Holy cow!

[Stu in Oregon]

My wife, the one who just until this past week loathed SUVs, came home this afternoon and told me she wanted to look at a GMC Yukon XL (Denali trim level) tomorrow with me. Well of course my first reaction was to grab a kitchen knife in self defense against this "Stepford Wife" replacement thingy and find out where my real wife was. But soon enough I realized it was her and she was'nt kidding. I am so bindsided by this I do not know what to say. The whole reason we bought our first Volvo back in 95' was because of her. When our neighbor came home with a new Suburban six months ago as a single man with no children, she went on for weeks about how ridiculous a situation it was. And now she wants to entertain the idea of purchasing the "mack daddy" of Suburbans for a replacement to her 01' XC when the lease on her 01 XC is up next month? I am truly at a loss for a reaction.

[Art]

Gulp...don't know what to tell you Stu. Question is, what would have caused her to have this sudden change in attitude? http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

It's apparent that SUVs have such mass appeal that the manufacturers are now specifically targeting their female audience. I've particularly noticed this in my own neighborhood where I see women driving everything from Avalanches to the Ford Valdez (a.k.a. Excursion).

Here's a link (http://4wheeldrive.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.edmunds.com%2Fne ws%2Ffeature%2Fgeneral%2F42997%2Farticle.html) to an article that impresses upon this very point.

I know this isn't what you really want to hear, but perhaps she'll compromise and settle for an XC90. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Good luck! http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[wiz]

The situation is controllable. (a) She only wants to look at it. (b) Tomorrow is the day, so that gives you some time to do an internet search and marshall all the arguements about why such a purchase is bad.

[MGC]

Stu

Take a look at the Yukon then look at XC70 or XC90, drive both the same day to compare how they drive and the features and I think you will come to the conclusion as I have that the XC70 is a better fit for most of your needs.

If you tow a boat or a trailer that is over 3500 lbs then the Yukon might be something to consider.

I had 3 SUV's as company cars before switching in 1999 to a Volvo V70 Cross Country. The Volvo has been one of the best cars that I've owned. In my opinion, I think the every day driving of the Volvo has been far superior to any of the SUV's that I owned, plus the Volvo seems to handle and drives easier on slick highway roads during the winter. The height of the Yukon may be a factor if you need to park in city underground parking garages, some garages have lower height limits.

I think the Yukon is one of the better SUV’s that GM makes but I doubt if they will have the longevity of a Volvo.

Good luck in your search but just remember, the Volvo XC70 is also an SUV -- Swedish Utility Vehicle.

[XC TOM]

Take her to gas station and fillup the Denali. Than ask her to pay with cash.  Even if you have to pay it should be an eye opener. Tom

[Stu in Oregon]

Well were back and we had a loooong discussion at our favorite Sunday lunch spot. The Denali XL is the truck Ethan Allen would build if it were ever to get in the automotive business. It was a leather davenport with all-wheel drive. And was as big as our living room too. To be honest, it was rather nice. Extremely quiet, better driving than expected and very comfortable. Super powerfull. But it is HUGE and a real bear to park, especially downtown, which was on our test drive route. Rearward visibilty is poor. The back-up motion radar is a must. And sit down, it was $56K and change MSRP! The dealer was offering 3K off the MSRP in addition to the GM 0% financing. (The one we drove had all options available)

We also went to our Volvo dealer and looked at an XC90 again. We both still feel it too similar in both size and function to the XC70 to warrant the issues brought on by it's height. To quote my wife, "If I'm going to drive an SUV, I'm at least going to drive a real one.". She of course means large.

The result of the long discussion at lunch has us purchasing the 01' XC or perhaps getting an 04' V70 2.4T, V70 AWD, XC70 or Audi allroad. The new Volvo ZF rack and pinion was nice, but I'm not sure nice enough to buy a new car so similar to what we have. Since we have never had a traction problem in the snow with our XCs and snow tires, I also discount the need to upgrade to Haldex just for the sake of it.

So, that is were we stand. I'm sure we will have this hammered out by weeks end. I hope. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif

[realq]

I took a detailed look at XC90 while at dealer today, I was surprised to see that they actually have several available (both forward drive and awd models). I would agree with your wife, "If I'm going to drive an SUV, I'm at least going to drive a real one.".   I would pick lincoln Aviator if I were looking for a SUV.

[xcny]

I also tend to agree with the "If I'm going to drive an SUV, I'm at least going to drive a real one". But if i would go with an SUV, especially around 55k, I would definitely get the Hummer H2. I see a lot of them in NYC, and I do like them a lot. I know I am not helping here, Stu, but if you don't settle on something that you want, might as well get something that the neighbors will look at. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[littlewaywelt]

I would sell her on it by explaining that suv's don't have to meet the same safety standards as standard autos. If she's really interested in an suv, the xc90 has a rollover prevention system and boron steel roof, which imo would be a major factor.

As to xcny's comment about the hummer, I mean no offense at all, but I hardly consider that a real suv. It's a GM car not an AMG. GM payed a license fee to use the name Hummer to AM General.  AMG had some design input per the agreement and there was some tech/design sharing, but imo this car is pure marketing. It has very little in common with the H1. Mostly, and no offense intended as I think they at least look cool, they have more in common with a Tahoe than a real Hummer.

[Low Tide]

Hummers around here are likely to get damaged by angry mobs.  How many of your towns have billboards likethis one...

"At least you didn't spill your Latte when you ran over Grandma."   http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif  

On Saturday, a big Yukon Denali went zooming past a line of cars in the turn only lane... just missing a couple of vineyard workers on their bikes- I guess it was because of the "heightened" seating position and raised chassis that the 20 something female driver felt so confident.  FYI: the lower  portion of her polished chrome brushbar came to mid window height on our little Volvo S40.  Hmmm, maybe the lower window line on the XC?  

The next time I see a that huge SUV (that mind you gets 7 mpg and can't fit into a normal parking space in the grocery store) I'm going to donate a dozen eggs to the owner.   http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blush.gif  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/crazy.gif  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/devil.gif

[Prepo]

Here's an idle thought: take her to drive the new Nissan Murano.  If she likes this, you will have interrupted her train of thoughts, will be closer to an XC way of thinking, and so she may reconsider the XC.  Actually, the Miurano (spelling?) is quite a vehicle!  Good luck!

[HeadXC]

Well at least she has good taste, the Denail has also tempted me,as i think it looks great. I had a suburban a few weeks ago from Hertz (needed the space) and that just reafirms the QC in NA vehicles is just not there. But man does that Denali ever look nice.
Oh and by the way the gas was not too bad, i got 4-5 L/100 worse than i would have gotten in my 02

[wills]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/pa36a446918832291aa230b71c76da9f5/fc459ddb.jpg

Well I gues you know my opinion on those big POS. 50+ grand for a covered truck chassis, they are the highest profit vehicles made. Get your wife to try to stop it or an emergency manuever. Make sure nothing else is around when she does! http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh2.gif

[ifnt420]

Having owned a Range Rover, I find this photo and website extremely funny but yet it's very realistic.  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
I believe there's another thread regarding this website.  But I can't find it for some reason.. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Gundo]

Nothing wrong with a full size Suburban or Yukon XL if you have a need for it.

You all realize, of course, that the ubiquitous Ford F-150 and GM 1500 size pick-ups get the same or worse mileage than a Suburban/Tahoe/Yukon?  And there are plenty of people driving them for no good reason.

There is no substitute for the size and capacity of a Suburban.  Period

[pico de luuks]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Gundo @ May 06 2003,21:29)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">There is no substitute for the size and capacity of a Suburban. Period[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I tried to get a second volvo wagon for my wife. She knows &quot;size does matter&quot; and opted for a suburban http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/pico.gif

[tooberand]

I got a chuckle out of this quote that I found on the web, I just can&#39;t remember where:

&quot;Some kinds of waste really are disgusting. &nbsp;SUVs, for example,
would arguably be gross even if they ran on a fuel which would
never run out and generated no pollution. &nbsp;SUVs are gross
because they&#39;re the solution to a gross problem. (How to make
minivans look more masculine.)&quot;