Wife needs a new car

Looking for feedback. She’s been driving an RX 330 for the last 8 years. It has been the best car I’ve ever seen. We have have 2 boys (8+6) and she commutes 30 miles each way and we live in Vail Colorado. She likes -

RX 450h
MDX
Highlander Hybrid

Appreciate any feedback.
Thanks

 

It’s a lot smaller than those choices but the RAV4 Prime comes out soon. Also if luxury isn’t a necessity. 90 mpg is nice though.

Other than that can’t go wrong with a new RX.

 

RX450h F Sport all day if it's an option. It's just in a different class than the other two. From ride and build quality to low cabin noise, mark levinson sound system, triple beam headlights, etc, etc. The stock levinson system in my rc f is a solid competitor to the full JL system I bought from tech12volts for the tundra. It has a 835 watt amp, 10 inch sub, 17 speaker system that pumps. infotainment is a little dated but you won't find any different on the highlander. Not sure about mdx.

 

GX460. Kids are growing.

 

The GX has less rear leg room than the RX.

 

I sold my GX to buy a Tundra. Loved it but she’d be putting gas in it everyday.

 

It is important to analyze all the market offers before buying a car carefully. Some salesmen sell cars for too high a price, and people who don't know about cars can make the mistake of buying a bad car for a lot of money. When buying a car, I met a great salesman at a luxury car dealership in Orlando. He was very honest and told me the advantages and disadvantages of each car, not hiding any details that I would not have noticed on my own.

 

All are solid, but Highlander Hybrid might be a choice if:
1. ground clearance is no issue
2. Snow/cold would not get the worst of it (meaning battery range)
3. if you under-coat when new to avoid rust down the road.

I personally dis-like hybrid because of the stop-go engine issue, freaked me out the 1st time and NEVER again.
But I have to admit that hybrid would be good in a few situations, but you need to find out whether that's the case with you/your wife.

 

I have been comparing the highlander and the lexus RX a lot lately. Truly don't think you could go wrong with either. Haven't look much at the MDX but saw an absolute beautiful dark blue one this weekend.

 

If anything, I think MDX shares the same transmission with Honda Pilot, which in my opinion, crap.
I finally took the my pilot in for a checkup due to rpm revving when in drive, and long story short, a re-flash of the service bulletin took care of the issue, but in the time of research, many confirmed that while the Pilot was a well-made vehicle, the most damning part was its weak transmission.
I will have my wife drive it until transmission needs replaced/rebuilt then switch her over to a Toyota vehicle, I really do not want to deal with a Honda transmission, period.

Now, if MDX has a completely different transmission than pilot, ignore the above and proceed.

 

I'm going to guess the OP already got his wife a new car since this thread is over 2 years old.

 

Oh god, didn't even realize that....lol

 

Well, what’d she get??

 

And we need a 2 year review.

 

Welcome to the forum posting on a 2-year-old dead thread.
At least you resuscitated back to life...

 

9 speed ZF? Yeah, ours has been been super buggy for software and the first to second gear dog clutch. So far it’s been generally reliable though and even performed well towing.

Not sure if you have done a fluid change yet. If not, gird yourself as the special fluid is VERY expensive.

 

She got another RX. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.