3 Across Sedan/Wagon/Hatchback?

rin2809

Active member
I currently drive a compact Kia Spectra, which will work fine for our family of soon to be 4 around town driving. But the car is a 2007 with 130K+ miles, so I fear we will need to be replacing it soon and I am trying to be prepared. Ideally, I would like to get a vehicle that we could occasionally squeeze an average/larger adult in the back with the kids, or a third car seat if necessary (or a 3rd row if we can swing it).

Also, we regularly drive 4 or 8 hours at a time to visit family, so either a large trunk or storage would be a necessity too. Right now we also own a 1999 Windstar minivan that we use for our big trips, but I don't see that lasting for much longer either, so would like the newer vehicle to be the primary travel car.

The kicker in all of this is that we are pretty budget limited, so I am hoping to spend under $10,000, definitely used. Would love something with under 70,000 miles and newer than the car we are getting rid of. Pipe dream, would love 4x4 or AWD to deal with upper midwest winters.

So far on my list I have: Mazda5, Ford Taurus, possibly a Fusion... Any other advice or recommendations?
 
ADS

Mommy!

Active member
Ford Crown Victoria...a used police car. The last year made was 2011. There's still plenty of them for sale either from dealers or directly from auctions. We bought our 2006 for $3300 almost four years ago and have had less than $800 in repairs total, insurance is cheap, you can fit three of anything or anyone across the back and the trunk is massive and can hold more than most minivans do behind the third row. Three top anchors in the back and full latch in both rear outboard seats. We love ours.
 

AllieK

New member
Ford Crown Victoria...a used police car. The last year made was 2011. There's still plenty of them for sale either from dealers or directly from auctions. We bought our 2006 for $3300 almost four years ago and have had less than $800 in repairs total, insurance is cheap, you can fit three of anything or anyone across the back and the trunk is massive and can hold more than most minivans do behind the third row. Three top anchors in the back and full latch in both rear outboard seats. We love ours.

If you do decide to go this route govdeals.com is a good site to find city/county owned vehicles.
 

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