Vehicle for Wife/ The Boys Turn

Looking to buy a new or new to her vehicle. Started to look at crossovers and SUV. Then went down a rabbit hole on YouTube with the GX470 cause I want it to be fun for me also. Evidently you can convert these into off road overlanders easily.
Anyway it would be used can't afford a 50k+ vehicle right now.

Also thought about buying her a new Bronco but way too much money and don't trust ford, at least with the new model.

If you have suggestions let me know and why you think it would be good to buy.

Thanks would like to have a discussion on this topic.

 

What’s your budget? $$
SUV or cross over
3rd row or not?

 

Take a look at the Highlander or 4Runner. We got out 2020 4Runner SR5 in the mid 30's. This is our 4th 4Runner.....excellent vehicles.

 

Wife runs a 19 xle highlander. She loves it and never wants to drive my Tundra

 

We got the wife a pilot bigger then the runner and 470 don’t use it for off road but it was nice and cheap fully loaded we use the tundra for the mountains ect

 

Have you looked at FJ Cruisers?

 

Bought the wife a 4Runner. Lots you can do with them if you want to mod the wife's car.

 

Another vote for Highlander. My wife loves hers. Rides nice, room for 7, lots of nice tech. Interior is comfortable an has a quality feel. We looked at the 4 runners also. I like the 4 runner because it looks meaner an has more ground clearance an is more truck like. Biggest reason we didn't go with one for our family is with the 3rd row. There is Zero space behind the seat on the 4 runner an 3rd row was important to us.. Highlander is more comfortable on the street, more luxury feel. 4 runner to me is more back roads , camping on the weekends true utility vehicle. Guess it depends on what your looking for .

 

Check out the rav4; very practical and capable suv. My father and wife have them as daily drivers and couldn’t be happier. The Highlander is a GREAT vehicle but is much more expensive

 

I'm biased to the Sequoia

 

This ^^^ is my story too.

 

And there was a dedicated GX470 thread on here. Oh. Maybe 2/3 months ago.

 

My wife loves her 4runner

 

How many kids?

 

Could use 3rd row for my 2 kids friends so usually seats 4 to 5 to on rare occasions. Trying to keep in mid 20k. That is why I said new to her. Kids are 14 and 16 will be driving themselves soon. If they earn it. So in her mind she only needs this type of vehicle for another 5 years. I would rather by just one more for her she can use it till the wheels fall off. She does take care of a special needs person Monday through Friday, he could ,but may struggle with a lifted vehicle.

 

Used Sequoia. Toyota reliability. Room for everyone. And if gas isn't an issue, the V8.

 

Would like one little to much unless she agreed that it was her last. But I would like to take the black steering wheel and the head unit also black.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2004-gx-470.688150/

There you go. Fun for you, reliable and cheapish

 

Mdx. 3 rows, luxury, reliability, efficiency, safety, and can get them pretty cheap too. Gotta go with the SAWC. Handles awesome. Totally underated.

 

My vote is Highlander, MDX or Infiniti QX 60 (which my wife drives and loves) if you need a third row.

 

I would recommend staying away from the 3.7L generation, that engine is notorious for oil consumption and the reason it was discontinued besides fuel economy.
The SH-AWD is great to drive but expensive to maintain. Great driving experience though with the rear steer. 3 degrees doesn't sound like much but it makes a big difference.

OP, I'd recommend a Pilot or Highlander. The pilot will be a few grand cheaper. A 4runner costs the same with less space and worse MPG.

 

We have a 2012 pilot, but it remained largely the same until 2018ish. Has good room, solid body. Ride is a little rough imo, but my real knock on the pilot is how gutless the 3.5 v6 is. It has almost no low end for a heavy suv. Im guessing it was designed for the accord

 

Another vote for the Highlander. We have a 14' and it is my wife's favorite vehicle to date, does not like driving the Tundra... too big. The Highlander is what we also use for all our family trips (2kids) we have the Capt chairs for the 2nd row (seats 6 comfortably). All around great

 

I highly recommend the Highlander, I had one a couple years ago and LOVED it. I only traded it because I needed the pick up bed for the house and yard stuff, and I have no hubs! I had it one winter, but it did well in the snow! I had the hybrid version, and it was also great with gas! I will say if you wife does mostly highway driving than skip the hybrid, as they are more beneficial if you are more of a city driver.

I did test drive the Pilot before going with the highlander and felt the Pilot was huge and awkward to drive, but she may like it better.

-T

 

Cayenne TT

 

FJ Cruiser

Definitely can have some fun with it. They aren't cheap though and have to do the work to find a lower mileage model. If I didn't need room for kids, I might have gone that route.
Still hoping Toyota decides to bring them back, yes unlikely. They are still in production overseas.

 

We were happy with our Acura MDX which is the same as a Honda Pilot. The 3rd row is tight so we traded it in for a Yukon XL. I also had a GX before my Tundra and only traded it in for towing purposes. Loved the GX and would like to get another for the wife once the kids start driving.