Need a 'Family' Car

[Turin39789]

Hoping to spend ~15k, but that seems to be rapidly escaping my grasp.

Wife was in an accident a few weeks ago, car totalled, no one hurt.

Her little Scion Xa is gone and we are looking to replace it. Issue is we currently have one mini-me, another on the way(yay!) and plan for another in the next few years. She is talking about keeping the car for 6 years or so.

Anything with a third row seems stupid big at this point. I'm sure to end up behind a minivan someday, but planning to hold off until the kids are at least hitting grade school. That has left mid sized crossovers/SUV's and mid-full size sedans.

Stopped by Mazda first, liked the CX-5/7, but also convinced her to try out a Mazda 6 and she enjoyed it. Went to Kia and saw a few SUV's but wasn't sold.

Hit up carmax today to walk the aisles and see a lot, then headed to the dealership, put up with a salesman and got her to sit in a Taurus. She really likes it. New Explorer is also nice but no chance of hitting it in our price. Have around $20k in cash set aside for car purchases but hoping to hold on to some to replace my truck later this year and still trying to come out payment free.

Anything else we should be looking at? Cars and trucks I feel like I have a good grasp(and a bit of a Ford bias) but SUV's I'm a bit lost with. She really did like the Taurus(which was my sedan of choice if I don't wind up with an F150), but also wondering if it would make financial sense to stick with a smaller car, keep it 3 or so years and not upgrade to the big car until we have the third devil.

 

[brainhulk]

have you considered a used toyota rav-4 or a honda cr-v?

I have an awd v6 rav-4, and it has plenty of space and good power. They even have a version with a 3rd row seat (i hear it's really for only little kids though)

 

[Turin39789]

have you considered a used toyota rav-4 or a honda cr-v?

I have an awd v6 rav-4, and it has plenty of space and good power. They even have a version with a 3rd row seat (i hear it's really for only little kids though)

peeked at the crv at carmax today, looked narrow and too small for the 3 carseat across concept. Checked out the variety of carseats at babys-r-us today and looks like 17-18inches wide is standard

 

[brainhulk]

peeked at the crv at carmax today, looked narrow and too small for the 3 carseat across concept. Checked out the variety of carseats at babys-r-us today and looks like 17-18inches wide is standard

ah ok. Yeah i don't think 3 carseats across will fit in a rav 4 either. I do believe the honda pilots have a useable 3rd row.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Look into a Toyota Venza. My wife and I test drove one a few weeks ago and we were surprised at how large, comfortable, yet still carlike it was. It's more of a wagon than an SUV, and it was much nicer to drive than the RAV4 we also tried.

Might be near the edge of the your price range, but you should be able to find a used one for a good price.

 

[brainhulk]

Look into a Toyota Venza. My wife and I test drove one a few weeks ago and we were surprised at how large, comfortable, yet still carlike it was. It's more of a wagon than an SUV, and it was much nicer to drive than the RAV4 we also tried.

Might be near the edge of the your price range, but you should be able to find a used one for a good price.

I agree, the Venza's were impressive

 

[Squisher]

'08 or '09 Saturn Vue?

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Dodge Journey - 2011 or 2012 -

Spring for the V6 as its an excellent motor/trans combo and has a world class interior. It has 3rd row but is not a BIG SUV,

Mazda 5 - yes, it has 3 rows - gets good MPG but is a smallish minivan

Of course the Camry, Accord, Fusionm are all good picks too

 

[manimal]

If your going to have three kids abreast in a regular car prepare to have a bad back. Reaching to the middle with a wiggling child with no clearance and the door in the way is murder on your back.

In your price range you can find a 7 passanger LE 2006-8 Sienna. You have to get the LE trim or did at that time to get the bench adjustable seat vs two captain chairs. That way you have all 3 in a row right behind you in the minivan with the drop down center console so you can actually go back and tend to them in car. You also have the two side power doors in that trim so you hit a button as you walk up to the car and drop your kids into their safety seat.

We tried a denali for a few weeks and couldnt live with that as our baby carrier. Minivans just make transporting kids and all their STUFF easier than a car.

Add rear seat entertainment and your golden for trips.

 

[desy]

w 3 kids I'd get a minivan

 

[HybridSquirrel]

'08 or '09 Saturn Vue?

personally i'd stay away from car manufacturers that no longer exist. (exception being a Pontiac GTO). I'll give another +1 to the Rav 4 or CR-V

 

[ultimatebob]

Dodge Journey - 2011 or 2012 -

Spring for the V6 as its an excellent motor/trans combo and has a world class interior. It has 3rd row but is not a BIG SUV,

Mazda 5 - yes, it has 3 rows - gets good MPG but is a smallish minivan

Of course the Camry, Accord, Fusionm are all good picks too

Really? I got a Dodge Journey as a rental car once, and it felt like a boat to me.

I'm thinking that a pre-owned Honda Civic, Subaru Impreza, Chevy Cruze, or Ford Fusion would be a good fit.

 

[Budmantom]

I second the Mazda 5.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Really? I got a Dodge Journey as a rental car once, and it felt like a boat to me.

I'm thinking that a pre-owned Honda Civic, Subaru Impreza, Chevy Cruze, or Ford Fusion would be a good fit.

With one, then two, and eventually three kids? The only car less appropriate than a compact would be a Smart.

The more I think about it, the more I think you'll want a third row seat. With only one row in the back, you'll never fit all three children back there. You'll never be able to fit three car seats across. Two, sure. And even if your oldest is old enough to not need a seat, he/she won't fit in between two car seats.

Besides, don't you have to keep children in at least a booster seat for a really long time now these days? You can't just toss all your kids in the back like it's 1950.

 

[MovingTarget]

A Transit Connect can be had near that price range, especially if it isn't the newest model year.

 

[manimal]

With one, then two, and eventually three kids? The only car less appropriate than a compact would be a Smart.

The more I think about it, the more I think you'll want a third row seat. With only one row in the back, you'll never fit all three children back there. You'll never be able to fit three car seats across. Two, sure. And even if your oldest is old enough to not need a seat, he/she won't fit in between two car seats.

Besides, don't you have to keep children in at least a booster seat for a really long time now these days? You can't just toss sol your kids in the back like it's 1950.

This as well. You need posts for the car seats in all three seats so larger sedans will have to be considered. I can fit all three car seats we use in our minivan in my g35x for example.

 

[A5]

I'd say Mazda 5 is pretty much exactly what you want. 3 rows for the future, sliding doors for easy parking lot access, but not huge like all the "normal" minivans.

 

[Squisher]

personally i'd stay away from car manufacturers that no longer exist. (exception being a Pontiac GTO). I'll give another +1 to the Rav 4 or CR-V

btw - the Saturn Vue is coming back as a Chevy Captiva Sport next year. It is made by Opel now as the Antara.

 

[AstroManLuca]

This as well. You need posts for the car seats in all three seats so larger sedans will have to be considered. I can fit all three car seats we use in our minivan in my g35x for example.

Wait, at the same time? Three across? I never knew you could fit three car seats across (except maybe in a car with a really huge interior like a Crown Vic).

If that is possible, then I suppose OP could go for a 2-row vehicle. I haven't driven a Mazda5 but my understanding is that it has 3 rows but very little cargo space behind the third row; on the other hand, a lot of the larger 2-row cars like the Venza and others have tons of cargo room behind the seats.

Then again, even if you can fit three car seats across, I'm not sure if you'd want to.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Just suck it up and buy a minivan now. They really are the best choice for a large or growing family. Think about this past car seats. STROLLERS. If you're going to have 3 kids in three years, you're going to need room for not just you, the wife, the kids in car seats, but strollers, diaper bags, toys for the kids to keep them occupied, and groceries.

 

[Scarpozzi]

We picked up a new 2011 4-Runner with 3rd row back in December. Sharp looking vehicle, but with gas prices going up, I'd seek something smaller.

I wanted to get a Volvo XC90 because of the quality of the body and safety, but thought it was underpowered (bothered my wife more than me). Check out a used XC60 or XC90 if you can find any in the price range you're looking. Just look for one with 40-50k miles on it and it should easily last 6 years/90k miles.

I'd also consider a Suburu if you want AWD or Camry if you want a Sedan. Camrys can be had for under $20k new if you shop around.

 

[CraigRT]

The Mazda5 is really a neat versatile vehicle.
Except the new ones are so bad looking compared to the older ones..
I also am a big fan of the CR-V.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Taurus is a good bet. Should be reliable, and not too horrible with fuel economy, and plenty of room for 3 little ones

Otherwise Buicks, Cadillacs, and Lincoln's are pretty much all wide enough for 3 seats in the back row...

 

[AstroManLuca]

Taurus is a good bet. Should be reliable, and not too horrible with fuel economy, and plenty of room for 3 little ones

Otherwise Buicks, Cadillacs, and Lincoln's are pretty much all wide enough for 3 seats in the back row...

This is true, the Taurus has a massive back seat and a massive trunk. Probably more spacious (for passengers at least, not including cargo behind the rear seat) than a typical 2-row compact SUV (many of which are too narrow to be comfortable in the back).

 

[gmaster456]

Putting 3 kids in car seats in the back of a car is going to get old very very fast. Especially getting to the middle seat. Everybody dreads it, but it's time to get a minivan.