I miss my '99 Tahoe. Best SUV I've ever owned.

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You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.

I've enjoyed time with an '08 Expedition. Great truck.

On that note, have a 2008 Expedition EL that has about 40,000 miles on it now..has worked without an issue. Drive it to Vermont and North Carolina annually. Isn't exactly cheap though, about 50K or so.

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An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

thanks for the thoughts fellers
so I spent yesterday test driving some of the SUVs I had in mind...

GLK 350: positively impressed.. strong acceleration responsive handling and built like a tank. with the options I need the price falls well under $40k so this may far and away be the winner

FJ Cruiser: blah! drive felt very uninspired as well as the build and quality I thought.. my X5 has blown shocks and also requires a wheel alignment yet it still drives better than the FJ.. on the freeway I thought the car was goin to tip over

Tahoe: i love this car for the name alone! very meaty butch car, didn't handle as well as the GLK but i def. could see myself in this car for those voyages to the mountains.. however the 4wheel drive is starting at $41k and at that price i'd much rather settle for the GLK

I may.. maybe look into the X3 but the design to me is just unnoteworthy. I'll look into the Q5 but I can already see the tag running beyond $40k w. the options I'm looking for.. the Toyota 4 Runner's price is about $35k w. the options and some may not agree w. me but I figure if I can get a Mercedes for the same price then I'll go w. the Mercedes

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Regarding pricing, I would expect the Chevy dealer to discount more heavily than MB.

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You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.

Im 6'1 and had to nix the 4Runner because with the seat all the way down and back I still hit the roof. YMMV.

They're struggling and trying to scrounge every penny they can, I would think the exact opposite.

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The cross-overs like the Acadia, Equinox, Traverse and Terrain are flying out of dealers up here, my local Chevy dealer is selling out of Equinox before they hit his lot, there's a 3 month wait for one and they're not discounting them very much at all.

The full size SUV's aren't moving as well and there is a $4k discount/rebate on them.

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You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.

Exactly my point though...all those you listed are similar in size to the X5, which I thought the OP was looking to stay in that category. I don't consider anything that comes w/ either a 4 or 6 cylinder a full size. The X5 isn't a full size either, regardless if the newer ones come w/ 3 rows of seating. Durango's has 3 row seating, and those are by no means full size, nor is that backseat in either vehicle really even usable.

True full size SUV's like the Escalade, Tahoe/Suburban, Expedition, Excursion, Commander, etc probably don't for as much and/or have to give rebates because they come standard w/ a V8 at minimum because of their sheer size and weight. There might be a few "fullsize" that come w/ a 6, but that little engine is struggling and is probably a stripped down fleet type truck.

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