, but I'm afraid that regionally (read - outside of SoCal,) some of that luster has wore off as folks are getting upwards of $7K off MSRP on outgoing brand new 06's -- despite the fact that 07's have yet to arrive.

Obviously, you will have a different set of values for each variable in your ultimate decision, but hope I've at least given you a few worthwhile things to think about.

Happy hunting!

Thanks for the LR review and thoughts - much appreciated.

A few more points I should have mentioned in my first post:

This will be for my wife. She is one of those women who don't care much for what the car has to offer, but is more concerned with the looks of it. Hence, I'm not planning on piling up the goodies on any of these cars and will pretty much stick with the basics. If that was me, I would probably go with a Pathfinder...

The more I think of it, the more I realize that LR may not be a good choice.

The Lexus is a no brainer reliability wise, but my wife thinks it's fugly (for a lack of better term )

Then, last night I also find out from her that she has a connection at a local MB dealership and she knows the GM (She is a nurse and the GM's wife was in her unit). The GM kept on telling her that if she is ever in the market for an MB, she should come see him and he "will take care of her" - whatever that means when you buy MBs....

We will be going on some car shopping this coming weekend and we'll see what each dealer is willing to offer. I'm planning on some possible late year stock discounts.

[Garnet Canuck]

Originally Posted by Speedoholic

This will be for my wife. She is one of those women who don't care much for what the car has to offer, but is more concerned with the looks of it. Hence, I'm not planning on piling up the goodies on any of these cars and will pretty much stick with the basics. If that was me, I would probably go with a Pathfinder...

Daniel, have you considered the FX?

[UFGatorG35]

Not a bad list, pretty nice vehicles on there speed. I personally think the RX is a chick car but hey, whatever works MB made some nice changes to the ML, Ive driven a couple X5s and really like them (drove great, but rattled a bit), and my buddy just picked up the RR Sport and loves it. Their last two RRs were the Discovery, over 150k miles between them and no problems.

Good luck, and posts picks when you decide (unless its the gay RX)

[Speedoholic]

Originally Posted by canuck

Daniel, have you considered the FX?

Have I considered it?

Ya bet ya....

Has my WIFE considered it?

Hell no....


...SHE THINKS IT'S FUGLY



Although, I must say that the FX lacks some serious trunk space, which would defeat the purpose of having an SUV to being with. Space and AWD are my main concerns.

[Speedoholic]

Originally Posted by UFGatorG35

Not a bad list, pretty nice vehicles on there speed. I personally think the RX is a chick car but hey, whatever works MB made some nice changes to the ML, Ive driven a couple X5s and really like them (drove great, but rattled a bit), and my buddy just picked up the RR Sport and loves it. Their last two RRs were the Discovery, over 150k miles between them and no problems.

Good luck, and posts picks when you decide (unless its the gay RX)

Thanks bro.

I'm not too thrilled about the RX either, but you can't beat Lexus' reliability...

[Speedoholic]

BTW....

Another contender....



Base price isn't too bad either - ~$42,000

[UFGatorG35]

Originally Posted by Speedoholic

BTW....

Another contender....



Base price isn't too bad either - ~$42,000

Go to the Porsche forums - TONS of problems. I was reading into them not that long ago...

[Speedoholic]

Originally Posted by UFGatorG35

Go to the Porsche forums - TONS of problems. I was reading into them not that long ago...

Really?

[UFGatorG35]

Originally Posted by Speedoholic

Really?

Unfortunately Ive heard that from several sources. The 8 cyl engine has the towing capacity I need, I like the performance numbers so I figured Id consider it. After a couple hours of reading it got scratched from my list.

[Garnet Canuck]

Originally Posted by Speedoholic

...SHE THINKS IT'S FUGLY

And you are still married to her????????????




LOL, j/k