SUVs - Transporting in Style

In the very first article, you decided to purchase a sports car - very wise, very macho. Well, guess what? You still have to transport the family around and there's no way you want to do that in a mini-van!

You, Sir/Madam, want an SUV - a Sports Utility Vehicle. These 4x4 or AWD (All Wheel Drive) vehicles have, effectively, been around since WWII. They were descendants of the commercial vehicles built around that time for hauling personnel and materials. They weren't, however, officially designated "SUVs" until the 1990s, when they really became popular thanks to the Jeep Cherokee.
Now that money isn't an object to this purchase, what should you consider? Don't forget that you'll need roominess or seating capacity, cargo capacity, style, and .... HORSEPOWER!! Allow me to present the following options for your consideration:

1. Porsche Cayenne - The fastest SUV on the road, the Turbo S model does 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds - that's faster than most sports cars! It's styling may not appeal to everyone, but there's no doubt you could get the kids to school in a fraction of a heartbeat: giving you plenty for the simpler pleasures in life. It produces 550 hp at 6,000 rpms and has a top speed of 174 mph (282 kph)!! The cost for this beast is a reasonable at an MSRP of $124,800 USD.

Living the Dream Rating: $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ (10/10)

2. Range Rover Sport (see top picture) - My favourite SUV on the market. But, that's me. The Range Rover has evolved from a boxy underpowered brute of a vehicle into the sophisticated and elegant machine of today. One could easily imagine the owners dressed in their finest apparel on their way to enjoy the opera, regardless of the fact they just might be going for groceries. The Range Rover Sport HSE won't win any races - it does 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds, produces 300 hp at 6,000 rpm, and has a top speed of 140 mph (226 kph). It is more cost effective though, having a MSRP of $86,700 USD.

Living the Dream Rating: $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ (10/10)

3. BMW X6 - A relatively newcomer to the SUV world (2009), the X6 takes on a much sportier look than it's brothers - the X5 and smaller X3. It's effectively a sports sedan body on an SUV frame - the best of both worlds! The x5.0i version will power you down the road with a 408 hp @ 6,400 rpm engine that'll get you off the line and up to speed (0-60 mph) in 5.4 seconds. You'll be able to make that road trip with time to spare, as its top speed is 155 mph (250 kph). Yours for just $67,000 USD. (Wait for the "M" version coming out in 2010!)

Living the Dream Rating: $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ (9/10)

Remember that these prices are not inclusive of all the different options you might want to include in your SUV ... and, of course, those pesky taxes!