Which luxury SUV for my parents?

[chassis]

Mid size SUVs seem to be striking a chord:

BMW X5
Benz GLE
Lexus RX

All are good vehicles. Plenty of supply of 1-3 year old low mileage examples in the $40k price range. They should sit in the seats of each one and feel how each vehicle fits them.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by chassis

floridaorange, imo the BMW X3 is not the car for the parameters you have given. While my wife and I enjoy her G01, because of its narrow-ish seat width, it is not for older and larger people. There are many posts on this in the G01 forum, regarding seat comfort. Generally smaller people find the seats enjoyable, generally larger people do not.

Shockandawe, the M176 Mercedes 3.5L V6 gasoline engine is well proven in the GLE. Reading the Mercedes forums will support this.

The W166 GLE platform is now a few years old, and is solid. The 7G-Tronic transmission has been around for a while, is used in multiple platforms and is robust. Now is a good time to buy a low miles example, because the 2020 model year is a new platform for the GLE. Lease turn-ins and dealer leftovers should be available for the next 6-12 months at attractive pricing.

Avoid M-B air suspensions and diesel engines. Mercedes has the same diesel problems as Volkswagen had/is having. I had a dieselgate VW Touareg, and reading the M-B user experiences is like reliving the Touareg experience.

The GLC is a good vehicle, but didn't fit my needs for towing, another nice thing about the GLE. My wife and I shopped the GLC, Lexus NX and G01 X3, and she chose the X3.

Why would you avoid Diesel? Its the best engine you can get for SUV

[overcoil]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Why would you avoid Diesel? Its the best engine you can get for SUV

Pollution, lung disease and architectural destruction.

Particulate filter malfunction.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Pollution, lung disease and architectural destruction.

Particulate filter malfunction.

Pollution is the same as gasoline on modern diesels. DPF is only a problem when u drive in traffic all the time, same as carbon build-up

I wanna buy diesel because it's more reliable in most cases. 30MPG on SUV is nice too

[floridaorange]

Originally Posted by Darth One

I kinda chuckled at that too. People are recommending to OP what they like, i think.

All the people i know that are your dad's size drive Tahoes and Escalades. There's a good reason for that. The only thing that gives me pause about that recommendation, is that you said an Infiniti QX80 is way too big.

Cadillac has all these smaller-than-an-Escalade SUV's that are the same vehicle in slightly different sizes. The XT4 - 7 i think. Maybe look at all those and see which size is the "Goldilocks" (fits just right)?

My grandfather has one and my mom tried it out and said it was not ideal for my dad to get in and out of - not sure which model but one of the sportier v8 Caddy SUV's.

Trying them on is definitely important as many have pointed out. If I were them I'd get a Tahoe but they seem to be set on something in the Merc/Audi/BMW/Volvo world.

[chassis]

Diesel today is unsuccessfully implemented in the North American passenger car market. I have experience with a VW dieselgate vehicle, and M-B diesels in North America have most of the same issues that VW has/had. I am not familiar with BMW diesels in the North American market.

Fuel economy of diesel vehicles is unquestioned and excellent. Reliability of diesel systems in North American passenger cars is questionable.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by chassis

Diesel today is unsuccessfully implemented in the North American passenger car market. I have experience with a VW dieselgate vehicle, and M-B diesels in North America have most of the same issues that VW has/had. I am not familiar with BMW diesels in the North American market.

Fuel economy of diesel vehicles is unquestioned and excellent. Reliability of diesel systems in North American passenger cars is questionable.

What are the issues? And why is reliability questionable?

[chassis]

DPF failure
EGR failure
turbo failure
DEF tank failure
DEF pump failure
NOX sensor failure

The items listed above failed on my Touareg, each of them is part of the diesel emissions control system. Read the VW and Mercedes forums and the same things fail with high occurrence on DEF-using vehicles. The high rate of failure of these items is why the reliability is questionable. Actually, there is no question, these vehicles are unreliable.

edit: the turbo is not strictly a part of the emissions control system. It is a high failure frequency item on the VW 3.0 TDI.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by chassis

DPF failure
EGR failure
turbo failure
DEF tank failure
DEF pump failure
NOX sensor failure

The items listed above failed on my Touareg, each of them is part of the diesel emissions control system. Read the VW and Mercedes forums and the same things fail with high occurrence on DEF-using vehicles. The high rate of failure of these items is why the reliability is questionable. Actually, there is no question, these vehicles are unreliable.

Em.... interesting. The reviews I read/watched pretty much swore by VW Diesel reliability. Even recommend it over base NA models

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

thing with a Macan is Porsche service, Macan Turbo 4 pad sets and 4 rotors is $4,000.

Sure, maybe if you’re going to the dealer. Almost same could be said for MB....and I had to visit an indie shop for my BMW too.

Anyway, I would shop for a CPO base Macan with nice options. There is a glut of them since it’s the most popular version of the Macan. You can easily find them in the upper $30k range. And Porsche’s CPO warranty is an additional two year and unlimited miles. I love my Macan Turbo but would have also enjoyed a base model if that’s all I could afford. It’s fairly fast, economical, reliable, has a nice PDK that makes the engine more responsive and the ride is very nice. It’s worth checking out at least.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Pollution, lung disease and architectural destruction.

Particulate filter malfunction.

Diesel is great on gas, but requires additional maintenance. It can last forever but there’s the additional hassle and cost of DEF and replacing the urea. Also glow plugs and a host of other things you don’t deal with in a regular ICE car. I kept track of maintenance for my diesel Promaster which I ultimately replaced due to the upkeep nightmare which required engine removal...I had enough and went to a gas Promaster. Yes I have lower fuel economy but 87 octane is cheaper than diesel and upkeep is cheaper. I think it’s actually less expensive overall.

[BM dnobagaV]

Acura RDX is superb in my opinion.

[arkie6]

We drove several Acura RDXs prior to purchasing the Lexus RX 350. I preferred the RDX because the drive was more sporty, but the Lexus ride was more comfortable and compliant and that is what the wife preferred. The RDX is smaller, lighter, and quicker than the LX. The Lexus RX has much more room for luggage and stuff behind the rear seats. The RDX had less room behind the seats than her previous 2014 Honda CR-V. This was comparing a 2015 Lexus RX 350 (we didn't care for the redesign in 2016) to a 2016-2017 Acura RDX.

If the Ops parents are considering Acura, I would look at the larger MDX, based on his size and desire for easy entry/exit.

[floridaorange]

How's the Macan passenger side size for a 6'5 280 lbs 70 yr old?

[1MOREMOD]

Your mom is huge

[Alfisti]

Fucking macan for a massive old guy.

Strike me.

[floridaorange]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Your mom is huge

Lol My Dad doesn't drive much anymore hence the passenger side

[Animal Farm]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

Looking for any advice on a newer used luxury suv/crossover for my parents, they are in their 60's, want all wheel drive for mountains, legroom for my Dad and decent ground clearance for easy access for my Dad, he's a big guy - not fat just big and has football injuries. Looking to keep it close to $40k.

They are open to:
BMW
Mercedes
Volvo
Acura
Lincoln
Audi

Any ideas? My first thought was a well equipped VW Atlas. But I can tell my Mom wants luxury brand so thinking Mercedes. They won't appreciate a bmw so I can't in good conscious recommend that to them.

Lexus GX460 or Lexus LX570

[irishbimmer]

Maybe something by Cadillac?

[SteveinArizona]

I never thought I would say this but what about one of the new Lincolns. Lincoln seems to have decided to focus on luxury rather than handling and it sounds like that is what the OP's parents are looking for.

[adc100]

As an impartial guy (I own an '18 Forester XT) A friend of mine did mega research. I helped her bc I am somewhat car savvy. Thats why I am on this great forum. . She wound up with an X3. The is very pleased with it.

[floridaorange]

What yr x3? Perhaps the new ones are worth a look...