Suggest an SUV (fine, a minivan) for me

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

So Mrs Resurrection and myself are expecting another baby in December, and she's politely informed me that we will be buying a minivan or an SUV. So, help me buy an SUV!

My criteria to narrow it down for suggestions:

• Has to have 7 seats
• The 3rd row has to be stowable
  
• No more than 30k newish
• That's it

Thanks for any suggestions... I know nothing about SUVs.

How about that lame "FYP" edit?

Everyone loves a new car of course, but you could get everything you are after and probably more if you get something a couple years old.

[Rubicant]

Honda Odyssey.

Is it two kids you're going to have? I don't know that a 3rd row is 'necessary' for that level of kid, but we also have 2 kids and a 3 row SUV because my wife shut the van down hard.

Congrats by the way!

[OMG!WTF!]

uploading picturescertificity.com

Pleeeeeaaaase can we get this one!!!

[psyang]

For me, sliding doors are one of the best features for a family with young kids. Provides lots of access to add/remove child seats, buckle kids in, etc. And later, when the kids are old enough to open the doors themselves, no risk of them dinging the cars beside you.

When we finally moved on from a minivan, we went to a Mazda 5 which allowed me to have a bit more fun driving without losing the sliding doors. It also still had 3rd row seating, but was also budget-friendly and much better on gas than our Sienna. Possibly the most versatile vehicle we owned, though we fit its targetted demographic to a T. It also came with the option for standard transmission - driving stick on a vehicle with sliding doors was fun, but surreal.

[Lubicon]

Minivan for sure. My kids are older now and we're past the minivan stage but they are a godsend if you have smaller kids. Plenty of volume for hauling crap, extremely easy to get in and out of (for everyone) and all in all just way too convenient. Honda Odyssey has good reviews and although they are more $$ up front I have heard they also hold their resale better than other brands so you may get that money back when you sell. Dodge Caravan has been the poster child for minivans and I think it's hard to go wrong with one of these too.

[REDVAN]

This thread makes me happy.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

30k is going to be tough, even for a minivan I would suspect

We have the Ford Explorer with stowaway third row and it has been a good vehicle for us. Base is probably under $40k

[White Out 403]

I posted that it should be 30k new as a baseline, I dont intend on buying a new vehicle.

[Northendzone]

needs sidewinders and a chain link steering wheel......man I remember being 13 or so in the late 70's and dreaming about getting a rig like this.

can you really get new vans, suv's etc for $30k these days?

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

uploading picturescertificity.com

Pleeeeeaaaase can we get this one!!!

[flylock shox]

I actually loved my folks' old Honda Odyssey. Handled well, lots of power, tons of room. I bet they'd still be driving it if my Dad hadn't rolled the thing in some snow.

They've had a Highlander for years now and it's a good car, but my Dad still pines for the old van. Says it's the real utility vehicle. I agree.

[The Yen Man]

If I had a family with kids, I wouldn't care about buying a van. I remember talking to a lady at work, and she was adamant of not wanting to look like a soccer mom driving a van, so she has to at least get an SUV. I'm like, well, doesn't really change the perception whether it's a van or SUV. People still see you as a soccer mom lol.

But getting back on topic, I'd totally get a van. Those things are super convenient for hauling things, the sliding doors are good for clumsy kids, parents, etc. to get out of, and they are comfortable on road trips.

[DoubleF]

Odyssey, Sienna and Caravan should be good options at the 3 year old mark. At that range, it will still be quite new and with a price low enough that it should fit your criteria.

Funny thing is, many guys I chat with love the vans over SUV. Somehow the perception is different with guys vs girls driving a van. I drive a luxury car, but sometimes thinking of the utility of a van, I'd swap to a van in a heart beat. I really enjoy my parents Odyssey. It's a little underpowered now (over a decade old), but it still is excellent and we borrow it all the time for various transportation reasons.

Aren't SUVs a little higher than most vehicles? Without the sliding door and lifting a baby slightly higher, it'll be a bit of a juggle. The sliding doors benefit your access too.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

I posted that it should be 30k new as a baseline, I dont intend on buying a new vehicle.

Yeah, I get that, but I still think it is pretty tough for a third-row type vehicle. I suppose the Kia Santa Fe and Dodge Caravan might be in that range, but I don't recall much else.

[Buff]

Mazda 5 was mentioned. I have one, it is such a great car. There is next to no leg room in the 3rd row though, and when the 3rd row is up, there is no storage space in the back. We have 3 kids and we can't use the Mazda 5 to go on family vacation, but we can take the entire family along when getting from point a to point 2 around the city.

We also have a Dodge Grand Caravan. It actually is extremely functional for our family of 5. Plenty leg room in the 3rd row (for kids anyway, I've never sat back there) and plenty storage space when you're on a holiday and need to take along luggage. It's super convenient that both the 2nd and 3rd rows are stow'n'go. That van can carry a lot of stuff!

Hey, I know how you feel about having to get a mini-van. I was allergic to mini-vans. However, kids was the antidote to that allergy. Once you're a parent you're not cool anymore. You don't need the cool cars to make you look cool as you take your kids along because it just isn't functional. Function over appearance wins out on so many levels.

[DuffMan]

My boss still drives a full sized van and I don't even think any of her kids live at home anymore. She used to have 3 and then new hubby had 3, that also visited the other spouses houses, so potentially up to 6 kids for a week at a time. Even if any of them were still at home, they would definitely have their own vehicles by now.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

ok fine ffs suggest me a minivan then too.

god damn it.

If it helps, you're not going to look any cooler in some 3-row crossover than you are in a minivan. Just look at any school parking lot.

You're a dad with kids and all their oversized junk...cool went out the window a long time ago, so just embrace the practicality.

[Since1984]

Honda Odyssey, You will never be disappointed.

http://wwwa.autotrader.ca/a/Honda/Od...howcpo=ShowCPO

[flamesforcup]

What about the Pruis v? Looks good plenty of space starts at around 28k and has 7 seats plus u will get insane fuel economy and Toyota reliability.
But tbh the best option is buy used as u will get more for ur money and 30k is a great budget for a nice used suv. That is if ur buying cash.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by dubc80

I have 2 kids under 3 and we have a Toyota Highlander.
Awesome vehicle. It would fit your criteria with the 3rd row, and 7 seats. You can get a used one a few years old for under $30K.

However, the 3rd row seating is useless.

Since the 2nd row doesn't fold flat, you have to climb over the 2nd row to get back there. With 2 car seats, its pretty much impossible. Well, unless you want to take the car seats out, flip it down, climb over into the back, then re-install everything.

When you have the 3rd row up, there is virtually no trunk. I'm not sure our stroller would even fit to be honest.

I think most 3-row SUV's would be like this.

I see a mini-van in my future.

Quoted for emphasis. I know so many people that have bought a 3 row SUV and hate the thing as the 3rd row is useless when you have car seats in the 2nd row, especially if you're rear facing. One friend is trading in his Pilot after only 1 year. The Nissan "flip" seats help somewhat, but don't work with Rear Facing seats or infant carriers.

Car companies are really pushing the image thing with the SUV's, but from a usefulness they are really lagging minivans.

[Galakanokis]

I gave up on the SUV dream about 3 months after having our second young child. Thing was completely useless for doing anything family related. Just not enough room to pacj strollers, hockey.lacrosse gear/, and groceries or whatever. Playing Tetris everyday just to go out for awhile became a pain.

Went to the minivan and never looked back. Now that the minivan is a little older and strollers are long gone I keep thinking I will go back to the SUV but the more I look at them the minivan makes more and more sense. They are just too damn convenient and roomy.