The wife needs a car as well as hers is slowly dying as well. The goal is not to spend less than $35,000 on her vehicle.

She needs 3 rows, four wheel drive and enough room to get 3 feet deep and 4 wide across the back behind the 3rd row.

We also don't know where we are moving, but her needs if starting to come very quickly.

We don't want a Suburban, Tahoe, Expedition, Sequia, or Armada as they don't have those in Europe and it will probably stand out. And most importantly wasn't designed to go 95 mph on the Autobahn.

We are thinking 2nd hand Mercedes Benz 350-450 GL?

Anything I need to know about them that is really important before we start looking?

I have a 2011 and I have had many issues with it. It is in the shop as we speak for a switch replacement for the sunroof. The entire roof panel comes as one unit. Cost $1K. My drivers seat track is broken. Cost is $2800 but because I'm a good customer only $1400. Oh, by the way I have 49K miles on mine. Be aware if it uses 20 inch wheels there is nothing commercially available that is worth a shit in the snow.
Good luck and investigate an extended warranty although that's about $4500 if I remember correctly.
I have had 7 Mercedes cars and this is by far the worst!
My wife has a Toyota 4 Runner I much prefer!
Give Audi a close look.

Sorry to hear that, I had high hopes.

I need to rethink the Jap and American options if that is the case.

Honestly I don't know why I am surprised. I used to be a fleet manager at an American Embassy, we had a ton of Volvos. Every time we had an oil change it was $950.

Looks like Benz is the equivalent of that in America.

My suggestion is the Audi Q7, it goes like hell on the autobahn and is completely proper in europe.

I'm looking at the Durango, suspiciously close to a GL. It's the biggest in it's class and RWD, but it is a Dodge. For $35K you could easily buy new.

It's impossible to find cargo dimensions online. They only show cu.ft. Even Consumers only has volume but at least they use a common formula for every vehicle.

May wind up with a Highlander which is smaller.

http://www.consumerreports.org...htm?loginMethod=auto

Waiting on jobs to find out.

Europe will be a Euro, America will be Merican!

The new Durango is damn small. We will probably end up with a Toyota or Nissan if we stay in America, Ford Expedition EL would be good.

I'm on my 11th Mercedes and looking for a 12th.... despite having bought a GL for my wife. The only thing it has going for it is the 3rd row seat and available room for 14 bags of feed with the seat down.

1. Shitty gas mileage
2. Loud road noise
3. Drove like a truck
4. No power
5. A dog- had to replace front and rear air ssuspension/struts at 80,000 and 90,000 mi at $1500 a pop. Steering rack needed to be replaced when I traded it in.

Don't forget it's assembled in the US so already it starts out life as less of a Mercedes and more of a partial POS.

I bought my wife a Cayenne GTS, which is fantastic car, but no third seat, only 8 bags of feed and prolly more than you want to spend. IIRC the Audi platform has the same geometry as the Porsche (or vice verce). One of the best vehicles I've ever bought, just a fantastic car.

Good luck- the third seat is your limiting factor......

Thanks!

We have too big of a family not to have a 3rd seat.

Honestly I wish Ford would have not quit making the Excursion.

If it is to be used in Europe after a move there I would buy it in Europe.

Wink,

I am waiting word on a move. A promotion means a move, and I have applied for and been interviewed by the outfit I work for to move. Just don't know where we are moving yet.

Might be staying here for 4-8 months. One of the promotions means I move across town.

Never know!

After too many problems to mention I got rid of my GL and bought a Honda Pilot. 140k miles down the road and zero problems. It meets your criteria on all counts.

Thanks Tree Um.

I'll give it a look. Closest Honda guy is about 3 hours away.

Look for a 100 series Land Cruiser, either Toyota or Lexus. The 120 series GX ain't bad either.

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
Look for a 100 series Land Cruiser, either Toyota or Lexus. The 120 series GX ain't bad either.

Landcruisers are wonderful cars. What sucks about them as a buyer is finding a second hand one for a reasonable amount that isn't totally shot is hard.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Wonderful Wyoming:

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
Look for a 100 series Land Cruiser, either Toyota or Lexus. The 120 series GX ain't bad either.

Landcruisers are wonderful cars. What sucks about them as a buyer is finding a second hand one for a reasonable amount that isn't totally shot is hard.

You're exactly right. Most people keep them until the bitter end because they are so reliable. There are at least 10 used Range Rovers for every used LC/LX here.

Yep, second hand range rovers are cheap but expensive for repairs.

A land cruiser is still a Toyota.

If you want a real POS, get a Durango.