Question for you guys about SUV's

[The Pirate]

The Taurus X is a good suggestion. You could also take a look at a Saturn Outlook or GMC Acadia, depending on your price range.

I saw an Acadia in traffic the other day, and it looked damn good!  It's certainly worth a look.

[hounddog]

The Taurus X is, for all intents and purposes, a Pacifica fighter. It's about the same size, but I think the Pacifica will cost you more in most instances (unless Chrysler has started offering heavy rebates).

If the Taurus X is too small for you, like I said, take a look at an Outlook or Acadia. They have a tremendous amount of cargo room (IIRC, more than a Tahoe or Yukon), and they are designed to haul passengers in comfort.

Kat and I stopped one night and looked into the window of a Pacifica.  We thought with everyone it was too small.  But the Taurus X is a great looking car, actually a little better looking than the Pacifica. 

I think we are going to start looking at mini vans and SUV's to be honest.  That is why the thread; I am looking for multiple options.  I can not get out when Kat is at work, and I get too tired to sit at the comp. and look for hours.  Thanks for what you guys have added so far.  I think our first stop will be a Freestyle, and then ....  Durango maybe followed by ?  There is no budget for this, we just need to find something we can all go in and take stuff and maybe our dog.?

[ifcar]

If you are still considering a minivan (definitely makes sense for your situation), look at the Odyssey, Sienna, and Entourage/Sedona. Otherwise, the Freestyle, Pilot, or Outlook/Acadia.

[mazda6er]

Kat and I stopped one night and looked into the window of a Pacifica.  We thought with everyone it was too small.  But the Taurus X is a great looking car, actually a little better looking than the Pacifica. 

I think we are going to start looking at mini vans and SUV's to be honest.  That is why the thread; I am looking for multiple options.  I can not get out when Kat is at work, and I get too tired to sit at the comp. and look for hours.  Thanks for what you guys have added so far.  I think our first stop will be a Freestyle, and then ....  Durango maybe followed by ?  There is no budget for this, we just need to find something we can all go in and take stuff and maybe our dog.?

A Durango might be a little higher up than most of the other choices mentioned, so it could be a little tough getting in and out, but it is pretty darn roomy inside.

[Raghavan]

The man has a limp, not a vagina. Kindly take your "van" talk to a different thread, sir.

I'd look at the Pilot or MDX. Our MDX is the older version, and is a bit smaller than the new one, and it seems enormous to me, and i'm 6' 1", so maybe you'd fit in just fine.

[VetteZ06]

Pacifica's nowhere nearly as roomy, particularly in the third row.

I was thinking that might be the case. I haven't spent an extensive amount of time in either vehicle, so I wasn't sure.

I think a crossover or a minivan would work well for your situation, hounddog. Personally, I can't imagine myself driving a minivan, so my first stop would be the GMC dealer to check out the Acadia. I took a good look at one this past weekend and it was impressive.

[nickdrinkwater]

Used X5?

[SVT666]

I'd look at the Pilot or MDX. Our MDX is the older version, and is a bit smaller than the new one, and it seems enormous to me, and i'm 6' 1", so maybe you'd fit in just fine.

I looked at a Pilot that was parked in front our building this morning and if a Freestyle isn't big enough, then that's way too small.

[crv16]

I'm 6'4" tall, and our Pilot is plenty roomy.  I've got a few inches of clearance betwen the top of my head and the headliner.  The seat position is good for someone my height too.  Standing outside the car, my butt is exactly the same height as the seat bottom.  No need to climb up or drop down into the seat.

The Pilot handles pretty good (C&D top 5 pick for several years), has good acceleration and an awesome tranny.  Downside is fuel economy - we get 15-18mpg in suburban driving.

They are pretty cheap right now.  Honda is offering cheap financing or dealer cash, so you can get into a new Pilot (FWD LX) for around 23 grand.

http://www.vtec.net/forums/one-message?message_id=672237

[SVT666]

I'm 6'4" tall, and our Pilot is plenty roomy.  I've got a few inches of clearance betwen the top of my head and the headliner.  The seat position is good for someone my height too.  Standing outside the car, my butt is exactly the same height as the seat bottom.  No need to climb up or drop down into the seat.

The Pilot handles pretty good (C&D top 5 pick for several years), has good acceleration and an awesome tranny.  Downside is fuel economy - we get 15-18mpg in suburban driving.

I guess you missed the part where he has three kids and walker.

[93JC]

Used X5?

Ridiculously expensive for what it is, relatively small on the inside for its size.

[Raza]

Ridiculously expensive for what it is, relatively small on the inside for its size.

Still a bad value, but the X3's interior dimensions are practically the same.  If he's so inclined, that may be a place to look. 

[crv16]

I guess you missed the part where he has three kids and walker.

I've got 3 kids too... The Pilot seats 8.

[SVT666]

I've got 3 kids too... The Pilot seats 8.

and has no room left for a walker behind the 3rd row.

[hounddog]

Well we are going to look this afternoon.? Our list starts goes like this so far;
Freestyle
Expedition
Tahoe
Acadia
Durango
Caravan
Pilot
the big Nissan suv
and a couple other asian vans/suvs

Thanks guys, appreciate you input.? I will let you know.

[SVT666]

Well we are going to look this afternoon.? Our list starts goes like this so far;
Freestyle
Expedition
Tahoe
Acadia
Durango
Caravan
Pilot
the big Nissan suv
and a couple other asian vans/suvs

Thanks guys, appreciate you input.? I will let you know.

Cool.  Good luck.

[crv16]

The Freestyle has 22.5 cu ft cargo space behind the 3rd row, vs 15.9 for the Pilot.

The Pilot comes standard with a split rear seat. 

When we bought the Pilot, we considered an Odyssey, but found it to be way too big.  It felt like we were driving a bus.  The Pilot is almost 2 feet shorter than the Freestyle (and the Ody), making it a bit more maneuverable.

[Raghavan]

The Pilot/MDX has plenty of room with the 3rd row down.

[SVT666]

The Pilot/MDX has plenty of room with the 3rd row down.

Yeah, but with 3 kids and the walker he'll probably want the third row up with plenty of room behind it.

[Raghavan]

Middle seat holds three people...

[SVT666]

Middle seat holds three people...

I don't know how old or big his 3 kids are and how well they get along, but I know that wouldn't fly with most families.

[Raghavan]

My cousin, my brother and i have sat in the middle row with no probs.

[hounddog]

how well they get along

They get along as well as I tell them to. 

They are just normal size 12 and younger.

[crv16]

Yeah, but with 3 kids and the walker he'll probably want the third row up with plenty of room behind it.

What we typically do is have the smaller part of the split 3rd row seat up for our youngest, and the older two sit in the middle row.  That gives you a lot of cargo room in the back of the pilot.

[the Teuton]

Back in my 12 and younger days living with 2 very similarly aged brothers who didn't always get along, we had a Chevy Astro.  As a mode of transportation for kids, minivans really can't be beat.  It's so  much easier to access the back seat than in an SUV, it's gets better mileage than an SUV, and it can haul more.  I hate to recommend one as much as I love them, but what would you think about a Honda Odyssey?

Other than that, the Freestyle and Acadia are tough to beat.  They're more practical than an SUV for your purposes and easier on the eyes than a minivan.  That's just my $0.02.

[Catman]

I'd say the Acadia/Outlook is the way to go here.  Roomy but not so high off the ground that you'd have issues.

[hounddog]

I'd say the Acadia/Outlook is the way to go here.? Roomy but not so high off the ground that you'd have issues.

We drove six vehicles.  I am pretty beat and will get results posted tomorrow.  Have a good night, fellas.

[sparkplug]

Since we carry around aged and crippled grandma (she's 85) I feel like my opinion should have some bearing here which is why I'm going to give it (of course). We have a Ford Windstar and a Freestyle. My grandma has an easier time getting into the Freestyle than the minivan. It's actually a little lower to ground I do believe. It's rides comfortably. It is also an incredibly spacious vehicle. We put her walker, wheelchair, overnight bad, medicine, suitcases. It's a tight fit with all that in it and the walker and wheelchair have to be folded up.

If anything you should sit in a Freestyle. I would also encourage you to sit in a Ford 500. Sure some think the 500 is bland, slow, and even ugly but at this point in time, who cares. You something you can live with. You can test drive those bigger SUVs and buy whatever you want/afford.

[hounddog]

Since we carry around aged and crippled grandma (she's 85) I feel like my opinion should have some bearing here which is why I'm going to give it (of course). We have a Ford Windstar and a Freestyle. My grandma has an easier time getting into the Freestyle than the minivan. It's actually a little lower to ground I do believe. It's rides comfortably. It is also an incredibly spacious vehicle. We put her walker, wheelchair, overnight bad, medicine, suitcases. It's a tight fit with all that in it and the walker and wheelchair have to be folded up.

If anything you should sit in a Freestyle. I would also encourage you to sit in a Ford 500. Sure some think the 500 is bland, slow, and even ugly but at this point in time, who cares. You something you can live with. You can test drive those bigger SUVs and buy whatever you want/afford.

We did.  I liked it pretty well.  More later, Kat took all of this afternoon off and we are headed out again in about 5 minutes.  Had to wait for her to get ready, and to fence with Soup Deville in the Radar Detector thread.    

[Tave]

The man has a limp, not a vagina. Kindly take your "van" talk to a different thread, sir.

I have infinitly more respect for the guy who drives the van because he needs space as opposed to the poseurs who get a large SUV to make their dick feel bigger. If you don't need to take the thing off-roading, then whats the point of getting it? As others pointed out, a Minivan is cheaper to own and operate and gets comparable or better mileage. I even bet that something like the Quest handles much better than a true SUV.


Besides, if you think this:



Looks tougher than this:



You're fooling yourself