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The diesel ought to be plenty reliable. They've been used for ages in fleets.
They are roomier, cheaper to buy, more user-friendly, and cost less to operate.
You give up 4WD and a low range, and can't tow 9000 lbs, but for most people those things are overkill anyway.
Definitely try a minivan.
What features to get? Power sliding doors. Love 'em. Much easier to carry a sleeping child if you get home late. Consider a power hatch also.
We have an 8 passenger Sienna LE and love it. 266hp, power sliding doors, 149 cubic feet of space to fit all your stuff. Paid around $25k and it still costs about that much today. The XLE adds a power liftgate and more goodies but would be closer to $29k or so.
A couple of things to consider that I didn't think of when we purchased our 2010 Sienna: the liftgate is pretty heavy, so getting a power liftgate may be more of a necessity than a luxury. I didn't even think about that because my Explorer has a split liftgate and the top half is light and easy to open and close.
Also, in order to get automatic headlamps on the Sienna, you need to buy them as an option or get a Limited edition. My Explorer and previous vehicles have had automatic headlamps, and remembering to turn the Sienna's lights on has been an adjustment. I'm frankly surprised that a vehicle with a standard 6 disc cd changer, and so many other features doesn't have this important safety feature. (and if anyone has tips for me for dealing with this please let me know. One friend suggested that I leave the switch in the on position so that the headlamps are on during the day and night, but I'm a little wary of doing that.)
good luck,
The only catch is the interior lights dim slightly - so the trick to overcome that is to crank the dimmer switch all the way until it clicks, then the dash will stay at its brightest.
Works for me.
1. Look and image. While some SUV look just a boxy and un-sporty as MV, they certainly have better chances to look more exciting than MV. Image, well, let's just say some soccer moms/dads just don't want to look that soccer'd!
2. Luxury and brand cache. The MB/BMW/Lexus of the world don't make MV. So if you care about that then you have to get SUV.
3. Enough superficial stuff. For people do go (unpaved) outdoor a lot, SUV does make a bit more sense due to its higher clearance and suspension (more or less but generally better than MV).
For Yosemite bears, dinner arrives in a minivan (Idaho Statesman)
It's not the type of vehicle, it's the stuff inside, the smells of all that spilled food. No doubt.
I can say that to you since we both own vans.
It's probably a rehash but I couldn't resist:
Separated At Birth?
Here are the things that are important to me: (I know nothing about cars so this is not a very technical list )
1. At least 7 seats.
2. Cargo space.
3. Easy to access 3rd row.
4. Ease of use with carseats (2 kids in carseats.)
5. MPG
6. I don't want to feel like I am driving a truck...would rather more of a car feel.
So...what do you guys suggest? I need a few options to go check out (and maybe the pros and cons of each?) Thanks!!
Check out the usual suspects: GM Lambdas (Traverse, Enclave, Acadia), Mazda CX9, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Veracruz, and Ford Flex.
The Highlander and Tribeca are a bit on the smaller side, so I'd try those bigger ones above. The Veracruz may also feel a bit small for 7, not sure.
You will get the 7 seats or cargo (rare to get both at the same time - see minivan for that), and everything minus perhaps the MPG. Maybe try the FWD versions of those if you don't see lots of snow.
I looked at all of those and pretty much concluded you lose MPG and cargo space with any of those compared to a minivan, so I got a Sienna.
The CX9 probably came closest. The center tunnel rubbed my knee the wrong way, though, and it was more money for less space.
With lots of stuff don't plan on seating more than 5, tops.
My boating friend has a Sienna and showed up with his family of 4 and a Kayak - all INSIDE his Sienna. :surprise:
It could actually seat 5 and still carry the kayak - driver, 2 behind him, 2 in the 3rd row. The Kayak lies on top of the folding passenger seat.
Beat that. :shades:
LOL, some things never change! AdventureMan! (Woman). At least it happens way less these days than earlier. And MVs are so much better today than in yesteryear.
Enjoyed the reads.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I was considering mainly SUV vs Minivan.
I was considering Honda odyssey pilot, MDX, ML 350 (with hesitation) R320 (love the care hate the price) .
Would the van peform well in the tons of snow?
For safety - I realize that SUVs roll over but is it worth taking that risk ?
I am certain that I will be replacing the vehicle in 5 yrs.
Thank you guys for your help !!
Also, the Run-flats can be switched with regular tires, that's what we did to avoid the hasel of Run-flats.
There are lots of good roomy crossovers, some even offer a usable 3rd row - Pilot, CX9, Veracruz, GM's Lambdas, and Ford Flex.
You can probably even go smaller - CR-V, Forester, RAV4, Equinox, etc.
We have a Forester and a Sienna. The Forester is just right for the 4 of us, but we use the van when the nanny comes along, or friends.
Forester aces every single IIHS test, even the new roof crush standards, offers 8.9" clearance for that snow, and AWD is on every model.
In snow it kills our FWD Sienna, no contest. Get AWD - Buffalo gets tons of snow.
Good luck!
If you really want to impress her, show her the power folding 3rd row on the Sienna. That might knock her socks off.
"Just say, bear with me, we'll look at one single van, if you don't like it I promise we won't look at any more."
Then make sure you show her one with all the gadgets, like Navi and a backup cam as well.
Then tell your wife you found a SUV to try and go visit the dealer. Have the salesperson confuse your wife with a lot of patter at the meet and greet, and then "accidentally" get her to sit in the minivan parked next to the Sequoia. Maybe she won't notice the bait and switch until after she falls in love with it.
We need to cobble together a minivan camo kit.
This is really a Honda Odyssey:
We are really down to two choices - MDX vs Odyssey. My question is
1. Given the new MDX 09 - will it be as safe as Odyssey?
2. How will MDX perform in long rides - will it be as comfortable as Odyssey minivan?
3 Most important - will the odyssey peform as good as MDX in the buffalo snow?
Thanks guys...
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr111809.html
2. I haven't driven the new MDX, but it should be a bit firmer, but still comfy. Acura uses more sound insulation, too. Drive it because sound quality is largely subjective.
3. SH-AWD is going to beat FWD easily. Having said that, a good set of snow tires would serve the Ody wel.
Best of luck shopping.
People are paying attention to the new IIHS reports and some people are concerned that the car they intended to buy has fallen off the "top safety pick" list for 2010.
8 SUVs made the list, but no minivans did.
Tough New Roof Test Whittles Down Field of IIHS 'Top Safety Pick' Winners (AutoObserver)
they have not been tested yet.
a couple things i like about suv's, they handle things poor road conditions better due to more suspension travel and taller tires.
also, in a lot of snow, the extra ground clearance can allow you to get where you are going easier.
we have snow in ct, too.
Toyota, safety group squabble over ratings
But perhaps the biggest issue is that minivans don't roll over as easily. We had friends and 2 weeks after buying a Range Rover they had to evade a car that cut in front of them, swerved, and it rolled over. Luckily nobody was hurt but the RR was totaled.
My brother knows a nurse in Minnesota who watched a swerving SUV roll over 2 cars ahead of her. As a nurse, she stopped and rushed to the scene. She found an empty child seat in the upside-down car. Mom had been ejected (no seatbelt) and was killed. Luckly the rugrat was not in the car at the time.
I would say get an SUV if you must have off road capabilities or towing capabilities. Otherwise you're likely paying $10K more for the privilege of not being in a mommy-mobile. Image *IS* important! :shades:
I know the minivan has never been cool, but neither are most SUVs. Except for those in the MDX class. But they don't have near the room either. My BIL has an 08 MDX and it's awesome, basically feels like a tall sport sedan,but my SIL has a minivan for family duties.
If you go off road or tow, buy an SUV. However, if all you do is take your kids to school, go to the mall, or load everything up for long road trips and vacations, buy a minivan. Otherwise, you're buying a vehicle for image only.
Winter operation: I live in central Illinois, and receive quite a bit of snow during the winter. I've never been stuck, or couldn't drive in the worst of snows, with our FWD minivan. Remember, the driving technique is sometimes more important than the technology available on the vehicle. It's always quite funny to observe which type of vehicle is in the ditch, or in the median on the freeway, when we have our first substantial snow storm -- it's always a 4WD SUV.
[with tongue firmly in cheek]
Vehicle, Cargo Volume in cubic feet, EPA MPG:
Sienna, 148.9, 17/21
Suburban, 137.4, Censored
Tahoe, 108.9, Censored
Expedition, 108.3, Censored
Seqouia, 128.1, Censored
Armada, 97.1, Censored
Didn't want to scare people.
To be fair the Suburban does have a longer cargo floor, but it still cannot take a 4'x8' sheet of plywood inside like the Sienna can.
SUV mileage is really only close if you compare trucks with much smaller capacities. Explorer has just 85.8, or a little more than half.
If you don't need to tow or off road, you can't beat a van for sheer space and efficiency.