Family vehicle suggestions

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Tiger

Mini Vans are awesome, get a mini van

I agree, I really don't understand the stigma about mini-vans. Do people still believe their vehicle defines them?


We have one, and it is great. I have had 3 adults, and 3 kids and their hockey gear (one being a goalie) in the van to go to a game. You can't do that with a wagon or SUV. Most SUV with 7 seating have no cargo space when the rear most seat is up.

As has been mentioned the ability for the kids to get into the vehicle by themselves is great. Also, the sliding door remove the concern about your kids hitting another vehicle when they open the door. Ours has power doors and tailgate. This is a great thing when you are loaded down with kids or other gear.

I honestly think you would be foolish to discount a mini-van without driving them, and really thinking about your future life style.

I will say that we have had great success with Hyundai. We have had two. We had a Santa Fe, currently we have an Entourage (2008) van. We are 140,000 km into it and have never done anything to ther vehicle other than routine/regular maintenance.

In summary:

• Don't write off a min van without driving one, and thinking about your future life (2 kids, which will get bigger)
• If you decide to go SUV take a look at Hyundai. We have had great success/happiness with out vehicle.

Good luck. I just ended my search for a new vehicle this past week.

[Sr. Mints]

Originally Posted by pylon

If you buy a BMW new, the first 4 years of service is free.

True, but he mentioned $40,000. That really limits him with anything new: barebones 2 or 3-Series models, likely.

Although, I'm now curious if BMW's certified pre-owned program offers any kind of comparable free service. I'll google that later.

[bigtmac19]

I know most people would like to avoid the dreaded mini-van, but for great value, convenience when hauling kids and their friends around, it's an excellent vehicle. I was happy when it was time to buy a car again, when my kids were older, but I miss the mini-van quite often when buying a large item and having to figure out how to get it home.

[calgarygeologist]

Have you considered or checked out the Prius V? It might be a good option.

Originally Posted by Peanut

Ford Flex!

Flex is an excellent choice. It is incredibly easy to load kids into the vehicle because it has huge rear doors (not always great in tight parking spots though.) Folding the rear seats provides a great amount of cargo space. It is a solid, well put together vehicle.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by bigtmac19

I know most people would like to avoid the dreaded mini-van, but for great value, convenience when hauling kids and their friends around, it's an excellent vehicle. I was happy when it was time to buy a car again, when my kids were older, but I miss the mini-van quite often when buying a large item and having to figure out how to get it home.

Yeah, we sold our minivan last May and I still miss it. Loved the power sliding doors, the reclining rear seats, etc. As the kids got older, it just didn't make much sense to keep it as it was mostly my wife just driving around in it empty so it was still the right call to sell, but it can't be beat. They are absolutely perfect in every way, shape and form for a young family. I think less of people that write them off for no logical reason.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by fotze

The Mazda5 will do in the budget category but it is gutless. You are the RV driving on Highway 93.

As for the Audi/beemer, not sure I would want a car that nice for two kids that age. IF your wife is anything like mine, the kids can't go 5 minutes without having something to stuff in their maw so the car will get destroyed. Almost want a sacrificial anode of a car until they reach 6. Wish I knew of the no milk in the car theory.

In our first mini van, my oldest son decided he didn't like the colour of the seat belt and corrected it with various "washable" felt pens. Our third child decided to be one of those kids who got car sick on trips any further than the grocery store. The first mini van was definitely not something we would be keeping long term and I'm glad we didn't have an expensive SUV at that point.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Tiger

Mini Vans are awesome, get a mini van

Why didn't you buy a minivan?

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Peanut

Ford Flex!

I rented one of these a few weeks back, and was impressed.

Tons of trunk room, lots of interior room for 2 kids in car seats, handled fairly well in the city.

Only catch might be design. I think they look ok, but some peple may not dig the boxy look.

I am one of the most anti-Ford people on the planet, and I came away impressed.

[Robbob]

Don't have kids but the whole minivan conversation came up one time. They said the sliding doors are great because as kids get older and start opening the doors themselves, which can be a problem in parking lots. Especially if you park beside that vehicle away from everyone else.

[photon]

I hate trucks but the way trucks are now I'd have seriously considered one when my kid was little. Especially if you are at all outdoors-y, almost all the families I know went through the same progression of car-minivan-truck because they all got trailers for camping (which is a pretty good thing for kids).

My wife complains about the Murano being too big for driving/parking though, so she'd hate a truck.

[Suave]

Originally Posted by fotze

Nice used allroad for sale at Royal Joak Audi.

http://royaloakaudi.com/inventory/Au...s+White+246165

Go see pylon for a toureg

Better yet see Pylon for the A4 wagon. Or maybe not since I might go look at it.

http://www.northlandvolkswagencalgar...8d9379785e.htm

[RyZ]

We have a 3 yr old and a 6 month old are looking at a Sienna, Odyssey and Sedona for the wife. Will likely purchase in the next 2 months or so.

My sister has 3 kids under 6 and bought Dodge Journey about 3 years ago bacause she didn't want an "uncool" mini van and kicks herself for it every day now. She will be getting a mini van when her current lease is up and should have got one when she got the Journey.

Think long and hard about getting an SUV over a minivan if you have kids. Once you make the choice you won't be able to go the other way if the SUV doesn't meet your need.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Suave

Better yet see Pylon for the A4 wagon. Or maybe not since I might go look at it.

http://www.northlandvolkswagencalgar...8d9379785e.htm

That thing has 100,000 kms on it. Doesn't seem like that great a deal at $30K. Plus it wouldn't be that easy getting kids in and out of it, which is something he said he wanted (although I know his wife likes the A4). Also, if the OP is over 6' tall, there is no way a rear facing child seat is going to be able to fit behind his seat in that car.

It still comes back to the minivan as your best option.

When you're wife is juggling her purse and a diaper bag, pushing a stroller with the older kid and holding the newborn she will love pushing a button and having the door slide open where she can easily place the kids in the car without any danger or hassle. You can definitely manage with one baby and no minivan, but two babies is more than twice as hard. A sliding door should be mandatory in your car search.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

We have one, and it is great. I have had 3 adults, and 3 kids and their hockey gear (one being a goalie) in the van to go to a game. You can't do that with a wagon or SUV. Most SUV with 7 seating have no cargo space when the rear most seat is up.

Agreed. I have the X5 and it's a pain for people just to get to the back row of seats. They definitely aren't made for adults. It's a great vehicle for five people, but once you get to six, you start looking at taking two cars if the drive is going to be long. I always sit in the driver's seat, so it's not a concern for me.

[VladtheImpaler]

You can get a 2014 Highlander with base features for your price. It's a great family car - the 2014 is bigger, so the 3rd row is comfortably spaced IF you get the bench (not bucket) seats for the 2nd row. We purposefully did not get the top end model to avoid the bucket seats. The mid- range came in at 43K I want to say, though I may be a thousand off in either direction. Pls Toyota is great for resale.

[prarieboy]

We have an Audi A6. The trunk is cavernous. With a cargo box added on top we have no space issues (family of four). Certainly not as big as a mini van but you can take a lot more stuff if you use a cargo box on those occasions you fill the trunk.

[loob job]

I have a new Ford Explorer, i love it, has a huge back when the back row is folded down. Fits everything in there.

[-TC-]

I bought a '09 Lexus GX470 as a winter/utility vehicle as my car (IS250) is not the most spacious vehicle on the road....

And I'm very happy with it. I got a great deal due to the fact that it's got about 160K on it and it's got a bit of paint damage.

If you are considering a bigger SUV, I strongly endorse it, extremely well built and more than enough bells and whistles.

[JonDuke]

My wife and I always hated the notion of getting a mini van. Then we had 2 kids.
2 years ago, traded in a BMW 3 series for a Caravan and I thought it was the end of the world.
A month ago, it was in for repairs and we had a Ford Escape SUV for a rental. Couldn't wait to get our van back.
The sliding doors, especially in parking lots with 2 kids, is a good enough reason for anyone to get one.
I am still not in love with it, but from a practicality perspective, it makes tons of sense.

[Galakanokis]

Young family just go with a minivan with all the bells and whistles, upgrade later when you are not hauling so much stuff around. Automatic doors are the bees knees when hauling stuff including kids. Strollers are bigger than they look when trying to stuff them into a car/SUV. Add in the backpacks and toys and you will love the extra space inside. Storage is key.

I tried to avoid the minivan, big mistake. The SUV just didn't cut it. A stroller with hockey/lacrosse gear and whatever else you need for the day just didn't fit. I lasted two years and broke down and bought the minivan when the 3rd came along.

I have a 5 and 3 year old now and will look to sell the van and get a small SUV or truck. But I keep going back to just how damn convenient the van is.