[ideliver]

I am in the market for a large SUV. The vehicles I am considering are the Nissan Armanda LE, Infinity QX56 and Toyota Sequoia Limited or Platinum.

I currently have a Yukon and am less than thrilled with if for many reasons.

I was planning on using a service to purchase a Manheim auction vehicle.

My local Toyota stealer has an 08 Sequoia Limited loaded for that trim with a sticker of $52,000. It has 5,200 miles and the light grey interior shows it. There is a significant scrape on the back drivers door that will not buff out. These are not dealbreakers because my wife and 3 boys tend to hammer the car anyway.

These cars were going through Manheim in December in the low 30's range.

11/11/08 GA DLRS Factory $30,600 16,963 Avg SILVER 8G A Yes
11/11/08 GA DLRS Factory $30,400 18,545 Avg BURGANDY 8G A Yes
11/12/08 MILWAUKE Factory $30,000 7,512 Below 8S6/BLUE 8G A No
11/12/08 KC Factory $31,750 12,182 Above BLE\1F9 8G A Yes
11/12/08 KC Factory $31,500 14,042 Avg WHITE 8G A Yes
11/12/08 KC Factory $31,500 10,665 Avg MRN\3Q7 8G A Yes
11/12/08 KC Factory $31,500 10,229 Avg DSSND 8G A Yes
11/12/08 KC Factory $31,500 10,139 Avg GRY\4T3 8G A Yes
11/12/08 KC Factory $31,300 13,263 Avg BLACK 8G A Yes
11/14/08 MANHEIM Factory $32,400 10,108 Above DK GRAY 8G A Yes
11/14/08 MANHEIM Factory $31,500 8,709 Avg 8S6-BLUE 8G A Yes
11/18/08 STATESVL Factory $30,300 24,387 Avg SILV SKY 8G A Yes
11/18/08 GA DLRS Factory $30,700 17,727 Avg BLUE 8G A Yes
11/18/08 GA DLRS Factory $30,700 17,486 Avg DSSND 8G A Yes
11/21/08 MANHEIM Factory $32,200 15,502 Above GRAY 8G A Yes
11/25/08 STATESVL Factory $30,300 20,170 Avg SUP WHIT 8G A Yes
11/25/08 GA DLRS Factory $31,000 16,932 Avg BURGANDY 8G A Yes
11/25/08 GA DLRS Factory $31,000 16,125 Avg BLUE 8G A Yes
11/26/08 CEN FLA Lease $37,000 13,317 Above BLACK 8G A No
12/02/08 GA DLRS Factory $30,600 17,885 Avg DSSND 8G A Yes
12/03/08 UTAH Factory $32,000 12,024 Above GRAY 8G A Yes
12/03/08 KC Factory $31,900 9,721 Above BLE\8S6 8G A Yes
12/03/08 BAY CITI Factory $33,100 8,581 Above WHITE 8G A Yes
12/05/08 MANHEIM Regular $34,500 9,850 Above SILVER 8G A No
12/09/08 GA DLRS Factory $30,800 17,151 Avg WHITE 8G A Yes


I think that $35,000 is a fair price. Please share your thoughts and advice!

[SantaPimp27]

my dad has a 03 sequoia with 180k on it. the thing has started up every single day he's had it with barely any problems at all. still runs like new.

the japs know something the americans dont

[quagmire]

Originally Posted by SantaPimp27

my dad has a 03 sequoia with 180k on it. the thing has started up every single day he's had it with barely any problems at all. still runs like new.

the japs know something the americans dont

Our 2002 Suburban has started up every time we turned the key. We have had little to no problems with it.

Apparently the Americans do know what the Japanese know........

[SantaPimp27]

oh.... how is gm doing?

[jaiman]

Originally Posted by SantaPimp27

oh.... how is gm doing?

no no, the domestics can make cars, they just can't make money AND cars.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by quagmire

Our 2002 Suburban has started up every time we turned the key. We have had little to no problems with it.

Apparently the Americans do know what the Japanese know........

What's the mileage on your car?

[quagmire]

Originally Posted by dr325i

What's the mileage on your car?

82,000 miles and still going. So granted it isn't that high up yet. But, it has been reliable for us. It's used mostly for long distance trips, carrying sails, lines, fenders, etc for our boat, and towing a horse trailer. So it sits outside most of the time and maybe 2-3 times a month is it used.

[LI E90]

have fun when gas goes back up to $4.00 by the winter.

I would give another look to the Armada, my sister in law has one, I have driven it on occasion, I like it a lot, feels like driving a school bus!

[ideliver]

Originally Posted by LI E90

have fun when gas goes back up to $4.00 by the winter.

I would give another look to the Armada, my sister in law has one, I have driven it on occasion, I like it a lot, feels like driving a school bus!

dude...i have a Yukon (14 mpg) and an M5 (10 mpg) now...i have seen $5 gas prices already...but we have 3 boys..go skiing every weekend in the winter...baseball and beach in the summer...I go hunting and pull 4 wheelers to the cabin in the fall...

We really need and (ab)use a SUV

I liked that Nissan/Infinity too...

[SantaPimp27]

if your worried about gas you should look into a dodge ram with the cummins turbo diesel in them. i know its diesel but your also looking at about 25 miles per gallon and you wont have problem with towing stuff

[BKScripto]

I'd vote for the Nissan Armada. Only because I had a Nissan Titan a few years back and the V8 engine is a thing of beauty. I do believe they use the same V8 in the Armada.

Great torque and the engine gives off a great sound. I never had an issue with the Titan btw, but I only had it for up to 60k miles...

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by quagmire

82,000 miles and still going. So granted it isn't that high up yet. But, it has been reliable for us. It's used mostly for long distance trips, carrying sails, lines, fenders, etc for our boat, and towing a horse trailer. So it sits outside most of the time and maybe 2-3 times a month is it used.

82k vs. 180k is a huge difference.
Nevertheless, I do thinnk that the American cars reliability and some of the design have improved over the years. Specifically, Suburban's look OK for the large SUV.
However, the inside looks very much outdated after a year or two (no forward vision by the US Auto makers), the gaps -- there is probably a 2-inch gap now between your rear bumper and the chasy, clicking, whining rattling sounds when you turn, the plastic/material smells that EVERY GM car develops over time for some reason...

[quagmire]

Originally Posted by dr325i

82k vs. 180k is a huge difference.
Nevertheless, I do thinnk that the American cars reliability and some of the design have improved over the years. Specifically, Suburban's look OK for the large SUV.
However, the inside looks very much outdated after a year or two (no forward vision by the US Auto makers), the gaps -- there is probably a 2-inch gap now between your rear bumper and the chasy, clicking, whining rattling sounds when you turn, the plastic/material smells that EVERY GM car develops over time for some reason...

No rattles or whining noises. And the interior smells like horses.

Yeah, I know 180K and 82K is a huge difference. GM trucks are known for their reliability. The V8's are bulletproof. Yeah, the interior materials in our '02 is not that great, but it has held up pretty well and I much prefer its design over the newer ones. Wish GM would put the work truck interior in the Suburban.



Same general design as the GMT-800's with much better materials.

vs

the Suburbans

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by quagmire

No rattles or whining noises. And the interior smells like horses.

Yeah, I know 180K and 82K is a huge difference. GM trucks are known for their reliability. The V8's are bulletproof. Yeah, the interior materials in our '02 is not that great, but it has held up pretty well and I much prefer its design over the newer ones. Wish GM would put the work truck interior in the Suburban.


Same general design as the GMT-800's with much better materials.

vs

the Suburbans

I thought you would tow the horses, but then, I remember how BIG that thing actually is

Definitely improvement at GM. I recently rented a new Malibu up in Canada and drove it for about 300 miles, and was very much impressed with it. THen I realized it was even a 4-cyl engine in it and at one point there was 5 of us in the car, and it ran great, and very quiet...

But again, there are some "flaws" (I guess like in every car...): That "chrome" plastic around everything -- WHY?, the green 1970-calculator type display (Radio and dash)... Otherwise, I liked the interior (and exterior) very much...

[quagmire]

Originally Posted by dr325i

I thought you would tow the horses, but then, I remember how BIG that thing actually is

Definitely improvement at GM. I recently rented a new Malibu up in Canada and drove it for about 300 miles, and was very much impressed with it. THen I realized it was even a 4-cyl engine in it and at one point there was 5 of us in the car, and it ran great, and very quiet...

But again, there are some "flaws" (I guess like in every car...): That "chrome" plastic around everything -- WHY?, the green 1970-calculator type display (Radio and dash)... Otherwise, I liked the interior (and exterior) very much...

The blue backlighting is Chevy's trademark color.

And I know you are being sarcastic, but it is from horse blankets, boots, etc.