Suggestions for 8 passenger vehicles please?

[SunnyD]

Turns out or minivan is sadly too small for my family now that we have 5 kids. You'd think a 7 passenger vehicle with 7 passengers would work, except for the fact that we have 2 car seats in the car meaning 3 people get squished in the back.

We're considering something bigger (but not conversion van/bus-like). Right now the only two 8 passenger vehicles we can find that still have some cargo room are the Nissan Armada and the Honda Pilot (the latter being smaller, at the expense of cargo room).

What other suggestions are there for 8 passenger vehicles that aren't going to have me take out a loan bigger than my mortgage?

 

[sdifox]

school bus? There isn't a lot of 8 passenger options.

 

[Lotheron]

You can get a Traverse with 8 passenger seating in some trimlines . You can also go full size van..

Edit: Oh, and wrap that shit up dude.

 

[SunnyD]

school bus? There isn't a lot of 8 passenger options.

Which is why I'm asking. Other than the Armada and Pilot (and I think Escalade/Suburban which are WAY overpriced), I don't know of any other models off the top of my head.

 

[sdifox]

Which is why I'm asking. Other than the Armada and Pilot (and I think Escalade/Suburban which are WAY overpriced), I don't know of any other models off the top of my head.

MB R30 has a configuration for the 2nd row to be bench, you should be able to fit 3 kids without car seat there and 2 kids in the last row with 2 car seats. Assuming the 3 older kids are not full size adults.


There must be other car makers with that kind of config.

 

[DesiPower]

Armada and Pilot? r u serious? the interior space is vastly different. IIRC any minivan will have more passenger volume than traverse or Pilot.

Armada or Suburban or Expedition are your best bet if you want to stay with regular vehicles.

 

[SunnyD]

Armada and Pilot? r u serious? the interior space is vastly different. IIRC any minivan will have more passenger volume than traverse or Pilot.

Armada or Suburban or Expedition are your best bet if you want to stay with regular vehicles.

I know they're different. That's why I said the Pilot would be lacking in additional cargo space. But as far as passenger interior, there WOULD be more room than there is in my minivan by a good deal.

 

[ElFenix]

the third row on most of those SUVs is super cramped, iirc. i'd much rather be in the 3rd row of a minivan.

 

[DesiPower]

I know they're different. That's why I said the Pilot would be lacking in additional cargo space. But as far as passenger interior, there WOULD be more room than there is in my minivan by a good deal.

This according to KBB. not sure what minivan you have... its its a MPV or Previa?

Pilot
EPA Passenger - 153.7 cu.ft. | EPA Trunk or Cargo - 87.0 cu.ft.
Odyssey
EPA Passenger - 172.6 cu.ft. | EPA Trunk or Cargo - 148.5 cu.ft.

 

[kornphlake]

You're still stuffing 3 kids into one bench, no matter what the kid in the middle looses. I've been in the 3rd row of a Pilot with 2 other adults and don't recall it being terribly spacious, about the same as the third row in a mini-van, I wouldn't really consider a Pilot better than a mini-van. A full size SUV (Suburban, Expedition) will have a little more room because they are a wider body, I haven't looked up the specs on the Armada, it may be comparable but do some homework, they have some reliability issues. I wouldn't buy a SUV new, they're too dog gone expensive, they depreciate pretty quickly though and will probably come down even more as gas continues to rise in the spring. The Ford Flex fits in here as well, although it only has 7 passenger seating, I believe the rear bench is a little wider than in a mini-van, they're not cheap though, shop used if possible.

Would you consider something like a Volvo V70 wagon with the rear facing bench? Kids usually think it's pretty neat to ride in the back, I'm not sure how much space there is in the middle bench with seating for 3, it may be no better than the other options, but the layout of 2/3/2 maybe more useful than the 2/2/3 layout of a mini-van.

I've driven a 12 passenger Chevy Express and honestly it's really nice to drive, the long wheelbase makes it track like an arrow on the highway and there's loads of passenger room, plus a generous amount of cargo space. They are available with a drivers side rear door option so they are more like a mini-van when it comes to getting kids in car seats in and out, the only argument you'll ever have is who gets a bench all to them self and who has to share a bench. It's a bit of a burden owning a vehicle that large though, any time someone needs to haul a bunch of people for a church/school/sports, activity your van will be the first on the list.

 

[LTC8K6]

Flex with the middle and rear bench should work.

 

[ScoobMaster]

Maybe a used Ford Excursion with the Powerstroke diesel would fit your need. They don't make them anymore and can be difficult to find for sale (people tend to hold onto them unlike their guzzling gas-powered kin that tend to be given away). They are 9-passenger (comfortably), get decent fuel economy for their size (I have heard high teens to near 20 for highway cruising thanks to the diesel), and they can tow small buildings!

Diesels tend to last a long time too.

 

[Gillbot]

Just get a bus already.

 

[LTC8K6]

New Explorer? It has a third row in the base model.

NM - only 7 pax...

 

[LTC8K6]

Expedition seats 8, but it starts at $37K...

 

[Sukhoi]

Just get a trailer. Then you don't have to listen to the kids as well.

 

[Mermaidman]

Just get a bus already.

+1
Who knows how many more eggs SunnyD will fertilize.

 

[CRXican]

you're approaching John and Kate Plus 8 status

you need a Dodge Sprinter!

 

[LTC8K6]

The Transit Connect might work, except they don't allow the third row of seats over here...

 

[ichy]

I recommend birth control.

 

[SunnyD]

This according to KBB. not sure what minivan you have... its its a MPV or Previa?

Pilot
EPA Passenger - 153.7 cu.ft. | EPA Trunk or Cargo - 87.0 cu.ft.
Odyssey
EPA Passenger - 172.6 cu.ft. | EPA Trunk or Cargo - 148.5 cu.ft.

Sedona LX

+1
Who knows how many more eggs SunnyD will fertilize.

None. Though my balls are gonna hate me for making sure that doesn't happen.

 

[Capt Caveman]

In regards to cargo space, you could add a roof box on top to give you an additional 30-40cuft of storage space. On a midsize SUV, it's not a huge reach but probably not ideal for daily use on a full-size SUV.

Just recently checked out a Mazda CX-9. Plenty of room for 7 with some cargo space left over.

 

[joesmoke]

long ago in my scouting days, i knew a large mormon family (average sized father, gigantic sized mother, 8+ kids) and they used one of those dodge club vans to much success. not sure if that exact model is made anymore but id have to think someone makes something like that these days. given your... err... potential for fertility... you may want to get an extra seat or two when you upgrade just in case

 

[exar333]

Which is why I'm asking. Other than the Armada and Pilot (and I think Escalade/Suburban which are WAY overpriced), I don't know of any other models off the top of my head.

You can get great incentives on the Suburban to bring the price down. Also, a slightly used (1-2 years old) will be discounted considerably. This is a great option for a large vehicle and will have a lot more room than a Pilot, or the like. The Pilot is good, but not with 8 people...

 

[SunnyD]

Alright... I'll say it again. A full sized van or derivative is out of the question. My wife will not drive one (not aesthetics, but rather they are difficult to drive safely, especially for a woman). Stop suggesting them, cause it ain't gonna happen.