We currently have an Audi A4 but are thinking it might get tight with baby and dog. Looking at the Highlander and Volvo XC 90. Anyone ever have a Volvo? I'm new to that brand.
My sister has a Volvo, and she loves it. It has enough room for her sons car seat, their two dogs, and groceries. She said it gets good gas mileage too
My fiance and I just bought a Mazda cx-9. We both had cars before but with baby number 4 on the way we needed more seats. After test driving several we felt the Mazda handled the most like a car instead of an SUV, and we were able to get the luxury trim package with all the little extras for less money than with the Toyota Highlander, our second choice. I'm really in love with it and the kids like that they all have their own assigned seat now too.
I have an Equinox that I love but hubby just got a Hyundai Santa Fe with bucket seats and it is pretty awesome! We can seat 7 people and its really not much bigger than my Equinox! Super roomy inside....we took it on vacation (22 hr drive one way) and were able to fit 5 Large suitcases and still have a very comfy ride in the bucket seats even for my dad who is 6'4" and like 300 lbs!
I'm so jealous of all your huge cars! I have a Honda Fit and the car seat just barely fits in the back if we bring the front passenger seat back up a little. We also have a Ford Focus but the A/C doesn't work (and costs more than $1,000 to repair) so it has to be the Honda!
I have a Chevy Cruze LTZ. It gets great gas mileage which is great because I have a 30 minute commute one way for work every day. DH has a Dodge Ram 1500. I made him pick something that the kids would fit in. Otherwise he was going for a 2 door sports car. Thank goodness I made him find something else!
I have a Chrysler pacifica that I love. I refuse to have a minivan even though many people love them. It fits 7 comfortably, so with néw baby it makes 6. ..
That's part of why we kept looking for so long for our SUV. Neither of us wanted a minivan but we NEEDED a 3rd row with 4th child otw. We really liked the Toyota Highlander but it was pretty pricey, so I kept looking and our Mazda CX-9 was so much less in the end. Buying one a few years old helps a LOT with the cost, just get it checked out by a mechanic or buy one with dealer warranty/certified, and you'll be fine. You can definitely find an SUV you like that will cost you less, and in the end they're all pretty similar on the inside.
I have vowed my entire adult life to never drive a mini van. However with number two on the way we went car shopping and came home with a Crystler Town and Country. I LOVE my van!!!! It has tons of room but my favorite aspect is that I can easily change DD in the van and I will be able to comfortable nurse number two while number one entertains herself. I ended up nursing in the car quite a bit with DD because she became very distracted in public. It was so uncomfortable for me so I'm really excited about the extra space. Plus I love the under seat storage and all of the space! Shortly after buying the van our plans for a outdoor picnic were ruined by the rain. So we put the seats down in the van and had our picnic in the van. It was really fun and memorable!
Re: What do you drive?
I don't like minivans or trucks and we always get a rental for road trips longer than 2hrs.
Shortly after buying the van our plans for a outdoor picnic were ruined by the rain. So we put the seats down in the van and had our picnic in the van. It was really fun and memorable!