![]() | #1 |
BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Trivandrum
Posts: 58
Thanked: 20 Times
| ![]() Help. Advice. Information. I am looking for all three from the members here to reach a decision on the purchase of a premium SUV. I don't have much SUV driving experience. None actually. However, I had come to a decision that my next vehicle would have to be an SUV and the excellent thread on this forum highlighting the reasons why most Indians opt for SUV's seemed to list down my reasons as well:
In addition to these reasons, a comfortable cruiser decked with creature comforts has been a dream, one that I would dearly love to realise. Now the parameters/information that I have listed for this purchase:
The number of vehicles that match the 7 seat requirement alone are limited:
Alright everyone, I hope this information is good for a start. I have a couple of months to take this decision and hope that Team-BHP helps me make my mind up. |
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![]() | #2 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 692
Thanked: 260 Times
| ![]() TLC is the top pick from you list. Go for it you will never regret, or it has to be Q7 to ferry all the 7 people. |
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![]() | #3 |
Team-BHP Support ![]() | ![]() Having driven the GL 350 in Ladakh over even worse road's, I would recommend that. Ride is pretty good, I am 6ft and was comfortable driving on treacharous stretches and it is well protected underneath. The Audi Q7 is more of a road car. Rear most seats are a little cramped. Land Rover Discovery is very good off road but I would like to observe long term reliability Toyota Land Cruiser is the king of reliability but it is way over priced. |
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![]() | #4 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
Peace of mind is only what you seek then get LC. It may not give you the German engineering, but it will certainly give you Japanese reliability. Compared to GL350, Q7 has cramped rear seat, less cargo room and is quite heavy. The bad thing about GL is non adjustable second-row. But everything else is quite good. Finally, take a test drive and decide. You can't go wrong with your instincts. Hope this helps. | |
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![]() | #5 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() GL was the choice of a friend who is tall and has tall people in his family. Another friend takes it for longer drives and is very happy with its road munching ability. Donno if this helps, but both gets 10kmpl if you keep it below 120kmph but drinks if you are sporty. Also, I was surprised at how manageable the GL was at places where I would go nuts with Safari ( reversing etc). You should also look at a.s.s. IMHO. I think you get packages for Audi but IIRC,nothing with Merc. Merc service is present here but for Audi you have to take to Cochin. + 1 to Chevelle. |
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![]() | #6 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 45
Thanked: 22 Times
| ![]() If you are in no hurry, i'd say wait for both the 2012 GL350 and the 2012 Discovery 4. The 2012 Merc should be out soon in India and is a major refresh, as opposed to the rumoured refresh of the discovery. The 2012 GL350 in my opinion looks amazing! its that perfect blend of class and power. Its great for your needs, and you can rest assured of its capabilities. I love the interiors on this one. The Discovery 4 in my opinion, is the ultimate no nonsense vehicle out there. Great interiors - classy yet very functional; Rugged handsome looks; and supremely capable. As one auto reviewer did say " its three cars in one - an offroader, a people carrier and a luxury limousine ". The exterior styling however doesn't appeal to everyone. The LandCruiser is a tad overpriced, considering the car you're getting at the end of the day. Very functional interiors, comfortable and a great drive. While there is nothing to complain about, i really don't think there is anything to drool about over here either :P The Q7 is an excellent package which should tick all your boxes and handle the occasional bad roads you encounter with ease (I doubt you have any serious offloading in mind). The interiors are classy, and comfortable, though some say its not as big on the inside as it is on the outside. I don't recommend waiting for the updated discovery because there are no solid data available on when this could happen. You can get at least 3 child seats fixed in all these cars, but i haven't heard of an equivalent of bmw secure from any other manufacturer. Considering my dad and I are looking into this same segment right now I have done a lot of research, plus being in the same boat as you, this is a huge upgrade from our current car as well. We are finding it very difficult to decide between the Mercedes and the LandRover. For your needs, if time is not a factor, you should wait for the 2012 merc and test drive the Discovery 4, Q7 and GL350 on three consecutive days. Pick whichever one touches your heart because honestly these are all excellent vehicles and it boils to personal taste at the end. Oh and make sure you get the panoramic glass roof, all three of them have it ( the discovery 4 has three separate sun roofs, but thats basically the same thing). Its a major drool factor, at least for me ![]() |
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![]() | #7 |
Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() | ![]() Though I'd personally buy a Landcruiser 200, it would never be brand new. The interiors & the general feel of the Toyota just don't make you feel like you spent a crore on it. Sorry, but the LC200 doesn't make sense at the current price tag. It will be the most reliable though (and the Europeans will be quite the opposite ![]() Is the 3rd row of seats a must-have, because you are letting go of a lot of amazing 5-seater rides. Personally, I'd be checking out a Range Rover Sport or Porsche Cayenne. Reliability aside, these two SUVs blow everything else out of the water in feel & finesse. |
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![]() | #8 | |
Team-BHP Support ![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai
Posts: 10,100
Thanked: 9,547 Times
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From the requirements, I think a GL450cdi (which should be available) would be the best best. Feels premium on the inside, has good road presence, the 450 engine will take care of the underpowered feeling of the 350cdi, and of course the 7 seats are useable. The LC200 again is a great choice, the only issue being that it is a bit overpriced. The new 2012 model which should be here soon seems to have slightly better interiors. This will be the most comfortable and reliably by far, and probably the most uninspiring to drive. The Q7 too has 7 seats, but the rear 2 seats are pretty much useless unless kids are sitting in them. | |
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![]() | #9 |
BHPian ![]() | ![]() Hi , I would say GL350 CDI or the GL450 CDI ( if you have the dough). Only reason - 7 "proper seats". I sat in the LC and let me tell you GL350 wins hands down on the rear most seat department. Also it ticks all the six points you mentioned. I get to drive a GL350 occassionally and Trivandrum- Cochin trips feels easier than Kawdiar - Technopark drive in the Skoda. My choices would be 1. GL350/450 CDI - Spacious , Amazing comfort, But underpowered ( 350 CDI). OTR (350 CDI) - 76L 2. LR Disco 4 - Spacious, Looks good, and Amazing front seats and dash (similar to RR Sport) - OTR 67L @Siddvish - Have you seen any pics of the 2012 GL. All I could find on the internet was a spy pic of the 2013 GL. Last edited by artofzen : 16th January 2012 at 17:08. |
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![]() | #10 | |||
BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Trivandrum
Posts: 58
Thanked: 20 Times
| ![]() Quote:
Secondly, I might be mistaken, but if I were booking a GL in a couple of months, wouldn't I be getting the 2012 version? Quote:
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![]() | #11 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 45
Thanked: 22 Times
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![]() | #12 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: May 2011 Location: Kochi/Manama
Posts: 272
Thanked: 507 Times
| ![]() From the cars in your list, I would pick the Discovery for sure. It is a no nonsense SUV with functional interiors and mindblowing off-roading capabilities should you need it. Though I am a huge fan of the Land Cruiser, it simply does not make sense at the price it is sold here. But make no doubt, reliability is still the best with the big T, none of the Germans or the Brit will be as trouble free. Isn't the new 2012 M Class a 5 seater? |
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![]() | #13 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 45
Thanked: 22 Times
| ![]() It is, it is ![]() I was always referring to the GL but for some reason i wrote that the GL was being updated when its actually the ML thats got the update. This is why cars should have names not numbers, they stick in your head much better :P |
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![]() | #14 |
BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 723
Thanked: 157 Times
| ![]() From the four choices, Discovery 4 and Merc GL would be good options. q7 is good and has a great tourqey engine, but the space inside is not that good considering its size. If you really need space as said in your post q7 is not good choice for you. Land Cruiser(LC) is way too expensive, and not worth the price. Discover 4 and GL also has reasonably good off- road capabilities as well, but ofcourse you are not going to take it for hard code off-roading. the latter 2 also has better creature comforts than LC. And considering both can be had for less price than LC, it will feel like money well spend. Now comes sales and service. I dont know which of these have dealers in your city. But I guess toyota and merc will be there since they have the widest sales network among these 4 companies. |
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![]() | #15 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: India
Posts: 1,416
Thanked: 381 Times
| ![]() Hello, Q7 and GL get whole new models later this year wait for them really both will be huge leaps compared to their current cars, I do not know how urgent it is for you but I urge you wait for the two, and I can assure you buying the new GL will be perfect for you, it comes with a host of quality upgrades and a lot better features makes its global debut in few months, should be in India end of the year or early 2013 will get you more updates on it in sometime. Regards, Quote:
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