Starting to think about a new car...

becca011906 · Sep 15, 2006

Ok me and dh are thinking (highly) of selling out land rover... we paid about 2K below blue book off ebay for it and think we could get the pay off easily by reslisting it on there... If we do this we are wanting to get something with better gas milage (that won't be to hard since the LR only gets 12 town miles and 16 hw miles... LOL) !!! It doesn't have to be GREAT gas milage just good, or ok... Our land rover has the 3rd row of fold down seats in the back that i love, yet i can still fit three across the middle when needed. I like to get something with similar options, I really don't want a van, i don't know i hate having to crawl in and out of it to buckle the kids in our SUV i can just reach in and get to them. Finally I want something that is pretty safe (why eles would i be asking here LOL) ... also i can reach the middle row from the passanger seat, in a van this is a little harder as well... And finally a thing to keep in mind is that we do travle about every other month to family (2-4 hours away) and take family vacations 2 times a year to various places but usally FL.

Lys · Sep 15, 2006

I have to say I LOVE my new Pilot! Ours seats 8- 3 rear, 3 middle and 2 front all with lap and shoulder belts. It also has side curtain airbagsfor all 3 rows of seats. And stability control. It was rated ""good at the IIHS

http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=391

I have 4 kids and traded my 2003 Odyssey for the Pilot.
The middle seat is huge- I can fit 3 kids across 2 in seats. I have a Regent on the way and I'm sure we will still have plenty of room there. It is a dream to drive also- and I get about 20-22mpg

lovinwaves · Sep 15, 2006

Ok, I know you totally said you don't want a van, but............I SOOO did not want a van either. I ended up just looking inside one one (New HOnda Odyssey) day in a parking lot. It was absolutely luxurious and beautiful inside. It soooo did not look like a van on the inside or outside. Well, my back was hurting pretty bad from putting my kids in my Toyota 4-Runner (Which I loved!!) everyday, plus putting the stroller in was hard to because it was so far off the ground. Oh, and the gas mileage was horrible. We test drove the ODy and oh my gosh it was like driving a luxury car. My parents have always had LUxury cars, BMX, Lexus, Cadillacs etc.. So I know what a luxury car feels like. The Ody's engineering was based off of the BMW Roadster, so it's handling is incredible. Also the Gas mileage is incredible to. It has the best in it's class. It has that Valve system where three valves shut off and only use 3 on Eco Mode. I wouldn't totally put a van out of question until you test drive a New ODy or New Sienna. It is so easy on vacations, and everyday errands. I LOVE IT!!! and so do the kids.. love the POWER sliding doors on both sides and POWER rear hatch.

By the way, I get ALOT of compliments on it. Most people say it doesn't look like a minivan. They say it looks, "Sleek, and stylish"!!! I NEVER EVER feel like I am driving a van.

becca011906 · Sep 15, 2006

We did take a '05 Town and Country on our last trip to FL. last sept. a year ago, and HATED it! That's what turned us off of a van... i had to crawl into the back so often to get to the kids, it drove me nuts, plus i had to climb in every time to buckel austin b/c he was only just 5 at the time and i didn't let him do it himself then...

lovinwaves · Sep 15, 2006

I'm a little confused, why were you climbing in the back to get the kids? Are you talking about the third row or middle row. Wouldn't you just use the sliding doors on each side? If it is the third row you are talking about wouldn't you have the same problems with a SUV with a third row. I think it would be easier in a van. Let me also tell you, the van you guys took on your vacation and a HONDA ODYSSEY are TOTALLY DIFFERENT. Again, don't discount the ODy or Sienna until you test drive it. The quality, handling, luxurious, and ease is way BETTER!! American and Foreign cars have many many differences.

becca011906 · Sep 16, 2006

I'll talking about when were driving down the road ( i know i shoudln't have been out of my seat and was a very bad example to my kids ect ect, but we were on the road 20 hours or so NONE STOP) and they drops X or they wanted me to put in X movie, or were fighting over X and i was needed to break it up in the SUV they are with in arms reach of me when i'm in the passanger seat...

ANYWHO, a few weeks back i posted that dh got his new cop car and was wondering about the car seats in, with the cage protector, well GUESS WHAT, he's in town right now trading out cars with someone b/c this person got a new car and dh gets his car and dh's car becomes the new reserve car and his new cop car has no cage, good for transporting the kids, but not so good if he need to transport the K9 unit, oh well good thing he likes dogs, he's not worried about prisnor transport b/c he never uncuffs when transporting and now that i've showed him how to LOCK a seat bealt (by putting it all the way out and buckling then retracing it he never know??? ) he feels better about not keeping a cage in the car....

So since we can use the police car when he's off work, ect. we are thinking of now keeping the landrover a little while longer, i'm going to track and see what i spend in gas over the next few weeks/ months and see what we decide...

LaurieB · Sep 17, 2006

Using a cop car for private use...

Are you sure you want your kids and your seats where the nasty bad guys sit? all kinds of yucky things there....

Laurie
(also an LEO wife)

becca011906 · Sep 18, 2006

the seats get cleaned with bleach spray every time i put the seats in the car... with the small county we live in my dh is luck if he gets an arrest 1 time a week, so usally the seats are unoccupied, besides my kids are actully sitting in their car seats NOT in the seats of the car...

twokidstwodogs · Sep 25, 2006

You might look at a Mazda 5. It has the third row option (for very small people!), but it's considerably smaller than a regular minivan. We have an 05 Odyssey, which I love for road trips, but I don't much like driving it. It just feels huge to me. Fortunately, it's my husband who normally drives it. ( I drive a Subaru Legacy wagon.) On the other hand, if you're coming from a Land Rover, you will have a different idea of what seems huge!

lovinwaves · Sep 25, 2006

twokidstwodogs said:
You might look at a Mazda 5. It has the third row option (for very small people!), but it's considerably smaller than a regular minivan. We have an 05 Odyssey, which I love for road trips, but I don't much like driving it. It just feels huge to me. Fortunately, it's my husband who normally drives it. ( I drive a Subaru Legacy wagon.) On the other hand, if you're coming from a Land Rover, you will have a different idea of what seems huge!

I can't believe you think your Ody feels HUGE when you drive it. Well, granted it is a large vehicle, but I don't feel that way when I drive it. It's engineering is actually based off of the BMW Roadster (small 2 seat convertible). Now when I have to back it up it is hard to determine how close I am to the car behind, but parallel parking is a breeze. If you get the touring model you get the integrated video camera in the rear so back up is a cinch. You have a large screen in the dash to view.

I would still HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend the Odyssey. You just need to test drive it to really appreciate it's brilliance!!

twokidstwodogs · Sep 27, 2006

For a minivan, I find the Odyssey very driveable. I just don't like driving big cars in general, and visibility is always an issue for me in a van. Plus, I'm accustomed to driving smaller, sportier Subarus, which handle much differently. Mind you, I think there's no beating a minivan for sheer practicality, and the Odyssey is a great van. But I'll stick with my sports wagon and let my husband drive our minitank!

lovinwaves · Sep 27, 2006

twokidstwodogs said:
For a minivan, I find the Odyssey very driveable. I just don't like driving big cars in general, and visibility is always an issue for me in a van. Plus, I'm accustomed to driving smaller, sportier Subarus, which handle much differently. Mind you, I think there's no beating a minivan for sheer practicality, and the Odyssey is a great van. But I'll stick with my sports wagon and let my husband drive our minitank!

I can totally relate. My first car was a Honda Civic, then I went from that to a Toyota4-Runner. Wow, that had some getting used to. At least the 4-runner is pretty narrow and was pretty easy to see out of. But sitting up so high was kind of weird to get use to. Then going from the Toyota 4-Runner to the van I thought would be pretty easy, but boy was I wrong. Like I said before, I wish we would have got the Touring model with the integrated video camera. That would also come in handy to look for toys and of course kiddies behind you. Everytime I pull out of my driveway I am tense, hoping there isn't a kid running behind my van.

When the integrated shades are up in the back windows, I do find it hard to see out of for like changing lanes. Yes the Van is Huge, and it does take some getting used to, but if you are ok with that it is extremely practical like "twokidstwodogs" said. I think any new car takes some getting use to anyways though.

becca011906 · Sep 27, 2006

IF and when we do think about a new car i will be looking into the handa ody as suggested, before crossing it off my list!

when i started driving my Land rover it was a HUGE change from my privious cars, i started in an escort, then a caviller, then a PT cruiser, now the intrepid i still drive some times, but fell in love with the bigger land rover with in 2 weeks of driving it, i think i woudl like driving it more if it wasn't all wheel drive all the time, that makes it a little harder on corners and stuch for me, and parell parking i CAN"T do at all, other i can, but not it... thanks again for the suggestions

jen_nah · Sep 28, 2006

I have a Chevy Tahoe that I LOVE!!! I know everyone on here pushes minivans but I am not and will never be a minivan mom. Can't force me to even look at them. Plus my dh & I refuse to buy foreign vehicles. I have 2nd row caption chairs with the 3rd row bench. My Tahoe is perfect for us. We too take a lot of trips each summer. We usually remove 1 of the 3rd row seats for our German Shepherd to be harnessed in the back and still have plenty of room for our stuff in the back.

I get around 16 in the city with a lot of stop & go traffic and around 21-22 on the highway. I know the new Tahoe's get better gas mileage then my model plus they now have all 3 row side curtain airbags.

My lease is coming up in a year an half and we too have been talking what we will get next.

My short list is
Volvo XC90
Pontica Torrant
Chevy Equinox
Saturn Vue
Saturn Outlook (not out until later this year but have seen it in person and it is super nice).
Mazada CX7

I am giving up my 3rd row since I only have 2 kids and don't really need to 3rd row that much. I really need the cargo area for our GSD more then anything.

twokidstwodogs · Sep 29, 2006

Jen-nah, you should put Subarus on your list! Their wagons are a bit smaller than the ones you describe, but my two 70 lb retrievers both fit in the cargo area of my Legacy wagon, at least for short trips. The Tribeca, of course, gives you even more space. I chose the Legacy over a Volvo V50 and V70. The safety ratings were better (hard to believe, I know!) and the car was even more fun to drive.

twokidstwodogs · Sep 29, 2006

Sorry, I just noticed that you said no foreign vehicles, but you had Volvos and Mazdas on your list.

jen_nah · Sep 30, 2006

twokidstwodogs said:
Sorry, I just noticed that you said no foreign vehicles, but you had Volvos and Mazdas on your list.

Well I know dh won't buy the Mazda anyways but I have it on my list to at least look at. As for Volvo Ford owns part if not all of Volvo and they share platiforms together.

I really don't like the look of the Subaru vehicles. We looked at them when we bought my Tahoe. The dealership we bought my Tahoe at is a Chevy/Subaru dealership.

twokidstwodogs · Oct 4, 2006

I think Ford now has a controlling interest in Volvo, but the cars are still made in Sweden. And my Subaru was made in Indiana. It's so hard to figure out what's a foreign car anymore anyway. Maybe you can convince your husband to buy an American-made Mazda!

I agree that Subarus are not the prettiest cars on the market, and I really don't like the new grille they've put on the Tribeca and are putting on their other cars. But they're awesome cars otherwise.

jen_nah · Oct 5, 2006

twokidstwodogs said:
I think Ford now has a controlling interest in Volvo, but the cars are still made in Sweden. And my Subaru was made in Indiana. It's so hard to figure out what's a foreign car anymore anyway. Maybe you can convince your husband to buy an American-made Mazda!

I agree that Subarus are not the prettiest cars on the market, and I really don't like the new grille they've put on the Tribeca and are putting on their other cars. But they're awesome cars otherwise.

It doesn't have to do where it's made it has to do where the money stays. He wants his hard American money to stay in America. Trust me my dh is a car freak to put it lightly. He researches every little thing. Heck Toyota has manufacturing plants in America but over 75% of their money goes back to Japen and very little helps the American economy. That is his issue. He wants to support our ecomony and not another countries. I agree with him on that too.

Yep, Still can't get past the look of the Subarus. And, The way I am with vehicles and knowning I have to keep this next one for 5yrs I better get something that I love. I have a high rate of turn over in vehicles as I get bored with them or find something else I like better.

SafeDad · Oct 6, 2006

The problem is that most domestic car makers are closing USA plants and investing in plants overseas, while many Japanese companies are investing in factories here. It's also difficult to tell what domestic content is actually in the vehicle. The content stickers on the window are useless because of the convoluted laws that govern the accounting were entirely political.

I argue it's next to impossible to research which vehicle will benefit the domestic economy more. Back in 1991, Saturn was a great choice in that regard. Today, with the global platforms and manufacturing, even many Saturns aren't a clear choice for "Buy USA". I was a buy American nut 15 years ago, but it became increasingly difficult to make an informed choice that I gave up and bought my first Japanese car (made in Canada) just over 5 years ago...

Starting to think about a new car...

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