Replacement for Barney?

[Ron Resnick]

Barney, my faithful utility vehicle, is a 2010 Ford Escape 6 cylinder. I got him originally for the specific purpose of driving several miles off-road in a forest. He has been great for that purpose, as long as there is no snow or serious mud.

I discovered along the way that having an SUV is extremely convenient for mundane errands and shopping, moving amplifiers and innumerable audio things around, hauling luggage and driving groups of guests around. Nowadays I use it as a daily driver.

Even though he has only about 70,000 miles on him, he's getting increasingly annoying. His backup camera only works about half the time. And this is after the service centers at two different dealerships assured me they had fixed the problem.

Barney probably is one of the few cars on the road with drum brakes at the rear. The brakes really are not very good. If I stomp on the gas nothing happens for over a second as though the gas line gets briefly choked. There's a lot of body roll.

Barney is a very boxy, traditional style SUV. The result of this is that he is small on the outside, but big on the inside. With the rear seat folded down his cargo capacity equals or exceeds that of many SUVs with much larger exterior dimensions. Many SUVs today for style reasons are curvy with a sloping roof back to the tailgate, which totally queers their cargo space efficiency.

I'm thinking about the Mercedes-Benz GLA. I looked at the GLB and the GLC, but they are just too big for me.

The GLA is not an SUV. At most it's a crossover. Without 4Matic it's really just a four-door hatchback. But I think it would do what I want.

Does anybody have a GLA?

The 2027 GLC EV announced this week (to compete with the BMW iX3) looks pretty interesting, but it's significantly bigger than the GLA.

 

[tima]

Cayenne

 

[thedudeabides]

Mazda is the sleeper and amazing bang for the buck. QC as good as anything made. Make various size xovers. And they are fun to drive. Get the turbo. May be too inexpensive and not enough glam for you. Unfortunate. I have a CX 5.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Mazda is the sleeper and amazing bang for the buck. QC as good as anything made. Make various size xovers. And they are fun to drive. Get the turbo. May be too inexpensive and not enough glam for you. Unfortunate. I have a CX 5.

Thank you.

Barney is not glam. Tinka says that when I drive Barney around the neighborhood everybody thinks I'm one of the landscapers.

 

[dan31]

Subaru Forester. I am serious. Just service them per the manual and they just keep running.

The fact it’s a Subaru will let use it without worry.

I am looking at the 2026 MB GLE for a midsize luxury SUV. I will keep my 2018 Subaru Outback as it has been great.

 

[Bobvin]

Ford Bronco if going ICE. Two sizes available, trick it out to your hearts content via model. Forest roads not a problem even if snow and mud. Made by fellow Americans. Deduct interest on payments. Probably some zero interest offers out there.

We just replaced my wife's 2014 BMW x5 with an electric Cadillac Lyriq. Quite a nifty rig with 515hp, 319 mile range. ‘Lectric wasn’t on my radar, made or assembled in USA was essential. Some models beemer made in USA, same for a couple Benz models (though Benz still 90+% German parts)

 

[Ron Resnick]

Subaru Forester. I am serious. Just service them per the manual and they just keep running.

The fact it’s a Subaru will let use it without worry.

I am looking at the 2026 MB GLE for a midsize luxury SUV. I will keep my 2018 Subaru Outback as it has been great.

I like Subaru a lot. I rented an Outback for my early trips to the forest. Its off-road capability is very impressive and extremely reassuring. If I were being chased through the forest by a gang of violent Russian audiophiles I would take an Outback over almost anything else. (I think Range Rovers are unreliable. In Beverly Hills I see more Land Rovers on flatbeds then I see on flatbeds all other brands of SUVs combined.)

In the country the Outback was great, but in the city it is much too long and a little bit too wide for me.

The Forester is a perfect size for me as it's a bit longer but not any wider than my Escape. But I want to check out a couple of more luxury-oriented offerings first.

The GLE should be great, if too big for me personally.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Ford Bronco if going ICE. Two sizes available, trick it out to your hearts content via model. Forest roads not a problem even if snow and mud. Made by fellow Americans. Deduct interest on payments. Probably some zero interest offers out there.

We just replaced my wife's 2014 BMW x5 with an electric Cadillac Lyriq. Quite a nifty rig with 515hp, 319 mile range. ‘Lectric wasn’t on my radar, made or assembled in USA was essential. Some models beemer made in USA, same for a couple Benz models (though Benz still 90+% German parts)

Thank you for your thoughts. The full-size Bronco is fantastic off-road, but way too big for me as a daily driver.

And the reality is I go to the forest like once every five years, so that mission priority has to get deleted from the analysis. Now I'm willing to trade cargo space and off-road capability for a smoother, quieter, more luxury feel. I think I'm just really tired of Barney, who feels like a cheap, plastic, high-speed golf cart with bad brakes. (Sorry Barney-barn!)

Maybe I'm just getting a bit spoiled automotively. A very dear friend of mine had for several years a Ferrari F12. We both loved that car! There are few greater joys in car land than the sound of a Ferrari 12 cylinder engine. He sold it to get a Rolls-Royce Dawn land yacht.

As much as we loved the Ferrari, at this point in our lives and in our car-owning "careers," each of us actually prefers the Dawn over the F12. Somehow every trip in the "boat" is even more of an experience than was every trip in the F12.

The just announced iX3 and GLC EV both look interesting on the electric side.

How are you feeling about your new EV so far?

 

[Bruce B]

I'm thinking about the Mercedes-Benz GLA. I looked at the GLB and the GLC, but they are just too big for me.

The GLA is not an SUV. At most it's a crossover. Without 4Matic it's really just a four-door hatchback. But I think it would do what I want.

Does anybody have a GLA?

The 2027 GLC EV announced this week (to compete with the BMW iX3) looks pretty interesting, but it's significantly bigger than the GLA.

I have a GLA45 with zero problems. It's really great for Lowe's and ASC Tube Traps! Just wish it was more comfortable, but you can't ask too much with low profile 20" tires and Sport suspension/seats. But it will haul A$$

 

[Kcin]

You'll get lots of suggestions Ron. We've had 4 BMWs and 3 Mercedes in the family- while I must say I prefer the feel of the BMW - the Mercedes have been virtually trouble free.- not so much for the BMWs. However, if you are looking for luxury and something truly reliable- Acura - RDX fits your size thoughts -I have had the MDX and it was problem free with a luxurious feel. Not the cache of the BMW or MB but all you have to do is drive it. Its a Honda after all.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I have a GLA45 with zero problems. It's really great for Lowe's and ASC Tube Traps! Just wish it was more comfortable, but you can't ask too much with low profile 20" tires and Sport suspension/seats. But it will haul A$$

Thank you for this comment, Bruce!

I was looking specifically at a GLA 45, but was scared off by the reports of stiff ride. I'm not looking for a hot hatchback

For this particular car I'd rather aim for more comfortable, even if it means lower power.

Is the GLA big enough to accommodate big amplifiers and decent sized boxes?

 

[Ron Resnick]

You'll get lots of suggestions Ron. We've had 4 BMWs and 3 Mercedes in the family- while I must say I prefer the feel of the BMW - the Mercedes have been virtually trouble free.- not so much for the BMWs. However, if you are looking for luxury and something truly reliable- Acura - RDX fits your size thoughts -I have had the MDX and it was problem free with a luxurious feel. Not the cache of the BMW or MB but all you have to do is drive it. Its a Honda after all.

Thank you for your comments.

The RDX looks great, but it's just a little bit big for me. I will take a look at the ADX.

 

[Elliot G.]

Thank you for your comments.

The RDX looks great, but it's just a little bit big for me. I will take a look at the ADX.

I have owned a series of SUV MB, then Porsche and now BMW. The car i have now is the cheapest and IMO the most fun of all the vehicles. I di d not like the MB , it was boring. The Macan S is a very nice vehicle , great on the high way and very quiet however this time around the price was 266k more than 4 years ago. I have a X3 M40i which is now a different vehicle but I do love this car. Its fun to drive, more sports car feeling and handles great. I don't go off road at least not by plan LOL and the car has great sound when it starts and rev's.
I will give the audio review of the car for you
The BMW X3 M 40 i is certainly a vehicle you should look at when planning on buy ing an SUV

 

[Bobvin]

Thank you for your thoughts. The full-size Bronco is fantastic off-road, but way too big for me as a daily driver.

And the reality is I go to the forest like once every five years, so that mission priority has to get deleted from the analysis. Now I'm willing to trade cargo space and off-road capability for a smoother, quieter, more luxury feel. I think I'm just really tired of Barney, who feels like a cheap, plastic, high-speed golf cart with bad brakes. (Sorry Barney-barn!)

Maybe I'm just getting a bit spoiled automotively. A very dear friend of mine had for several years a Ferrari F12. We both loved that car! There are few greater joys in car land than the sound of a Ferrari 12 cylinder engine. He sold it to get a Rolls-Royce Dawn land yacht.

As much as we loved the Ferrari, at this point in our lives and in our car-owning "careers," each of us actually prefers the Dawn over the F12. Somehow every trip in the "boat" is even more of an experience than was every trip in the F12.

The just announced iX3 and GLC EV both look interesting on the electric side.

How are you feeling about your new EV so far?

We’re digging the Lyriq. (Probably too big for you.) For Karen and myself first time with any E vehicle certainly the power is a delight. Karen was liking the Lincoln Nautilus but the engine choices were a no-go power wise (Karen likes to be able to get out in front of trouble quickly.) The ‘26 caddy lyriq (we got a 25) has the “v” feature boost hp to 615, 0-60 drops to 3.3. Caddy committed to all electric from 2026 on out. The big Escalade has 500+ mile range but its a huge beast too much for me (since I left my secret-service career )

EVs make sense for commuters. We have my RAM truck so we’re a hybrid household.

Re the Ferrari… we were in Calistoga the US Ferrari club was ending the annual get together so there were Ferrari’s everywhere. Started chatting with one guy he says “listen to this…” he had the Formula One exhaust package (something like a $180k upgrade) both Karen and myself thought to ourselves “so what” then he fired up the engine. Both our jaws hit the ground the most awesome sound from an engine I’d ever heard. F’n amazing Just a roar, like a cheetah coiled and ready to pounce the sense of power wanting to be released was astonishing.

I swore, after the beemer, I’d never buy another though we did check ‘em out. The X5 gobbled tires like candy, couldn’t hold an alignment. With $450+ run-flats, replacing them every 18,000 miles just sucked. (The wheel package had different size fronts and rears so couldn’t rotate ‘em. Plus the SUV x5 handled nothing like the small sedans unless you really pushed it hard, even then setup in hard turns was just off. It took a moment to get settled on the suspension and that moment was a bit un-nerving.

 

[Iamrael]

I have owned a series of SUV MB, then Porsche and now BMW. The car i have now is the cheapest and IMO the most fun of all the vehicles. I di d not like the MB , it was boring. The Macan S is a very nice vehicle , great on the high way and very quiet however this time around the price was 266k more than 4 years ago. I have a X3 M40i which is now a different vehicle but I do love this car. Its fun to drive, more sports car feeling and handles great. I don't go off road at least not by plan LOL and the car has great sound when it starts and rev's.
I will give the audio review of the car for you
The BMW X3 M 40 i is certainly a vehicle you should look at when planning on buy ing an SUV

Have to disagree if your talking 2025.
Traded in my wife’s 2021 X3 m40 which I loved driving (fun) for the 2025 which Imo it sucks. Hate to drive it but necessary when doing H depot/Lowes runs.
Drives like a boat imo and the idrive 9 (?) is terrible.
Even the friggin ignition key for it is designed poorly, can’t use a normal keychain loop need zip tie.

 

[Bruce B]

Thank you for this comment, Bruce!

I was looking specifically at a GLA 45, but was scared off by the reports of stiff ride. I'm not looking for a hot hatchback

For this particular car I'd rather aim for more comfortable, even if it means lower power.

Is the GLA big enough to accommodate big amplifiers and decent sized boxes?

I've had my Pass amps and a couple Studer A80 machines in there!! If you want more comfort, I'd recommend the regular GLA without low profile tires.

 

[Doc76]

Thank you for your comments.

The RDX looks great, but it's just a little bit big for me. I will take a look at the ADX.

Ask to drive the Aspec Advanced package. My wife has that in her RDX. Lots of fun.

 

[Elliot G.]

Have to disagree if your talking 2025.
Traded in my wife’s 2021 X3 m40 which I loved driving (fun) for the 2025 which Imo it sucks. Hate to drive it but necessary when doing H depot/Lowes runs.
Drives like a boat imo and the idrive 9 (?) is terrible.
Even the friggin ignition key for it is designed poorly, can’t use a normal keychain loop need zip tie.View attachment 157746

i dont have a 2025 , I have a 24 and love it. Never drove the M50 version

 

[Anton D]

What's Best Automotive Forum says that you shouldn't settle for a "Mid Fi" car.

This one is only about 150K, so cheaper than most lower range upper level speakers.

Four wheel drive, just in case, and it can haul your bass traps in style!

 

[Ron Resnick]

I have owned a series of SUV MB, then Porsche and now BMW. The car i have now is the cheapest and IMO the most fun of all the vehicles. I di d not like the MB , it was boring. The Macan S is a very nice vehicle , great on the high way and very quiet however this time around the price was 266k more than 4 years ago. I have a X3 M40i which is now a different vehicle but I do love this car. Its fun to drive, more sports car feeling and handles great. I don't go off road at least not by plan LOL and the car has great sound when it starts and rev's.
I will give the audio review of the car for you
The BMW X3 M 40 i is certainly a vehicle you should look at when planning on buy ing an SUV

Thank you for sharing these experiences, Elliot!