Looking at new daily drivers

[thatguy2]

I currently drive a 2012 Nissan Altima SL. My daughter is 14 and in a few months will be taking it over as her school vehicle (at 15 in KS she can drive back and forth to school which will save me alot of time since we live 10 miles from the school). My commute to work is 2 lane black top 15 miles each way. I am at that point in my life I can afford to drive what I want. Problem is I am not sure what that is.
I have a crew cab 2018 Chevy Silverado 4x4 with Max tow. It tows my fishing boat and tractor fine, basically handles all my truck stuff. It stays parked in the shop mostly and has 65k miles.
We have a 2018 Pathfinder SL that is my wife's vehicle. It has 110k miles. Her disease has progressed to the point she can't currently drive and I don't know if she ever will be able to again. I am thinking about making this my daughters vehicle in a couple years once we know if she can drive again. Its okay for family trips, etc but I don't really like it.
That brings me to the point of the thread. The 2 vehicles I have always wanted are a Toyota Tacoma and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Lately I have been looking at the Chevy Colorado as well. I have wanted a Tacoma since high school. We got one as a rental car purely by coincidence last year and it rekindled it for me. Problem is I am a big guy 6'3 265 and my kids are big too. Back seat is a little small for the family (with my seat all the way back) if I needed to use it for something. Same with the Colorado. The Jeep Grand Cherokee seems like a good fit, but we all know Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket. I haven't went and looked at a Jeep GC yep as I am not quite ready to purchase and I don't want to get 800 calls from sales folks.
My must haves are 4x4, leather seats, adaptive cruise control, and android auto. I like the smaller vehicles as for me they are easier to park at work, easier to park in the parking garages for my wife's appointments, and in general I feel easier to get around in than my truck. Likely looking at used just cause I am in general a cheap skate. What are the views from the Honda SxS brain trust?

 

[Admin]

 

[futzin]

We're about to buy our second Dodge Durango. Have really been pleasantly surprised with the first.
Similar layout to the Grand Cherokee. Certainly an older platform, but well updated. Based on a Benz platform, IIRC. Not too big nor too small, IMO.
Good towing numbers, reasonable MPG, choice of V6 or V8.
Deep discounts, currently.

Good luck.

 

[thatguy2]

We're about to buy our second Dodge Durango. Have really been pleasantly surprised with the first.
Similar layout to the Grand Cherokee. Certainly an older platform, but well updated. Based on a Benz platform, IIRC. Not too big nor too small, IMO.
Good towing numbers, reasonable MPG, choice of V6 or V8.
Deep discounts, currently.

Good luck.

Dodge has screwed me twice (okay the second one was "Ram"), so they are a no go. Thats also why I struggle so hard with the Jeep since Stellantis owns them. Stellantis didn't own them back then, but I don't think I can buy a Dodge. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Fool me 3 times and I am an idiot. THe Jeep's also have some big discounts going on fwiw.

 

[futzin]

I think these days pretty much any brand has significant risks, unfortunately.

 

[Dirtstiffs-1000]

Had a nice Chrysler Aspen years ago. Great suv car, but couldn't pass a gas station.

Not really pushing any brand loyality, I own a several flavors.

A year ago I bought a 2021 Ford Explorer Platinum that was a program car, offered at a fair price.

It's loaded of course, runs like a rape ape with twin turbo v6, yet averages 24 mpg.
Full factory warranty with added..

It's no off road vehicle but has several drivetrain modes that fit whatever you encounter.
And towing capability (5000 #), is pretty good for a car.

3 row, 7 passenger rated.
Plenty of room in the second row with front seats all the way back.

Third row is for smaller bodies. Also has decent cargo area, seats up.
2nd & 3rd row seats power fold down for huge cargo capacity.
Easy to get in and out, too.

It doesn't ride as good as other cars we have, but it's a trade off.

Good dependability so far.
Nice to travel in.
JMO

 

[Rayger143]

I used to lease and flip every 2-3 years. I will never buy a Dodge again. GM and Ford usually had something done under warranty at every service. I’m on my 4th Tacoma which I bought out. No issues at all. I’m 6’1” and comfortable. It’s a 2019. The new Tacoma has changed quite a bit with turbo and finally rear disk brakes. If you’ve always wanted a Tacoma you should go test drive one

 

[Hello_Darkness]

You couldn't pay me to drive a current Chrysler product, straight garbage.

 

[Robobrainiac]

After working 14 years in automotive as a mechanic with ten of those years at a designated GM dealership who owns GM, Ford, and Chrysler I will say ANY brand 2020 and newer is pretty much at risk of an equal break down to road trip ratio. What I mean by that is they all have risks. They all have good stories and bad stories. If you want to get nit picky you can but what's the point? Cars are like politics.

Based on what you described above I would think a Jeep Grand Cherokee would check all your boxes. The ranger, canyon, frontier, Colorado, Tacoma I think will be too small as you have already mentioned. If you keep and have access to the full size truck I see no point in a small truck.

Used car market has come down decently and I think we are starting to enter a good time to buy used.

I think the 6.4L would give you the best bang for your buck.

Autotrader - page unavailable

 

[MiniRF]

I currently drive a 2012 Nissan Altima SL. My daughter is 14 and in a few months will be taking it over as her school vehicle (at 15 in KS she can drive back and forth to school which will save me alot of time since we live 10 miles from the school). My commute to work is 2 lane black top 15 miles each way. I am at that point in my life I can afford to drive what I want. Problem is I am not sure what that is.
I have a crew cab 2018 Chevy Silverado 4x4 with Max tow. It tows my fishing boat and tractor fine, basically handles all my truck stuff. It stays parked in the shop mostly and has 65k miles.
We have a 2018 Pathfinder SL that is my wife's vehicle. It has 110k miles. Her disease has progressed to the point she can't currently drive and I don't know if she ever will be able to again. I am thinking about making this my daughters vehicle in a couple years once we know if she can drive again. Its okay for family trips, etc but I don't really like it.
That brings me to the point of the thread. The 2 vehicles I have always wanted are a Toyota Tacoma and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Lately I have been looking at the Chevy Colorado as well. I have wanted a Tacoma since high school. We got one as a rental car purely by coincidence last year and it rekindled it for me. Problem is I am a big guy 6'3 265 and my kids are big too. Back seat is a little small for the family (with my seat all the way back) if I needed to use it for something. Same with the Colorado. The Jeep Grand Cherokee seems like a good fit, but we all know Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket. I haven't went and looked at a Jeep GC yep as I am not quite ready to purchase and I don't want to get 800 calls from sales folks.
My must haves are 4x4, leather seats, adaptive cruise control, and android auto. I like the smaller vehicles as for me they are easier to park at work, easier to park in the parking garages for my wife's appointments, and in general I feel easier to get around in than my truck. Likely looking at used just cause I am in general a cheap skate. What are the views from the Honda SxS brain trust?

I'm on my 2nd Toyota Highlander, only got rid of the first one because it had 100,000 miles and the service department for an oil change was taking too long, so I bought a new one 🤦‍♀️. It was only 4 years old. No issues with either of my Highlanders.

My nephew has had 3 Tacomas, first was 1998 (ish) and had over 200K miles on it. Then he upgraded to a 2006 (ish) with less miles, only because he was going to be driving a lot more to/from base. He only got rid of that one when he hit black ice, the mountain won. He's now in a 2023.....all 3 of them, no issues and he loves them.

Toyota can be a bit more expensive, and all manufacturers can have problems these days, but I have personally experienced nothing but greatness with our Toyotas.

 

[thatguy2]

Both my Tundras were good trucks. I like Toyotas. I just got a good deal on this Silverado when I was looking. I thought about a 4runner too. My SIL drives one of them. But I keep coming back to "these are the vehicles I have wanted for a long time". I can be swayed off the Jeep GC.

My FIL keeps asking me when I am going to buy something. He says I am cheaper than him.

 

[MiniRF]

Both my Tundras were good trucks. I like Toyotas. I just got a good deal on this Silverado when I was looking. I thought about a 4runner too. My SIL drives one of them. But I keep coming back to "these are the vehicles I have wanted for a long time". I can be swayed off the Jeep GC.

My FIL keeps asking me when I am going to buy something. He says I am cheaper than him.

IMO, if you can be swayed off of one versus the other, then it's not the one you truly want.

I actually went to Toyota with every intention on buying a 4Runner, but once I got in it, the inside felt too small/boxy. I went with the Highlander because I felt like I had more internal space.

Now I'm drooling over a Sequoia....but that price tag 😬

 

[lee]

The Colorado with the AEV package (ZR2 Bison) looks interesting to me.
From the dealership on 33"s with real world functional skid plates. It's crazy spendy but having OEM integration is worth a lot in my book.

 

[thatguy2]

IMO, if you can be swayed off of one versus the other, then it's not the one you truly want.

I actually went to Toyota with every intention on buying a 4Runner, but once I got in it, the inside felt too small/boxy. I went with the Highlander because I felt like I had more internal space.

Now I'm drooling over a Sequoia....but that price tag 😬

I like the look of the Z71 traverse but not the price tag. I was just rather unimpressed with the highlander when we were shopping for an SUV. Wife liked the pathfinder best. I liked the Acadia, but I wasn't going to be driving it everday so she got the Pathfinder.

 

[WagginTail]

I currently drive a 2012 Nissan Altima SL. My daughter is 14 and in a few months will be taking it over as her school vehicle (at 15 in KS she can drive back and forth to school which will save me alot of time since we live 10 miles from the school). My commute to work is 2 lane black top 15 miles each way. I am at that point in my life I can afford to drive what I want. Problem is I am not sure what that is.
I have a crew cab 2018 Chevy Silverado 4x4 with Max tow. It tows my fishing boat and tractor fine, basically handles all my truck stuff. It stays parked in the shop mostly and has 65k miles.
We have a 2018 Pathfinder SL that is my wife's vehicle. It has 110k miles. Her disease has progressed to the point she can't currently drive and I don't know if she ever will be able to again. I am thinking about making this my daughters vehicle in a couple years once we know if she can drive again. Its okay for family trips, etc but I don't really like it.
That brings me to the point of the thread. The 2 vehicles I have always wanted are a Toyota Tacoma and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Lately I have been looking at the Chevy Colorado as well. I have wanted a Tacoma since high school. We got one as a rental car purely by coincidence last year and it rekindled it for me. Problem is I am a big guy 6'3 265 and my kids are big too. Back seat is a little small for the family (with my seat all the way back) if I needed to use it for something. Same with the Colorado. The Jeep Grand Cherokee seems like a good fit, but we all know Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket. I haven't went and looked at a Jeep GC yep as I am not quite ready to purchase and I don't want to get 800 calls from sales folks.
My must haves are 4x4, leather seats, adaptive cruise control, and android auto. I like the smaller vehicles as for me they are easier to park at work, easier to park in the parking garages for my wife's appointments, and in general I feel easier to get around in than my truck. Likely looking at used just cause I am in general a cheap skate. What are the views from the Honda SxS brain trust?

Can't go wrong with Toyota. My wife has a 2010 4Runner we bought in 2014. Has 200,000 miles on it now with no crazy issues, just normal wear items. It is the best vehicle either one of us has ever owned. Her dad has a Tacoma that's 5 or 6 years old and has had no issues with it.

 

[WagginTail]

IMO, if you can be swayed off of one versus the other, then it's not the one you truly want.

I actually went to Toyota with every intention on buying a 4Runner, but once I got in it, the inside felt too small/boxy. I went with the Highlander because I felt like I had more internal space.

Now I'm drooling over a Sequoia....but that price tag 😬

My wife has been drooling over the new Sequoia as well. $80,000 for an suv is absolutely crazy. We feel the same about her 4runner but it has been the best vehicle we have ever owned.