Well, there you go! How much more of a ringing endorsement can you get?

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

Wait till putz finds out

That is probably why Auto drives the BMW.

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Jim

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

You haven't seen the fairer sex swoon until they see a man driving a Honda Pilot...

Has anyone?

Thanks Tom. The lumber wagon I drove was a first generation S, which is V8. It could be that it was more firm because it was a V8 and/or because it was an early generation. I kind of expect that the second gen diesel suspension is more like a base model and the second gen may have been improved.

I think I’m going to find a second gen to try.

Jim, Do you know anything about the BMW M54 engine?

Well, I couldn’t stand it. I drove a couple of hours to go drive the 6 speed X3. I have driven MB’s so long that this car felt really chincy. The stereo was tinny. The road noise was noticeable. The a/c had limited capacity( might have just been low on refrigerant though.). The only saving grace in the driving experience was the trans and clutch were flawless. Actually though, for a 15 year old BMW it’s condition wasn’t bad, but it’s not for me. I’m just gonna have to learn to drive an automatic transmission.

I stopped by and drove a 2014 Cayenne base model and it was impressive. The first gen Cayenne that I drove before wasn’t in great shape either and I drove it in an industrial district where the roads had been torn up by the 18 wheelers. I threw this one around and was quite impressed. It had adequate power although for me the right of power is always “just a little bit more.”

Thanks Tom for the review which resulted in encouragement to drive another Cayenne. There seem to be a lot of hem around to choose from.

I’m not Jim, but I can tell you that the M54 heralded drive by wire. It was a common topic of conversation among BMW E30 heads who chronically dreamt about putting bigger and stronger engines in their car. The S54 is the M model version. Puts out over 300 non-aspirated horsepower. Putting one in an E30 would have to be borderline rocket science. Swapped ECU of course and then somehow figuring a way to have a throttle connection. I’ve read of kits for swapping in cable control on the 54 engines. Apparently there’s often a small delay.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

An older Toyota Landcruiser or a Lexus LX 470. Both are unstoppable and ultra reliable. The Lexus even has a air over oil suspension and is adjustable for ride comfort.

Neither can be had in the US with a manual, though. But they do, with jump seats, seat seven.

It is not unusual to get over 500,000 miles out of them.

The 718S by Porsche should be exactly what you're looking for. The last new one I saw was around the first of the year. List was $72K. There's a long wait to get a new one. Used ones come and go, but none are cheap.







.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

In the OP, he said he wanted seating capacity, such as in an SUV.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I'd go for a new Chevrolet Equinox. Best value out there

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Yecch...