Lexus RX 330 vs. Acura MDX vs. Volkswagon Taureg??

really wanted to get a Toureag when i was car shopping a few months ago, but we got a great deal on an '06 4runner and that was that... but i'm aiming for either a Toureag, X5, or Cayenne as my next ride.

 

same here I test drove a v8 touareg yesterday and was impressed by the exterior and interior style and build.. performance was awsome.. i really felt like I was driving a cayenne.. don't see a lot of touaregs or cayennes on the street so exclusivity was a plus..

then I found a v6 05 touareg with 20k miles on the net on sale for $25.9 then I thought if I wanted the repair and mileage problems along with it..

I ended up buying an 05 FX35..

 

The RX will probably be the most reliable, only downside is that everyone has one. The Taureg seems extremely overpriced for a VW, starting at $37k is pretty steep for a company that doesn't have a reputation for making luxury vehicles.

I have a 1999 RX (the first models) w/ 120k miles and it still drives great. I have no idea how the MDX performs but I would have a very hard time paying $40k for a VW.

 

Visit a few repair bays... you won't feel so exclusive.

 

Neither of the above choices.

If you haven't already and you're basically looking for something in the low-mid 40's, there are a couple of choices you should consider first before any of the models you listed: the FX35/45 and the Benz M-Class...both are terrific vehicles and with the FX45, you get more value for your money and it's actually a lot of fun to drive.

Try out those two models first if you haven't already...

 

I guess the people who vouch for the M-Class Benz have never owned one. Their really durable...the M-Class in my family has been through at least 10 "accidents" and always got away with minor damage while the other vehicles were heavily damaged/totaled. Thats the only positive I can think of. Negatives would be, piss poor reliability (been to the shop a million times, literally), pulley defect which cost us over $4k to repair (they later reimbursed us only a portion of the defect ($800), and floaty suspension? (im scared to drive that death machine on wheels). To give Benz some credit, my parents do NOT know how to maintain a vehicle or keep it in decent condition and our M-Class has approx 240k miles.

 

The old M-Class was a piece of crap, no doubt. I am talking about the new model, which is so drastically different and superior to the old M-Class it ain't even funny.

Mercedes acknowledged that there were far too many problems and unsatisfied customers with their last M-Class model, so they vouched that they would get it right this time around. Obviously, time will tell, but the new one is far superior to the older model.

The X5 is nice, too. But my personal choice would be the FX45...it looks, feels, AND drives great.

 

Buy a regular car and spend the rest of the money on something worthwhile.