by "Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
Published 02/28/2017 at 14:20
by "Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
Published 02/28/2017 at 14:20
Tags: Milwaukee Auto Show
; Just Tall People Things
STARS: 1
My wife and I attended the Milwaukee Auto Show on Saturday to do a little shopping for our next car. We will be in the market in about 2 years when our youngest son is finally out of a car seat and into a booster. We usually buy used, so the 2017 models will be what we will be looking at in 2 years. This car will be my wife’s, and she is mainly interested in comfort and luxury. She prefers sedans vs SUVs/CUVs.
As background, I am 6'5" tall, with most of my height coming from my legs. So when we car shop, legroom is the primary factor. We take long road trips where we team drive through the night, so comfort is a must.
Here are my thoughts on each brand we checked out, in order that we checked them out.
Cadillac: XTS is way too cramped for a car of that size. The ATS fit me better than the XTS! The CT6 was surprisingly roomy, and will be on our future shopping list. The XT5 had enough legroom, which is fairly hard to find in a mid-size CUV. I blame the 20" rims on these monsters.
Lincoln: This was what we came to see: the new Continental. They had both a Reserve (lowest trim) and Black Label (highest trim). First off, plenty of legroom. I probably had 6" of spare legroom when I sat in the back and my wife adjusted the seat to her preference. The seats were very comfortable, and I could see myself getting a solid nap on a long road trip. Cons: the body panels near the trunk did not line up as well as they should. I know these show cars are beat to hell, but it wasn’t up to the standard of that price range.
The MKZ, which we like, is just a bit too small. My head solidly hits the roof in the back seat. The MKX was similar to the XT5...fine, but we’d rather have the sedans. The MKC is criminally small inside.
Mercedes: We were only able to check out the C-class, since everything else was mobbed. It was nice, but the nearest dealer to us is a 30 minute drive, so we didn’t look very closely.
Range Rover, Jaguar, Volvo: All cars were locked. Fuck these brands. Also, Volvos are expensive as hell. I am interested in the F-Pace though...but no dealer nearby.
Chevy: My wife actually liked the interior of the new Malibu. Too small though, and she won’t go near the Impala due to how shitty the last couple of generations were. She humored me when looking at the Malibu. The Bolt is bigger than expected, but not a family car. She liked the Traverse for a larger CUV, mostly for the 3rd row (I hate this GM platform FWIW).
FCA: There is really nothing in their lineup that fits our criteria, except maybe the 300, and my wife doesn’t like the look. We checked out the Pacifica, which I feel is the only minivan I would actually drive. We used to have a Fiat 500 before kid #2 showed up, so we checked out the 500X. If it had been around 2.5 years ago, I bet it would be sitting in our garage right now instead of the Saab.
Buick: The other brand we really wanted to check out. We’ve tested the Encore in the past and liked it, but it’s obviously too small. The Envision was similar to the XT5 and MKX. It’s an option. The Buick we really wanted to check out was the new LaCrosse. I’ve started to see these around town and they catch my eye every time. The interior was as spacious as the Continental, but not as luxurious. Maybe when they release the Avenir trim level next year. We’ve tested the Regal in the past. Like the MKZ, it’s just too small.
Genesis: We sat in the G90, and it was very roomy. You can tell that the back seat is the emphasis here. Like the Continental, you are meant to be driven. This thing would soak up the miles. Very nice all around, this is going on our future test drive list.
Lexus: I’m not a fan of their current styling, but I did check out the NX. Like a broken record, it was about the same as the other mid-size CUVs.
My wife made an interesting point at the end. Why buy a crossover unless it has a third row? A sedan is just as roomy, maybe moreso, and you hardly ever use the extra storage a CUV offers. Besides, we have a truck for when we need to carry anything really big. On the used market, luxury sedans depreciate like a used bandaid, some more than others based solely on brand perception. For us, we don’t really care about brand as long as we can get it serviced locally and has decent reliability *glares at FCA*. The Japanese brands don’t depreciate fast enough, so they are off the table. European brands are expensive to maintain (at least for my friend who keeps buying BMWs & Audis for some reason), and we don’t have any local dealers. So that leaves the domestics and Koreans. Buick has the lowest cost of entry, and possibly the highest depreciation too. But Lincoln’s not far behind it. I don’t know anything about the Genesis brand, so that will require some research now that I know it’s an option.
Top 3 sedans:
G90
Continental
LaCrosse
Top 3 CUVs
XT5
MKX
Envision
Sorry for the long post. I did this more to get my thoughts down relatively soon after the show.
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
02/28/2017 at 14:27, STARS: 0
Why buy a crossover unless it has a third row?
Couldn’t agree more. Crossovers are supposed to be reasonable compromises of most traits — not just lame, oversized hatchbacks. That said, despite your mistrust of FCA, I was more impressed with the Durango than all other vans and crossovers, period. To me it was the best blend of car and truck, good materials and interfaces, and it “felt” beyond its price point. One day I might eat my words, but for the moment it’s at the top of my list (once the wife’s Odyssey is paid off in a couple years...).
"avalonian" (avalonain19)
02/28/2017 at 14:47, STARS: 1
Korean cars are extremely great value. Have you looked at an avalon? Thats what I have and am considering a Genesis or equus soon.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
02/28/2017 at 15:00, STARS: 0
Most people buying crossovers don’t have a pickup truck kicking around at their house. Plus they feel safer in them in foul weather.
If you heard the El Cheapo turn signal click clack noise in the 500X and felt its tractor-like idle, you’d probably be less impressed. My wife loved how that car looked and it met everything she was looking for on paper but it was impressively low quality. We got a Subaru Impreza instead.
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
02/28/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 0
In our rush I didn’t see the Durango, but we did sit in the Grand Cherokee and we liked it. As a former Fiat owner, I don’t know that I will every own another FCA vehicle though.
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
02/28/2017 at 15:39, STARS: 0
I just can’t get on board with Subaru. Too many Subaru shit boxes running around my neighborhood as a kid has jaded my view of them forever. Plus, any time I’ve sat in one it just wasn’t comfortable for my frame.
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
02/28/2017 at 15:39, STARS: 1
I have not actually sat in an Avalon, but my internet warrior work has put it on my radar as the only Toyota sedan to check out.
"ivnic8" (sasgxl)
02/28/2017 at 15:59, STARS: 1
My wife and I recently were looking at 3-row SUVs, and were surprised at how little room there was in the 2nd row of most of them. We have 3 kids; 2 boys over 6ft, and were very close to buying an Explorer. Nothing else in the class has that much room, and the safety features my wife wants. The next closest for rear seat space was the Nissan Murano, but this is only a 2-row. We did not even consider anything from FCA, GM or Toyota - for reasons.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
02/28/2017 at 16:02, STARS: 0
This is Wisconsin, Subarus are like automotive cockroaches here. Can’t kill em, they just get older and more decrepit. Just like how everyone’s first car is their grandma’s old Buick Century with 15k miles on it. Here in Madison, older Priuses are getting that way too.
That said, the newer Subarus are generally nice. 500X, not so much. Neither I nor my wife is 6'5" though.
Have you looked at the Hyundai Azera/Kia Cadenza? FWD platform so more packaging efficiency for legroom. Nice and cushy in the vein of a Buick, Avalon, etc.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
02/28/2017 at 16:04, STARS: 0
Well, hello neighbor. I too am in the Milwaukee area (New Berlin) and am the same height. I’ve pretty much given up on riding in the back of anything other than SUVs or pickups, but then again as I’m typically the driver, it doesn’t come up often.
I could have sworn there was a Jaguar dealer in Milwaukee, but nothing is coming up on Google other than Jaguar Waukesha. Weird.
"avalonian" (avalonain19)
02/28/2017 at 16:05, STARS: 0
Yeah, definitely do. They’re basically undercover LexI. And they depreciate okay, so after you purchase it you shouldn’t lose too much value.
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
02/28/2017 at 16:51, STARS: 0
6'8" pal fits in his Freestyle just fine. As for you, I’ve heard Subaru makes some models with good legroom.
"hike" (hike15)
02/28/2017 at 17:02, STARS: 0
I second the Avalon. There aren’t many non luxury cars that are more comfortable. It’s also not a Camry so used car value is a little better.
"hike" (hike15)
02/28/2017 at 17:03, STARS: 1
Interestingly, the Durango is the one FCA product Consumer Reports recommended last year.
"Under_Score" (tomtheatum)
02/28/2017 at 17:09, STARS: 0
CR-V. Or, if you can go into Benz territory, an RDX. I’m about your height and so is my dad; we fit well in a 2016 CR-V with a sunroof. It’s also a great car and was purchased at a very good price.
"avalonian" (avalonain19)
02/28/2017 at 17:54, STARS: 0
Ironically, when buying my avalon it was CHEAPER, than a carry lol
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
02/28/2017 at 20:05, STARS: 0
I’m actually up near Green Bay. Appleton has all of the exotics dealers, and I don’t want to deal with that like I did with the Fiat.
I don’t plan on ever sitting in the back, but my two boys could end up being taller than me. I was actually supposed to be over 6'9" based on my growth charts, but an illness (and subsequent meds) stunted my growth when I was 13. So my boys have the genes to be very tall. One is already off the chart...literally. The other is only in the 85th percentile, so we’ll see.
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
02/28/2017 at 20:07, STARS: 0
We don’t have a Benz dealer close by and I can’t get my wife enthused about Hondas. She grew up in Ohio, where they are basically everywhere. I think she views them as too common. I’ve learned not to push against these prejudices.
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
02/28/2017 at 20:08, STARS: 0
All of the basic Ford seats didn’t seem very comfortable. I last tested in 2015, so maybe they have gotten better. But even on a short test drive I knew it was a no go.
"Under_Score" (tomtheatum)
02/28/2017 at 20:15, STARS: 0
The Acura is pretty different, isn’t it? I haven’t been in an RDX, but it seems more like an enthusiast choice than the CR-V.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
03/01/2017 at 10:57, STARS: 0
Oh okay, I have a bunch of family in Green Bay and my brother-in-law lives in Little Chute. Based on your genetics, I can certainly understand why you want something with some rear height.
Due to our car seat, whenever we have friends or family over, I inevitably am the one driving, so back seat room is important for us too. I had an Xterra that I loved, but the rear seat was a nightmare to get in and out of, so I traded it for my current land cruiser.
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
03/01/2017 at 14:54, STARS: 0
I am always so disappointed in rear legroom in mid-size CUVs/SUVs. My sister has a Land Cruiser, but it would have to have over 100k miles to land in my budget. My wife is pretty frugal even though she’s a VP, and she commented that she’ll probably end up in a Buick because they are such a phenomenal value used.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
03/01/2017 at 15:09, STARS: 0
I have a 100 series and would like a 200, but they’re almost $30k for one with 100k miles. There are just too many better options for that price. While indestructible, they are also dated due to being a “world vehicle”.
The land rover LR3/4 has probably the most spacious back seat in any mid-size SUV I’ve been in. Even the 3rd row could comfortably carry adults. But you give up cargo space for the 2nd, and its pretty much completely lost if you want all three rows. Yet, I’m still considering one as long as I can get a warranty with it.
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
03/01/2017 at 21:16, STARS: 0
My sister had an LR3 before the a cruiser. It was so unreliable, they now only buy Toyota.
"WiscoProud" (wiscoproud)
03/02/2017 at 10:21, STARS: 0
I had a similar experience. The funny thing is, almost all the issues I had have now been well documented by the aftermarket. Had the aftermarket been as developed when I owned it, I might still have it. That and I’ve read the LR4 addressed many of the issues the LR3 had, like eating bushings and a better air compressor.