I mentioned that although I am not a truck guy, I was taken by the Evoque the other day. on Twitter.
Motor Trend just named the Evoque the 2012 Motor Trend SUV of the Year:
“In the enthusiast’s dream, all sports cars have manual transmissions and all SUVs are body-on-frame. But as so often is the case, reality does not intersect with our fantasies. Ferraris — save for one — no longer have manual transmissions, and car-based crossovers are rapidly pushing traditional SUVs to the brink of extinction. In a world that appears increasingly hostile to an all-SUV brand like Land Rover, adaptation is the only option. Some adaptations are failures. Others are Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year winners. The Range Rover Evoque is most certainly the latter.”
Pictures below; video after the jump
Over the years, I have purchased several Motor Trend top-rated vehicles. All have gadgets, cool styling and curb appeal. Most, new, were overpriced with a high total cost of ownership.
The best approach is (still) to buy a great vehicle, lightly used, at a substantial discount. And don’t buy more vehicle than you need.
this kind of thing will good for the LR3′s re-sale Value..
@theexpertisin
For 25 years I have done just as you prescribe. However, I must ask, have you priced used cars these days?
Holy cow! For only the second time in my life I will be buying new.
As someone who regularly drives vehicles off-road on two-tracks and far worse terrain, and drives more miles off-road per year than probably 99% of your readership, I’d say this is the second most uproarious piece of nonsense I’ve ever seen. The first is the Hummer of any model, but that’s another story.
As I’m looking at the pictures, my first question as I look at it is “Where do I put the hi-lift when it gets stuck?” Getting this thing jacked out of a mudhole will mean scratching or bending sheet metal.
The requirement for premium octane gasoline will drive up the cost of ownership quite nicely, too.
If one wants a vehicle with similar features, mileage, ground clearance and AWD capability, look at a Subaru Outback. Runs on regular gas, comes with an IVT or manual transmission as an option, parts are much more available and the drive-away price is often less than $30K.
That said, the vehicle I prefer to take off-road when hunting or fishing is a 4WD pickup, and the ideal pickup would be something like a F-150 with a 300 CID inline 6, a four or five speed manual transmission and a bench seat, providing seating for four (two guys and two dogs).
Very mixed reviews from the Euro car media. Power is nothing to write home about and For the price you are better off waiting for the mini Cayenne from Porsche. Granted you would be missing out on legendary Range Rover reliability.
BR,assuming you havent already, get Lotus to give you a spin in the Lotus Evora S. Allegedly the sharpest turn in of any daily driver in that $ territory. Only the Boxster Spyder comes as close.