Car suggestions

Maedze · May 24, 2010

Requirements

1. 2007 MY or later
2. Third row OR 3-across friendly second row
3. Driver's seat vertical leg room (no very low-riding seats)
4. Mileage under 50K.
5. Under 12K

I like the Mazda5, but to get the price we want, we'd have to go with a higher-mileage older model with no rear air.

Kia Rondo is definitely on the list. Someone suggested the Pacifica. Yea or Nay?

Maedze · May 24, 2010

Also, what's the trim difference between the sport and the touring on the 5?

Pixels · May 24, 2010

Maedze said:
Also, what's the trim difference between the sport and the touring on the 5?

Price of course, sport is available in manual, fog lights on the touring, moonroof, LED taillights.

Pixels · May 24, 2010

Chevy Impala, Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Ford Taurus, Toyota Corolla (hey, KQ seems to think it works well for 3-across)

Some of those are sedans, I'm not sure how the vertical legroom will be. The vehicles I listed definitely meet requirements 1, 4, and 5. I did my best on three-across friendly.

carseatcoach · May 24, 2010

Kia Sedona? I see a few towards the top of your mileage and price range, but with careful shopping and negotiating, it might be doable.

ca2003 · May 24, 2010

Pixels said:
Chevy Impala, Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Ford Taurus, Toyota Corolla (hey, KQ seems to think it works well for 3-across)

Some of those are sedans, I'm not sure how the vertical legroom will be. The vehicles I listed definitely meet requirements 1, 4, and 5. I did my best on three-across friendly.

I have a 2008 Impala and the drivers side seat can adjust up and down. I keep the drivers seat raised pretty high (not low riding) and I keep the steering wheel in the middle position and I can get in and out easily. I am 5'7'' - when I have on higher heels (over 2 inches) I sometimes pop the steering wheel up. I also keep the seat almost all the way back from the wheel.

If you go with an Impala be sure it has side airbags. I wasn't careful enough when we bought ours and it does not have side airbags.

momtoirs · May 24, 2010

We just got an 09 Kia Rondo with under 10K miles for under 14K with tax, title, license and our trade in (00 Subaru Impreza needing 1K+ work). So far, we're happy.

Tina

StillThankful · May 24, 2010

Hi Maedze, good to see you back on here--we missed you.

I looked on Carmax, entered your desired features, used my MIL's zip (more variety in MD) and came up with Pixel's suggestion of the Chrysler Town and Country:

2007 Chrysler Town and Country 4D Pass Van
49K miles
Dealer Processing Charge $99
Maryland No-haggle price $12,097*
Equipment
3rd Rear Seat Cloth Seats
Air Conditioning Cruise Control
AM/FM Stereo Power Locks
Automatic Transmission Power Windows
CD Audio: CD Player Rear Defroster
Specifications
Automatic
3.3L engine
6 cylinders
2WD
EPA mileage 19/26
210 torque@4000rpm
180 horsepower@5000rpm
Prior Use: Fleet, Business Use

Let us know what you end up purchasing

crunchierthanthou · May 25, 2010

IMO, the Pacifica is just a van without the benefit of sliding doors. What year did they stop making them, anyway?

Jeanum · May 25, 2010

The Pacifica's last model year was 2008 with the Pacifica's production phased out around the end of calendar year 2007. Access to the Pacifica's third row isn't very friendly and it's tight in terms of cargo area behind the third row. :twocents:

jeno · May 25, 2010

We've rented a few Impalas and I think they make a fantastic set-up for 3 across.

canadiangie · May 25, 2010

Jeanum said:
The Pacifica's last model year was 2008 with the Pacifica's production phased out around the end of calendar year 2007. Access to the Pacifica's third row isn't very friendly and it's tight in terms of cargo area behind the third row. :twocents:

I've only worked in one, and almost had a panic attack I was so squished. I can't say that happens too often, if ever. There was something about the entire interior design that made me go hmmmmm.

Jeanum · May 26, 2010

Yup, Pacifica models equipped with three rows have two vehicle seats in the second row with a center console in between them without an aisle to get to the third row, adding to the "fun" of getting to the third row. With two vehicle seats in the second row instead of three, and only two vehicle seats in its third row, there's no three across potential at all in the Pacifica with third rows. :/ All this talk of Pacificas jogged my memory a bit since last night, though, and now I'm remembering there also was a base model 5-passenger version of the Pacifica equipped with 3-passenger seating in the second row, and no third row at all. I'm not sure if base models would be readily available used because more Pacificas with 3 rows were likely manufactured and sold as new models due to consumer demand for minivan or SUV alternatives and all, but the base model version might be worth checking out to try out 3 across if you come across one while vehicle shopping. :twocents:

crunchierthanthou · May 26, 2010

Jeanum said:
I'm remembering there also was a base model 5-passenger version of the Pacifica equipped with 3-passenger seating in the second row, and no third row at all. I'm not sure if base models would be readily available used because more Pacificas with 3 rows were likely manufactured and sold as new models due to consumer demand for minivan or SUV alternatives and all, but the base model version might be worth checking out to try out 3 across if you come across one while vehicle shopping. :twocents:

I think that version was almost solely a fleet vehicle. No one who was buying one for a family only wanted three seats. My neighbors have one they bought at auction and we had one as a rental once. It works for three across and does have cargo space, but other vehicles do that just as well. Maybe I'm just biased against Pacificas.

cookie123 · May 26, 2010

If you're considering the Pacifica, there's a model year with some kind of significant issue - think it's 2005? One of my friends has one and it's had problems.
Also she has 3 kids and hates it - longs for a minivan. The 2nd row console is where the kids climb to get in the back. Not sure why they don't push forward the outboard seat to get back there. They have 2 older kids not in boosters and a 3 year old in a MA in the middle.

Jeanum · May 26, 2010

crunchierthanthou said:
I think that version was almost solely a fleet vehicle. No one who was buying one for a family only wanted three seats. My neighbors have one they bought at auction and we had one as a rental once. It works for three across and does have cargo space, but other vehicles do that just as well. Maybe I'm just biased against Pacificas.

I knew of one mom over on Baby Bargains who had one of the 5-passenger models and I kind of owe her for knowing that the 5-passenger model even existed at all. I remember worrying at first when she stated she had installed a carseat in the second row center, with me thinking she had rigged up a carseat somehow atop the center console.

It turned out she had the 5-passenger Pacifica model, whew. So they're around but not so easy to find compared to the three row version and other vehicle models altogether, and technically Pacificas have some Mercedes touches in their design and possibly their components as it was an offspring of the now defunct Chrysler-Daimler merger/takeover. Not intending to send Maedze on a wild goose chase, though, when there are other vehicles that are more readily available that could suit her needs.

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