Reliable Full Size SUV (Page 2 of 3)
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Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: Just looking at them now, they carry quite a premium. Ten years old, 130k miles, still want $36k. The miles don't scare me, but here in Ohio, 10 salty winters  Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: Originally Posted By BB: Another vote for the Sequoia The miles don't scare me, but here in Ohio, 10 salty winters They hold value for a reason, and you're hearing about it over and over in this thread: reliability. I chose an older Sequoia over a newer anything else because I knew it would last. My last vehicle was a 2019 GMC Sierra AT-4 with a 6.2L and it had lifter failure just over 60k miles. After that shit, a little research shows that damn near every newer vehicle has some major manufacturing or design flaw that may or may not fuck your butthole at the worse possible time. |
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We have a 2018 Armada, and the only issue I've had so far was the brake switch, but it's been fine since that was replaced. Currently has about 85K miles on it. Nissan Armada was redesigned in 2025 No it does not have a CVT transmission. It has a 9 speed transmission designed by Mercedes and built by Nissan. The 5.6L V8 is no more, but Nissan put a dual turbo V6 that produces more HP and torque than the V8 did. I'd trust Nissan to build turbo V6s more than most manufacturers. The car nut review guy even likes it.  Should You Buy a 2025 Nissan Armada? Thorough Review By A Mechanic!  
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Originally Posted By Walleyeguy24: ....and per usual, in GD someone always recommended a 4 runner even though it has shit for room compared to the others. Yes, it is great off road and reliable as anything ever made, but it is not even in the ballpark to what he is looking for. Originally Posted By Walleyeguy24: Originally Posted By MilHouse-556: I'm not even sure there's one manufacturer anymore that makes a brand new reliable full size SUV. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. ....and per usual, in GD someone always recommended a 4 runner even though it has shit for room compared to the others. Yes, it is great off road and reliable as anything ever made, but it is not even in the ballpark to what he is looking for. Not to mention the lack of power in the 4R that only gets worse when you load it with gear. When you really start researching the new car market, you reach a conclusion of "everything is shit". |
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Originally Posted By n0zzle: Greatly unappreciated vehicle. Originally Posted By n0zzle: Originally Posted By HKPDW: Toyota Land Cruiser or Sequoia Greatly unappreciated vehicle. |
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Originally Posted By GenYRevolverGuy: You may not like it, but this is the answer. The full size, BOF SUVs only do two things better than a minivan: towing and off road driving. If you're not doing either of those, a minivan will do the job for half the purchase price, twice the fuel efficiency, and, in some cases, better long term reliability. Originally Posted By GenYRevolverGuy: Originally Posted By gunnut003: Get a minivan. You may not like it, but this is the answer. The full size, BOF SUVs only do two things better than a minivan: towing and off road driving. If you're not doing either of those, a minivan will do the job for half the purchase price, twice the fuel efficiency, and, in some cases, better long term reliability. OP asked for SUV recommendations, not a how-to guide on self-castration |
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Originally Posted By Walleyeguy24: Im looking for the same thing for different reasons. The sequoia is great, but definitely smaller than the Suburban/Expedition Max. By a lot. And the cargo space that it does have is pretty poorly set up. It will be the most reliable of the group however. The Armada is a great value, again smaller than the other two AND gets horrible gas mileage and requires premium. If you plan on driving a lot of miles this is going to add significant cost. The 3rd row is lame too because the captain's seats have a middle counsel in the way and you can't just walk between like the Burban and Ex max. The 2017 to late 2020 Expeditions can phasers are a matter if when, not if. Ford finally fixed them in late 2020. Then you get a shitty transmission. The GMs have the AFM and cam/lifter issues as well, but I'm seeing those as less frequent and you can help avoid the problem with things like the ob2 plug in and a catch can. The Denali and Escalade were mostly okay until the new 6.2 started blowing up over the last couple of years. Again lower mpg and premium required. I am going to end up with a Suburban/Yukon XL from 2018 - 2021 time range in all likelihood. I think you are the perfect candidate for a minivan. If GM/Ford really wanted to make money, they would add a minivan sliding rear door to their full sized SUVs. People would buy it to avoid driving a minivan and still having the ease of a sliding door. They make lots of money on the big SUVs and less on minivans. I am shocked nobody has done this yet. As a third vehicle, fuel mileage isn't a huge concern. If the armada/qx80 beats others on reliability, I'd take the fuel mileage hit for this vehicle. We have a Model Y and TDI for our main commuters. I could probably make the Sequoia/armada/tahoe size work with only needing 1 of the rear seats. The other could be down for cargo room. There are no plans to expand the family more! |
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A few things to consider. A suburban and exp Max are very long. Parking in crowded spaces can be fun. Alot of women don't like to drive them. Now what is it good at hauling alot of people and gear. With a Suburban and 2 car seat, they will most likely be put in 2nd row. That leaves the MIL to get back in the 3rd row. Don't know how agile she is now or will be in 5 years. Also someone will need to open the door to get kids in an out. Which could be interesting once they get out of car seat and can get themselves into a booster. There are alot of issues with AFM on the 5.3 engines and major issues on the 6.2 on the newer Suburban's. As for the Toyota platform. A sequoia with the 5.7 or LC with 5.7 is what you are looking for. Toyota went to a 3.4 engine in the LX 600 and has had alot of issues. A 200 series Land Cruiser / LX 570 will work. The new LC is a 250 and more like a 4 Runner then a true Land Cruiser, which is now only in the USA with the LX600 and the 3.4 engine. If you go this route the LX might be better for you because then tend to be better maintained and the off road guys don't want a Lexus badge so price is more affordable. I have a 200 Series and Yukon XL, so can give you good with bad. GM will have more issues then Toyota. The build quality doesn't compare. Love my 200, you can pry the steering wheel from my cold dead hands, but the 3rd row isnt as big as the big GM. However for what you are looking for, choose your AWD Toyota or Honda Mini Van. Wife is Elementary School teacher and watches the little kids struggle to get in and out of the big SUVs. As mother in law gets older it will be harder for her to get in and out of any big SUV. Mini Van is designed to do exactly what you are looking for, it just isn't cool. If you haven't yet look at one with car seats and have MIL and wife get in and sit in 3rd row of each. They may help you make the decision very quickly. |
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Originally Posted By gunnut003: Just a FYI. A 5 seat crew cab truck with 2 car seats will suck for the adult in the back. Or suck for the 2 in front with a front bench.  . sister currently has a crew cab with 3 carseats ETA: towing only up to 7k? Single axle cargo trailer and (dream) a 17' or so boat. |
"the science" /duh si-ens/ noun: progressive postmodern religious dogma not based in tested hypothesis or facts used to advance an authoritative political ideology
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Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: "Retaining my dignity" isn't the real reason I don't want a minivan. I want something with towing capabilities. I got rid of my 3/4 ton diesel last year (rusted out, end of life) and the intention was to replace it with a full size SUV. Being that we will keep this vehicle for a decade or more, I don't want to give up that capability. I guess I didn't explain that in the OP, but that's why in the title I have full size SUV, and don't really want to consider something like an Explorer/Traverse/Van. I would love to be able to get away with that class of vehicles, but I don't think it's worth the compromise. Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: Originally Posted By ag04blast: If anyone is honest in their response to OPs criteria. -2 small kids in car seats -an adult (possibly elderly) accessing the back row seating -reliable -room to haul stuff The only serious answer is a minivan. Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, or Chrysler Pacifica. You could consider the Kia Carnival as well. The added benefit in the minivan space is the same money will generally net you a newer, lower miles, higher featured vehicle. We went through this decision and ended up with a 2025 Sienna. It is absolutely fantastic! I guess I didn't explain that in the OP, but that's why in the title I have full size SUV, and don't really want to consider something like an Explorer/Traverse/Van. I would love to be able to get away with that class of vehicles, but I don't think it's worth the compromise. If that's the use case, that probably shelves the Sequoia. The 5.7L Sequoia is a solid vehicle, but Toyota trucks of that generation have poor payload capacity. By the time you put a family in the vehicle, you have no margin for trailer tongue weight. I think this sets up a comparison of Suburban vs Expedition. Both models use the same questionable transmission, so that's a wash. The 3.5L EcoBoost cam phaser issue was supposedly mitigated in the 2021+ models. The GM 5.3 lifter issues seem to be transient and persistent forever, but if you know any serious GM guys, they may be able to help you with a solid lifter and cam swap to delete the problem. I'd personally lean slightly towards the Ford, but specific deal and vehicle history should be the deciding factor. |
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Originally Posted By HKPDW: Toyota Land Cruiser or Sequoia… He said full size. Here's the available cargo space behind a third row: Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By memsu: We have a 2018 Armada, and the only issue I've had so far was the brake switch, but it's been fine since that was replaced. Currently has about 85K miles on it. Nissan Armada was redesigned in 2025 No it does not have a CVT transmission. It has a 9 speed transmission designed by Mercedes and built by Nissan. The 5.6L V8 is no more, but Nissan put a dual turbo V6 that produces more HP and torque than the V8 did. I'd trust Nissan to build turbo V6s more than most manufacturers. The car nut review guy even likes it.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrgxXi5Sqbwhttps://images.hgmsites.net/hug/2025-nissan-armada_100952721_h.webp https://wieck-nissanao-production.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/e329ca370da910212f85a4c68533e82e7ed4215b/preview-928x522.jpg https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/4606073?refSource=srp https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/4641323?refSource=srp Something like this looks like a real winner. Same drivetrain as the Armada but the styling looks better for that age compared to the Armada. Front what I can tell, the center console can be removed between the captain chairs. I do like the car seat latch is on the 40 seat of the third row, so the 60 could be put down for more cargo space. It looks like on the Sequoia, on the 60 side has car seat latch so only the 40 could be put down. One of my wife's friends has a 24 Armada and loves it. It does seem to be more reliable than the Expedition/Suburban at the expense of mileage (not huge deal for me) and cargo (will it be manageable for our situation). It would tow cargo trailer no problem  |
"the science" /duh si-ens/ noun: progressive postmodern religious dogma not based in tested hypothesis or facts used to advance an authoritative political ideology
 Toyota Sequoia, Comfortable dependable with a very roomy interior. Middle and 3rd row seats fold flat. This is my 3rd Sequoia, we normally have 2 to 6 of our grandkids at any given time and we all fit comfortably. |
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Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/4606073?refSource=srp https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/4641323?refSource=srp Something like this looks like a real winner. Same drivetrain as the Armada but the styling looks better for that age compared to the Armada. Front what I can tell, the center console can be removed between the captain chairs. I do like the car seat latch is on the 40 seat of the third row, so the 60 could be put down for more cargo space. It looks like on the Sequoia, on the 60 side has car seat latch so only the 40 could be put down. One of my wife's friends has a 24 Armada and loves it. It does seem to be more reliable than the Expedition/Suburban at the expense of mileage (not huge deal for me) and cargo (will it be manageable for our situation). It would tow cargo trailer no problem Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: Originally Posted By memsu: We have a 2018 Armada, and the only issue I've had so far was the brake switch, but it's been fine since that was replaced. Currently has about 85K miles on it. Nissan Armada was redesigned in 2025 No it does not have a CVT transmission. It has a 9 speed transmission designed by Mercedes and built by Nissan. The 5.6L V8 is no more, but Nissan put a dual turbo V6 that produces more HP and torque than the V8 did. I'd trust Nissan to build turbo V6s more than most manufacturers. The car nut review guy even likes it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrgxXi5Sqbwhttps://images.hgmsites.net/hug/2025-nissan-armada_100952721_h.webp https://wieck-nissanao-production.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/e329ca370da910212f85a4c68533e82e7ed4215b/preview-928x522.jpg https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/4606073?refSource=srp https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/4641323?refSource=srp Something like this looks like a real winner. Same drivetrain as the Armada but the styling looks better for that age compared to the Armada. Front what I can tell, the center console can be removed between the captain chairs. I do like the car seat latch is on the 40 seat of the third row, so the 60 could be put down for more cargo space. It looks like on the Sequoia, on the 60 side has car seat latch so only the 40 could be put down. One of my wife's friends has a 24 Armada and loves it. It does seem to be more reliable than the Expedition/Suburban at the expense of mileage (not huge deal for me) and cargo (will it be manageable for our situation). It would tow cargo trailer no problem Yes, the Infinity QX80 and Armada are mechanically the same vehicle. The Nissan VK56 is an awesome V8 engine and very reliable. That model still has the 7 speed transmissions, but they aren't known for being bad either. It might lack Apple Carplay and Andriod Auto, but there are aftermarket kits to get that. The Armada/QX80 has way more cargo room than the Toyota Sequoia because the Toyota doesn't have independent rear suspension like the Armada/QX80. The 3rd row seats fold into the floor unlike the Toyota where they are on top of the floor and you have to physically remove them. |
| I vote minivan for two carseats and an elderly grandma. QX80 or 2024 and up Expedition would be my choice for a real full size. Stay away from GM 6.2 anything and 5.3 lifters and transmissions feel like a ticking time bomb on my 2021 Sierra. Whatever you buy, make sure to look at the cargo room with the third seat up. Most are abysmal. Our Lexus TX has one of the largest for the smaller 3 rows. |
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Originally Posted By memsu: Yes, the Infinity QX80 and Armada are mechanically the same vehicle. The Nissan VK56 is an awesome V8 engine and very reliable. That model still has the 7 speed transmissions, but they aren't known for being bad either. It might lack Apple Carplay and Andriod Auto, but there are aftermarket kits to get that. The Armada/QX80 has way more cargo room than the Toyota Sequoia because the Toyota doesn't have independent rear suspension like the Armada/QX80. The 3rd row seats fold into the floor unlike the Toyota where they are on top of the floor and you have to physically remove them. Originally Posted By memsu: Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: Originally Posted By memsu: We have a 2018 Armada, and the only issue I've had so far was the brake switch, but it's been fine since that was replaced. Currently has about 85K miles on it. Nissan Armada was redesigned in 2025 No it does not have a CVT transmission. It has a 9 speed transmission designed by Mercedes and built by Nissan. The 5.6L V8 is no more, but Nissan put a dual turbo V6 that produces more HP and torque than the V8 did. I'd trust Nissan to build turbo V6s more than most manufacturers. The car nut review guy even likes it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrgxXi5Sqbwhttps://images.hgmsites.net/hug/2025-nissan-armada_100952721_h.webp https://wieck-nissanao-production.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/e329ca370da910212f85a4c68533e82e7ed4215b/preview-928x522.jpg https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/4606073?refSource=srp https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/4641323?refSource=srp Something like this looks like a real winner. Same drivetrain as the Armada but the styling looks better for that age compared to the Armada. Front what I can tell, the center console can be removed between the captain chairs. I do like the car seat latch is on the 40 seat of the third row, so the 60 could be put down for more cargo space. It looks like on the Sequoia, on the 60 side has car seat latch so only the 40 could be put down. One of my wife's friends has a 24 Armada and loves it. It does seem to be more reliable than the Expedition/Suburban at the expense of mileage (not huge deal for me) and cargo (will it be manageable for our situation). It would tow cargo trailer no problem Yes, the Infinity QX80 and Armada are mechanically the same vehicle. The Nissan VK56 is an awesome V8 engine and very reliable. That model still has the 7 speed transmissions, but they aren't known for being bad either. It might lack Apple Carplay and Andriod Auto, but there are aftermarket kits to get that. The Armada/QX80 has way more cargo room than the Toyota Sequoia because the Toyota doesn't have independent rear suspension like the Armada/QX80. The 3rd row seats fold into the floor unlike the Toyota where they are on top of the floor and you have to physically remove them. |
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This seems like an outlier in anecdotal information, but around here where "city driving" is basically the only driving, I know at least five people with the Toyota Sequoia with the 5.7, and way over 200K miles on them. Oil changes, tires, shocks, brakes being the only maintenance. That just seems "bulletproof" to me. YMMV |
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Originally Posted By Koa: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/152169/20220919_112558-3832193.jpg Toyota Sequoia, Comfortable dependable with a very roomy interior. Middle and 3rd row seats fold flat. This is my 3rd Sequoia, we normally have 2 to 6 of our grandkids at any given time and we all fit comfortably. |
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How much stuff do you actually need to haul and are you going places with unpaved roads? Also the 3rd row split leaves allot to be desired in the Tahoe/ Yukon platform. I traded in a perfectly good 2016 Tahoe for a 2021 YukonXL as I got tired of having to play tetris when we road tripped out went camping. Our YukieXL has been all over the US and out west and out of the 90k trouble free miles I'd say 40k of that is family road trips and vacations. Very rarely will you find someone who complains about the extra space the suburban or XL models offer. If you require max space and 4wd they are hard to beat |
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I can tell you that the Suburban is a pretty good choice with the 5.3 and 6 speed auto. They can have torque converter failure, but the 6L80 is a fairly known commodity. Far better than the 10speed. The Expedition with the 3.5 EB is fairly stout. Arizona's na DPS highway patrol absolutely beat the shit out of their 3.5EB F150s, and mechanical failure was NOT common. But the vehicle is a fairly complex design and repairs out of warranty probably have high labor rate. The Armada is a nice design, engine is reliable and still made in Japan. Biggest drawback is that the Armada doesn't have the same cavernous interior as the Suburban or Expo Max. If it were my money, I'd buy a Suburban 18-20 and get an extended warranty. Fun fact, Denso makes a lot of the components used on Tahoes and Suburbans. Starter and AC off the top of my head. Not to say they cant fail, but butter than a lot of other OEM manufacturers. Also, I have personally worked on all 3 of these vehicles, but honestly less so the Armada. |
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Originally Posted By JestersHK: Very rarely will you find someone who complains about the extra space the suburban or XL models offer. If you require max space and 4wd they are hard to beat No, but they'll complain non stop about parking one, which happens every time you drive. Carrying maximum people plus gear isn't a constant problem and there are plenty of external storage solutions for when the need arises. |
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Originally Posted By JestersHK: 2021 YukonXL Very rarely will you find someone who complains about the extra space the suburban or XL models offer. If you require max space and 4wd they are hard to beat This is true. The complaint is parking the damn things. Hauling stuff & non-Tetris loading is a huge plus though. I like the 6.2L better than the 5.3L, but the 6.2L likes to starve itself and die. I wish there was a true unicorn. Lots of tradeoffs and issues all around the auto industry. |
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Originally Posted By GenYRevolverGuy: lol How dignified are you going to feel when your used, no warranty Suburban or Expedition dumps a lifter, cam phaser, or transmission, and the mechanic stomps you in the nuts for $5k+? How about when your 5.7L Sequoia eats 14 MPG and gas is $5 a gallon for the next 2-3+ years until global energy markets stabilize? The Sienna was purpose built for the mission you state, it gets 33 MPG, and you can get one brand new, full warranty, never been farted in for your budget. If I were in your shoes, I might care about that more than I care about how cool I look pulling into the parking lot at Kroger or Texas Roadhouse. I don't know your situation, but I think these things are worth thinking about. I agree the Sienna is the way to go. |
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Originally Posted By Cypher214: No, but they'll complain non stop about parking one, which happens every time you drive. Carrying maximum people plus gear isn't a constant problem and there are plenty of external storage solutions for when the need arises. It's as simple as parking any other car. 100% lack of skill and effort. My wife has zero issue parking or maneuvering our Escalade ESV in a parking lot. The room inside, even compared to her Bronco, is cavernous. 3 rows full and a full size cargo area. |
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We’ve traded in three Yukons we purchased new. I upgrade before rolling over the century mark. All trucks had the 5.3 and worked perfectly. GMC always made the trade worth my while. Had you bought our Yukon XL, you would have purchased a vehicle that likely would have served you well for a long time. See what’s out there, but I recommend a Yukon XL without hesitation. You’ll like the free space. |
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Originally Posted By Lexustech48: It's as simple as parking any other car. 100% lack of skill and effort. Originally Posted By Lexustech48: Originally Posted By Cypher214: No, but they'll complain non stop about parking one, which happens every time you drive. Carrying maximum people plus gear isn't a constant problem and there are plenty of external storage solutions for when the need arises. It's as simple as parking any other car. 100% lack of skill and effort. Horseshit. It's simple math. |
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Another vote for the QX80/Armada '21-'24. We got a '24 Armada Platinum 4x4 "used" in April of this year, it only had 8600 miles on it. Great, comfortable ride, V8 & 7 speed are great. Tow rating is 8600 lbs |
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I've had Siennas, Odysseys, Yukon XLs and Expedition Max's. Minivans are too small for our family, they're great for little kids and babies. We loved our 2021 Yukon XL Denali but the lifter rods failed at 96k miles, had to replace the engine out of pocket. Had some other issues as well. We have an Expedition Max now and hate it, will probably pick up a Suburban soon and install the DFM disabler immediately. I'm just waiting on Tesla to make a full size SUV, we love our Model Y but it's too small for our whole family to fit in. ETA: If Toyota made a big enough SUV we'd be all over that as well. |
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Originally Posted By GenYRevolverGuy: You may not like it, but this is the answer. The full size, BOF SUVs only do two things better than a minivan: towing and off road driving. If you're not doing either of those, a minivan will do the job for half the purchase price, twice the fuel efficiency, and, in some cases, better long term reliability. Originally Posted By GenYRevolverGuy: Originally Posted By gunnut003: Get a minivan. You may not like it, but this is the answer. The full size, BOF SUVs only do two things better than a minivan: towing and off road driving. If you're not doing either of those, a minivan will do the job for half the purchase price, twice the fuel efficiency, and, in some cases, better long term reliability. Other than the pointing and laughing, I agree.  Muh Suburban rocks a 6.2L, 420 hp motor. I runs well. The rental minivans we have used were dangerously slow in comparison. We rented Toyotas and Hondas. I have never driven the Dodge minivans. ETA;The Expedition that we had prior to the Suburban was very nice. We traded it in with 120,000 miles without any problems. All of the electronics still worked. I was surprised. |
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Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/4606073?refSource=srp https://www.carvana.com/vehicle/4641323?refSource=srp Something like this looks like a real winner. Same drivetrain as the Armada but the styling looks better for that age compared to the Armada. Front what I can tell, the center console can be removed between the captain chairs. I do like the car seat latch is on the 40 seat of the third row, so the 60 could be put down for more cargo space. It looks like on the Sequoia, on the 60 side has car seat latch so only the 40 could be put down. One of my wife's friends has a 24 Armada and loves it. It does seem to be more reliable than the Expedition/Suburban at the expense of mileage (not huge deal for me) and cargo (will it be manageable for our situation). It would tow cargo trailer no problem I looked at doing the same thing with removing the center console, but then it is awkward with no arm rests. Funny part for me is it is for my DOGS! while hunting. They would slide off the seat. If they had captains chairs with arm rests I think I would go that route even with the premium duel and terrible MPG, since they are substantially cheaper for the Infinity/Nissan compared to the Suburban or Expedition Max. |
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Originally Posted By JestersHK: How much stuff do you actually need to haul and are you going places with unpaved roads? Also the 3rd row split leaves allot to be desired in the Tahoe/ Yukon platform. I traded in a perfectly good 2016 Tahoe for a 2021 YukonXL as I got tired of having to play tetris when we road tripped out went camping. Our YukieXL has been all over the US and out west and out of the 90k trouble free miles I'd say 40k of that is family road trips and vacations. Very rarely will you find someone who complains about the extra space the suburban or XL models offer. If you require max space and 4wd they are hard to beat Off-road no, but in Ohio winters RWD is out for these models. I guess I need to figure out how much crossover would there be between hauling 5 people AND hauling a bunch of stuff. That would lean MAX, but it seems 2024+ so entry price is going to be much more. If I can make do with the space in the Armada/QX80, would be nice to save some coin since this is a third vehicle. My commuter is at 160k miles so might need replaced in the next 2-3 years. |
"the science" /duh si-ens/ noun: progressive postmodern religious dogma not based in tested hypothesis or facts used to advance an authoritative political ideology
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Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: My wife owns a dance studio, so sometimes haul a crap ton of stuff. Last year I had to borrow a truck with cap to haul stuff for production and needed more space. That's why I want ability to tow a cargo trailer. Just yesterday I had to haul tumbling mats, an it was a clown show getting them in my car and I had to make multiple trips. Off-road no, but in Ohio winters RWD is out for these models. I guess I need to figure out how much crossover would there be between hauling 5 people AND hauling a bunch of stuff. That would lean MAX, but it seems 2024+ so entry price is going to be much more. If I can make do with the space in the Armada/QX80, would be nice to save some coin since this is a third vehicle. My commuter is at 160k miles so might need replaced in the next 2-3 years. Pics of wife not loading... 
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Originally Posted By Lexustech48: I can tell you that the Suburban is a pretty good choice with the 5.3 and 6 speed auto. They can have torque converter failure, but the 6L80 is a fairly known commodity. Far better than the 10speed. The Expedition with the 3.5 EB is fairly stout. Arizona's na DPS highway patrol absolutely beat the shit out of their 3.5EB F150s, and mechanical failure was NOT common. But the vehicle is a fairly complex design and repairs out of warranty probably have high labor rate. The Armada is a nice design, engine is reliable and still made in Japan. Biggest drawback is that the Armada doesn't have the same cavernous interior as the Suburban or Expo Max. If it were my money, I'd buy a Suburban 18-20 and get an extended warranty. Fun fact, Denso makes a lot of the components used on Tahoes and Suburbans. Starter and AC off the top of my head. Not to say they cant fail, but butter than a lot of other OEM manufacturers. Also, I have personally worked on all 3 of these vehicles, but honestly less so the Armada. It def seems the targets should be: 23+ Expedition MAX, 18-20 Suburban, up to 24 Armada/QX80, or Sequoia (but man they carry a hefty premium). It seems the Suburbans have a little premium over the Expeditions, so I'd probably lean Expedition between those 2. But can I make the space of the Armada work, or will I regret not having it. |
"the science" /duh si-ens/ noun: progressive postmodern religious dogma not based in tested hypothesis or facts used to advance an authoritative political ideology
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Originally Posted By Switchback_Arms: I've had Siennas, Odysseys, Yukon XLs and Expedition Max's. Minivans are too small for our family, they're great for little kids and babies. We loved our 2021 Yukon XL Denali but the lifter rods failed at 96k miles, had to replace the engine out of pocket. Had some other issues as well. We have an Expedition Max now and hate it, will probably pick up a Suburban soon and install the DFM disabler immediately. I'm just waiting on Tesla to make a full size SUV, we love our Model Y but it's too small for our whole family to fit in. ETA: If Toyota made a big enough SUV we'd be all over that as well. @Switchback_Arms We love our Model Y too. Great for wife, me, and the toddler and newborn. |
"the science" /duh si-ens/ noun: progressive postmodern religious dogma not based in tested hypothesis or facts used to advance an authoritative political ideology
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Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: Just looking at them now, they carry quite a premium. Ten years old, 130k miles, still want $36k. The miles don't scare me, but here in Ohio, 10 salty winters Don’t buy in the rust belt unless new and your used to dealing with it. |
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As unpopular as this may be, I’d say a Temor Package Expedition. That is a sweet SUV. It will work fine with the kids and you can make do with the MIL unless she’s wholly overweight and helpless. No need to give up your man card. 
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I can’t stand it to think my life is going so fast and I’m not really living it.
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Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/184365/09ea0237-f0a5-4623-b850-adb047b0a720-3832264.jpg Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: Originally Posted By zach_: Pics of wife not loading... Beautiful. She is young. I hope that you ran this idea by her before posting her image. My wife would be very,,,, angry. |
z - Deplorable Neanderthal Garbage per liberal media.
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Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: Sometime within our ownership of this vehicle, a +/- 17' CC would be a dream. Also, towing a cargo trailer and/or hauling large stuff is possible for my wife's business. This is what I've read, and someone else I personally know has had a similar year Expedition transmission replaced. It seems 23+ is safer? CDF drum update rolled out mid August 2022, so 2023+ model years should be safer. |
| We had a minivan for about nine years when both of my kids were young. We absolutely loved it. It was, by far, the most versatile vehicle we ever owned. Decent gas mileage, tons of room, very comfortable on long trips. We did more car camping and family adventures with that vehicle than anything else we have owned. Put a ‘never say never’ bumper sticker on the tailgate and press on with life. |
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Originally Posted By Grendelsbane: CDF drum update rolled out mid August 2022, so 2023+ model years should be safer. Originally Posted By Grendelsbane: Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: Sometime within our ownership of this vehicle, a +/- 17' CC would be a dream. Also, towing a cargo trailer and/or hauling large stuff is possible for my wife's business. This is what I've read, and someone else I personally know has had a similar year Expedition transmission replaced. It seems 23+ is safer? CDF drum update rolled out mid August 2022, so 2023+ model years should be safer. My 2021 F150 company truck had the CDF drum failure. 2017-2022 are the model years to avoid unless it's already been repaired then they put in the updated parts. It's still in the shop and I thought they would be done this week, but no update from Ford yet. |
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Originally Posted By trapsh00ter99: Took 47 post, but finally some good specific info! Date ranges with the least amount of issues is what I'm really looking for. AI gave me for Suburban 18-21 or in expedition 23+. Below that on expedition it's cam phasers and transmission issues. I can and have rebuilt a transmission (48RE) but I don't want to again. As a third vehicle, fuel mileage isn't a huge concern. If the armada/qx80 beats others on reliability, I'd take the fuel mileage hit for this vehicle. We have a Model Y and TDI for our main commuters. I could probably make the Sequoia/armada/tahoe size work with only needing 1 of the rear seats. The other could be down for cargo room. There are no plans to expand the family more! Ya, I am not so sure about Transmission issues below 23 on the Ford Expis. If those are the Getrag 6 speed, then I think those are arguably one of the best Transmissions of all time, and I dont generally like german engineered car items but they did dam good on those. The Armada might be good, but the Mercedes transmission is a serious turn off. If they had gone with a Tremec that would have fore sure been a more reliable choice. Nissian knows how to build a reliable engine with the best of them, but their choice on everything else is very questionable. My money is on the Ford Expi for best overall value, but they are too large to some people. Our business would not be able to survive with anything smaller as we routinely put full sheets of plywood in there with room to spare and lumber up to 11 feet long is easy too. For family vacations, we throw everything in the back without concern on how its packed and put the bikes on top-inside. Your just not going to do that with anything other than an American full size SUV. The toyotas are just toys to me in comparison, they just dont have any room. |