Depends on who is going in the car. Grandma goes in the front passenger seat. This way she does not have to climb around too much or deal with kids directly. My youngest is strapped into the 2nd row drivers side seat 90% of the time. That way the driver does not have to walk all the way around the car to unstrap a carseat. Seems to be easiest. The middle son likes the 3rd row seat. Now the oldest is the most flexible person as far as seating goes. If we need seating for 6, he goes to the 3rd row with his brother so an adult does not have to climb all the way back there. Otherwise his usual perch is the driver's side 2nd row captains chair. This way he can help the baby, if necessary.
When we hauled 7 around for an extended period of time, the carseat went in the middle 3rd row seat and the rest of the kids went back there too. This way adults get chairs. It worked fine for everyone.
I would not put the elderly back in the 3rd row. Too much of a pain to get back there. They deserve a real seat.
I have 4 of the costco moving pads they were selling for awhile that do the trick. also have the rack though for sheet goods. I've even let 14' sticks hang out with a flag and left the hatch up as I am a city dweller with an old house we bought a year ago and depot/menards isn't that far away as I am there often.
I think you meant to say Acura RSX then, as the TL has a comfortable back seat and a large trunk.
No, he's right, TL doesn't have a comfortably backseat either! And there is nothing sporty about Acura handling. I though the CX9 was the vehicle you wanted. :confuse:
Journey? I don't get it! Ahh well- I don't understand why the Charger is a four door and the Challenger a two. I can't say i don't like it. Though it shows it's dimensions, at least the third row seats look okay (don't know about leg room though). Has huge potential.
Chrysler better not screw up their version, though. It better be able to compete in a sense with MDXs, and XC90s- maybe an ML 350? This better be a huge step over the minivanish Pacifica it replaces (namesake too). That means they need a bigger V-6 with about 270 hp. If it's badge engineering, they have really messed up!
Bought CX-9 last Friday. Me and husband Kids - 18, 16, 14 and 4 years old.
I am the carpool mom and today I had all 7 seats loaded, with my youngest in his carseat. All said they were comfy for the 20-30 minute ride home. Works for me! Most days it's just me and the youngest.
No, he's right, TL doesn't have a comfortably backseat either! And there is nothing sporty about Acura handling.
I haven't sat on the back of the new TL, but in the previous model it seemed as big as the back seat of my old Mercury Sable.
We'll have to disagree on the handling; the RSX, TSX and the RL are all cited by the entire press as the best examples of good handling this side of BMWs and Porsches.
No so much with the new TL.
I though the CX9 was the vehicle you wanted.
It is, but the VC's interior seems closer to a Lexus than the CX-9 does; if not for the materials, at least for the design.
The last thing I want is for someone to look at our CX-9 and say it looks like a Lexus, as if the reason why I bought it was because I really wanted a Lexus and could only afford a copy-cat version of one. The CX-9 looks good on its own merits, period.
Make a car-based lengthened version of the RX with 3 rows of seating and *then* I will have the proper CUV envy :-)
By large I mean Tahoe-sized, etc. Of course you could take exception to that comment as well, but from reading the forums it has become very apparent to me that people don't want to downsize, even though they don't need the room.
It does look better than the Sedona and the Rondo. Hopefully Mazda will feel the heat and put a low-pressure version of the Mazdaspeed turbo I-4 in the Mazda5.
A few years from now, my Accord Coupe will give room to a 2nd car and *that* is something I would consider...er...actually I would try and fit everything inside a Mazdaspeed 3 first :-)
I think the exterior is fine and even attractive; its the interior that I don't like. Too square around the instrument cluster, and at the bottom of the center console. Each dial in the cluster is shrouded. Design by t-square, and very 80's.
Agree completely. With something like a Mustang, you knew going in that Ford was trying to go "retro." With the Journey, I think it's just designer laziness.
I think the back of the vehicle is very well done, although I'll probably have trouble telling it apart from a Magnum from a distance.
It does look better than the Sedona and the Rondo.
I don't believe I've said anywhere it looked better than the Sedona and the Rondo or vice versa. FWIW, none of these are lookers; actually, I think the Mazda5 is at the bottom of the four in terms of styling, at least in my books. Then again, cars in these segments are not about looks but more so on safety, practicability, among others, which are some of the reasons why Kia has a stronghold in the segment, remaining as the only player with three entries, including the safest minivan out there.
Rear visibility is excellent! I also have the Nav with Rearview Camera system. I just check my surroundings and look at my front screen while backing up! Pretty cool!!
I don't think so. Probably had two under one seatbelt. Not the safest, but it beats sitting in the back of a pickup truck like we used to do when I was a kid!
I wish they had a way to make 3 seatbelts in the 3rd row for a lot of 7 passenger vehicles. In reality, the hip-room of those with and those without seating for 3 in the 3rd row isn't that much. It would be nice if the seat belt connections were adjustable, so if you had two adults, you could slide the middle buckle to the center and just use the outer 2, but if you had three kids you could use all three. Even in the 2nd row, the seatbelt for the middle position is usually so narrow that even an average size person is sometimes sitting on the buckle.
2 kids and a dog (is that what they mean by 2.3 kids?).
Oh, plus a nanny. So 5 in the car routinely, more than that fairly often as well.
This summer we car pooled and 3 other kids rode along, so it was 5 kids in the back carpooling to camp.
This weekend we went out with friends and both families fit in our vehicle, so we had 7. 2nd time we've done that, and we've only had it since May.
This fall we're planning a road trip and the in-laws will come with us, so that'll be 6 people plus luggage.
4x8 sheets of plywood or lattice panels on 2 seperate occasions. Inside, raining heavily one of those times.
Should be no surprise that given the not-uncommon need for space and/or 6+ seats we opted for a minivan, though we did test drive an Outlook, a CX9, and a Tribeca. Earlier on we had sampled just about every single crossover out there.
While I do admire many of these crossovers I still believe none of them could haul the way a van could, plus they would cost more, plus they could not match my 30.6mpg on a trip to the beach with 5 people, luggage, and the A/C on the whole time, all while enjoying 266hp for passing. :shades:
Juice has sold me on the concept: I like the idea of a Sienna with AWD, but they sticker at around $29K+ for the mid LE. Can barely find one at all, much less a below sticker deal. A little hard to swallow when there are closeout Freestyles out there for $21-22K. Apples and oranges, perhaps, but we are talking a 30%+ difference in initial cost. I wish there was another AWD minivan out there.
Same old, same old? I hope a certain member didn't scare jc8 away.
jc8: please stay and update the rest of us on what you got.
Honda allows for 4500 lbs towing on the Pilot if it's a boat, due to aerodynamics. Better yet, MDX would even be in the same price range as the Q7 V6.
I suggest you weigh the trailer with the boat, loaded with gear. I've seen people use the weight scales at the town recycling centers, which you could check out.
The Q7 is nice but costly, so why not also consider a Touareg? The VW interior is still quite nice, and it can tow a bunch as well. You may not need a 3rd row given you have one kid and plan on 2 total.
Motor Trend, ah, gotta love 'em. They compared the Tribeca to (get this) a Dodge Magnum Hemi and (get this!) a Volvo XC70.
Next month, we'll see a Ford Taurus X vs. Dodge Caliber SRT-4 vs. Lamborghini Diablo with viscous coupling AWD. The test will focus on towing abilities.
Journey - looks like a clever package, actually. I too thought of the Mazda5 and Rondo. Lots of shiny plastics turn me off, but look! You can have a 12 pack of beer on ice! LOL
The seats sure look flat, though. All of them, even the fronts, just look too flat. Wonder if any one of those 7 seating positions would actually be comfortable.
Dodge seems to have brilliant ideas, but do the interiors have to look so Rubbermaid? The cooler and under front seat storage are ingenious but I'd be embarassed to be surrounded by all those shiny plastics. Hopefully it's the flash from the cameras making it look worse than it is.
Yeah, Dodge stopped making AWD minivans, so Sienna is the only choice right now.
AWD models do have VSC standard, making it easier to shop. For 2008 Toyota finally made VSC standard on all models (FWD).
It's funny, but I'm an AWD fan yet I got a FWD, because AWD models only came as 7 seaters and only with run-flat tires. I wanted the 8 seat model. Our other car is a Legacy so we're OK when it snows.
fitzmall.com has 2008 LE AWD models for $27,879. That's with a new extra value package, you still get power sliders on both sides for that much.
I bet it'll hold its value well enough to make up the difference you pay up front. At least go drive one.
The Motor Trend comparo isn't really fair to the Subaru and Volvo. The Magnum is the only AWD wagon with 340HP that does not cost $30,000 to $40,000 more. I am really going to be sad to see my 2005 Magnum RT go when the lease is up in October. The AWD version was not out when I leased my RWD RT. The Mag has been one of the finest driving and best performing cars I have ever owned. But, it is time for a change. You are right about the Dodge Rubbermaid interior. That was the only real complaint I could lodge on the Magnum, it looked cheap inside. For 2008 the Magnum interior is supposed to be vastly improved. Now, if only the SRT8 verion came in AWD. That would be something to get through the slush and snow with!
My CX-9 comfortably took 5 regular sized adults + 3 kids in 3rd row (4, 6, 11) to the baseball game and back. 4 hr trip.
MHHMMM-yeah- you definitely didn't ask your riders if they were comfortable. And I'm guessing you won't be haveing them along with you for a LONG WHILE. I feel sorry for those poor kids.
Oh, geez, give the guy a break! When was it decreed that not only should people get a ride, have their own seat space, and be out of the weather...but they have to feel as if they are livingroom comfortable? It is fine if you want that, but vehicles just get bigger and heavier to accommodate our comfort. Maybe for some, ok is enough?
I agree. I can remember taking family camping trips to Yosemite in a VW bus. A family of 7 along with all our stuff and the only thing negative I recall was passing through Bakersfield (105+ degrees in July) without A/C.
Yeah, I need one car to do it all, and I have a ski problem, so AWD is high on the priority list. My Forester is great in snow, but is too small for 4 adults with their ski gear (and this is with a big packasport box on the roof). The Outback, for its extra near 6 inches of wheelbase, only has .2 inch more rear legroom (can that be right?). So the next jump up is the Tribeca and its competitors (like that supersized Outback called the Freestyle) in that size range. I guess the Sienna is the same price or lower than many of them, but they all make my inner-cheap cringe.
I am really going to be sad to see my 2005 Magnum RT go when the lease is up in October . . . The Mag has been one of the finest driving and best performing cars I have ever owned. But, it is time for a change
Umm, so which is it? Are you sad to see it go, or is it time for a change? :P
I used to travel from the Chicago to northern Wisconsin in the back of a pickup that had a top on it. My dad built a thing that resembled a couch for me and my 2 sisters to play around on for the whole trip. It had a particle board skeleton with armrests and cubby holes in it to hold junk along with 3 foam cutions so it could be reconfigured from a couch to a bed-like thing. It resembled a crude futon. We got heat and AC through an airlock type thing that was made out of plastic and rubber that we put in the rear window of the PU and the topper.
Was it safe? Heck no. Was there anything else that would haul 5 and a dog and all our stuff? Nope. Did it work? Heck yes. If we were too loud, he would pull out the airlock and close the window. Then they did not have to hear us killing each other in the back. If minivan existed at teh time, I'm sure we would have had one.
It's more like "you take care of your own boat." You know... the "glass house" theory. I guarantee that you do at least one thing while driving I don't agree with - however, if it doesn't affect me, you are free to do it all day long. Who am I to say it is poor judgment?
You guys are doing too much bashing each other! Let's calm down. Right now, it isn't about crossovers. About a week ago I was watching you guys (well, at least one of you) tear a lady apart over stupid stuff. It's childish. Back to the discussion.
Someone mentioned that CR knocked the CX-9 over its braking performance. Can anyone confirm?
I knew the engine was sourced from Ford, but the brakes too?
Speaking of Ford, just saw the latest pictures of the Flex at the Ford website. Not sure whether I like it or not, I get a different impression every time I look at it.
I read about it being mechanically similar to the TX, a couple of inches lower, with 5 extra inches in wheelbase and 2 in length.
Comments
When we hauled 7 around for an extended period of time, the carseat went in the middle 3rd row seat and the rest of the kids went back there too. This way adults get chairs. It worked fine for everyone.
I would not put the elderly back in the 3rd row. Too much of a pain to get back there. They deserve a real seat.
Rather than tear up an interior, I'd opted for a roof rack to handle lumber or a ladder.
it's not horrible to get daughter out of actually and I can see her much better in the rear view mirror than when she's in 2nd row.
also save reconfiguring when picking up g'parents for a day out or a visit
Twins (2 and half year olds) go in 3rd row, erasing space for anything else back there.
Newborn's carseat goes in the "40" portion of the 60/40 split in 2nd row.
"60" portion of 2nd row reclined all the time to provide some visibility to/from twins in 3rd row, unless anybody is visiting (rare.)
No, he's right, TL doesn't have a comfortably backseat either! And there is nothing sporty about Acura handling.
I though the CX9 was the vehicle you wanted. :confuse:
I can't say i don't like it. Though it shows it's dimensions, at least the third row seats look okay (don't know about leg room though). Has huge potential.
Chrysler better not screw up their version, though. It better be able to compete in a sense with MDXs, and XC90s- maybe an ML 350? This better be a huge step over the minivanish Pacifica it replaces (namesake too). That means they need a bigger V-6 with about 270 hp. If it's badge engineering, they have really messed up!
No pressure. Can't wait to see it. :P
Me and husband
Kids - 18, 16, 14 and 4 years old.
I am the carpool mom and today I had all 7 seats loaded, with my youngest in his carseat. All said they were comfy for the 20-30 minute ride home. Works for me! Most days it's just me and the youngest.
I can't figure out how they made a 09 model year vehicle have an interior that already looks dated. :confuse:
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0
I haven't sat on the back of the new TL, but in the previous model it seemed as big as the back seat of my old Mercury Sable.
We'll have to disagree on the handling; the RSX, TSX and the RL are all cited by the entire press as the best examples of good handling this side of BMWs and Porsches.
No so much with the new TL.
I though the CX9 was the vehicle you wanted.
It is, but the VC's interior seems closer to a Lexus than the CX-9 does; if not for the materials, at least for the design.
The last thing I want is for someone to look at our CX-9 and say it looks like a Lexus, as if the reason why I bought it was because I really wanted a Lexus and could only afford a copy-cat version of one. The CX-9 looks good on its own merits, period.
Make a car-based lengthened version of the RX with 3 rows of seating and *then* I will have the proper CUV envy :-)
I will 100% agree with you in that case.
Direct competitor:
1) Kia Sedona SWB
Others:
2) Kia Rondo
3) Mazda5
A few years from now, my Accord Coupe will give room to a 2nd car and *that* is something I would consider...er...actually I would try and fit everything inside a Mazdaspeed 3 first :-)
This would be a second family vehicle for running around the city.
In my opinion, of course...
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0
I think the back of the vehicle is very well done, although I'll probably have trouble telling it apart from a Magnum from a distance.
I don't believe I've said anywhere it looked better than the Sedona and the Rondo or vice versa. FWIW, none of these are lookers; actually, I think the Mazda5 is at the bottom of the four in terms of styling, at least in my books. Then again, cars in these segments are not about looks but more so on safety, practicability, among others, which are some of the reasons why Kia has a stronghold in the segment, remaining as the only player with three entries, including the safest minivan out there.
My CX-9 comfortably took 5 regular sized adults + 3 kids in 3rd row (4, 6, 11) to the baseball game and back. 4 hr trip.
CX-9 = happy in-laws = :shades:
just curious
I wish they had a way to make 3 seatbelts in the 3rd row for a lot of 7 passenger vehicles. In reality, the hip-room of those with and those without seating for 3 in the 3rd row isn't that much. It would be nice if the seat belt connections were adjustable, so if you had two adults, you could slide the middle buckle to the center and just use the outer 2, but if you had three kids you could use all three. Even in the 2nd row, the seatbelt for the middle position is usually so narrow that even an average size person is sometimes sitting on the buckle.
Oh, plus a nanny. So 5 in the car routinely, more than that fairly often as well.
This summer we car pooled and 3 other kids rode along, so it was 5 kids in the back carpooling to camp.
This weekend we went out with friends and both families fit in our vehicle, so we had 7. 2nd time we've done that, and we've only had it since May.
This fall we're planning a road trip and the in-laws will come with us, so that'll be 6 people plus luggage.
4x8 sheets of plywood or lattice panels on 2 seperate occasions. Inside, raining heavily one of those times.
Should be no surprise that given the not-uncommon need for space and/or 6+ seats we opted for a minivan, though we did test drive an Outlook, a CX9, and a Tribeca. Earlier on we had sampled just about every single crossover out there.
While I do admire many of these crossovers I still believe none of them could haul the way a van could, plus they would cost more, plus they could not match my 30.6mpg on a trip to the beach with 5 people, luggage, and the A/C on the whole time, all while enjoying 266hp for passing. :shades:
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0
jc8: please stay and update the rest of us on what you got.
Honda allows for 4500 lbs towing on the Pilot if it's a boat, due to aerodynamics. Better yet, MDX would even be in the same price range as the Q7 V6.
I suggest you weigh the trailer with the boat, loaded with gear. I've seen people use the weight scales at the town recycling centers, which you could check out.
The Q7 is nice but costly, so why not also consider a Touareg? The VW interior is still quite nice, and it can tow a bunch as well. You may not need a 3rd row given you have one kid and plan on 2 total.
Motor Trend, ah, gotta love 'em. They compared the Tribeca to (get this) a Dodge Magnum Hemi and (get this!) a Volvo XC70.
Next month, we'll see a Ford Taurus X vs. Dodge Caliber SRT-4 vs. Lamborghini Diablo with viscous coupling AWD. The test will focus on towing abilities.
Journey - looks like a clever package, actually. I too thought of the Mazda5 and Rondo. Lots of shiny plastics turn me off, but look! You can have a 12 pack of beer on ice! LOL
The seats sure look flat, though. All of them, even the fronts, just look too flat. Wonder if any one of those 7 seating positions would actually be comfortable.
Dodge seems to have brilliant ideas, but do the interiors have to look so Rubbermaid? The cooler and under front seat storage are ingenious but I'd be embarassed to be surrounded by all those shiny plastics. Hopefully it's the flash from the cameras making it look worse than it is.
AWD models do have VSC standard, making it easier to shop. For 2008 Toyota finally made VSC standard on all models (FWD).
It's funny, but I'm an AWD fan yet I got a FWD, because AWD models only came as 7 seaters and only with run-flat tires. I wanted the 8 seat model. Our other car is a Legacy so we're OK when it snows.
fitzmall.com has 2008 LE AWD models for $27,879. That's with a new extra value package, you still get power sliders on both sides for that much.
I bet it'll hold its value well enough to make up the difference you pay up front. At least go drive one.
The interior on the Magnum isn't bad, I was referring to the Caliber and the new van and crossover, primarily.
MHHMMM-yeah- you definitely didn't ask your riders if they were comfortable. And I'm guessing you won't be haveing them along with you for a LONG WHILE. I feel sorry for those poor kids.
25 NX 450h+ / 24 Sienna Plat AWD / 23 Civic Type-R / 21 Boxster GTS 4.0
Umm, so which is it? Are you sad to see it go, or is it time for a change? :P
but then again its ok around here to tow a 4500PLUS lb boat with a lambda that's only rated for 4500lbs so we really shouldn't be suprised.
Was it safe? Heck no. Was there anything else that would haul 5 and a dog and all our stuff? Nope. Did it work? Heck yes. If we were too loud, he would pull out the airlock and close the window. Then they did not have to hear us killing each other in the back. If minivan existed at teh time, I'm sure we would have had one.
It's amasing that anyone survived before 1990.
apparently I'm just not good at that.
Maybe you can convince the moderators to create a "Driving habits" forum.
What we think about what people do with their cars does not seem relevant to a CUV-comparison forum.
Instead of bashing the OP why not make suggestions on where to have the trailer weighed, like I did?
It's not that single post, it's a pattern of sniping at every opportunity you get. It gets old fast.
It would be nice to have an active thread, with new members joining regularly, and sticking around. Can we try not to scare them away?
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I knew the engine was sourced from Ford, but the brakes too?
Speaking of Ford, just saw the latest pictures of the Flex at the Ford website. Not sure whether I like it or not, I get a different impression every time I look at it.
I read about it being mechanically similar to the TX, a couple of inches lower, with 5 extra inches in wheelbase and 2 in length.