Yatfadt - What car(s) to buy?

[Turin39789]

Yet Another Turin Family Automotive Dilemma thread.

When wife was looking to replace her subcompact we were pushing for a large sedan but hoping to have 3 young kids soon.

Wound up with a new Honda Odyssey at a big bite of the wallet.

We now have an almost 2 year old and a 12 day old. Planning on another around the same timeframe. Issue is that new recommendations/law is carseat till 6, then booster and carseats ain't small.

After we tested and figured that a Taurus was too narrow to fit three of the behemoths across in one row, we went for the van. I was driving a Ranger, sold it and driving an old Grand Marquis that I'm planning on passing to my niece. My plan was to get a supercrew F150, new(er) enough to have bluetooth, as it gives us the utility of the truck and is wider than any car out there. Essentially one of the only vehicles to fit three big carseats without going 3rd row.

But that gets us back to another 30k vehicle, and I'm a cheapass. Starting to lean towards picking up a fun 1986 Ford F150 singlecab with 100k miles that is a single owner truck coming from the city fire dept for 2k. I don't need the truck daily, but probably monthly+. Then I can pick up a midsize(fusion?) decently equipped for ~15k and save a bunch of money and get better mpg. Only big flaw is I am maintaining a cool but old truck, and midsized sedan isn't super feasible for 3 kids until they get out of the damn safety cages. Also I don't get a behemoth ecoboost or fancy v8, just an old 5.8 liter windsor 351 that gets 11 mpg.

tldr?

[Tylanner]

When it doubt, Jeep Cherokee-2 door.

[Jumpem]

Mazda 5. It has three row seating, is inexpensive as far as new cars go, and is relatively fuel efficient.

Also, booster seats are not really any narrower than car seats. You'll still need plenty of room.

[Ferzerp]

GT500 or GT-R or GT.

Something with GT in the model (not the trim level).

[Turin39789]

Originally Posted by Ferzerp

GT500 or GT-R or GT.

Something with GT in the model (not the trim level).

[manimal]

seven passenger Sienna LE with cloth interior comes with a bench seat with car seat anchors and all three are able to sit side by side. The Honda cannot do that. An Yukon Denali or something that big can also do three side by side. We have three year old triplets and the Sienna works really well. My winter beater Expedition Can as well which fits your criteria

[Turin39789]

Originally Posted by manimal

seven passenger Sienna LE with cloth interior comes with a bench seat with car seat anchors and all three are able to sit side by side. The Honda cannot do that. An Yukon Denali or something that big can also do three side by side. We have three year old triplets and the Sienna works really well. My winter beater Expedition Can as well which fits your criteria

The goal for the two car theory would be to have a more fuel efficient, maybe fun(er) to drive, cheaper, smaller vehicle for going to city.

Also I'm cheap, and as much as I would like it I am trying to keep myself from picking up a new 6.5 foot box supercrew ecoboost pickup with all the trimmings.

And I like old stuff, even if I don't have time anymore to tinker with them and teach myself things like I did when I was single. And it has freaking fire dept logos, whats a legful of rust when you have cool logos?

[God Mode]

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S.

[mvbighead]

Carseat until 6? What the huh? What state are you in?

California:Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat.

Nebrask:All children up to age six must ride correctly secured in a federally-approved child safety seat.

Most seem to suggest a safety seat, IE - http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Juvenile...child+car+seat

I would think that your oldest could sit in something like that, or similar. Just so long as the age/weight requirements are met.

If you're interested in a full sized truck, I'd figure you find something full sized with a quad/crew cab and find the seats to fit. I wouldn't think it'd be too hard to make it all fit, and while it might be tight, your next best option is a third row which means something rated for 7 passengers or higher. That could be a minivan or some sort of SUV with 3rd row seating.

I'd think any car is going to be very, very tight.

[Turin39789]

Originally Posted by mvbighead

Carseat until 6? What the huh? What state are you in?

California:Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat.

Nebrask:All children up to age six must ride correctly secured in a federally-approved child safety seat.

Most seem to suggest a safety seat, IE - http://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Juvenile...child+car+seat

I would think that your oldest could sit in something like that, or similar. Just so long as the age/weight requirements are met.

If you're interested in a full sized truck, I'd figure you find something full sized with a quad/crew cab and find the seats to fit. I wouldn't think it'd be too hard to make it all fit, and while it might be tight, your next best option is a third row which means something rated for 7 passengers or higher. That could be a minivan or some sort of SUV with 3rd row seating.

I'd think any car is going to be very, very tight.

Yea, I was confused. Carseat until 4 / 40lbs, then booster till 6.

Have some friends in the same boat getting by with a civic, but I think they have their almost 6 year old out of a booster.

[Jumpem]

Booster seats are until closer to 12 now. The child has to be 4'9" to no longer use one.

[Turin39789]

[Turin39789]

Bumped. Seriously considering picking up a new F150 supercrew this week, and at the last minute trying to talk myself out of dropping 30+g on this. Back to looking for a single vehicle to replace the GM.

I will need the utility to haul 2 kids in carseats and one in a booster plus the wife and I in the next few years. This rules out pretty much any car. We have the minivan with the wife. My cheap and reasonable option would be a MAZDA5. A crewcab truck is wide enough to do it in 2 rows, otherwise I am moving up to a third row vehicle and the mpg isn't that far off from the truck(i think).

I like the utility of a truck, I don't use it every week but I do every month. But I don't haul heavy, more a load of mulch every year, and home improvement supplies/lumber. But i start shopping and I lean ford, and then I want an 11 or newer for the new engine lineup, and then I want the ecoboost for the power band that I really won't need. I got my chores done fine with my 4 banger ranger, even if it was occasionally overloaded. Also should be fine with a 4x2, but when it comes time to look the feature whore in me wants to get the 4x4 for those icy icy 15 days a year in Ky.

Car shopping is turning me into a mental case.

[thedarkwolf]

What is wrong with just using the Odyssey to haul the kids around? Do you really need two cars capable of doing it well?

[Turin39789]

Originally Posted by thedarkwolf

What is wrong with just using the Odyssey to haul the kids around? Do you really need two cars capable of doing it well?

Both need to be able to tote them all. I get them to daycare most mornings and she gets them in the afternoon

[Doppel]

If you can do booster from age 4 on, basically all midsize cars will hold two boosters and a car seat and I am sure that most full size would do two car seats and one booster.

I'd be hard pressed to allow a law that may not even be law in some states to force me into a particular car purchase.

[Turin39789]

Originally Posted by Doppel

If you can do booster from age 4 on, basically all midsize cars will hold two boosters and a car seat and I am sure that most full size would do two car seats and one booster.

I'd be hard pressed to allow a law that may not even be law in some states to force me into a particular car purchase.

I've got a 2 year old and a 7 week old. The current plan is for number 3 to come by the time the oldest is 4, so its going to be 2 car seats for a few years, then 2 car seats and a booster for 2 more, then 2 boosters and a carseat for awhile.

[lavaheadache]

When I had a kid I promptly sold my Audi A4 and bought a 350z =) most people do things the other way around. With that said I also bought my wife a Murano. Probably why I got a away with the Z.

[power_hour]

Minivan has room for the kids and seats fold away for your hauls. I don't get the problem here. If you want a pickup buy one. Sounds like your asking for permission. Buy what makes you happy man.

[Gerle]

Take a look at Diono Radian R100 and other car seats by them, much more narrow than normal seats. According to reviews people have good results with these, trying to fit three across.

[iamwiz82]

Here is a list of vehicles that will fit three car seats across:

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...car-seats.html

I cannot think of a single reason to purchase that truck, at all. Rent one from Home Depot for $30 if you need something. I have tried to reason with myself that I needed a truck for the same kinds of things, I ended up making 4 trips in one year with it. Insurance was $240 for the year so I dumped the truck and now don't have an ugly vehicle in my driveway .