Originally Posted by sarends

This is so hard for me. I am in a "dyed in the wool" BMW guy. I would love an X5 35D for my daily driver, but I really think in my line of work (primarily roofing sales) there are a significant enough number of my customers who would struggle with the stigma being presented. I can see that if I were in pharmaceutical or high tech sales it probably wouldn't matter.

I am leaning towards the Touareg because I believe it would be more comfortable to drive 30,000 miles in a year in than my F250 and I don't think it would "get in the way" of making a sale. And, it has enough room to haul my sales materials and I can haul a few job supplies when I want to. Obviously a pickup wins on hauling things (like an occasional sheet of plywood or an 8' piece of flashing), but I rarely (if ever) do this anymore as I have employees who do this. Honestly, 99% of the time in the last 2 (out of 10 years in business) I have not needed a pickup whatsoever. Seems kinda silly, and even though the F250 is cadillac comfy going down the interstate, it wears me out in traffic and in neighborhoods.

Despite all of this, my wife still thinks I need a pickup because I am in the "construction industry" and need to look the part - and, she might be right. It's only been 15 months since I plunked out some significant coin for the loaded F250 I currently drive and I think I scare her how often I change vehicles. But, I am successful and I plan/hope to keep it that way in 2013. The way I figure it my vehicle is my office and I need to be as comfortable as I can be within reason - a decked out Porsche Cayenne would be my dream work vehicle!

Tomorrow am I am going to test drive (don't hit me) a 2013 RAM (not DOdge - grin) 1500 V8 with 8 speed transmission and air suspension. Who knows, maybe I'll like it . . . .

They are coming out with a diesel variation later this year but by the time it's available I will have put another 25,000 work miles on the clock!