We are looking for a new vehicle to ferry us around for the next several months and I wonder if you have any pointers. I have been out of SUVS for the better part of a decade, having transitioned to the less manly but more child-centric minivan... which we have since outgrown.

We are looking at larger SUVs, with space for three boys and a dog, plus medical equipment, etc. Roof pod is unattractive as a storage option due to our needing to access hospital parking structures ('ramps' in midwestish)

I have sort of zeroed in on the Yukon XL, but am open to any and all advice/horror stories. I have no desire to fry a transmission while on Dashiell's Make a Wish trip like we did with our Honda, a few years ago.

Thx!
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Br.

My youngest brother has just such a Yukon and it appears to be just the thing. He has three daughters and they all fit with all the sundries for long trips. I have ridden in it and think the ride and seating are very comfortable. Visibility is pretty good as well.

A good Diesel Excursion would be one to look out for. Problem is , most folk hang onto those for ever. Suburbans....91 or older if rehabbed are GREAT but the mid to late 90s had gasket issues cost me an engine and later a transmission.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

Mountaineer and am very happy. It's no longer in production but the Ford Explorer is the same. Mine has 3 seat rows and luggage space but I use it as a covered pickup mostly (rear seats down) so don't know about rear seating comfort. The last Explorer I had went 250k and I just got tired of it, nothing wrong when I traded it in 2007. Maintenance on both seemed normal to me.

It seemed to fry alternators on a regular basis, but otherwise was ok. Got to where every time they made their regular trips to North Texas they'd rent a sedan for the trip and leave the gas-guzzler at home. YMMV

No long-term experience with one, but a year or so ago we rented a Buick Enclave for a week-plus trip to Key West. That was one comfortable, road-eating sonofagun. Not a true SUV but rather a "Crossover", but unless you need off-road capability you might take a look at one.

Similar experience a few months back with a Ford Explorer.

I have an '07 Trailblazer that I absolutely love, but it might not be big enough for your needs.

A full length Suburban is the ticket....

We rented on for a driving vacation through Badlands, Rushmore, Little Big Horn and Yellowstone....etc...

It ran down the road like a locomotive...smooth, quiet and got 20 miles per gallon at 80mph across Montana.

The interior was total comfort...third row seating was great for the kids....

It is too big for us to live with but perfect for a long road trip with kids...I could not recommend it more highly....

Byron

Same size as the Yukon and comes with AWD. We had one as a rental car while our Subaru was in the shop and loved it. We have a Suburban that's getting long in the tooth and I think we will be looking at an Acadia to replace it. My wife has had knee replacement and has trouble getting in and out of the Suburban. No problem at all with the Acadia. Chevy has a version but I'm not sure what it is called. I think the Buick is an Enclave.

years and it's great.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

I sold Chevys for 5 years and I am a GM guy to the core but the Suburban created the large SUV category and is still the standard. They get better fuel economy than Tahoe or any Ford, have a smoother ride, and the rear seat is actually comfortable to sit in with storage behind the 3rd row seat.

If you look around you should be able to find "program" vehicles that were rental vehicles and sold after a year of service and generally less than 20K in miles that should offer some savings from new. GM offers a 5yr/60K bumper to bumper warranty and a 5yr/100k power train warranty standard. My GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab truck is a 2008 and I have 128K on it, the only work dont it so far were brakes and seals on the front axle.

I cant complain...

Hi - I'm an Yukon/Suburban type. My daughter is driving my last one.

Drop me a line at zzr7ky at outgun dawt com and I can probably get you the GM Friend & Family discount.

Mike