XC90 and other big car suggestions...

[vaultedskies]

So I'm wondering what car to get next and I've gone from zippy hatch to luxury sedan to big-ass car that can fit the whole family... which brings me to this thread.

Since the car will probably have to last me a long time (I've had my current car for 7 years) I'm currently thinking to get something that's big enough for the kids (#2 arriving in Nov, #3 soon after if it was up to my wife!), car seats, prams, luggage, dogs, etc, etc...

My wife loves the XC90, I'm quite partial to a Pajero LWB...what other options should I consider? Merc GL-class maybe? Budget would be around R250k-R300k at a push. Reliability and safety would be two other key considerations.

Some ideas:

XC90
http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-ca...randcommercialpricerangeszar/250000-to-299999

Pajero
http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-ca.../make/mitsubishi/model/pajero/fueltype/diesel

GL320
http://www.autotrader.co.za/used-ca...l/makemodel/make/mercedes-benz/model/gl-class

 

[karnuffel]

I have a Volvo v40 and I absolutely love my car, but unfortunately Ive had some pretty terrible service from one of their dealers and their customer care recently. I will not buy Volvo again for that reason.

 

[vaultedskies]

I have a Volvo v40 and I absolutely love my car, but unfortunately Ive had some pretty terrible service from one of their dealers and their customer care recently. I will not buy Volvo again for that reason.

That's exactly how I feel about Ford and their dealerships in CPT

 

[DMZ]

Do what everyone else does... get a low mileage Fortuner. Likely to save a lot on maintenance compared to the higher mileage luxury types.

 

[vaultedskies]

Do what everyone else does... get a low mileage Fortuner. Likely to save a lot on maintenance compared to the higher mileage luxury types.

I read on another thread here that the Fortuners aren't that safe, as they're built on the Hilux frame and bakkies in general have lower safety ratings than SUVs...?

 

[FiestaST]

If you going for *big* & 7-seater a Merc GL in your price range sjouke nicely.

In that shape/gen locally there is only a V6 diesel & V8 petrol; the model to for is therefore obvious...

 

[vaultedskies]

If you going for *big* & 7-seater a Merc GL in your price range sjouke nicely.

In that shape/gen locally there is only a V6 diesel & V8 petrol; the model to for is therefore obvious...

sjouke...? "should work"?

 

[DMZ]

I read on another thread here that the Fortuners aren't that safe, as they're built on the Hilux frame and bakkies in general have lower safety ratings than SUVs...?

Good point, safety becomes a priority when the little ones arrive on the scene. I checked the ANCAP ratings, Hilux and Pajero get the same 4 stars, GL has not been rated by them but is most probably a 5 star NCAP.

 

[werfie]

Spending R300k on a car that is out of motorplan already with more than 100 000km on the clock is probably not a very wise move.

 

[vaultedskies]

Spending R300k on a car that is out of motorplan already with more than 100 000km on the clock is probably not a very wise move.

Point taken! But what are my alternatives if I go new/demo/1-2yrs?

 

[BuckRogers]

Spending R300k on a car that is out of motorplan already with more than 100 000km on the clock is probably not a very wise move.

Wiser than spending R700k on one with motorplan.

 

[ryu]

Point taken! But what are my alternatives if I go new/demo/1-2yrs?

sorento, santa fe, that big @ss ford thing maybe even a pre-owned prado ...

that pajero looks horrendous

 

[BuckRogers]

Disco 3

 

[werfie]

Point taken! But what are my alternatives if I go new/demo/1-2yrs?

Why don't you look at something a little less "luxury". You won't impress anyone with a "luxury" car if its broken or you're struggling monthly to keep up with the maintenance.

Writing off a car brand because of service levels at one dealer is also shooting yourself in the foot, there should be more than one dealer in your area, even it means you have to drive 50km further (maybe) twice a year to get it serviced.

As an example:
http://www.autotrader.co.za/makemodel/make/hyundai/model/ix35/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/under-10-000/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/10-000-to-24-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/25-000-to-39-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/40-000-to-54-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/55-000-to-69-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/70-000-to-84-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/85-000-to-99-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/100-000-to-124-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/125-000-to-149-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/150-000-to-174-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/175-000-to-199-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/200-000-to-249-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/250-000-to-299-999/fueltype/diesel/bikeandcarmileageranges/1-000-km-to-4-999-km/bikeandcarmileageranges/20-000-km-to-49-999-km/makemodel/make/kia/model/sportage/makemodel/make/volkswagen/model/tiguan/search

 

[vaultedskies]

Wiser than spending R700k on one with motorplan.

+1

 

[vaultedskies]

sorento, santa fe, that big @ss ford thing maybe even a pre-owned prado ...

that pajero looks horrendous

Sorento starts at R370k, Santa Fe at R500k (!) Will have to research used prices...

I don't know why, but I like the Pajero... ;P

 

[vaultedskies]

Why don't you look at something a little less "luxury". You won't impress anyone with a "luxury" car if its broken or you're struggling monthly to keep up with the maintenance.

Writing off a car brand because of service levels at one dealer is also shooting yourself in the foot, there should be more than one dealer in your area, even it means you have to drive 50km further (maybe) twice a year to get it serviced.

As an example:
http://www.autotrader.co.za/makemodel/make/hyundai/model/ix35/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/under-10-000/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/10-000-to-24-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/25-000-to-39-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/40-000-to-54-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/55-000-to-69-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/70-000-to-84-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/85-000-to-99-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/100-000-to-124-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/125-000-to-149-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/150-000-to-174-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/175-000-to-199-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/200-000-to-249-999/carandcommercialpricerangeszar/250-000-to-299-999/fueltype/diesel/bikeandcarmileageranges/1-000-km-to-4-999-km/bikeandcarmileageranges/20-000-km-to-49-999-km/makemodel/make/kia/model/sportage/makemodel/make/volkswagen/model/tiguan/search

Thanks for the great advice. All three of the Tiguan, ix35 and Sportage look like great cars and I have no problem considering them. My wife currently drives a Volvo V50 and the boot is pretty much full once the pram, dog and one big suitcase go in. My concern is that those three SUVs don't have that much more space than the V50... So that's why I was thinking to go all-in in terms of space. And I thought if I go for a higher quality brand, the car will (hopefully) be more reliable & have less maintenance issues.

Re the dealerships, that is also a good point. I've actually been to a few in the CPT area and they have almost all been below par. But I guess I would look at Ford if the car was really great, eg. new Ranger

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Get a station wagon...

Big boot, check
Safe, check
Cheaper, check

 

[werfie]

Thanks for the great advice. All three of the Tiguan, ix35 and Sportage look like great cars and I have no problem considering them. My wife currently drives a Volvo V50 and the boot is pretty much full once the pram, dog and one big suitcase go in. My concern is that those three SUVs don't have that much more space than the V50... So that's why I was thinking to go all-in in terms of space. And I thought if I go for a higher quality brand, the car will (hopefully) be more reliable & have less maintenance issues.

Re the dealerships, that is also a good point. I've actually been to a few in the CPT area and they have almost all been below par. But I guess I would look at Ford if the car was really great, eg. new Ranger

Believe my, my advice comes from some place. Most new cars are reliable and while the big car brands are pretty reliable, the minute you start having problems, you will regret it.

I drive a Volvo S40, bought it in maintenance plan, only started giving problems afterwards, on average costs me the equivalent of the installment monthly to maintain it now, also had major problems with a BMW in the past... same scenario.

 

[vaultedskies]

Get a station wagon...

Big boot, check
Safe, check
Cheaper, check

As I just replied to werfie, my wife currently drives a V50 station wagon and we're already filling up the boot quite easily with 1x big dog and 1x baby, soon to be 2x babies...!