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Advice for friend: best family vehicle for at least 6+2?

GTaudiophile

GTaudiophile

Lifer
Family of 6:
2 Adults
4 Kids (Ages 0-5)
+2 seats for pax.

Recommendations?

Something preferably with Diesel or Hybrid option?
 
Something for at least 8 people? At that point you're looking at a van of some sort. Minivan at least (in which case, Honda's Odyssey is quite nice) or waiting a bit for Ford to get their 2014 Transit to the US. But even there you're looking at only seating for 6 or 7 people.

Asking for 8 seats is a tall order. Probably more likely looking at something like a late model Econoline or Chevy Van with the diesel V8 if they truly need all 8 seats.
 
Yep, you'd need an oldschool dual-bench minivan, at the least. Everything now is generally seven seats or less. Either you get a van, which has two buckets in the middle row, or an SUV that has a bench there, but a much smaller third row.
 
8 passenger sienna with the bench behind the driver and pass. Its cramped however. A friend who has quadtruplets has a mercedes sprinter that I put some entrainment into and it made me want one so bad.
 
Funny. I had already recommended both the MB Sprinter and Honda Odyssey options. The Sprinter was my first recommendation.
 
The Durango can seat 7 and for 2014 the V6 will get the 8 speed auto, and it should be out in May.
 
GTaudiophile said:
Funny. I had already recommended both the MB Sprinter and Honda Odyssey options. The Sprinter was my first recommendation.
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Sprinters are sweet! You can fit a whole clan in there comfortably. Our friends with quadruplets can fit all the kids plus grandparents and a stroller + supplies.

If you want to go cheap get 2007-2008 8 passenger sienna. You can get those used with 60k miles in the 14-15s. Cant get those models with leather sadly if you want 8 pass


23BeckerJetVanConversionOfMercedesSprinter2.jpg

04.jpg

Mercedes-Sprinter-Brilliant-Van-5.jpg

heres a pic from MB website.

DO WANT!
 
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what is 2 pax? if its 4 kids, 2 adults and some cargo room a suburban would certenly fit, and it does come in a hybrid.
 
manimal said:
If you want to go cheap get 2007-2008 8 passenger sienna. You can get those used with 60k miles in the 14-15s. Cant get those models with leather sadly if you want 8 pass.
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The 8-passenger Odysseys can be had with leather. Our 2007 EX-L has leather and seating for 8. It's a great minivan.
 
GTaudiophile said:
Funny. I had already recommended both the MB Sprinter and Honda Odyssey options. The Sprinter was my first recommendation.
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The passenger version of the Sprinter in the US starts at $40,000 for a stripped-down model. Add another ~$1,500 if you want to get the option package that includes cup holders.

It's a nice vehicle, but the price is pretty high in the US.

ZV
 
the problem with something so big is that you may not be able to enter some covered parking zones because it's too high (let alone parking spots). This can be an hassle if you want to go shopping.
 
GTaudiophile said:
He's coming from a Q7, so money is not concern #1.
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Maybe not, but paying ~$42,000 for a Sprinter with cloth seats an a basic 4-speaker stereo might not be a great value when just about the same price can get a person a fully optioned Odyssey Touring (and only a couple thousand more for the Touring Elite model).

I do believe that for a slight premium though the Sprinter will let you upgrade to genuine vinyl seats though, so there's that. :biggrin:

ZV
 
Those Sprinter pics are nuts. I knew they were roomy inside (relative to their exterior size- I know they make styles of varying height/length), but those look like RV's.

Any rich person who would rather sit in the back seat of a Bentley or some other status-symbol sedan instead of that is nuts. It's like a Gulfstream cabin strapped to a van chassis.
 
phucheneh said:
Any rich person who would rather sit in the back seat of a Bentley or some other status-symbol sedan instead of that is nuts. It's like a Gulfstream cabin strapped to a van chassis.
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that's why Buick GL8 are all the rage in China for business people with chaffeurs, they don't care about the car looking good (although I have to say this one doesn't look bad either) or being fast.
While not as big as the one you're talking about it goes in that direction.

I would prefer to ride in a minivan or van instead of some sedan.
 
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how often are there 8 people that it wouldn't be wiser to just take a second car for those trips?
 
Hate to keep bringing it up but it's still for sale.
cruiser.jpg


We're planning to donate it this week so hurry before it's gone.
 
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