It was awful.
We have a parking spot in our backyard that’s snug for the Passat, and access in the winter is difficult. AWD and increased ground clearance is going to be a big plus.
So we’re shopping 3-row SUVs that aren’t too massive. The kids want space - something massive like a Lincoln Navigator, or a minivan like the Kia Sedona. I’d be fine with either, but I’d really rather have a Land Rover LR4. My wife wants something reliable (bye-bye, Land Rover). I guess what we’ll end up with is a compromise.
The actual shopping experience was a horror show. I don’t know what I was expecting, but...
We stopped by one dealer that had 3 possible vehicle for us to look at, but there were apparently no salespersons available to help us. The service bay was empty and there were no other customers visible when we arrived, but hey, I guess everyone was too busy.
We went to a second dealership that had a salesperson available, but he was an absolute caricature: old guy with a crooked tie, coffee stain on the shirt, pointless patronizing comments about the “nice family” etc, and generally not that useful when it comes to the actual car.
So I made some calls, and will make an appointment to see some cars next week.