I have a small garage in my current house. A full quad cab truck is too long unfortunately.
Needs to able to tow roughly 6k +/- 1500lbs.
Needs to be able to handle at least 300lbs tongue weight
Needs to be able to hold 2-4 adults and 2-4 60lbs dogs comfortably
I have a bad back and tailbone from some accidents so top notch seating comfort is a must


I walk to work most of the time so this will probably become my daily driver and I'll get rid of my RV and m3 for this and buy something fairly ridiculous to go with it. I'm looking at spending 10-20k, but willing to go on the upper end or higher for something in the flat spot of depreciation. Price doesn't really matter, just TCO over ~3 years.

So far I have the cayenne as the main contender

8/25/2016 4:21:09 PM

Given those criteria, I would go for a 2008-2010 Chevy Tahoe. got all the comforts you need, and i would feel much much better towing that kind of load on a real truck frame vs the unibody that I am assuming is under the cayenne. 6000-7500# is nothing to shake a stick at.

Im reading that the cayenne is rated for at least 7k towing, which i think is a joke on a vehicle like that.

8/25/2016 5:00:19 PM

ugh, that was a numpad fail
that should read 3k +/- 1500lbs

is there much difference between a tahoe and similar era escalade? it would be hard to go from a BMW M interior to a chevy one

8/25/2016 5:50:47 PM

^mechanically, nothing aside from engine option.

8/26/2016 6:42:50 AM

Ok, well then the Cayenne sounds like a decent choice. I personally would still go for the Tahoe, (or possibly escalade if that fits the budget)only because we have them at work and it always amazes me how many miles people rack up on them with relatively little issues.

8/26/2016 7:37:24 AM

You should at least skim some postings for work rape vans.

it would take some looking to find one with the right interior appointments for your needs, but would make squeezing 4 people and 4 dogs in it pretty easy.

[Edited on August 26, 2016 at 8:49 AM. Reason : I guess conversion van would have the interior wants]

8/26/2016 8:43:47 AM

I'd probably pass on a Cayenne. High running costs associated with it, typical of a Porsche. However it's not a sports car so it's depreciation rate is horrible, unlike a typical Porsche.

8/26/2016 12:01:47 PM

Cayenne's don't age well

8/29/2016 8:23:03 AM

get a 5-8 year old cayenne S. meets all the criteria you have listed. rated to 7k towing. has highest tow rating it its segment (x5, ml, range, jeep srt), gorgeous interior, great seats and exceptional handling for its size. brakes are stunning, i believe C&D measured it to be the same as lotus elise.

with cayenne S you don't get a turbo and its associated costs, but you still get a V8. quite a few people on rennlist and 6speedonline in 200k+ range. there is a guy on rennlist with cayenne turbo S with 325k and 996TT with 442k!!! they are reliable, but like any other car there are few things that go out...plastic coolant pipes, coils, cardan shafts among few. People generally recommend '07+, but I disagree as that is also the year they went with direct injection and carbon build up/walnut shelling BS is inevitable outcome, so much so that Porsche now apparently treats carbon build up removal as part of their "big tune up".

8/29/2016 4:46:50 PM

got the cayenne S and am very happy with the purchase, though I may sell it and get a more expensive unit to get it above 2% AGI for tax purposes. it is very nimble for its size and gets moving faster than almost any slushbox appliance I've ever driven despite a pretty low hp/weight all things considered.

9/5/2016 3:18:42 PM

Are the latest generation 4runners just dinosaurs? I keep putting off a new (or to me) purchase; going on like year 2. I really want a Durango R/T, but the wife is putting her foot down. She likes the T4R, but damn it doesn't offer much except being a dead reliable truck.

9/17/2016 1:34:23 PM

^^nice man! what year?

[Edited on September 17, 2016 at 3:31 PM. Reason : .]

9/17/2016 3:31:31 PM

04. just swapped in a pioneer headunit. already had 3 people hit it but then, that's why i got something old i don't care so much about.

9/18/2016 8:27:05 PM

pics or gtfo

9/19/2016 3:19:30 PM

1 year in and the only things I've fixed were the motormount, coolant overflow tank, and swapped the headlights for leds. I've taken it on a fair number of long trips and with the new headunit it's been a pleasure. Sound system is pretty solid for stock.

10/9/2017 2:27:43 PM

Does it tow well?

Probably fine for you since you are a meticulous person who probably learned how to load a trailer right before doing so.

The huge trucks just don’t have to worry about trailer loading as much and their transmissions hold up better long term usually.

10/11/2017 6:07:18 AM

no issues, though I haven't gotten the exact trailer I want yet. uhaul is a bunch of ass clowns. I wouldn't recommend them installing your hitch or brake controller. I had to redo a lot myself. it's no f250 PSD, but I don't have a 30' 5th wheel anymore either.

10/11/2017 8:34:08 PM