Author Topic: Family vehicle suggestions (Read 1597 times)

republic · « **on:** February 23, 2008, 05:10:20 PM »

We currently drive a 2006 Toyota Matrix XR 5 speed. Great little car but...it's too little for our growing family. I've been in the market for a....gasp....minivan. I need something with lots of room, and I'm on a very tight budget. (I've got an old pickup I'll need to be replacing soon as well.) I really like the Kia sedona but where I live there are almost as many Chevrolet dealerships as there are trees so I've been looking at the Chevrolet Uplander.

Any of you have any experience with the Uplander, what should I look out for?

I had been holding off hoping I could find an idividual to sell my Matrix to rather than have to fool with trading it in...but it's getting really frustrating traveling with the baby in the matrix, especially with another one likely on the way soon.

texasmom · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2008, 05:20:56 PM »

The mini vans are totally wonderful for budding little families. I know txdad hated ours every single day, but I[/I] loved it ~ and seeing as I was the one doing most of the carting around in it... we kept it until it outlived it's usefulness.

*edit* if you need to get a minivan... don't feel too badly about it. It will be completely convenient. And you can go back to cool cars later.

*edit* congratulations =)

Vulcan · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2008, 05:21:37 PM »

Isuzu Bighorn, a vehicle OEM'd so much can be wrong

...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isuzu_Trooper

Also called
Isuzu Trooper
Holden Jackaroo
Opel Monterey
Vauxhall Monterey
Honda Horizon
Chevrolet Trooper

(loves my isuzu)

republic · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2008, 06:24:35 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Vulcan
Isuzu Bighorn, a vehicle OEM'd so much can be wrong ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isuzu_Trooper

Also called
Isuzu Trooper
Holden Jackaroo
Opel Monterey
Vauxhall Monterey
Honda Horizon
Chevrolet Trooper

(loves my isuzu)

Unfortunately the only thing Isuzu sells in the states are rebranded Chevrolets lol

I really wish more European vehicles were offered in the states. The Mazda5 is right up our ally but, it's just a wee bit small. We're suppost to go look at one in a few weeks before we decide on the Uplander.

Captain Virgil Hilts · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2008, 06:30:51 PM »

I despise minivans. We have a small fleet of mid nineties S-10 4 door 4WD Blazers in the family, and I love the little trucks. Plenty of room for a family of 4, plenty of power, good handling, reliable, and very versatile. We may even pick up a late nineties or later model. They get over 20MPG in the city commuter traffic, and closer to 28 on the open road. And they are tough. My daughter ran off the road in hers and hit a tree head on at about 40MPH. It took the lick, laid over on its side, and she had nothing but a seat belt bruise. I can jump in any of them and go to the local warehouse, or go on a hunting trip. They'll haul two big guys, all their gear, and still pull a trailer with 2 4 wheelers, no strain.

I rarely buy a new vehicle, and opt for a well maintained used one instead. A couple of the Blazers had 150K on them when we bought them. No problems nearly 100K later. They are not hard or expensive to maintain, either. A full set of tires can be had for under $350. A major tune up with factory parts is under $100.

SD67 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2008, 06:53:04 PM »

Honda Oddesey if you must get a van, at leat they still look cool.

Mitsubishi Pajero or Jeep Cherokee if you just want some extra room, but IMO unless you get the Grand the Jeep isn't all that much roomier than a large sedan.
We have a Ford Fairmont sedan (I have no idea what it's US equivalent is) and it's got plenty of room for us. It's also got dual fuel so when we get out on the open road we can go for some 1400km before we need to stop for fuel but since Sarah frowns on the use of range extenders we never make it that far and consequently we rarely have to top off the ULP tank.

Chairboy · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2008, 07:50:40 PM »

Don't buy a new car. If you're on a tight budget, buying a new car is a terrible idea. Buy something one or two years old so someone else has the privilege of paying the worst depreciation. Any nonsense about 'saving money w/ warranty coverage' is exactly that, nonsense. Wifey drives a Volvo XC-90 that cost over 40k new, it's just a few years old and we bought it for half that. If you really think you'll manage 20k in warranty repairs, then you need to buy more reliable cars.

Don't be a sucker.

vorticon · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2008, 08:01:56 PM »

if you buy a van, expect to cart other peoples children around in it.

theres plenty of mid-sized sedans with more than enough room for a family. my alero comfortably seats 4 men, and has room in the back for 2 decent sized suitcases. its not a particularly large car either.

mg1942 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2008, 08:40:10 PM »

If you're really going for a van... get a Honda. It's a no brainer here.

If you want an SUV with a car handling, get a Nissan Murano or Infiniti FX.

republic · « **Reply #9 on:** February 23, 2008, 08:45:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by mg1942
If you're really going for a van... get a Honda. It's a no brainer here.

If you want an SUV with a car handling, get a Nissan Murano or Infiniti FX.

Hehe, my budget is 20k or less. I'm shopping mostly used, except for the Mazda5 or Kia Sedona which I can afford new.

Just trying to get an idea of what other people drive and how they like it.

kamilyun · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:00:56 PM »

Do you have any kids in car seats still?

republic · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:02:48 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by kamilyun
Do you have any kids in car seats still?

Yes, a big one, and we plan on a 2nd child sometime next year so it'll need to handle 2 carseats AND another 2 adults, so 6 total people. Which is why i'm thinking minivan.

Chairboy · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:15:42 PM »

Buick Rendezvous? I haven't driven one, but I've been super happy w/ my 99 Regal and have been considering the Rendezvous.

cars.msn.com has the following prices and ratings:
2006 Buick Rendezvous         $16,400 - $18,050     6.9 out of 10     8.8 out of 10
2005 Buick Rendezvous       $14,450 - $17,200    6.9 out of 10    8.4 out of 10
2004 Buick Rendezvous       $12,550 - $16,000    6.9 out of 10    9.1 out of 10
2003 Buick Rendezvous       $10,850 - $12,400    6.9 out of 10    8.6 out of 10
2002 Buick Rendezvous       $9,300 - $10,800    6.9 out of 10    8.5 out of 10

It's listed as seating 7, and doesn't ooze the defeated air of a minivan.

Here's the fuel economy:
All-Wheel Drive
City (mpg)    17 - 18
Highway (mpg)    24
Front-Wheel Drive Trims
City (mpg)    19
Highway (mpg)    26

Wifey had a Chevy Venture, seemed to like it, but it didn't put out the image she needed for her real estate biz.

kamilyun · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2008, 09:32:36 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by republic
Yes, a big one, and we plan on a 2nd child sometime next year so it'll need to handle 2 carseats AND another 2 adults, so 6 total people. Which is why i'm thinking minivan.

Yeah...sitting next to a child's seat isn't fun beyond a run to the grocery store. 3 rows of seating are a must, so minivan is probably the way to go.

I just have one child, me and the wife, so we get away with a smaller SUV. But still haven't figured out what we'll do when we want our 2nd or 3rd...

SteveBailey · « **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2008, 10:13:26 PM »

6 people in a minivan is a squeeze, especially if the kids have toys, equipment to bring along. Anyone who tells you they comfortably fit 6 in a minivan is not being honest with you. I looked at about every minivan on the market when my wife was pregnant with our brood, there wasn't a single one that would seat 6 comfortably.

Look into a conversion van. They are not as expensive as you might think and you can comfortably fit 6.