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(OT) Best vehicle for a family of 5.


PIZ

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...I owned a 2000 Explorer. I had it for 2 months and traded it in b/c it was the biggest piece of crap I've ever owned. It was a 6 cylinder and the milage was atroucious, I had it in the 3 TIMES in the 2 months I owned. I'll never buy another Ford.

 

But, hey that's just my experience. It was my wife's vehicle. We ended up getting a Maxima...

 

I've heard a ton of good things about the Trailblazer. And they have the third row seating.

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My brother has a Trailblazer, 3 kids, and it appears to be a piece of crap. It's been in and out of the shop a lot of times. My coworker has a Trailblazer that's a piece of crap, too. Stay away.

 

My brother's first vehicle when he found out baby number two was actually babies number two and three was a Dodge Caravan EXT Sport. It's good in snow, you can get it with AWD I believe, and it's still going strong 7 years later.

 

Good luck, Daddio!

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I didn't read through all the responses, so apologies in advance if this has already been posted... just wanted to encourage you to think about safety concerns with 3rd-row seats. Rear-end accident tests are not currently standard procedure in rating car safety, even though rear-end crashes are the most common. :D Organizations who have independently reviewed rear-end accident data have found that most vehicles with 3rd-row seats expose those passengers to extreme danger. This is especially true in minivans and station wagons, where there's only a foot or two of crumple-zone between the rear bumper and the 3rd row, but it's also a concern in SUVs.

 

If it was me, I'd buy a Subaru Legacy Outback Wagon -- all-wheel drive, zippy, great handling.

 

Good luck!

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Three child seats? Wow...

 

The AWD Sienna might be an alternative to the Caravan, but I think they're the only two AWD minivans.

 

Expedition? I've never been in one, but I love my F150.

 

Hardy, how do you fit 3 car seats in an S4? Maybe an A6...

Edited by KnightRider
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A few people here have said mini-vans, they're the best, especially Chryslers. Lots of room, good mileage, and versatile. I've used my 94 Voyager or 2003 Town & Country for vacations, hauling 2 ATV's, and inside 1300# of landscape blocks and 20 roof shingle bundles. They're great! Get a roof top carrier for even more room.

 

Even my 17yr old likes the 94 because he can pick up all his buddies and gals and go out. I'm not sure I like that though

 

Manly?? Buy Enzyte.............

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Minivans are the only way to go.  Tons of storage room and seating configurations.  As far as feeling less "manly", I drove a '94 Dodge Grand Caravan at college.  I was in a fraternity so you can guess how that went.  I took quite a lot of grief until I started being the DD.  Suddenly I'm not the soccer mom but the bus driver.  Everyone talks about how much they hate the stigma of driving a minivan but once you've had one you don't want anything else.  For the most part they drive great, get good gas mileage, and handle well in the snow(even without the AWD)  I got rid of mine 3 months ago after 230,000 miles and I can't wait til I can get another one.

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Minivans are the best choice. Sure, no points for style or prestige, but are excellent for families, are configurable for hauling quite a bit of cargo, and have gas mileage far superior to Trks & SUV's. Had a 94 Cravan, and now have a 03 Grand Caravan. With the 3.3 liter engine I gotten a hair over 27 mpg on my last trip to Buffalo. SUV's are too expensive, and too expensive to operate. If you get just get by the "status" thing, Minivans simply make the best sense in most, maybe not all, but most cases. When I bought the 03 Grand Caravan, I too wanted an SUV but after all the research and the costs, I just could justify buying one. Happy I didn't too.

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Our 2nd vehicle is a Mini Van. A Pontiac Montana loaded to the breasts. Montanavision DVD system, great for the kids, multi disc CD changer with MP3 player. Leather, heated seats. A plethora of seat combinations, superb ride, excellent gas mileage and cheap insurance.

 

If you got kids to haul around - I have 3 boys under the age of 12 and each into sports galore, you cannot beat a mini van.

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