Help with "new" car - Keep Jeep Wrangler or Sequoia, GX470, or 4runner?

[aimcat]

My husband and I currently own a 12 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with around 17k miles. While we really love dropping the top on the jeep, we have sort of gotten to the point where we are asking why we got it. It has a very ridged ride and not sure its for us. We travel a lot and its pretty raw driving down the interstate with the top moving and the vehicle swaying every time you pass a semi. Haha.

So we are asking ourselves this and need some opinions....do we keep the Jeep or sell and get one of the following.....and looking at these

06 Lexus GX470 w 95k miles
06 Sequoia SRS sport edition - 91k
07 Sequoia limited - 120k
07 4 runner limited - 115k
or maybe 06-09 RX350 (more of a crossover by Lexus)

Things that are important to us - RIDE, comfy and luxury. I will be honest - it seems NONE of these have satellite radio or aux imput options and I love my satellite radio, so huge negative there....and from what ive read hard to add without changing factory options?!


Just need some imput - highly considering the lexus - is this too many miles on these? We plan on keeping 2-3 years.

 

[morphious]

Well these vehicles are different in size. I have an 04 4Runner and added sat radio with no problems with sock radio, and while it was stock drove to me better than my parents 2012 Rav4 Limited or their 99' Lexus ES300. My 2 cents.

 

[Red]

based on what you are looking for you're going to want the Lexus or the Sequoia Limited.

The Lexus and the 4Runner are basically the same just the lexus is more fancy so I'd test drive the Lexus the Sequoia limited and the 4runner limited and see which one suits you.

 

[mysticz]

I think Lexus offers a Sirus/XM module for models with Nav. Check with Lexus for what year and models they offer the module for.

 

[aimcat]

Ok I drove my sisters 4runner this morning - have never driven it before. Did not like the ride and thought the seats were a little uncomfortable. so I will rule out the 4runner and no offense 4runner owners!

ok so that leaves the 06 lexus gx470 with 95k miles
2 sequoias one with the srs sport package with leather and all that just no wood grain and 91k miles and a limited with 120k miles
or maybe a lexus rx350.....

does the sequoia have a better ride than the lexus?

would you see any problems getting a gx with 95k miles?

---Also wanted to throw this in the mix - what about a Mercedes ML with 84k miles? One of the dealers I am looking at has one - mint condtion. However I have never had a Mercedes and not sure on reliability?

 

[IanB]

Just make sure the GX470 has had the timing belt/water pump service done, and you should be fine. There are many aux input options available for the stock stereo, so you should be able to find one that will work with a sat radio with a bit of searching around.

 

[EDness]

We have a 06 4runner and a 08 RX350. They are completely different cars.

The RX is def. more comfortable and filled with options. Size wise the Lexus is a touch smaller, which works out for us since that's our daily driver.

But yea, the lexus doesn't have aux input. You can always add one and it's an easy mod.

 

[Gatafly]

The RX350 is going to have the softest/best on road ride and they are very reliable. The Mercedes is going to have more maintenance issues. Sequoias are very nice, but from what you have stated I think the RX350 suits you best unless you need more interior room.

 

[cdn87]

In regards to the ML, I highly reccomend one. My dad has a 2007 ML 320 CDI (diesel) 4Matic with air suspension (a must have if a smooth ride is important to you) as his winter car. He bought it used in Feb 2010 with about 60,000 km's on it (roughly 37,000 miles) and has put about 35,000km's (roughly 21,000km's) on it to date. It has been very reliable, once a year or every 15,000kms (roughly 9000miles) oil changes at the dealership (about $300 including inspections, takes 9 quarts of synthetic) and a set of winter tires is all it has cost him besides fuel. Fuel economy is incredible (19/24MPG EPA, real world is 22/30 if driven conservatively) and tons of power available at any speed. The only thing I don't like is that it has very small mirrors (updated and improved in 2009 with styling refresh) which bothers me after driving the 4Runner and it is overall a bit smaller inside compared to the 4Runner which would make me want to go for a GL if I were in the market. Also, GL's had standard air suspension, ML's got it as an option.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

The more recent offerings you listed should have an AUX input somewhere or at least you can buy one to install from Toyota IIRC.

You're kind of all over the place with what you want, size/type/ect wise... so its hard to pinpoint for you...
Also what trim was the 4Runner your sister owns and how many miles? The XREAS rides stiffer than the other offerings while the air ride is not too bad...

The GX470 is a Lexus, so squishy ride, squishy everything is standard; its a Lexus after all they just now realized you can make non-oldsmobile handling luxury vehicles!

You need to narrow down what you want to do with the vehicle itself because this will affect ride quality as well. If you're in the market for a Body on Frame SUV you can't expect a CUV or Car-like ride you'd find in a luxury vehicle (i.e. the RX350 or ML class.) But you will have the stoutness of a body on frame design, good towing ability, and over all toughness off-road (if you take it regularly.) You also need to decide on the wheelbase you want, you jump from a RX350 (basically a lux'd up Highlander) to a full-sized Sequoia and this also affects ride quality and over all performance.

If you're looking for a mid-sized SUV I'd stick with the 4Runner (try a Limited with air suspension and minus XREAS if you haven't already before nixin' them off your list) or GX470 as they are really the best mid-sized SUVs for what they offer. But if you're looking into the CUV's for better ride, gas mileage, and cushiness, the RX350 is a good choice; but I'd look at a Toureg or an ML class as they are both very nice CUVs and are very luxury oriented with some mild off-road ability/reliability (though repairs and maintence will be expensive, but you want a luxury vehicle so either way you're paying out a lot.) Infiniti also makes some nice CUVs and larger SUVs (the Armada based QX56's are a nice alternative to a decked out Sequoia,) the Land Cruisers and LX470/570's are nice also.

It'd help if you narrow down your criteria a bit;
~What you plan on using the vehicle for
~Does gas mileage matter?
~How big does it have to be?
~How big/small an engine do you want/need?
~Will the vehicle need to tow heavy loads?
~Do you still plan on off-roading a lot or only mildly?
~how "Cushy" does the ride have to be? You said the 4Runner is too rough which sounds to me like you need a LOT of squish in your vehicle, which limits/complicates performance/off-road capability.
~What is your budget?
~How much Luxury do you need? We talking full blinged out or just nice Leather interior with some extra doodads?
~ect ect.

Hopefully we can help you make the best choice!