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

[Vdubchaos]

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.

Are you on crack?

Honda Oddys are going for 15-20k with 40-50k miles.

V6s are as reliable as any V8.

Sienna, Hyundai, KIA, Honda and even Caravans are all good vans.

 

[Black2na]

X2 for a used flex not a overly pretty car but people who own them seem to love them. my mother has a pacifica and loves that also 7 years not one lick of trouble outside of tires and oil changes

 

[jagec]

Are you on crack?

Honda Oddys are going for 15-20k with 40-50k miles.

V6s are as reliable as any V8.

Sienna, Hyundai, KIA, Honda and even Caravans are all good vans.

A friend of mine said that he was MUCH more impressed with the Sienna than the Odyssey. Everything from how it drove to how the seats folded was (to him at least) much more refined and well thought-out.

 

[Vdubchaos]

A friend of mine said that he was MUCH more impressed with the Sienna than the Odyssey. Everything from how it drove to how the seats folded was (to him at least) much more refined and well thought-out.

I like last gen Oddy better, Sienna just looks overdone/tacky.

New oddy just looks like a disaster (like most of new Honda products to be honest).

Nice thing about Sienna is no timing belt vs Oddy.

 

[mvbighead]

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.

Whoa whoa whoa here bud. Notice the smiley? I was just pointing out the obvious problem people have with them. I wasn't saying it was right, or that it was my opinion.

As for me, personally, I'll likely stick to SUVs or smaller SUVs with AWD. Minivans are just a bit too long and I don't often care for the look of most of them. I will say the rear sliding door seems like a much better option for kids as they will be less inclined to throw that open and whack the door against someone else's.

 

[mvbighead]

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.

Honestly, I had thought about this also. It definitely is the new trend.

And generally, the people that drive the Tahoes/Suburbans are more likely to look down upon a minivan driver.

The minivan is definitely one of the best people/stuff haulers out there. I may at some point end up with one. But at this time, I just find smaller SUVs to be more maneuverable and less sluggish.

Honestly, at this point, I have an older Jeep Grand Cherokee that I will be looking to upgrade to a smaller SUV that gets 20+ MPG. AWD is the kicker though, and I think my options will be much better in the small SUV market.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Whoa whoa whoa here bud. Notice the smiley? I was just pointing out the obvious problem people have with them. I wasn't saying it was right, or that it was my opinion.

As for me, personally, I'll likely stick to SUVs or smaller SUVs with AWD. Minivans are just a bit too long and I don't often care for the look of most of them. I will say the rear sliding door seems like a much better option for kids as they will be less inclined to throw that open and whack the door against someone else's.

Yep, also easier/better access.

 

[Arkaign]

Nissan Murano drives pretty nicely, but they're not that big. Really I don't know of any giant SUV that drives as well as a Tahoe, as long as you don't ruin it by putting 26's on it.

 

[Arkaign]

Agree on Minivans. Cheaper insurance, better fuel economy, better safety, better access, better visibility, cheaper tires (truck tires are getting expensive in a hurry), the only thing is that people just don't like being seen in them if they're shallow.

 

[bigi]

Mazda CX-9? Looks good, great engine, roomy.

 

[BigSmooth]

I am also a fan of the Flex. If you're going to have a 3rd row seat, might as well make it be useful.

One other point - if you are looking at the GM Lambdas (Acadia, Traverse, Enclave), don't forget about the Saturn Outlook. Since Saturn was killed off there could be fewer buyers looking for used versions, and they should be in your price range.

 

[slag]

Lump me in with the minivan haters.

I hate the sliding door(s). I hate the feeling like a sardeen in a can. I hate the fact that the ones I've been in you have to duck down low to get in, hunch over to sit in any of the seats not in the front, and its difficult to move around in.
We tow a boat or trailer and I've not seen a good stock frame attached trailer hitch on a minivan yet that I'd trust with a 19 ft boat.
They are ugly.
If they are Chrysler, its just a matter of time until they start burning oil. If they are a honda or toyota, they are overpriced and out of my budget.

 

[onza]

I own a Toyota Highlander 2006 LE

Has 3rd row seating & MPG average 20-21.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Mazda CX-9? Looks good, great engine, roomy.

I was going to suggest this. Second rows seats can slide up for easy access to the third row.

 

[Doppel]

F-it. Buy new, I saw a $229/lease with no money down 12k/year 39 months on a Pathfinder 4X4 this weekend

 

[vi edit]

I hate the sliding door(s). I hate the feeling like a sardeen in a can. I hate the fact that the ones I've been in you have to duck down low to get in, hunch over to sit in any of the seats not in the front, and its difficult to move around in. We tow a boat or trailer and I've not seen a good stock frame attached trailer hitch on a minivan yet that I'd trust with a 19 ft boat.

Other than towing it's not like an SUV is going to be any better than a van in your complaints about occupancy. My Sienna is cavernous and getting between the seats is a hell of a lot easier than trying to do the a contortion act getting into the third row of most SUV's.

 

[Doppel]

Really there is no comparison between SUV and minivan. We all know that the primary reason for SUVs--for those who do not need more than 3500 tow capacity that is (since some minivans can give this)--is because they just don't want to be seen in a minivan.

The Sienna is larger inside than all but the largest SUVs. It's cheaper. It's better on gas. Sliding doors are also just fantastically practical. It even comes in AWD.

SUVs are about image. That Pathfinder I mentioned for example gets 14 mpg in the city on 91. That's just fvcking ghastly. And it's smaller inside than a Sienna also. Sure it is 4X4, not like that really matters, though.

 

[TheNinja]

So I decided the Highlander is just too small for the 3rd row to really be of any use to me. I'm leaning towards the Pilot since there are a ton of them used available and it seems a little bigger overall. Traverse also seemed like a good fit. There are a million Tahoe/Yukon out there as well but they are definitey big and bulking and horrible for driving.

We had a salesman show us the Odyssey and a Sienna mini-van.....It's really the best way to go for what I need. But I say screw it, I want something that I LIKE to drive and like to look at. I usually buy a vehicle and keep it 6-8 years, might as well have something that I really want and enjoy even if it isn't the most practical

 

[sdifox]

MDX?

 

[phucheneh]

Yukon, Suburban, Expedition...

...just get a church van. Similar driving position and handling, more seating. Probably about the same mileage (possibly better depending on engine choice.)

 

[etrigan420]

We have a 2006 Sedona as a secondary vehicle and I honestly cannot say anything bad about it. (Other than I shouldn't have gone black...)

113,000+ miles and still running strong. Have done tires, brakes, oil changes, and...uhh...that's it.

That thing seriously will not die. It's almost a game now.

 

[ScoobMaster]

See if you can find a Kia Borrego. They only were sold in the U.S. for one model year (2009) but they are VERY nice body-on-frame SUVs. I just bought a limited edition one a few months ago. $19K with 22500 miles on it.

Here is my thread about it with pictures

The limited editions come with V8 (4.6 liter - same engine as the Hyundai Genesis), 6-speed automatic transmission (German made - same one that the BMW X5 uses), Leather (heated front AND second row), infinity 10 speaker stereo, GPS navigation, power sunroof, power EVERYTHING, push-button start (remote key fob), and backup camera with auto appearing color screen in the rear view mirror. All this with 7 passenger seating (got the folding 3rd row seats) and it can tow 7500lbs (with the V8 - V6 models tow 5000). It is a blast to drive, and we are getting 22-24 MPG highway and 16-17 around town.