We'll be in the market for a vehicle in the next 5 - 6 months and it's going to be hard for me to decide if I want to stay with an 8 passenger (Pilot, Highlander) or go with a 5 or 6 passenger.

One thing I'd like to know before starting to look seriously is how does one "estimate" what to pay in t/t/l? I hate buying cars and wish that one of you here would just do it for me!!!

Info re: who I'll be hauling: Oldest kid is a senior in college (still with us on family vacays when he can) ... other 2 are a freshman and 6th grader -- sometimes we're hauling friends/teammates/etc.

What would the OT look at?? Explorers are a thought as we have all Fords now but feel that Honda/Toyota will hold value longer. Considered a Hyundai but it didn't seem that the quick price differences I looked at justified NOT buying one of the others.

I HATE making these big ticket decisions ... hell I stressed over a vacuum cleaner!

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Posted by dallastiger55

Jennings, LA

Member since Jan 2010

27624 posts

Posted on 1/16/13 at 6:12 pm to tiger91

Just finished driving the pilot, highlander, pathfinder and explorer.

Drove them all two different times. Here are how wife and I ranked them

Pathfinder- best interior and good price
Pilot- biggest of the bunch but didn't like center console
Explorer- good mix but they can get pricey and don't hold value well. Consumer reports doesn't like it very much
Highlander- felt very small and underwhelmed us. Also this was most expensive we drove and was just meh. I love toyotas but still

Take a look at the 13 pathfinder. Complete redesign and drives smooth as hell. Also has the best gas of the bunch 20/27

Good luck. Also one more thing on the pilot is the guy told us its getting a complete redesign with new engine and everything for 2014.

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Posted by tiger91

In my own little world

Member since Nov 2005

36702 posts

Posted on 1/16/13 at 10:29 pm to dallastiger55

Are ya'll leaning towards one? This is going to be hard ... I'm driving a 2003 Expedition ... I do NOT want a car. And I thought just by glancing at a new Pathfinder on the road that they look like the Acadias.

IDK ... thoughts on Nissan's reliability? We keep vehicles forever so I guess resale isn't a HUGE concern.

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Posted by LSU9102

West of the Mississippi

Member since Mar 2007

2474 posts

Posted on 1/16/13 at 10:49 pm to dallastiger55

What's the price on the Pathfinder?

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Posted by TigerDeBaiter

Member since Dec 2010

10251 posts

Posted on 1/16/13 at 10:55 pm to tiger91

The new 4runners have a 3rd row option, and there fairly larger than the previous gen. The limiteds are slick looking IMO. I've had two 4runners so far and plan on buying another when the time comes.

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Posted by tiger91

In my own little world

Member since Nov 2005

36702 posts

Posted on 1/17/13 at 12:01 am to LSU9102

I looked at the Pathfinder REAL quickly ... low 30s ... of course depending on which options but I didn't have much time to REALLY look.

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Posted by Siderophore

Member since Nov 2010

3338 posts

Posted on 1/17/13 at 12:07 am to tiger91

Add sales tax + 1.5% to get a conservative estimate.

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Posted by dallastiger55

Jennings, LA

Member since Jan 2010

27624 posts

Posted on 1/17/13 at 5:59 am to Siderophore

i got a quote on a Pathfinder platinum base meaning it has Nav, heated and cooled seats, leather, power everything and it was 35,900. Pretty sure i can get them to 35k

we drove a 2011 highlander with 20k miles on it with no Nav or any extras other than leather and they were asking 36k.

Just saying id give it a look, its built at the same factory as the Infinity JX and the interiors are very similar. I just thought the pathfinder center console and interior looked very clean and luxury like. we love the pilot but it has huge bulky plastic buttons and the freaking shift is in the middle below the radio>>> WTF???

here is the interior of the platinum we are looking at. very sharp

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Posted by jso0003

Member since Jun 2009

5170 posts

Posted on 1/17/13 at 6:30 am to dallastiger55

quote:
it was 35,900. Pretty sure i can get them to 35k

Come on man, think big

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Posted by tiger91

In my own little world

Member since Nov 2005

36702 posts

Posted on 1/17/13 at 6:43 am to dallastiger55

quote:
Just saying id give it a look, its built at the same factory as the Infinity JX and the interiors are very similar

I did not know this ... do you think the quality compares?

And side, thanks for the info about calculating. Tax is based on your city taxes, right?

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Posted by dallastiger55

Jennings, LA

Member since Jan 2010

27624 posts

Posted on 1/18/13 at 6:40 am to tiger91

quote:
Come on man, think big

sticker was 41,300. looked at many websites and average paid on platinum is 37k so id say 35,900 is pretty good, especially if i can get it to 35k. of course i will lowball and ask for 33-34 and hopefully end up at 35.

As far as the Infinity, yes they are made at the same facility and on the same platform. We have a family friend who is a service director at a nissan dealer. of course the infinity has a few more bells and whistles but the nissan holds it own.

also one more tip if you go nissan, their end of the fiscal year is march and nissan offers a ton of incentives and they want to move as many as they can

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