SUV - 4x4 Buying Advice

[faisal_002]

Dear All,

I noticed this forum while searching for some advice on the subject. I must say, it is a good place to find reliable piece of advice.

Coming back to my query, I need your valuable input on which SUV to buy (my first time SUV). The short listed option for 7 seater SUV's with my view on each of these are as follows:

1) Toyota Prado:
Pros: Good resale and low maintenance.
Cons: Pricy for high options and cramped 3rd row seating.

2) Ford Explorer:
Pros: Value for money and spacious interior.
Cons: Low resale and high maintenance in later years.

3) Nissan Pathfinder:
Pros: Reasonable resale.
Cons: Not spacious.

4) Mazda CX-9
Pros: Value for money and nice spacious interior.
Cons: Speed limiter and irritating beep above 120k

5) Honda Pilot:
I don't know much

6) Mitsubishi Pajero:
I don't know much


My city driving is very limited as my office is at the walking distance to my home. So that leaves me with weekly grocery trips and trips to Dubai or Al-Ain. For me 6-7 seater medium sized adults is a requirement plus I have no intentions to take the vehicle off-road.

Appreciate your guidance on what to buy keeping view the current scenario of declining prices/offers and low resale overall.

Best regards,

M. Faisal Zafir

[root]

Well, almost all the choices you mentioned are good ones.

I see better value for money in the Pajero and Pilot these days. The Toyota Prado (that every 3rd person in UAE seems to have) is a great ride, but you are looking at 150-160k for the 4.0 liter one, which to me is quite steep. Furthermore a new shape will probably come next year or the year after, as the current shape has already done a number of years.

The Pilot is not a great off-roader as others on this forum have also written. But you don't seem to have that requirement. It's a Honda, so the drive is great and quality is good.

The current Pathfinder has not had much success in UAE. Also not very spacious.

The CX-9, I personally like a lot and heard good stuff about. Not sure how resale of this one is.

Ford...I've heard both sides. Those who love it, and those who hate it. Quality issues start propping up, but these days they are offering 5 years warranty, so that should be worth something.

[T.N.T]

Get the CX-9 if you have no off-roading plans.

[faisal_002]

What about other choices e.g. Armada or GMC Acadia. I have heard both are good and spacious. Any experience or comments?

[root]

Armada...I love this one. Spacious, powerful and good value for money as it comes with loads of standard features. Kids love this car. Wives normally have hard time to park it (but now they come with rear-view cameras).

GMC Acadia...good, but I have bias against US brands, so don't ask me

There is another option in the big SUV/Van segment, which is the Toyota Sequoia. It's a pretty good value vehicle, but its only 2x4.

[timmyjt]

Being a Pajero owner...thought Id put you some advice on that...

When I was buying it last year i did a comparison of most of Jap brand 4x4 and found the PAjero to be best in value and most features for that value. This was the full options 3.8L. The Prado with simillar features would have cost me an extra 50K, but then the resale on the PRADO is much better.

Very spacious 7 seater, the 3.8L is much more responsive than the 3.0 if you are going for the LWB version.

Ihave been driving it since July last yr, 11,000Kms and ive had no issues whatso ever.My friends who have taken it to the desert, say its quite good on the sand too.

So if Resale is an issue, i.e. you want a very good return, then PRADO and if decent returns is fine..then Pajero..

Test drive all the vehicles if u can and then only decide.

goodluck

[faisal_002]

Thank you all who have replied and i am expecting more to respond.

Yesterday test driven the Honda Pilot and found it to be great. Very smooth ride and ignorable engine noise when compared to pathfinder or explorer.

Also, no speed limiter and no annoying beep after 120km/h.

Can easily seat upto 7-8 with 2nd row sliding function.

Regarding Pajero, i believe the design is very old and they haven't done much to improve that. Although i am myself a fan of traditional 4x4 design and that is why i like the shapes of explorer, prado or land cruiser (prior to 2008 model).

Now the last question is to go for a new one or search for a used one. If used, then what is the best place/forum to search.

Appreciate your feedback.

Regards,

M. Faisal Zafir

[root]

Duh??! Search here of course!


You are getting pretty good deals on new ones with free insurance, service, etc, so they are tempting. In normal circumstances, the Japanese 4x4s retain value pretty well, and hence I would go with new rather than used. You don't save much and the peace of mind of a new car is worth a lot to me.

Having said this, these days with the high number of layoffs in Dubai specially, you might be able to find some desperate sellers dumping their cars off cheap as they have to leave the country.

[bambaiya]

1) Toyota Prado:
*** Expensive for the price and the options offered
*** Toyota Brand
*** Excellent resale
*** Not bad off-road

2) Ford Explorer:
*** Good Power
*** Spacious Interior
*** Gas Guzzler
*** Maintenance after the 3rd year is V.V. Steep
*** Bad Aircon
(Have experience with this one)

3) Nissan Pathfinder:
*** Expensive
*** Loads of toys
*** nosiy and rough drive
*** P-O-W-E-R (wow)
*** Gas Guzzler
*** Small fuel tank (Irritating)
*** Acceptable Build Quality
*** Bad ride, jerky (Hard suspensions - high power)
*** GOOD Aircon
(Have considerable experience on the 08 Model)

4) Mazda CX-9
*** Dont reckon resale to be good
*** looks spacious
*** is a crossover SUV
*** Mazda, so I assume nice drive - was satisfied with the M6
(no experience)

5) Honda Pilot:
*** Good Frills (Especially the rear view mirror to TV)
*** Power (wow)
*** Honda S_M_O_O_T_H
*** Low ground clearence
(just test driven - liked it a lott)


6) Mitsubishi Pajero:
I own one 3.0 - best frnd has 3.8
*** Value for money (3.0) - 3.8 is expensive (I would prefer pilot to 3.8 - Anytime)
*** Disappointing pick-up
*** best handling and Space in the class
*** Fuel Efficient (Dhs. 100 = 475-500KM)
*** Body takes scratches very quickly
*** Fair Off-roader
*** Fair Resale / Maintenance
*** Bad service Centre
(I own a 08 model)

So, my opinion - (based on no off roading need)
If your budget is less than 100K go to Pajero 3.0 - and if you dont need the Cruise and Sunroof go for the basic L/L - you can upgrade the sound system, for Dhs.1500/- with DVD blah blah blah

Else the Pilot is good for 140K

Why are you not considerinf a FJ Cruiser? power-performance-resale

When i was deciding:
FJ was on wait period of 6 months
Pilot had not been launched
Prado - did not find value
Explorer - obvious reasons
CX9 had just come in but I have some off-road needs

[root]

Bambaiya! Welcome to the forums and good piece of early advice! hope to see you around more.

BTW, how many SUVs do you really have??

[ZeD]

Greetings :
Let me add my two cents here , i went through the same exercise back in Sept 2008 and i ended with the CX-9 and i am quite happy i did
The 120 Km alarm is annoying , but with the new cameras , it don't consider it as bad
the only thing is that this is a crossover as bambaiya stated , so the off-road capabilities are really limited , otherwise , nothing offers better value for the money than the CX-9
i found the Pilot under-powered plus its is the bulkiest in the group , the Pathfinder has the worst ride quality (too much of a truck)
The Prado is too expensive and the Pajero has an outdated style
American cars were off the list for many reasons

I hope this helps

[faisal_002]

Thank you guyz and i really appreciate your feedback specially the last few.

Personally, liked the explorer alot despite hearing good & bad things about it. But given the recent offer of Dhs 100,000, i thought it to be a good choice. For issues after the 3rd year, I tried covering myself by paying extra Dhs 4,000, which extended the offered 3 yrs 60,000 km service & maintenance to 5 yrs & 120,000 kms. Other warranties are already 5 years.

Fuel is not a consideration for me since i drive the vehicle only for weekend trips to Dubai & Al Ain and once a week grocery. Office is at walking distance to my residence.

I am of the view that buying a prado for 150,000 now will fetch me 100,000 after 5 years while an explorer worth 100,000 now will be 50,000 after 5 years. Amount lost is the same but interior and ride quality is far superior than most of the japanese 4x4 in same class and also amount invested is less.

I met few locals as well who were driving explorer and they found it very nice and powerful with no issues at all.

Thank you for your responses and i will keep you posted with my driving experience.

Best regards,

M. Faisal Zafir

[root]

Faisal..make sure you post pics of your ride!