talk 3rd row vehicles to me

Smootchy · February 2014

Currently I have a sedan, Lincoln Zephyr to be exact. I love my car. Drives great in the snow. Good gas. It's cute. ...but it's small and hardly fits the kids in back. Now that they are older, my DS's feet are constantly on my seat. I'd like a bigger vehicle and prefer one that has 3rd row seating so I can fit more than just 2 car seats in at once.

Prefer not a mini van.

Prefer 'Merican -Chrysler, GM or Ford because I can get discounts on pricing.

TIA

Eleventy11 · February 2014

I'm a suburban girl because we cart around a bunch if stuff. The 2015 suburban is super sweet.

Smootchy · February 2014

I'm afraid a suburban or tahoe would be too big/long but I've never really driven or tested it.

The Acadia, the Enclave ...and I think one other.. maybe the Traverse or something, totally have me drooling a little

NoSoup4You · February 2014

So much love for the Acadia! It's awesome. The Traverse is practically identical for a lower price tag.

RayRay007 · February 2014

I am irrationally opposed to GM/Chevy. I would recommend a Ford Explorer or Flex.

nanabanana06 · February 2014

I looked at a lot if the 3 row vehicles. Here's the problem I found. The 3rd row is generally not rated for car seats. They have less room than the other rows as well. Plus manyof these that Iis where the crumple zone is.

Smootchy · February 2014

HilarityEnsued said:

So the question is, will you want the third row up permanently? If so, do you need a lot of trunk space?

Smootchy · February 2014

I think I'll be ok with a 3rd row sometimes/less trunk space

allrightmeow · February 2014

One of my friends recently got a Durango. She got the captains chairs in the second row so the third row is easier to get in and out of.

MelCfromMN · February 2014

Lurker here, but wanted to recommend the Traverse. I love mine, the second row feels more roomy than my mom's Yukon, great in snow, and the 3rd row is easy to configure (2nd and 3rd lay down flat if you need to haul something and easily pop back up). I only have 1 kid, but we plan to have another, and we have a big lab that goes with us quite often, and it never feels cramped with luggage and whatnot. I like it's easy to get in and out of, and easy to get my kid in/out of his car seat (nice height). One thing to note, it's not great on gas, I thought it would be better, but I get around 22 hwy and 15 around town. Other than that though, I love everything about it. If money wasn't a factor, I would get the Enclave or Acadia (more bells and whistles), but they are all pretty much the same.

Smootchy · February 2014

Nana_Osaki06 said:

I looked at a lot if the 3 row vehicles. Here's the problem I found. The 3rd row is generally not rated for car seats. They have less room than the other rows as well. Plus manyof these that Iis where the crumple zone is.

While you do bring up a good concern, I'm not too worried about car seats in the 3rd row. I have the youngest kids that will be in my car, the older kids just need booster seats which should work fine in a 3rd row. Heck, some of the kids in the family are like 11 and don't use car seats any more anyway.

nanabanana06 · February 2014

chapski said:

Nana_Osaki06 said:

I looked at a lot if the 3 row vehicles. Here's the problem I found. The 3rd row is generally not rated for car seats. They have less room than the other rows as well. Plus manyof these that Iis where the crumple zone is.

While you do bring up a good concern, I'm not too worried about car seats in the 3rd row. I have the youngest kids that will be in my car, the older kids just need booster seats which should work fine in a 3rd row. Heck, some of the kids in the family are like 11 and don't use car seats any more anyway.

Then your good. I just know it's the big reason my next car is a van. We'll need the extra car seat spaces.

thetheisens · February 2014

I have a Yukon XL and love it. Because it is the XL the third row is raised up and sits just like a normal back seat and there is plenty of room in the back, the third row takes up all the room in rear of most vehicles. It is a BIG truck, same size as a Suburban, so it's not great on gas, but you can get the new Denali Yukon XL with the flex fuel option. I LOVE the new body style of the Denali.