vehicle upgrade?

Kt&Dave · August 2013

Looks like we will be getting a bigger car with #2 on the way, needing room for 2 carseats our little car is just too little. We're looking at the Rav4 anyone else looking to upgrade before baby comes? What vehicles are you thinking? I wanted a small suv with good gas mileage too.

hagapalooza · August 2013

We just upgraded to a small suv and bought a Mitsubishi outlander. We love it!!!! Ours has a third row that folds into the floor and seats 2 so the suv seats 7 total.

aracelyluna · August 2013

We are getting a minivan. We travel a lot, have a dog and may end up with a third sooner than later.

JayNina · August 2013

I want a big SUV but the gas mileage is awful, so I think we will probably go with a Toyota Sienna. I so HATE vans but I don't think we have a choice!

erinsullivan427 · August 2013

We upgraded to the Mazda CX-5 and I love it. Great gas mileage and good safety ratings!

ajdmama · August 2013

I'm in the market for a new car too! Idk what I want though. I test drove a mini van but I just can't justify being "that" mom at 26 lol. Not that anything is wrong with vans but it cramps my sexy. I think I want another Jeep GC (not a new one since they have safety issues) but we live in a very snowy place so it seems like a good fit. I had one last year but got rid of it because the gas was ridiculous (it was a hemi).but I'd be curious to see what you guys think are good family cars- we will have 2 car seats as well. Yikes, can't believe that's about to be real life in 6 months! #-o

codec · August 2013

We just upgraded last year. We looked at the RAV4 it was super nice, but we ended up going with the Honda Crv for gas mileage. We test drove the RAV4 and it was super roomy in the back.

We upgraded from a Honda coupe, god that car was super small, lol.

TradeMama · August 2013

We upgraded my jeep gc to a Honda pilot last year because we needed a third row seat.

Kt&Dave · August 2013

codec said:
We just upgraded last year. We looked at the RAV4 it was super nice, but we ended up going with the Honda Crv for gas mileage. We test drove the RAV4 and it was super roomy in the back.

We upgraded from a Honda coupe, god that car was super small, lol.

Is the gas mileage the only deciding factor for the crv versus the rav4?

CharlestonVal · August 2013

I now drive a ....Mazda Miata. Yeah a 2-seater little sports car. I love it, but it's my ONLY car and of course it won't fit a car seat.

I want to cry thinking of trading it in, but it must be done. I don't have the finances to keep it around as a "fun car".

Here's hoping I can get something decent, reliable and "cool" for the 10k trade-in because a car payment would cripple my finances right now after having just gotten married, and bought a house.

I'm afraid it will have to be a mini van. But, I'm willing to get whatever keeps my baby super safe!

candacedecker · August 2013

Subaru's are excellent vehicles. Definitely worth looking into. The new Forester is perfect for a small family.

BrideNamedMeg · August 2013

I got my Honda odyssey after #2 arrived since we knew we wanted 3 eventually. We love it, I've never cared much for cars so the whole mini van thing never bothered me

codec · August 2013

Kt&Dave said:

We just upgraded last year. We looked at the RAV4 it was super nice, but we ended up going with the Honda Crv for gas mileage. We test drove the RAV4 and it was super roomy in the back.

We upgraded from a Honda coupe, god that car was super small, lol.
Is the gas mileage the only deciding factor for the crv versus the rav4?

Yep, that was the breaking point. Remembering off the top of my head it was a 15mpg difference for the 2012. Other than that we were really confused as to which one to get, they both were really nice. Same price with rebates and everything.

We were ultimately sold for the mileage on the crv because we would be moving from California to Indiana in the car for the 15mpg to make a big difference.

Nadeau Photography · August 2013

We got a Toyota Highland a year and a half ago because it has a third row. Love it, but regretting it a bit because access to the 3rd row is annoying. Looking at trading it in for a Buick Enclave or GMC Acadia, because they have the captains chairs in the 2nd row instead of the bench. Husbands not to keen on trading already, so I may just have to suck it up.

kem13bad · August 2013

We just upgraded from an 04 Chevy Cavalier to a 2013 Chevy Equinox! We love it! It has tons of room and gets 25 miles to the gallon.

benevolentforce · August 2013

A number of our friends with 1 or 2 kids have the Escape with the Eco Boost engine and rave about them! If we move back to the US before LO is born, it's at the top of our list.

benevolentforce · August 2013

@tinabean531 Another vote of confidence! DH wants a Volt. I'm telling him you said I should have the Escape.

Stowne101 · August 2013

We are looking at the same size car as you. We test drove the RAV 4 the other day and really liked it then we went and test drove the CRV. Now we are leaning towards the CRV. I agree with the other post about better gas mileage. The 2013 CRVs have this econ button that you can get almost 36 mpg with it on the highway. Both the cRV and RAv 4 have the back up cameras, but the CRV had like 3 different views on it. Also the CRV was a little cheaper and the dealer is offerring .9% financing compared to Toyota offering 2.9. I also liked how the CRVs back side doors opened totally flat out. More leg room in front seat for my tall DH. And some great storage up front. Also I sat up a little higher in the CRV.

Babykawash · August 2013

We have a Honda CRV, would def recommend it especially if you are considering the RAV4.

talitha712 · August 2013

We got a minivan since this is #2. Fwiw, I think it's the Rav4 that technically can only seat 2 passengers in the back, even though there are 3 seatbelts. The driver side and middle seat belts overlap by more than 50% and Toyota states they are not to be used at the same time. I don't have a Toyota but a post about this was all over the Car Seats for the Littles Facebook page a few days ago. It's a known flaw but Toyota won't fix it.

kdel09 · August 2013

We just upgraded to the Honda Pilot. We have an Accord so I wanted to cry when I saw the gas mileage, but it is nice to have so much space.

jfb29 · August 2013

erinsullivan427 said:
We upgraded to the Mazda CX-5 and I love it. Great gas mileage and good safety ratings!

I have the CX-9 and LOVE it! We have 2 dogs so we opted for the bigger model but if we didn't have the dogs I would have gone with the CX-5.

VineyardMel · August 2013

We got an Escape last year before DD and I hate it--there's not enough cargo space for me if you pull the cargo cover over your stuff (which is recommended so the objects don't become projectiles if you're in an accident). I could get a stroller in and that's it. We got DH a new Passat and I took it over. I miss being up a little higher, but the cabin space is the same size and the trunk space is amazing. And it's got more of the creature comforts I like. Now I want to sell the Escape for a larger SUV, but DH isn't sold yet.

karacakes98 · August 2013

We're going to have to get a minivan. I'm putting it off as long and possible because I LOVE my car (2012 Sonata) with its awesome gas mileage and the low payment that we have on it. I really like the Acadia, but unless DH gets some really big commissions in the coming months it's out of our price range. We've driven an Odyssey (very uncomfortable for us) and a Town & Country so far. We'll check out the Sienna before we make a decision. I'm not going to give up my car until either right before or right after baby arrives, though.

wearebirds · August 2013

I'll eventually be getting a small or mid size SUV. I'm not sure if we will do it before having the baby though, we're trying to get our credit as good as we can get it so we can buy a house in the next year or so. So DH keeps saying we should wait. But my car is old....and the AC doesn't work well and damnit I just want an SUV!! Hahahha

ufsandra85 · August 2013

I have a cx7 and love it. I debated between the cx9 and 7 and I am glad i went with the 7. it was highly rated and really inexpensive. I really like it

skeppler1 · August 2013

This is definitely a subject that we keep going back and forth with. My DH has a Dodge Nitro (plenty of room for two on the way) but my care is a 2002 4door VW Golf with the headliner falling down. I want to try to make it work until the Nitro is paid off then was looking at either the Ford Edge, Volvo XC60 or a BMW X3 (pre owned of course).
Good gas mileage is a must since the Nitro isn't the best.
I will have to keep any eye out to what others say about what they love.
With twins on the way, we will need the room of another SUV.

ufsandra85 · August 2013

I love the volvo XC60 and 90. The last rental cars we have had have been these and i loved all the fancy features.

saisongbird · August 2013

We have a 2012 Subaru Forester and love it.

Katrina89Marie · August 2013

Looking at Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander or my fav the Ford Flex. I want an SUV with 3rd row bc its pointless to me to get a "little" SUV when it doesn't hold more than our current sedans. I need extra seats for extended fam for when we carpool to events.

amandoza23 · August 2013

We bought a Mazda CX-9 when we started TTC. I love it and it'll be perfect for when we have #2 later down the road.

crystaljoanna · August 2013

We are test driving some type of Acura SUV this weekend. My husband is a huge car guy and has been obsessing! There is a new tesla SUV that he's considering but the price tag is too high for my taste. Completely electric though and fast.

HobokensFury · August 2013

I just gave up my 2 door red sports car for a Kia Sorento. It was something that had to be done.

kseccomb17 · August 2013

I would love to get a Porsche Cayenne S or an Audi Q5..only in my dreams

erinsullivan427 · August 2013

wearebirds said:
I'll eventually be getting a small or mid size SUV. I'm not sure if we will do it before having the baby though, we're trying to get our credit as good as we can get it so we can buy a house in the next year or so. So DH keeps saying we should wait. But my car is old....and the AC doesn't work well and damnit I just want an SUV!! Hahahha

Definitely wait then. We bought two new cars in jan/feb not thinking about moving and our credit went down for awhile. We were looking at buying this summer and our credit scores both went down by 50+ points. They say it can take over 6 months for them to normalize. Definitely worth waiting to get a better interest rate

Good luck!

memo9 · August 2013

aracelyluna said:

We are getting a minivan. We travel a lot, have a dog and may end up with a third sooner than later.

Ditto this! A lot of the smaller SUV's don't have any more room than my car, totally not an upgrade for us. I'm really forward to having all that space!

Soxchick1 · August 2013

We just bought the toyota highlander and i love it! The third row is nice to have when you need it but folds down when you don't. The middle seat in the second row is removable so you can turn them into captains chairs if you prefer!

OakvilleMomof3+1 · August 2013

We have to find an 8 passenger vehicle which is not easy. As a blended family this will be kid number 6! So unless we take two vehicles everywhere we go we need to find an 8 passenger.

Jess C · August 2013

When I was preggers with DS I upgraded from a Toyota Corolla to a Kia Sportage. It's been 2.5 years and I still absolutely love it! It drives like a car (i.e. easy) but has AWD and I feel super safe in inclimate weather. I had looked at the Sportage and the RAV4, but I felt like I got much more for my money with the Kia. Gas mileage was about the same, but the Kia was actually less expensive (at the time) and had built-in bluetooth (comes standard in Kias). Seems like a small thing, but it's incredibly handy. I love the look of it too. About 6 months after I got mine, DH actually traded his car in for the Sorento. It's pretty similar to the Sportage, but with a bit more room. Good luck!

Mcsweets · August 2013

We're trying to live with our cars. Mine is fine (Nissan Murano) but DH drives a Kia Spectra - I think this should be fine with 2 car seats? It's a small car, but still 4 doors. Ugh - they're both paid off. He hates that car, got it in college .. but still a decent car. IDK what we're going to do.

KariB509 · August 2013

We got a Ford Escape after taking a trip with DS. Glad we got it since #2 is on the way now. I like it but I wouldn't argue with @vineyardmel on the lack of cargo space. It's hard to get a stroller in the trunk with anything else (such as suitcases if you're traveling). We make it work though. There's enough room for passengers and it doesn't feel like we're all cramped in there when we travel or just drive around town. I like it enough that I don't feel like I need to buy another car any time soon. Now if I were having #3, I'd be getting something larger.

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