The car debate

SWBs Wifey

DH wants to get a new, bigger, less EF car when we start a family.  His reasoning is that the Prius and the Corolla aren't big enough for baby, two dogs and us... and luggage.  Right now we make roadtrips regularly since my family is about 4 hours from here and his family is too... in the other direction.  I think the Prius would be fine if we got a luggage rack, do you think that's a sensible solution?  Part of me thinks he just wants a more "manly" car again, but I know I don't want to go to a huge honkin' SUV or minivan.  And sedans with trunks aren't great for traveling with the puppers.  Ideas?  Thoughts?

MeantToBeWed

We have a Scion xB and it works great! However, we don't have 2 dogs to worry about just yet. But, I use it for business and it works just fine. The older models (2006) get GREAT gas mileage.

Dorr_Evil_Twin

Toyota Highlander Hybrid!! (insert shameless employer plug here)

lar1203

how about a station wagon?there are some pretty cute sw's outright now,

we just bought a minivan b/c it's more ecomomical than our old car and it will fit ds, our dogs, and possible luggage. it's not my first choice- i always said i would never drive a minivan! it's really nice and roomy, though. i make dh drive it to work- it was his idea, after all!

kiliwicket

I know that Ford makes an Escape that's a hybrid too. 

Em&B

Mercury also makes a hybrid SUV for what it's worth.

 We actually ended up with the Honda Odyssey (my dad is giving us his "old" 2003, hehe). We were going to buy one anyway, but my Dad says he gets in the upper 20's mpg. It will definitely fit our 3 dogs, luggage, one baby (plus future baby) and the two of us.

luvlieK

Babies and dogs produce a lot of extra things. ?We jam packed our CX-7 for our vacation. ?I think it really depends on how often you would need the extra room. ?And are you just getting a new car to get a new car? ?For instance. ?I have a lease, only option we could afford when my car was giving me problems, so next yr I will need something new (or new to me). ?But then I plan on keeping it for a long while. ?So you just need to sit down and go over all sensible options. ?I don't know if I totally buy into hybrids yet. ?That can be another thread ;o)

dieselmonkey

try a VW diesel.  I have a Jetta sedan that gets 46mpg.  They also have wagons, Toureg (although the mpg sorta sucks) and the new TIguan  (crossover) is coming out in diesel.  Even though diesel is more $ than petrol, you still get better gas mileage and you can use biodiesel (bonus!!!)

SWBs Wifey

He just doesn't think that there will be enough room in either of the cars we have now for so many beings and their things. 

We're not sure how much we will be traveling.  We will very likely be moving next year and we don't know where to yet.  If its fairly close (still within driving distance to family) then we'll probably be driving a lot.  If its across the country, we won't be traveling much at all.  There is even a chance that we'd live in Europe, in which case we wouldn't be taking our cars anyway.  We're just trying to think of all possibilities so that we're prepared when we ultimately need to make a decision.

Dr.Loretta

Honda Fit

renee143

i have a vw jetta wagon. dog rides in the back, extra luggage up top