Car Advice

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I've heard good things about the Volvo SUV, and it looks beautiful up close. My family isn't in the market for a new SUV yet, we are looking at a home purchase instead, but we were eyeing up the Honda CR-V switching to hybrid this past year and the Acura SUV going hybrid in 2022. A family I know who drives a Discovery have buyer remorse. It's always in the shop.

Yeah, maybe it's just unfounded personal bias, but I can't buy anything from GM, Chrysler, Land Rover or Jaguar... and Jaguar is the only one I feel bad about putting in that group. As soon as something went wrong I'd be mad at myself for buying one of them and ignoring my feelings that they're unreliable and bad choices--no matter how loosely tethered to reality those feelings might be.

 

[Lee]

So I am thinking of getting a alfa romeo stelvio, I like smallish crossovers/suv's, they are too expensive, they are not common, and they are decently fast a fun. The bigger engine has reliability issues, but the stock engine while fast for a SUV, is actually a decently reliable car even though the reputation says otherwise. (actual data vs rep doesn't line up here)

What do you guys think of the Stelvio?

 

[macbdog]

So I am thinking of getting a alfa romeo stelvio, I like smallish crossovers/suv's, they are too expensive, they are not common, and they are decently fast a fun. The bigger engine has reliability issues, but the stock engine while fast for a SUV, is actually a decently reliable car even though the reputation says otherwise. (actual data vs rep doesn't line up here)

What do you guys think of the Stelvio?

Heard they are even more unreliable than the Beamers and Jags you just complained about. The only one I would touch is the discontinued sportster that was based on a Miata.

 

[Sebastian]

Yeah, maybe it's just unfounded personal bias, but I can't buy anything from GM, Chrysler, Land Rover or Jaguar... and Jaguar is the only one I feel bad about putting in that group. As soon as something went wrong I'd be mad at myself for buying one of them and ignoring my feelings that they're unreliable and bad choices--no matter how loosely tethered to reality those feelings might be.

Certified Pre-Owned is the way to go.

But, it is not hyperbole that the best inclement weather or off-road choices are Jeep or LR.

They'll take you through a blizzard.

I have had two post 2010 Land Rovers and never once had a problem.

The Land Rovers from 2000-2006 were horrific. Since 2010 they've been middling.

Jeeps last forever.

But that is what one has to expect for that niche: Totally capable, superior on-road and off-road capabilities, best bad weather and luxurious. If being able to handle some tough shit is not truly a condition, then one can ignore those two. But I would not try driving in really bad weather with any other SUV if I were you.

Also, for $50K you can get the Range Rover Sport Plug-in E-Hybrid. They get amazing milage.

 

[GOMD]

So I am thinking of getting a alfa romeo stelvio, I like smallish crossovers/suv's, they are too expensive, they are not common, and they are decently fast a fun. The bigger engine has reliability issues, but the stock engine while fast for a SUV, is actually a decently reliable car even though the reputation says otherwise. (actual data vs rep doesn't line up here)

What do you guys think of the Stelvio?

I would go for a loaded up Mazda before an Alfa. A CX5 with the uplevel engine has 250hp and 320 tq. Unless your looking to make a statement on the name only, your money might be better spent elsewhere.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I would go for a loaded up Mazda before an Alfa. A CX5 with the uplevel engine has 250hp and 320 tq. Unless your looking to make a statement on the name only, your money might be better spent elsewhere.

The guy who chairs the board of directors at my kid's preschool drives a 2020 navy blue Mazda CX-5, and it's a beautiful vehicle to go with all that power. He can afford whatever he wants. I agree, forget the sticker price because it's a great value.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Certified Pre-Owned is the way to go.

But, it is not hyperbole that the best inclement weather or off-road choices are Jeep or LR.

They'll take you through a blizzard.

I have had two post 2010 Land Rovers and never once had a problem.

The Land Rovers from 2000-2006 were horrific. Since 2010 they've been middling.

Jeeps last forever.

But that is what one has to expect for that niche: Totally capable, superior on-road and off-road capabilities, best bad weather and luxurious. If being able to handle some tough shit is not truly a condition, then one can ignore those two. But I would not try driving in really bad weather with any other SUV if I were you.

Also, for $50K you can get the Range Rover Sport Plug-in E-Hybrid. They get amazing milage.

I mean, I've driven my entire life in snow with small, front wheel drive cars. Corolla, Matrix, Focus ST. We don't need an SUV to drive in bad weather. To paraphrase Bane, in Northeast Ohio, we didn't merely adopt the snow! The SUV purchase is basically going to be due to wanting space because of kids, and not wanting a minivan.

I've always thought the reliability/longevity of Jeeps only applied to the Wrangler. I have no idea why I thought this.

 

[bigking777]

Wow, this thread exploded the last couple days.
Just a couple of my random thoughts on some of the questions that have popped up.

A friend has a loaded Stelvio. Pretty cool interior. You really have to like the look of an Alfa Romeo. I think they are a little feminine. Reliability and cost of ownership is a slight negative.
The 4C is really cool though and maybe this gets directed to the discussion on the ST and GTI on the last page.

On trucks (no experience on the 3/4 ton but have had F150s and Ram 1500s) I prefer the F150 but the interior of the Ram is better for me. The 6 cylinder turbo engine on both favors the F150 and I got better gas mileage too for some reason. I do like the 8 cylinder version better.

Another friend has an Audi Q8 and I love it. Big, beautiful and rides great. I mentioned the Audi E-Tron earlier. I think that's a great electric choice, especially since you want to stay away from Tesla. I understand you are tired of seeing them and I'm feeling that way too. I might sell mine. But why consider a Jeep? Those are everywhere!

 

[Lee]

I would go for a loaded up Mazda before an Alfa. A CX5 with the uplevel engine has 250hp and 320 tq. Unless your looking to make a statement on the name only, your money might be better spent elsewhere.

Part of it is the statement, single guy, almost 50, so yeah mid life crisis bullshit I guess. But I love the looks, technology is poor, but I am not a tech guy as long as it has blue tooth which obviously it does.

They can need repairs, not getting a new one, they drop 14k in less than a year, and will get extended warranty. But they are a whole lot of fun to drive and the Stelvio is beautiful imo.

 

[Lee]

Wow, this thread exploded the last couple days.
Just a couple of my random thoughts on some of the questions that have popped up.

A friend has a loaded Stelvio. Pretty cool interior. You really have to like the look of an Alfa Romeo. I think they are a little feminine. Reliability and cost of ownership is a slight negative.
The 4C is really cool though and maybe this gets directed to the discussion on the ST and GTI on the last page.

On trucks (no experience on the 3/4 ton but have had F150s and Ram 1500s) I prefer the F150 but the interior of the Ram is better for me. The 6 cylinder turbo engine on both favors the F150 and I got better gas mileage too for some reason. I do like the 8 cylinder version better.

Another friend has an Audi Q8 and I love it. Big, beautiful and rides great. I mentioned the Audi E-Tron earlier. I think that's a great electric choice, especially since you want to stay away from Tesla. I understand you are tired of seeing them and I'm feeling that way too. I might sell mine. But why consider a Jeep? Those are everywhere!

My ex made fun of me for liking chick cars, so the fact you think they are a chick car makes allot of sense, and I do think they are beautiful.

 

[Sebastian]

I mean, I've driven my entire life in snow with small, front wheel drive cars. Corolla, Matrix, Focus ST. We don't need an SUV to drive in bad weather. To paraphrase Bane, in Northeast Ohio, we didn't merely adopt the snow! The SUV purchase is basically going to be due to wanting space because of kids, and not wanting a minivan.

I've always thought the reliability/longevity of Jeeps only applied to the Wrangler. I have no idea why I thought this.

Jeep has had issues in the past. You're not wrong. They have been much better lately. Same with Rover. They aren't reliable like Toyota of old, but with a CPO vehicle it is much less of a concern.

Reliability is really an issue if you're getting a vehicle out of warranty. Certified Pre-Owned and you're getting 4-6 years depending on the make and their program. You can even extend their warranties for a pittance.

I mean, if you're getting an import like on the German cars, their downfall is the price of fixing them after the warranty.

But, if you plan on moving on after 4-6 years then reliability is less of an issue unless you have a complete lemon. Your warranty will handle it.

I say this: If you are going to drop $45K on a vehicle, make sure it is something you love or want. Don't let minor issues obstruct that. The worst feeling in the world is dropping that much money on something that is a compromise. You learn to hate and resent it.

 

[Sebastian]

So one of my primary knocks against the pre-2016 Jaguar XF was the dated electronics.

But that is no longer a problem with the new after market upgrade available. Turns the Gen 2 multimedia interface into a Apple CarPlay or Android Auto unit whilst retaining original factory functions (and navigation screens if one wants).

So, it seems I am pretty locked in on the 2014 or 2015 Jaguar XF-R. No real reason to settle for the 2016-2018 year models which are a real step backwards in engine power and interior materials quality.

More and more, people are using after market products to drag the ultra-conservative automotive manufacturers into the modern era, or to get around the ludicrous nickel and dimeing strategy that many carmakers indulge in by hobbling their own equipment with software to force consumers to pay more for the same hardware.

 

[Obscured By Clouds]

I mean, I've driven my entire life in snow with small, front wheel drive cars. Corolla, Matrix, Focus ST. We don't need an SUV to drive in bad weather. To paraphrase Bane, in Northeast Ohio, we didn't merely adopt the snow! The SUV purchase is basically going to be due to wanting space because of kids, and not wanting a minivan.

I've always thought the reliability/longevity of Jeeps only applied to the Wrangler. I have no idea why I thought this.

I'm on my second Grand Cherokee. Never once had to take it in. Granted, these are 3 year leases and I barely put 8k miles a year on them(way less on my current one due to working from home since last March).

 

[Sebastian]

It looks we may be moving sometime in the next year to a place with a proper northern clime.

It seems that I can no longer have a performance Sedan as we will then need a SUV.

My leading contender is the 2016-2017 Range Rover Sport Supercharged. Extreme off-road capability married with astonishing on-road performance. 510 HP, and 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. It can traverse very rough terrain and it even has a stream fording mode...

Any other recommendations for vehicles of similar ability? No trucks. I had a Grand Cherokee back when I was in Army so I am familiar with them.

 

[browniebob]

It looks we may be moving sometime in the next year to a place with a proper northern clime.

It seems that I can no longer have a performance Sedan as we will then need a SUV.

My leading contender is the 2016-2017 Range Rover Sport Supercharged. Extreme off-road capability married with astonishing on-road performance. 510 HP, and 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. It can traverse very rough terrain and it even has a stream fording mode...

Any other recommendations for vehicles of similar ability? No trucks. I had a Grand Cherokee back when I was in Army so I am familiar with them.

If you don't want to give up a performance sedan, a Quattro Audi allows you to have you cake and eat it too. Those cars are absolute tanks in the snow.