What do you drive and why?

Correction. 2018 Jaguar XE 35i Portfolio, not XK. To the gentleman who posted prior to mine thinking about a new Jaguar XJR. Take a peek at the positive battery post before buying it, even if it's brand new. If it looks like someone jumped it with a pair of gator clips (you will know if the white paint is scratched off the positive post where the clips dug in), think long and hard about your decision. Ours was brand new with 1.3 miles on it when we bought it. Last night before it was flat-bedded, I looked at the manual and popped the red protective cover off the positive terminal. It was scratched up pretty good. So, this vehicle was probably DOA when it was brought into port and offloaded onto the semi and had to be jumped. Something in these Jags is eating batteries or they are designed with inept alternator incapable of charging them. Just a warning. The car is beautiful. The Meridian sound system is nice. But the computer systems are typical Jaguar and ours has been nothing but trouble.

4 vehicles in our household

2008 Cadliac Escalade 114k miles
2010 VW Touraeg V6 80k miles
2008 Jeep Liberty 110k miles
2008 Jeep Commander 140k miles

We tend to keep our vehicles for a long time.    I prefer large a SUV because of comfort during long road trips.  It is like driving a large club chair that can also carry just about anything you need to carry.   I purchased it as my 3rd choice so to speak.  1st choice was a Mercedes GL550.  I test drove 2, at 2 separate times.  Each time I had a lower back ache after 20 min.  At least for me, it seemed that the pedals were offset to the right of the foot-well, requiring me to sit in a certain way that was uncomfortable.  2nd choice was a GMC Denali (previous SUV was a 2000 Denali purchased with 30k miles and sold with 275k miles...), but I could not find one in my price range; everyone wanted a premium and they sell very quickly as used.  I noticed that Escalades consistently sold for several K less than Denalis even when adjusted for condition and use.  So I purchased an Esclade.   I initially received some strange looks when people saw me driving it or getting out of it....I guess I don't fit the "profile" of the average Escalade driver....  But it is fast and very comfortable.

My wife drove a succession of MB E wagons for a long time and wanted something a little bigger.  She initially test drove a MB ML SUV, but felt it was too similar to her wagon and she realized she also wanted something different.  Then she test drove a Volvo XC90 and a VW.  She thought the interior of the Volvo felt cheap vs the cost.  She liked the VW so a Touraeg it was.   I joke that the VW is a Porsche Cayenne without the spice, and an Audi Q7 without the zeros on the end of the check !   I have friends that drive Cayenne, Maccan, Q5 and Q7, and non believe me when I tell them that our lowly VW came from the same assembly line, and has the same basic engine and transmission.    So far it is good vehicle- reliable, but a few small issues that are more nuisance than debilitating.  My wife likes it, but admitted she will probably go back to an MB when it is time to purchase another vehicle.

Our children drive the Jeeps.   We love Jeeps (long time Cherokee owners previously).  The Liberty is really an updated version of the Cherokee.  The Commander is a Liberty stretched to its limit.  I think the Liberty is the better of the two trucks.  The market seems to agree as I see many more Libertys on the road now than I do Commanders, as both or now at least 5-8yr old for the last model  years.

thamilton1,

When does it qualify as a Lemon? Probably not yet, but the story is quite impressive for 400 miles.

I don't know, but I'm beginning to consider that possibility if this keeps up. I've never had to go through that process and I can't imagine attempting to return a new vehicle as a lemon as being a simple process. She bought it for peace of mind and the new warranty. Not for this stress and heartache. I mean, it's a brand new vehicle. How does this happen? Not only are you constantly worried every time some warning light pops up and you get a call from the wife every other day telling you about a new issue, but you feel like a darn fool for helping her make such a poor decision in the car buying process. You feel as if it is your fault for putting her in this position. If it does end up as a lemon law vehicle, I can almost guarantee you we will look elsewhere. Maybe BMW again. Maybe domestic. Just give me reliable again. That's all I ask for.    

After a few Volvos, BMWs and Mercedes in my lifetime.... I purchased a new Audi A6 3.0 Quatro when I moved to Houston back in 2012. Great car! First Audi by the way and I love it. Great ride with plenty of acceleration!!! Now after moving back to Florida and going through my 2nd bout with cancer, I recently purchased a Ferrari California. 2011 with 4800 miles. This one will not sit in my garage and not be driven!! What a pleasure to drive! And it makes driving to chemo a real treat. Now if I could just get that Audiophile stereo system in the Ferrari!!!! But I guess with the growl of the Ferrari, you really don't need the high end stereo system. I am blessed.