Okay ladies,
the countdown is on until the Hummer's painfully expensive lease is up.
When i'm looking for a new ride, I typically explore for 6 months or more. I drive a whole lot of everything when I get free time, narrow down the search, drive more of the same..... until i've determined the year make model colour and options, and then I hit it.

Here's the current list of vehicles on the "to test drive" list. Need some input, as some of them I know fuck all about except they look sexy (to me)


BMW X5 (2002-2006) 4.4L - 4.6L or 4.8L
2005(ish) Lincoln Navigator
2005 Lincoln Aviator
2006 GMC Yukon Denali
Porsche Cayenne or Cayenne S
Hummer H2 / H2 SUT
Chevy Avalanche

mid 2000's 3 Series BMW (coupe)
2003-2005 Audi A4 Quattro 2.0L turbo - this car I know lots about
2007 Audi TT
BMW z4 coupe not convertible or M coupe

Let er rip, from a mechanical/reliability standpoint. Don't care what anyone thinks image wise

Posted by oddspot Okay ladies, the countdown is on until the Hummer's painfully expensive lease is up. When i'm looking for a new ride, I typically explore for 6 months or more. I drive a whole lot of everything when I get free time, narrow down the search, drive more of the same..... until i've determined the year make model colour and options, and then I hit it. Here's the current list of vehicles on the "to test drive" list. Need some input, as some of them I know fuck all about except they look sexy (to me) BMW X5 (2002-2006) 4.4L - 4.6L or 4.8L 2005(ish) Lincoln Navigator 2005 Lincoln Aviator 2006 GMC Yukon Denali Porsche Cayenne or Cayenne S Hummer H2 / H2 SUT Chevy Avalanche mid 2000's 3 Series BMW (coupe) 2003-2005 Audi A4 Quattro 2.0L turbo - this car I know lots about 2007 Audi TT BMW z4 coupe not convertible or M coupe Let er rip, from a mechanical/reliability standpoint. Don't care what anyone thinks image wise

The Avalanche is pretty solid all the way around, but a PIG on fuel (well, not as bad as your Hummer). I am going to get dogpiled on, but the BMW X-series and Porsche Cayennes are a joke. They should've stuck to making cars... high performance high end cars.
The Yukon Denali is top of the line luxury, but also worse on fuel than the Avalanche!The Navigator always struck me as a nerdy kid trying to look like the way cooler Escalade and failing miserably. The Lincoln Aviator??? Is than an Explorer clone? If so, get the Explorer... it's cheaper.
The BMW Z-series and Audi TT or S4 you can't go wrong with.

My only experience with expensive SUV's is a Mercedes-Benz GL that almost killed me once, I came off the onramp doing 70 / 65 zone, dude was doing at least 90 in the right lane ... doesn't even switch over to the clear left lane, forced me into the breakdown lane as to avoid a rear end collision. 12 inches more and I would have had a free car and college tuition right there. Event Data Recorder FTW.


I do know all of those vehicle choices scream "$$$$$$$" in the radar of a trooper if you get my drift.

Why not a Jeep and a sporty daily driver? You'll probably do much better flying under the radar with a YJ or a TJ Jeep for exploring, and something like a Miata or hell, even a Pony car.

Posted by wannabeotaku Why not a Jeep and a sporty daily driver? You'll probably do much better flying under the radar with a YJ or a TJ Jeep for exploring, and something like a Miata or hell, even a Pony car.

I considered something along that idea actually. Like an older Yukon or an Exploder and an early Boxster which are cheap as borscht.

I do know all of those vehicle choices scream "$$$$$$$" in the radar of a trooper if you get my drift.

I'm 14 years without a ticket on my record and i don't drive like a penis so I'm not so concerned. 3 years with a speedy A4, about the same with a VW dune buggy tub that was UBER loud and over 3 years with a pimped out Hum on shiny chrome.... without police involvement.

I've driven a Land Rover Freelander...my GOD...It felt like I was driving a can of Play-Doh.

Posted by Agent Skelly I've driven a Land Rover Freelander...my GOD...It felt like I was driving a can of Play-Doh.

I drove one of those too when I bought my A4 -
by far one of the worst i've ever driven. If the Range Supercharged was a reasonable price i'd consider it but those fuckers are expensive

03-05 A4's are 1.8T's thats the B6 generation

Its the B7 that has the 2.0T, early B7's have lots of problems with misfire and other engine jazz. B6 S4 is pretty reliable, sounds amazing, and is fun to drive.

The x5 is also very nice.

Owning a 2007 B7 2.0T myself, the misfiring issues are the famous coil packs, which is covered by a recent recall. Some early 2005.5 and 2006 cars also have problems with the intake flap but that is also covered by a recall. One thing to watch out on these cars is the cam follower, as it wears out quickly. Just check out VWVortex or Audizine for the common problems, they have all been covered numerous times. Over all it's a very reliable engine.

Other than that, in my case anyways, it has been a very good car. Amazing fuel economy, considering the size/weight/performance (7.4L/100KM doing 130km/h with the A/C, 825km with one tank). My 2.0L Jetta could NEVER touch that. Put +/- 30 000km on it since I've had it, and other than the coil packs (recall), oil and spark plugs, it's been awesome. And in snow, omg, so much win.

If you are seriously looking into an Audi, I would also consider getting it chipped, as it's a whole new car. 10X more thrilling. It's what it should of been right out of the factory IMO. Just make sure to upgrade the stock DV as it's also kinda weak.

I'm with the TJ dd and a sports car for the weekends mentioned earlier. Look for electrical issues on the Avalanches.

Posted by jeepdave I'm with the TJ dd and a sports car for the weekends mentioned earlier. Look for electrical issues on the Avalanches.

What electrical issues? The only thing that i have seen with them was the ones featuring the Hydroboost brake system. Apparently, it's expensive when it breaks and it does break.

Posted by Samurai What electrical issues? The only thing that i have seen with them was the ones featuring the Hydroboost brake system. Apparently, it's expensive when it breaks and it does break.

Instrument panels, windows and locks. Those are the main ones. There was a recall on the instrument panel but you have to get in before 60k miles.

Posted by jeepdave Instrument panels, windows and locks. Those are the main ones. There was a recall on the instrument panel but you have to get in before 60k miles.

haven't heard of that one.

Posted by Samurai haven't heard of that one.

Hit the fullsize chevy forums. You are the GM master Sam but there are still discoveries to be made

BMW X series drives like a small, sporty car. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised if you drove one.

Cayenne - Drive it. You'll like it.

Audi - can't go to horribly wrong. I like the TT a lot, and they are a BLAST to drive.

Ditto with BMW 3 series.

Avalanche is tough, but it's near impossible to find one that doesn't leak water into the cargo area and passenger compartment. Front wheel bearing issues and transfer case problems are common, too, as well as the previously mentioned electrical stuff.

Yukon Denali - they change it way too often, so parts are expensive and there can be a nasty wait for some pieces. None of the options ever work for very long on any of the ones we've sold here (ie, power running boards, air ride, power trunk opener, etc.)

Any Hummer that isn't an H1 is a glorified Trailblazer.


I don't really know enough about the Ford/Lincoln stuff to have too much of an opinion, but anything I've worked on with a blue oval was a piece of crap.