What to Buy: 4WD, Reliable, Ground Clearance

[loxxrider]

I am mainly interested in the Dodge due to the Cummins... but Nissan is going to have a 5.0l V8 cummins in 2015! Bad timing for me, but I bet that will be a superb used truck to pick up in a few years (if you don't care too much about the luxury).

I'm leaning toward an early Cayenne turbo. They seem to be pretty solid reliability-wise as long as a few of the common issues are resolved (recalls and such).

[20VAvant]

If all goes as I hope it does, I will be bringing home a 2008 Dodge 2500 with the 6.7L Cummins this friday.

I'd say go with a Cummins. Truck beds are useful; you can tow your collection of cars, bring home yard material, and If you find a nice Crew cab (long bed or not) you can fit a full group of four inside comfortably.

I may be a little biased though...

[Mcstiff]

I'm really hoping that the Cummins shows up in the redesign of the Armada (I trade my lease in next Summer). FWIW, we thought Nissan did a better job on the interior than Chevy did with the Tahoe (Platinum vs loaded but non-Denali).

[alxdgr8]

For me, I sold my Nissan Frontier (crew cab) and got my Touareg as I found an SUV was more useful as my DD. With a utility trailer, it can do all that a similar size pickup can do and more. While I liked having a bed, I find having cabin space much more useful. I can keep spare tools and groceries/etc. in the car while still hauling 4-5 people around. Where in the truck you'd have to throw that stuff in the bed.
I personally wouldn't DD a full-size truck (too big), hence why I got the Frontier. The only thing the Frontier has on the Touareg is initial cost. The Touareg can tow 1400 lbs more and gets way better gas mileage (and cost per mile is still cheaper with the diesel despite the higher cost per gallon). While towing, the MPG difference gets even bigger.
City: 20-22 in the TDI, my truck would get 15-17
Highway: 24-26 in the TDI, my truck would get 20-22
Highway Towing: 17-20 in the TDI, my truck would get 12-14

I can't imagine what the Cayenne Turbo gets... But that might not be important to you. I put 15-20k miles on mine a year since all of my other cars are forever in project phase.

[bradyzq]

amc1.jpg (35.15 KiB) Viewed 28846 times

http://bangshift.com/general-news/craig ... -included/

No further thought is needed....

[jretal]

my folks used to have a 1980 AMC Eagle. Loved that thing. Went off road (mud trails) w/ ease, and was ahead of its time w/ full time 4wd.

[Midnight]

my folks used to have a 1980 AMC Eagle. Loved that thing. Went off road (mud trails) w/ ease, and was ahead of its time w/ full time 4wd.

From what I understand they have a full jeep chassis and drive train.

[32vquattro]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMC-EAGLE-stand ... ars_Trucks

[jretal]

I wouldn't be surprised that the AMCs had a jeep chassis, but can't confirm that. My folks had the full time 4wd, but they also had an option for the electric select-a-drive (RWD and 4wd).

They used the same inline 6 you still see in jeeps today (obviously MUCH earlier versions - and carb'd iirc). made a whopping 88hp or something like that... lol.

Ours was white w/ black trim and had black w/ black/white checkered inserts on seats. Thing was a beast.

BTW, Chris, I currently have an '02 Mountaineer. While not as posh as the VWs/Porsche, they're cheap and mine has been drop dead reliable. It was my folks' old car that I picked up b/c I needed a hauler when buying my house. With a utility trailer, it's tough to beat it vs a pickup. Plus parts are readily available and cheap. I'd tell you only to get the V8 vs. the V6, as the V6 is OK, but you can't beat the V8. It can tow 7500lbs, but anything over 5klbs you need a weight distributing hitch. I've towed over that w/o the WD hitch, but it tows MUCH nicer with one.











And it'll seat 8 people w/ the 3rd row seat

[durq]

i have had an allroad then a 955 turbo and now a 957 turbo E81 and each one of them is twice as nice as the previous one. I average @ 17.5 mpg in the 957 with 1/2 hwy 1/2 city driving. if you are serious about looking into a vw or porsche do your reseach. The cayennes are super reliable but there are repairs that only the dealer can do - piwis and parts that should be factory only -(ie.- not cheap substitutes) and that is expensive. The other issue is that they are high performance trucks and there aren't many tires that are safe for them. An off road tire usually has a top speed somewhere @ 110 mph and the cayenne turbos get there very quickly. Paying @ $500 per tire and having them last 15k is a bummer.

[themagellan]

I wouldn't be surprised that the AMCs had a jeep chassis, but can't confirm that. My folks had the full time 4wd, but they also had an option for the electric select-a-drive (RWD and 4wd).

They used the same inline 6 you still see in jeeps today (obviously MUCH earlier versions - and carb'd iirc). made a whopping 88hp or something like that... lol.

Ours was white w/ black trim and had black w/ black/white checkered inserts on seats. Thing was a beast.

BTW, Chris, I currently have an '02 Mountaineer. While not as posh as the VWs/Porsche, they're cheap and mine has been drop dead reliable. It was my folks' old car that I picked up b/c I needed a hauler when buying my house. With a utility trailer, it's tough to beat it vs a pickup. Plus parts are readily available and cheap. I'd tell you only to get the V8 vs. the V6, as the V6 is OK, but you can't beat the V8. It can tow 7500lbs, but anything over 5klbs you need a weight distributing hitch. I've towed over that w/o the WD hitch, but it tows MUCH nicer with one.











And it'll seat 8 people w/ the 3rd row seat

Wow, don't know why I never thought of these… they are everywhere! Those prices too

[Mcstiff]

Wow, don't know why I never thought of these… they are everywhere! Those prices too

You were looking for an SUV and the Explorer (and derivatives) didn't cross your mind?

[loxxrider]

I think the Cayenne turbo has me hooked guys. I like this quote from someone on 6-speed online.

...on whether to buy a GTS or a turbo

ctt quote.PNG (83.1 KiB) Viewed 28763 times

http://evomsit.com/Results_Cayenne_TT_TFSI_GT700.htm

Hey Sam...

If I was to buy a 955 Cayenne turbo, I'd be very interested in some software from your company! Any Audi bro discounts?

[durq]

I thought they were silly until I drove one. If I were looking for a 955 I would buy the newest one I could and it would probably be a 2006 turbo s. The chassis improvements are a bigger difference than the extra power. When I bought my 957 I was looking for an 06 turbo s and drove a few but when I drove the 957 with PDCC I was hooked. The PCM's leave something to be desired and the newer the better. I have a softronic tune on mine and am very happy.

[WOMBAT]

I want to know what this new work is...

And just to be useful, 4runner?

[loxxrider]

The word is out now, so I will spill it. LWD/MWD engineer (logging while drilling/measurements while drilling) in PA. In other words, recording data used to steer the drill bit in directional drilling operations.

[alxdgr8]

The word is out now, so I will spill it. LWD/MWD engineer (logging while drilling/measurements while drilling) in PA. In other words, recording data used to steer the drill bit in directional drilling operations.

Sounds fun! What kind of data acquisition do they use in that field? NI/LabVIEW?

Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

[loxxrider]

No, the software each company uses is typically proprietary. They log some really cool stuff like gamma rays, resistivity, neutron density, etc. and of course azimuth, total vertical depth and more depending on the clients needs. I will be able to tell a bit more about it later.

I do think I will like the job, just not the schedule. It is literally on call 24-7 365. Luckily the location in going to is now implementing the occasional day of or two on a regular basis lol

[SEStone]

I think the Cayenne turbo has me hooked guys. I like this quote from someone on 6-speed online.

...on whether to buy a GTS or a turbo

ctt quote.PNG

http://evomsit.com/Results_Cayenne_TT_TFSI_GT700.htm

Hey Sam...

If I was to buy a 955 Cayenne turbo, I'd be very interested in some software from your company! Any Audi bro discounts?

You bet, get in touch if you need anything and I can work something out.

The GTS is a fantastic truck too. Not as powerful as the Turbo, but they drive very nicely and everyone I know who owns one loves it. We do some stuff to add quite a bit of low end/midrange power, about 30wtq: http://evomsit.com/tuning/porsche/porsche-cayenne-gts

[gtn116]

My fiancée and I just picked up a Lincoln MKX (Ford Edge) this weekend. Comfortable, AWD and it has SYNC and a panoramic sunroof. 20mpg mixed driving. I'm tempted to buy another even.

[WOMBAT]

The word is out now, so I will spill it. LWD/MWD engineer (logging while drilling/measurements while drilling) in PA. In other words, recording data used to steer the drill bit in directional drilling operations.

That is a heck of a lot closer haha, congrats! Sounds cool! Carlisle will be an easy trip now

[loxxrider]

So...


I may have splurged a bit and bought a 2009 Cayenne TURBO S.

I'm still a little in shock, but once I drove it, I couldn't go back to anything else! What a monster.


I also drove a C63 AMG. I never imagined how awesome they are!

[Mcstiff]

Nice!

[chaloux]

Pics foo!

[WOMBAT]

So...


I may have splurged a bit and bought a 2009 Cayenne TURBO S.

I'm still a little in shock, but once I drove it, I couldn't go back to anything else! What a monster.


I also drove a C63 AMG. I never imagined how awesome they are!

DAMN!!!

In for pics offroad!