Well, someone I know does work as a nurse that will have to go to peoples houses when it's bad out and she drives a Legacy. It's seen some pretty serious off-roading and she has no complaints.

I'd look into a nice used 2006-2007 BMW X3, or an Infinity FX. Those two will be pretty comfortable choices.

 

well, someone i know does work as a nurse that will have to go to peoples houses when it's bad out and she drives a legacy. It's seen some pretty serious off-roading and she has no complaints.

I'd look into a nice used 2006-2007 bmw x3, or an infinity fx. Those two will be pretty comfortable choices.

x3 ftw!

 

When I made one of these threads for my wonderful mother she ended up getting a 2006 BMW 328xi. Her's is a manual transmission, but I heard from Luca's weed-dealer that they also come with automatic transmissions.

 

Luca's weed-dealer

I thought he got locked up?

 

'04+ 9-5, but here's the catch: tell her its AWD.

I think I'd have a fighting chance with my mom on that one. YMMV

 

2008 VW Passat VR6 with AWD.........in Newton, NJ....

Although....In NJ, I'd feel more comfortable in a bigger car. IIRC, NJ has the highest percentage of SUV ownership...

 

i tank

 

u been drinkin?

 

x3s are out of her price range. As are FX35s with less then 40,000 miles.

4motion Passat, hadn't thought about that. Newton is the next town over from her as well. Will have to take it for a spin this weekend.

Also want her to drive a Ford Escape/Mercury Mounatiner, Nissan Rogue, Ford Fusion, and maybe a 328xi if i can find a decent example.

 

x3s are out of her price range. As are FX35s with less then 40,000 miles.

Why the super low mileage limit? That pretty much limits you to cars just off-lease. Raise it a little and you can get a pretty sweet FX that'll outlast most of these:

4motion Passat [...] Ford Escape/Mercury Mounatiner, Nissan Rogue, Ford Fusion, and maybe a 328xi if i can find a decent example.

PS Rogues are silly. Weak on power, small interior, might as well get a Juke.

PPS When I had my 05 FX my gf had a 07 Murano. The build quality of the FX was 375,726,211,125x better than the Nissan. It's a lot of car for the money. At least test drive one.

 

try out an escape/mariner, '09 or up so it has the 6spd. the i4 moves very well. the v6 rocks, though. they're very 'trucky' by today's standards. but that also makes them very personable. i love these. i've owned them, currently shopping around for one again. reliable as sunrise.

the rav4, crv are much more refined/quiet, but also boring. the v6 rav is a rocket. currently shopping around for one but they're too expensive around here.

the subarus may have good collapsible crash structures and ratings, but i agree they generally feel flimsy. impezas have the shittiest sheetmetal out there.

 

try out an escape/mariner, '09 or up so it has the 6spd. the i4 moves very well. the v6 rocks, though. they're very 'trucky' by today's standards. but that also makes them very personable. i love these. i've owned them, currently shopping around for one again. reliable as sunrise.

Ditto....the Escape also comes in hybrid config that might yield some parking bennies...

 

i went through a similar selection as you. went and dredged up these threads, which seems relevant:
http://www.saablink.net/forum/off-topic/36679.htm
http://www.saablink.net/forum/off-topic/37747.htm
http://www.saablink.net/forum/off-topic/37056.htm

 

Another possibility: Volvo XC70?
Safe, AWD, fairly reliable, really comfortable seats....

 

Yeah, I'd like her to try one of those and an S40 or 60.

 

Multiquote is dead again...

@jk: She drives 35k+ a year. It's a comfort level and cost thing. Vehicle needs to last at least 5 years until she retires. I'm a large advocate of keep them and repair them instead of buying a newer vehicle. If she followed that, we wouldn't be in this situation. She'd repair the trans and I'd swap in some more comfortable seats. I will have her drive an fx however, and maybe a g35x.

@bruce: She originally looked at escapes 5+ years ago when they first came out. I was not impressed with the fit and finish and the engine seemed aenemic. The newer ones seem to have gotten much better. We have been trying to find a good example of a used one locally to drive, but they are few and far between, which I take as a good sign.

@jameson: I had a "good" relationship with VW of Newton before the new owners took over. They are leaps and bounds better then the last one.

 

@bruce: She originally looked at escapes 5+ years ago when they first came out. I was not impressed with the fit and finish and the engine seemed aenemic. The newer ones seem to have gotten much better. We have been trying to find a good example of a used one locally to drive, but they are few and far between, which I take as a good sign.

the crv/rav/escape group is seeing very strong resales. when i sold my '05 (look up my f/s thread in here) i had to give it away. now i wouldn't be able to buy it back for the sale price i got-3yrs later!

fit/finish is not great on them. and they're still too noisy. so maybe it's not a good choice for you after all...

 

now that you're talking refinement for your mom, the fx ride is pretty harsh, so look out for that. an rx300/330 may be a better choice. both are gas hogs, i suspect.

try out the new equinox, too. they're selling them really cheap, and its racking up strong sales. its smooth, quiet, and relatively economical.

 

Good point about the Equinox, plus I think I get some GM supplier perks through work.

 

even with my dislike of gm, i'm personally fighting the urge to get an equinox myself. if i end up buying new, it will be very tough to choose an escape over the equinox.

the escape just drives very light/lithe. people don't realize the effect that huge windows achieve in driver enjoyment. the escape has large glass/thin pillars/low beltline. it nice to spend time in it. you can tell i'm an architect! i care about the experience as much as i do fuel economy. and the sync system rocks. the caveats - that noise level and the interior materials, are significant.

the equinox is very quiet/comfortable and the interior is pretty cool with its sculpted dashboard. the seat fabric they're using is great. the caveats - cave-like and heavy, are significant.

the rav4 is dynamically the best of all. and by a long shot, too. the problem is that they're very big, and kinda cavelike. the interior ambiance is just plain ugly. i dislike spending time in it. also, the driver ergonomics and seat comfort i find disappointing.

the crv, though i havent tried the new one, tends to be as good as a rav4, but in a different way. the honda has an airy cabin. and just-right size (similar to the escape). however, the crv doesn't work for me due to the glaring lack of center console/proper armrest. and the drivetrain is just plain overmatched.

 

My mom has an RX350. Drives like a boat. On pillows. Through clouds. No idea what the tires are doing, but I guess that's the point.

My sister has a 2011 CR-V. Meh. It's ok.

I'll stop about the FX right after this. It does ride firmer, and the brakes are grippier, and the steering is more precise than the majority other suggestions in this thread. That may not be her thing.. my gf with the Murano didn't like driving the FX at first, but ended up buying one 3 years later. It's a damn fine machine for what it is.

 

Current FX interior is delicious.

 

My cousin just traded his problem child 08 or 09 9-3 vert on a new RX3..30? 50? Whatever the new one is, and he loves it. But JK88 is dead on about the ride. It really takes the Sport out of Sport Utility Vehicle.

Count me as fan of the FX and the G35x.

 

Drove a 09 Escape with the 3.0l V6 today. She didn't like it.
Also drove an 09 Lincoln MKZ with AWD. She loved that one!

Been looking for the cheaper Fusion and Milan with AWD and the area and they are hard to find.

 

check out mkx i got a loded elite for cheap nice truck has everything my opion lacks power but other than that awsome suv

 

MKX is great. A friend of my grandpa's got one to replace his CTS. Really nice SUV.