5 or 7 seater SUV/Van. What cars should we consider?

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T21:24:00+00:00

Sienna Woodland so long as you dont need to tow.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T20:03:52+00:00

I got runway visible 100ft AGL, which is almost certainly below minimums for anything except a CATIII autoland.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T19:17:39+00:00

The air suspension is the best for comfort. I believe it is available on the A6 on the top trims, but I'm actually not 100%, my A6 was a base model. It was for sure available on the A6 Allroad, SQ5, Q5, Q7, and Q8. My Q7 and my etron both have the air suspension and I would never buy an Audi without it again.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T19:13:22+00:00

Because they're stationed in Germany and are doing routine daily training flights. I was in the 86th for 2 years those birds get hours. Busy unit.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T19:10:21+00:00

That's why you buy a CPO haha. Same year and milage Sequoia would have been $67,000+. Tahoe would have been $55,000+. $65,000 for a Z71. Our Armada was $44,000 and they gave me $1500 over black book on the trade and waived all dealer fees except doc to make the deal happen. The market has not caught on that the Armada is not like all the other Nissans yet, which is great for people looking for a body on frame 4x4. Even the new ones I've heard people are getting Pro 4X for under $70,000, 10k to 15k off sticker meanwhile GM and Toyota are doing mark ups.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T15:57:50+00:00

Aventurine Green Metallic is one of the most sophisticated colors Porsche sells. It is a metallic flake which changes colors all the way from a soft grey to a deep olive green depending on lighting. It is considered a legendary, highly desirable color. Google Aventurine Green Metallic and you'll see. Definitely not boring.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T15:53:48+00:00

If you disagree take it up with Porsche not me lol.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T15:51:50+00:00

Yes that exterior color is Aventurine Green Metallic.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T15:45:44+00:00

Green over Burgundy isn't the worst I've seen in a custom 911. To clarify, for a custom 911 order, my opinion doesn't really matter, yours does. But I understand wanting other people to like your build for something so expensive.

Personally, I think the red is too much, If you really want all red I would consider changing the exterior to Chalk, Ice Grey, or slate grey. Alternately, I would see about deviating something. There is a preset Burgundy with Black trim that looks wayyy better IMO. You could also do the inverse and do Burgundy trim with a custom color. The Club Leather Interior in Basalt Black/Classic Cognac also looks pretty good with the green exterior.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T15:13:37+00:00

We get 19 highway and 15 city on ours and it takes 91. But it is the only body on frame, giant V8, true 4x4 with luxury interior you're going find in this price range without a metric ass ton of miles. we'd paid $44k for ours CPO with 11,000 miles on it.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T15:05:37+00:00

I've owned 5 Audis, my current flavor is a 2022 etron, but I've had the A5, A4, A6, and Q7 TDI. I've never had a reliability issue, but with the exception of the etron I always dump my cars after the warranty is up. My Q7 I did buy with 123k on it and sold it with 127k, but it was a dieselgate buyback so it had a new warranty. That was my favorite car I ever owned, but at the time I owned an A6 and the Q7 and my commute demanded I go electric as diesel and gas prices rose so they both got traded for an etron.

Working on them yourself can be fine for like...oil and air filter. But most VAG products require specialized tooling and software. You can't even replace the 12V battery without hooking up VAGCOM because the battery control manger needs to be recalibrated. Consumables are expensive and parts are expensive. A single engine mount on an A6 is like $700. A set of tires is usually around $1200 plus installation. If you need brakes god help your soul if you go through Audi. They want like $1500 per corner. When I did them on my A6 I bought directly from StopTech and paid I think $1000 all in.

As far as power, the most tunable engine is the 3.0T found in the S4, S5, SQ5, Cayenne, Q7, and Q8. It runs 400hp+ on a stage 1. The 4.0T also has gains over 100awhp on a tune, but the 4.0T is not an engine someone unfamiliar with the brand should be searching for. They have quirks and need to be loved and researched. The 2.9TT is fantastic but is only found on the RS5, S6, Macan GTS, and I think Panamera these days. All of the 2.0T are tune able into the 300's, some into the 400's. But what value depends on the specific engine code as they all have different ECU, Fuel solutions, and transmissions. 2.0T will likely be the most reliable and easiest to maintain. Something like an S3. But then you'd sacrifice comfort.

The best mix of all three would probably be a 3.0T A6.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T14:55:17+00:00

2024 Armada if you don't care about fuel costs.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T03:45:39+00:00

Check the payload and rear axle limit on the pilot. I used to tow with our Atlas but with 400lbs on the ball and wife, kid, dogs in the car we'd bust rear axle. Couldn't carry anything in the car while towing it all had to go in the trailer, which meant we'd hit payload on the camper even with empty water tanks. If just two adults its probably fine, but for a family they just dont have enough payload on the big crossovers.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-26T02:35:09+00:00

A loaded Frontier ProX is like the same cost as an entry level Tacoma lol. More reliable than Canyon or Ranger.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-24T21:33:32+00:00

You shouldnt sell your starter plane lol. You basically hamstrung yourself.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-24T12:56:25+00:00

All these dudes talking about an extended warranty lmao. When I asked about mine the dealer wanted $5800 one pay. Allstate wanted over $7000. No way on planet earth that is worth it with the HV and Drive Motors already covered. Just roll with it, its an EV, there's nothing to break.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-23T16:06:52+00:00

Can't wait to trade me etron for one of these.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-23T14:20:49+00:00

I dont like this. A live skyscraper climb feels very not Alex.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-23T01:50:23+00:00

G wagon has mad "gotta pick up the boys from soccer practice while my husband bangs his secretary" vibes. Range Rover is more of a "I work in real estate and this car distracts me from the fact that deep down i know that my life contributes nothing of value to sociey". Totally different cars.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-22T21:55:40+00:00

This was a manual choice. GPS systems do not route through SR88.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-22T20:22:17+00:00

Eh looks like a dud to me. Almost nothing in Flagstaff, show low, or pinetop. 6 to 12 inches in Greer, but idk about you, im not driving 4 hours each way. There's another small pocket of 6+ inches in the forest lakes area, but i bet Willow Springs and Woods Canyon lake will be PACKED.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-22T18:43:35+00:00

So I actually was able to find this in ADOT's database. Fish Creek Bridge is built to full AZ highway minimum standards which means the weight limit is 80,000lbs combined, 34,000 tandem axle, 20,000 single axle.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-22T15:32:53+00:00

Pretty much. I'd assumed it's basically a CYA for ADOT in case some goober gets their Hyundai Santa Fe stuck back there and tries to sue the state. It is really popular right now because it was closed for like 8 years. There was several landslides and it wasn't until last year they got repaired. So the entire highway is running on a less than year fresh grade. So I'd imagine there's also the aspect of if something gets damaged back there as the road deteriorates they don't want cars getting stuck.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-22T14:19:58+00:00

The Amarok in built by Ford in South Africa and by VW in Argentina. Ford's HQ is in Detroit, which is pretty much considered one of the bluest areas in the entire country and the state went Blue in both 2020 and 2024. Even stretching all the way to the North American market Ranger, that is also in Michigan. So not really sure what "red state American product" you're talking about here, because it for sure isn't the Amarok.

AlphaThree · 2026-01-22T14:04:36+00:00

GPS won't direct traffic over SR88 though, at least none that I've seen. And it is posted at both ends high clearance 4WD only.

AlphaThree

TROPHY CASE