3-Row SUV for Midlife Crisis
- Thread starter The Critic
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What if you've owned BMW's since your 20's?
Easy choice..... https://lucidmotors.com/gravity
Next...
Sat in one over the weekend, they are gorgeous. Price point is close enough to what you are looking for.
Pretty sure you cant get captains chairs.
These are pretty awesome, minus a few disappointments.
Pretty sure these wont be under a 120 for a while, oh well see a sticker, or a deal, but they are going to get a premium while they can for the first ones.
This is probably the vehicle that comes closets to matching ice travel times.
It's pretty great performance wise, but even more impressive is the charging speed on all networks.
What I'm really interested in is the upcoming "89K" version of this.
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Midlife crisis =! Lobotomy
A lot of the criteria are subjective on things like quality interior and average size male adult. I'm not sure if she is looking for just a road trip / sometimes only vehicle, or a daily driven commuter but they are typically conflicting quality of each other in my opinion. Personally I have not found a good compromise between easy to park for everyday driving vs roomy for 3 row of adults, and my solution would likely be just rent one when I'm on a road trip. (You only have 3 in your family right?)
But if I were to buy a 3 row SUV that's sort of luxury and durable, and I assume good resell value for when you guys got tired of parking that in the Bay Area, probably some sort of Lexus or Acura. I would be a bit concern of keeping a European Luxury lasting 100k without too much unpredictable repair or maintenance cost. Maybe leasing a European till she got out of the mid life crisis? That might work.
Have you check out some top of the line Sienna lately? They are probably good enough for most except the brand and color.
But if I were to buy a 3 row SUV that's sort of luxury and durable, and I assume good resell value for when you guys got tired of parking that in the Bay Area, probably some sort of Lexus or Acura. I would be a bit concern of keeping a European Luxury lasting 100k without too much unpredictable repair or maintenance cost. Maybe leasing a European till she got out of the mid life crisis? That might work.
Have you check out some top of the line Sienna lately? They are probably good enough for most except the brand and color.
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A bit off topic but not really. If you are 36 or 37 in the US right now you are middle aged. As based on life expectancy there is a good chance thats the actual middle of your life span. If you are 50 thats not middle aged unless you expect to make it to 100 which is nearly 25 years longer than average.
So good chance your wide isnt going through an early mid life crisis but a perfectly timed one.
So good chance your wide isnt going through an early mid life crisis but a perfectly timed one.
Closer to $200 grand than $100. The community I grew up in has their annual 4th of July parade go right past the Cadillac dealer and I was sitting in my usual spot this year and parked right behind my chair was a black Escalade with a $162,000 sticker, and it wasnt even the most expensive one there.Ok, so not exactly completely on topic, but am I that out of touch that I was not aware an Escalade is over 100 grand now?
The only vehicle that will get me to willingly barf $162,000 out of my pocket will have a propeller and wings.
I saw one mention of a Grand Wagoneer but well, Stellantis. 
Do they even make a Lincoln version of the Expedition XL?
Shocked on price of Escalades I see them often I had no idea.
Do they even make a Lincoln version of the Expedition XL?
Shocked on price of Escalades I see them often I had no idea.
Grand Cherokee L (if the third row is sufficient - go check for yourself). Don’t let the Chrysler haters that will come out of the woodwork deter you. These can be had with significant discounts at present, the interiors in the up level ones are gorgeous, the Chrysler 3.6 and the 8 speed is a proven drivetrain, and residual risk (compared to a Toyota) can be hedged for less than a few grand by getting an 8 year bumper to bumper Mopar warranty online. If you need bigger, check out the Wagoneer, same things apply. Hurricane turbo six is now out for a few years and again the 8hp transmission is world class.
Good luck with your search and hope this helps.
Good luck with your search and hope this helps.
100%. I am over 50% done with this, and for my 37th bought a nearly 600hp SUV that still lives in my garage and makes me smile. 39, now, and on the down-hill slope.
Ineos Grenadier?
Have you checked out the highest trim level of the Toyota Grand Highlander. Basically the same vehicle as the Lexus TX500 without the Lexus level of luxury. I don't know if the highest level Toyota interior trim gets close to Lexus level.
Also, have you checked out the highest trim Toyota Sequoia?
Also, have you checked out the highest trim Toyota Sequoia?
wemay
Site Donor 2023
Genesis GV80
Infinity QX80
Mercedes GLS 450
Infinity QX80
Mercedes GLS 450
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New Sequoia has a HORRIBLE 3rd row. It's like an older Highlander small. Nice looking but scratched it of my list after trying to get in it at auto show. My son and I both thought that Grand Highlander had better 3rd row IIRC.
Neighbor has a 3 row X5, too small for their needs. One of the many times it was in the shop dealer gave them an X7 loaner. 3rd row was better but they still said WT foxtrot especially with any cargo after that. They are looking at a Suburban next with 3 younger kids, sports, trips etc.
I'm only 5'10 but "husky"
. At the car show the ones I found comfortable for 3rd row was Expedition with Max having more cargo, Tahoe with of Suburban having more cargo and Atlas. My wife's '19 Pilot is a compromise coming from an '03 Sequoia. that was nice and comfortable 3rd row. Traverse was ok also but not in the range OP is looking for.Actual off road like beach and hunting cabin for me need a good AWD/4WD system and ability to tow about 3k currently.
$100k is just cringe worthy for me but I know if she wants a Tahoe or Expedition it will be close.
Which one(s) have you had?? Seriously curious as some models and especially years tended to be much, much better than others.
Of all the recommendations here, I would consider the X7, 1-2 year old used Land Rover/Range Rover (full sized or long Defender) or a Grand Wagoneer (excellent interiors). Yukons, Suburbans, and even Escalades while nice, just don't have the fit and finish and especially interior material quality of the others.
Despite RR's reputation, which is a bit dated, the four I had since 2010 were fine. Niggling issues here and there, but better than any of our previous domestic SUV's. The RR HSE diesel we had did start to have some DEF system issues later on, but otherwise nothing major and never any tows from 2010 through 2024.
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Land Rover Defender 130
Not sure if they have the gray color which may be the deal killer, but the middle row captain's chairs are available. They have a nice brown Windsor leather interior available.
Don't see many around here, but you probably do in CA.
They sure look nice. But keep the Accord around just in case.
Not sure if they have the gray color which may be the deal killer, but the middle row captain's chairs are available. They have a nice brown Windsor leather interior available.
Don't see many around here, but you probably do in CA.
They sure look nice. But keep the Accord around just in case.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
I’d temper expectations on 3rd row - even if you trust exaggerations - none are good for all day trips (but, for teens or younger) …New Sequoia has a HORRIBLE 3rd row. It's like an older Highlander small. Nice looking but scratched it of my list after trying to get in it at auto show. My son and I both thought that Grand Highlander had better 3rd row IIRC.
Neighbor has a 3 row X5, too small for their needs. One of the many times it was in the shop dealer gave them an X7 loaner. 3rd row was better but they still said WT foxtrot especially with any cargo after that. They are looking at a Suburban next with 3 younger kids, sports, trips etc.
I'm only 5'10 but "husky"
Actual off road like beach and hunting cabin for me need a good AWD/4WD system and ability to tow about 3k currently.
$100k is just cringe worthy for me but I know if she wants a Tahoe or Expedition it will be close.
My boss had one for a while. Like 3 years. Road in it a couple times. Very nice. I am guessing it was a corporate lease though sine it was gone at 3 years.
Has she DD'd your pickup for a regular week or two? Just to get used to the size of these vehicles. They aren't for everybody.
I would just get the 2-3yr old $100k used Escalade, that looks almost new. I'm sure there are lots of them that clean up just fine. If you plan have 5 people in it, the captain chairs means you have to have part or all of 3rd row up, and cuts your cargo space by a lot. A few ski family's we know have still got the ski box on top plus a hitch carrier when 5 of them go for a weekend, with a Yukon XL. Often for 5 they take the pickup as its got the same sitting and more cargo space.
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edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
I know you said GLS450 has too small of 3rd row. That would leave out a lot of SUV’s.
BMW X7 checks a lot if boxes. Excellent engine and mild hybrid system, loves curves, looks good, upscale interior.
BMW X7 checks a lot if boxes. Excellent engine and mild hybrid system, loves curves, looks good, upscale interior.
