I'll tell you what Les....I have done all I can do to convince her she needs either a Montero SR or LC80 series but she really doesn't want another 4x4 SUV......I know, Blasphemy! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Since she is convinced she wants a car I must do my part to make sure we don't get a slow POS. I'm reaching 40 with a kid and dogs so agreeing with my wife on a safe wagon was a no brainer but I'll be damned if we end up in a rig with "simulated wood grain siding" that can barely power its own weight.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />



On a serious note though... Last night we were coming home from my dads Christmas party and this guy almost rear ends us doing over 50MPH. I was stopped waiting for traffic to clear to turn left when I saw him flying towards us in the rear view mirror and not even slowing down. My daughter was sleeping in the back of our puny Sunfire. I said/yelled "Oh crap/ OHHHHH" as I thought we were about to be severely rear-ended and thankfully the guy looked up at the last minute and barely missed us not ever applying his brakes. HE almost went off the road due to over correcting. Dang!......What if? My kid was sleeping in the back right over the gas tank. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I was a little shaken up by the near miss just thinking about "what if". That damn car has always been invisible to others on the road, this is like the 50th time somebody has almost completely taken us out.......I've had it. I'm wrapping them in a Volvo. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" />

I already thought of those. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good luck finding one here in the states. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

My brother had a Volvo S70 or something like that. It was Turbo. When the turbo went out the repair was more than the blue book on the car. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Anyways get one without a turbo, there fast enough without them. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Here are a couple ideas I didn't see mentioned. They might be just a bit out of your price range, but who knows you might come across a deal in your area.

The Suzuki SX4. Economical and fun to drive. Although given the incident you mentioned it sounds like you want something bigger.

Although the AWD versions are pretty rare, how about the Dodge Magnum? The 1st year with the AWD option was 2005 and it could be had in the SXT w/ 3.5L V6 or the R/T w/ 340hp Hemi V8. All the AWD cars got the better Mercedes 5spd transmission. The SXT is probably your only chance, most of the Hemi cars go for like $12k and up.

The last one I'll mention is the Ford Freestyle. I believe it's basically a Volvo platform and AWD system done up to Ford's specs. It would be a challenge to find one of these for $8000 but IMHO it would be a killer deal at that price. I got a chance to take a short trip in one and I was impressed with it.

This guy took his Volvo on an offroad trip with some real 4x4s. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

There is even a couple Pajero SWBs in there.

I saw a guy at Pismo with his obvious mom's AWD Volvo. It was all fun and games until he got stuck by running over his own front bumper-air dam <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Moms grocery getter! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

The XCs I've been looking at have 8.5" of clearance under them. Surprised me as i think I don't have much more thatn that under my diff on the montero. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

After reading all the nightmare horror stories of the Volvos reliability I decided to pass. There just are no good wagons out there after the 100,000 mile mark. I finally told my wife we were screwed because every car that offers a wagon pretty much sucks after the year 2000. I almost had her talked into an Axiom but they are hard to find and are and SUV anyway....After swearing she would not have another SUV let alone another Montero.......

She gave in

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />



We are getting another Montero. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

I cant deny the reliableness, capability, stoutness and comfort of the Gen II Montero. We all know the deal. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm looking at this one in the morning.

If all goes well I might be showing a new Montero my "oh face" OHH OHHH!

Wish me luck.

Handsome little rig there. Geez, the missus would say no to a sunroof??

Oh, and BTW, you might take a look at the hit Matt's rig took up in the Mitsu section from an F350. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />