What CUV/SUV/4x4 should I buy?

[Goodspeed]

are extended or crew cab pickups totally out of the picture? you can get a lot of bang for your buck out of trucks, but the mpg will suffer of course and you may not need or be able to use that much vehicle.

Not at all, I referenced them earlier as from my casual observation post, it seems like the segment has morphed into offering fairly solid everything-mobiles with more efficient engine offerings and some smaller platforms. I don't need to play the urban cowboy with a full-on half-ton...but........if they're great values, and winners in every of my other categories outside of fuel economy...maybe I would? What trucks would you recommend?

Honda Ridgeline, you want utility this is it. The most useful vehicle I've ever owned, still miss it sometimes. It'll take you just about anywhere you'd want to go, the trunk storage is great, tons of interior space and you should be able to get a really nice one for $15-20k. I sold mine 3 years ago with 60k miles for $19k. Drives like a minivan, easy to park, easy to take into DC if needed. Your road bike rolls into the back seat with the wheels on. It may fall a little short on MPG at 22-23 highway, but not a huge deal.

Go drive one, seriously.

Oooh, great call. I *think* I rode in a MM'ers (yours or maybe Gerald's?) one time for karting and remember it being everything you stated and more. Looks like there's a fairly clean '13 model in Fredericksburg, may have to go check this puppy out:

The CX-5 you want the Grand Touring with the Technology Package if you are going full baller.

Thank ya. There's a Mazda dealer pretty close to where I work, I'll mosey on over and jabber-jaw my way into a test drive :thumbup:

Honda Ridgeline

if i lived in DC and didn't need to tow, this is it.

its a lifted 4WD Accord with a bed. i honestly thought about one just last week but we already have an SUV.

That is sounding pretty rad, and I hadn't even considered them yet as they're seemingly really rare to see, I just didn't have it in mind!