So many SUVs to pick from...how to decide?

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TheNinja

Lifer
Jan 22, 2003
12,207
1
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OK, I need for room for hauling people around. I have kids starting school and when I have people from out of state come to visit there is no room for them to ride in my current truck.

Requirements:
3rd row seating (also prefer 2nd row seats 3)
Budget is around $15k-$19k
Looking for 4-5 year old, nothing new for me
Don't haul a lot of stuff really
Don't usually have it full of people so gas mileage is more a concern than huge V8 horsepower
Leather
DVD
Trying to avoid a minivan :)
I know SUVs are bulky in general but my wife will mostly be driving around town so something that is a little nimble would help


Things I've found:
Tahoe
Denali/Yukon
Pilot
Expedition
Acadia
Traverse
Suburban

Am I missing anything obvious? Is there a consensus on what is good? I see a ton of Tahoes out there and I'm sure I could find one to fit my specs in my price range. I also hear good things about the Pilot, but of course the Honda is going to fetch a more premium price.
 
Last edited:
mvbighead

mvbighead

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2009
3,793
1
81
Does one really consider a Tahoe or Yukon nimble?

I have to admit, I was reading your description, and thinking highlander, Pilot, or similar. I was not expecting to see Tahoe or anything on a full sized truck chassis.

I am not saying they are poor choices, but they don't seem to be obvious fits for your criteria, at least not to me.
 
rcpratt

rcpratt

Lifer
Jul 2, 2009
10,433
110
116
I guess I don't really understand why you're going so big based on your needs, either.
 
J

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Sounds like a minivan would be perfect for your needs. Why are Americans so hung up on them?
 
mvbighead

mvbighead

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2009
3,793
1
81
Minivan tends to be directly associated to "soccer mom." Nobody wants that label. :)
 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
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mvbighead said:
Minivan tends to be directly associated to "soccer mom." Nobody wants that label. :)
Click to expand...

Which is funny because I mostly associate that demographic with Tahoes and Suburbans. The *new* minivans.

It's amazing how absolutely worked up and frothing people get over minivans. It's like you ripped their youth and freedom forcibly from their body and then ran over it. With a minivan.

The pysch of what you drive and how it pertains to the image of what you want to convey is just mind boggling to me.
 
V

Vdubchaos

Lifer
Nov 11, 2009
10,408
10
0
mvbighead said:
Minivan tends to be directly associated to "soccer mom." Nobody wants that label. :)
Click to expand...

You care WAY too much about what other people think.

I buy a car for MYSELF and MY NEEDS, not for "what other people think about me".

I have 4 kids and there is simply no better vehicle on the planet FOR ME.

I like Minivans, they are great.

Laugh all you want.
 
T

TheNinja

Lifer
Jan 22, 2003
12,207
1
0
Ya, I picked a larger vehicle b/c I also have a Nissan Altima that I use for commuting and that I use with my family when it's just the 4 of us. I'm looking for a 2nd vehicle that my wife and kids will probably drive 20 miles a week with (at the most) and then I can use it for hauling around kids' friends, haul around people when they come to visit from out of state, etc.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions so far everyone!
 
exar333

exar333

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2004
8,518
8
91
Not much choice in minivans, and they are expensive to buy used. Engines are less reliable than a good V8 SUV. I'm not even a SUV guy even.
 
SearchMaster

SearchMaster

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2002
7,791
114
106
TheNinja said:
Ya, I picked a larger vehicle b/c I also have a Nissan Altima that I use for commuting and that I use with my family when it's just the 4 of us. I'm looking for a 2nd vehicle that my wife and kids will probably drive 20 miles a week with (at the most) and then I can use it for hauling around kids' friends, haul around people when they come to visit from out of state, etc.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions so far everyone!
Click to expand...

20 miles a week? I wouldn't worry about MPG that much. At $5/gallon and 2000 miles per year (allowing for an extra 1000 miles a year for visitor hauling), the difference between 10MPG and 20MPG is $250/year. While this is a cumulative cost over the time you own it, it becomes somewhat nominal when you factor in everything else about choosing a vehicle.

[edit]Having said that, I would probably vote for the Pilot or Tahoe.[/edit]
 
exdeath

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
The biggest one with the biggest chromest wheels with the most LCD TVs facing to the outside and the brightest bluest headlights of course.
 
Dr. Detroit

Dr. Detroit

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2004
8,500
896
126
Chrysler Pacifica
Dodge Journey
Ford Taurus X

All are car based and roomy - not a lot of cargo space with 3rd row up - but good mpg.
 
exar333

exar333

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2004
8,518
8
91
The Ford Flex seemed pretty nice when I was in a quick drive as a passenger. Lots of room and decent power.
 
boomhower

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
Acadia/Traverse get my vote. Those are what I'm looking at in the same price range. substitute visitors for my giant dogs.
 
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