My wife hated vans too until we had kids. Trying to load a baby into a Compact SUV changed her mind pretty quick. I used to drive the van to work because my commute is 10 times longer than hers and its better on gas than the truck. She ended that quickly because she likes how easy it isto load the van now.
We had a 2006 Rav 4, it was a good vehicle. The V6 was lots powerful in it. It also had a decent amount of interior room.
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My wife hated vans too until we had kids. Trying to load a baby into a Compact SUV changed her mind pretty quick. I used to drive the van to work because my commute is 10 times longer than hers and its better on gas than the truck. She ended that quickly because she likes how easy it isto load the van now.
I wish more cars had sliding doors. In Europe you see it more since they have narrower parking spaces, but for some reason we only have them here on vans. I feel like it would be a welcome feature on lots of SUVs/crossovers too.
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For 8-10 grand your best bang for your buck is likely a 2006-7 Nissan Murano. Good fuel economy, space and reliability IMO. Most things suggested so far are out of your budget. An older Touareg is an option, but it would end up being a 2004-5 if you got the v6.
Nissans are fine, as long as you don't get the Juke. That's the ugliest car on the market right now. Up there with the Fiat Multipla and the PT Cruiser as one of the ugliest cars ever.
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Nissans are fine, as long as you don't get the Juke. That's the ugliest car on the market right now. Up there with the Fiat Multipla and the PT Cruiser as one of the ugliest cars ever.
A crossover with a sliding door is called a mini van
Not sure about that. Most crossovers are lifted for ground-clearance (and the pretense of offroading ability!), where vans still ride low. Vans also tend to have atleast 3 rows + room for cargo...plenty of crossovers only have 2 like a car. I see crossovers more as lifted hatchbacks.
It is funny though how so many crossovers/SUVs are trying to cram van like features in these days. It's like people want everything a van does, but they are too scared to actually buy the damn van.
Assuming you're talking about the ZDX, but I find those two to be part of the silliest class of vehicles out there. The ones where you get all the bloat of a SUV, but with the interior space of a coupe (and rearward visibility of a tank)!
There's a pretty legendary Top Gear review of the X6.
Totally agree. It astounds me how many X6's I see on the road. Along with the aforementioned packaging issues they are also hideous things IMO. The GLE 'SUV Coupe' is another turd, I don't get it.
Not sure about that. Most crossovers are lifted for ground-clearance (and the pretense of offroading ability!), where vans still ride low. Vans also tend to have atleast 3 rows + room for cargo...plenty of crossovers only have 2 like a car. I see crossovers more as lifted hatchbacks.
It is funny though how so many crossovers/SUVs are trying to cram van like features in these days. It's like people want everything a van does, but they are too scared to actually buy the damn van.
The larger SUVs like the Pathfinder or Traverse are essentially A Toyota Sienna raised about 4" higher. A Mazda 5 is pretty much a Kia Rondo.
id agree that the smaller crossovers are lifted hatch backs. The larger ones with 3 rows on car chassis are mini vans without sliding doors
Fiance considering a 2008 escape.
I don't love it, but I've never been a fan of Ford. Anyone have experience or thoughts?
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Fiance considering a 2008 escape.
I don't love it, but I've never been a fan of Ford. Anyone have experience or thoughts?
Just wrote off a 2008 escape in the hail storm last summer. Would have driven it forever if I hadn't liked he payout I was offered. Never had an issue with it. Had about 130k kms.
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Fiance considering a 2008 escape.
I don't love it, but I've never been a fan of Ford. Anyone have experience or thoughts?
I had one. Some front end suspension problems and rusting out around the wheel wells. Otherwise not a terrible ride or anything but likely wouldn't buy another one. That and I don't particularly like the new design that much.
I bought a 16 Dodge Journey which is funny considering the discussion in this thread regarding vans and such. It seats 7, has lots of room and is a pretty smooth ride. I haven't had it long enough to give much more input and haven't had it in winter yet so my overall experience is limited.
So we're looking at 4runners now.
In her price range, it's going to have to be 2005-ish.
How many kms is too many kms for a 4runner? Everyone tells me buying one with 200,000 is no problem, but I'm pretty skeptical.
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k im just not going to respond to your #### anymore because i have better things to do like #### my model girlfriend rather then try to convince people like you of commonly held hockey knowledge.
So we're looking at 4runners now.
In her price range, it's going to have to be 2005-ish.
How many kms is too many kms for a 4runner? Everyone tells me buying one with 200,000 is no problem, but I'm pretty skeptical.
It's no problem to buy an SUV with 200,000 kms if you want to buy another SUV next year.
Have you looked at a Honda Pilot?
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