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November 2011 Moms
catch2010
member
Gearheads: "mom cars" that don't suck?
catch2010
member
Not really sure where to post this... if there's a better board for this, let me know!
I'm looking for a vehicle that will fit two tall adults, a 100-pound dog, and our upcoming baby. I don't see us having any more than two children and I would like to get something that will last us a while. Given the giant dog, I don't think we'd be able to get anything other than a minivan or an SUV with a collapsible third row, but I'm open to any other ideas out there. At this time, I'm not even considering price if it's something that fits the bill.
Here's the rub: no minivans, nothing that is underpowered or handles sloppy, and nothing too chintzy on the inside. I really enjoy driving and I've always had performance cars/motorcycles, so how it drives is just as important to me as the available space inside, and I just can't handle cheapy, plastic-looking interiors.
Thanks so much in advance for suggestions!
"I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing."
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Gearheads: "mom cars" that don't suck?
I drive a 2011 Honda CRV and absolutely LOVE it. Even though it doesn't have a 3rd row, there's plenty of room in the "trunk" space to put the dog if you didn't want him on the seat.
I also suggest looking into the Honda CRV. Or maybe the Honda Pilot. But I find the CRV to be very roomy in the front and back seats plus plenty of room in the trunk!
I'm like you, I like cars that can perform and handle well. I'm biased since I used to work for BMW and that's all we'll drive, but my X3 is my favorite car I've ever owned. It's built on the 3-series chassy, so it handles like a car. The X-drive allows me to take corners in the rain and it handled a snow/ice storm this winter better than any car I've ever driven. DH raved that it was better than his parents' Audi in the bad weather. It certainly doesn't have the acceleration that DH's 335 does, but it's really not too shabby and I do "floor it" more than the average person.
Anyway, we have a 70-lb dog and she's quite content in the cargo area. I can toss my saddle and horse gear wherever and when we travel we can fit everything we need in there, including the huge dog crate. I've put about 90,000 miles on it, haven't spend a dime on anything except tires, and will definitely be buying another one once I drive this one into the ground. Oh, and it's at the perfect height for getting a car seat in and out. You don't have to lift up at all like other SUVs and don't have to bend down like in a sedan, either. Good luck in your search!
We're looking at Nissan SUVs right now. We currently have a Jeep Cherokee and the backseat isn't deep enough for car seats anywhere besides the middle. You might want to take a couple car seats with you to a dealership so that you can make sure that everything fits comfortably. We are looking at the Pathfinder and Xterra, which might be smaller than what you have in mind, but what we found was that even though the Xterra is smaller overall, it has a deeper backseat because it doesn't have the third row seat, so in our case, not having that extra row of seating fits the needs of my tall husband better. The Xterra is also an attractive option because we like to camp and go off road, and the undercarriage is armored.
To fit a tall husband AND a dog, you might have to go with a full size SUV (in the case of Nissan that would be the Armada)
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i like the new Jeeps...they seem to have a lot of room. same with the Dodge Durango (you can get the RT with the Hemi, which also comes with some pretty sweet dubbs). I have a Dodge Magnum and I LOVE it. But we have 2 big dogs and the baby on the way so there's not much room...plus the top is chopped like a hot rod so it has a super low roof line. Most wagons are similar to this so it doesn't seem too comfy for the dogs. I'm not sure what the inside of the Durango is like but I love the layout of my Dodge. It had a few pieces that looked cheap (shifter, etc.) but i just swapped them out for some nicer aftermarket pieces. I don't like the grill on the Durango but then again I didn't like the grill on my Magnum so I just got a new one
The most important thing is going to be to test drive and make sure you like how it handles.
My boss has the MDX and it does have a decent amount of space but I also have a 100lb dog and she wouldn't fit too comfortably in the back along with our bags when traveling. My in-laws have the Rogue and it's about the same size as the MDX. Their 70lb golden retriever is a bit squished in the back.
My mom just got a brand new GMC Acadia! It's terrific! I have a Nissan Rogue (no 3rd row) soI'm hoping to make it another 2 years before trading up. It's definitely tight in out vehicle when DH and I take a trip with the dog too. It's going to be tight with the new baby and baby gear
Thanks for all of the great suggestions! The Ford Explorer was first on my list of cars I need to check out, as I've driven Ford trucks before and I liked them offroad (never owned one, though).
I just sold my SLK for $8k, so we think we might end up spending around that on an older, used SUV so I can keep my C30 instead of trading it in on something newer and more luxury, which is sounding more and more like a good idea to me as I love my C30, though it will still need to be able to move relatively quick and handle as well as something with a higher center of gravity can.
Anyone here drive a Land Rover Discovery? I tried the LR3 yesterday and liked it, but DH was quick to point out how cheesy some of the trim pieces were on the one we were looking at. The Discovery is listing on my local craigslist for around $8k.