What's your favorite???

The wife and I are looking into getting her a new vehicle since her PT Criuser got hit a month or so back. Thankfully the damage was only cosmetic, and actually looks very minor, but given the area damaged and the cost to have a shop repair it, the insurance company is totalling it out. We're going to be smart about the deal and keep the thing with a salvage title for her to drive temporarily and use the money from the insurance, with some additional, to get her something else to drive. I say that because nowdays we need enough room for our daughter and her friends....and their cheerleading stuff.... as well as enough room for us to pack for a trip without being full floor to ceiling.

As such, we have been debating over what to get. The vehicles that come to mind are the Ford Explorers, the Chevy Trailblazers, the Jeep Navigators, the Dodge Durangos, and the Toyota 4 runners. Too, the wife has looked at a couple of the 'minivans' from the various makers.

Like I said, we're looking for something that has plenty of room for three or four girls (the daughters best friends are twins, and they have a sister a year to so younger who usually goes where they go) so a third seat would be nice. Too there needs to be additional room for their stuff, and/or room for a family to pack for a week's vacation with room to breath. Also, since the wife will be using it to commute to work we'd like for it to get good gas mileage. In that light, we're thinking one of the V6 models at the most, or in the minivan department possibly even one of the 4 cylinders. We don't towing power, we don't need 4-wd, or anything else along those lines for that matter. What we do need is something fuel efficient with way more room than a PT cruiser can offer. Lastly, we're looking to spend around $5000, and while I'm the 'older the better' type, the wife would like something from '02 on to present, but I think she would also be willing to settle for something from the mid 90's on, if it was well kept.

Now to the meat of the question. What experiences have you guys had with any of the aformentioned vehicles both good and bad. What kind of gas mileage were/are you getting, etc, etc, etc, etc. I'll say right up front when it comes to the newer SUV's and minivans I know nothing about any of them, so any advice or comments offered that will help us figure out which vehicles to look at and which ones to steer clear of would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Wayne

I'd be looking for a Ford Taurus X or Freestyle, or a little newer a Flex. The front drive versions are a lot cheaper used than the all wheel drives. If you want to do the mini-vans the Dodge/Chrysler with the stow & go seats are handy.

Gat something with a 4 or 6 cyl engine. 8 cyl is too much with the gas prices going up. I would like to go back to 2 cyl. but getting to old to balance it to keep it upright.

We had a 94 Dodge Grand Caravan and it was just about the perfect family vehicle. 3 seats, good room, reasonable mileage, front wheel drive was good in snow (not much of a concern to you in NC), etc. Dodge/Chryser kind of invented the "mini-van" category and to my eye have mastered the layout.

Can't speak to your suggested vehicles at all, we know use a Suburban as our people hauler since we also need to tow sometimes.

With that many bodies and stuff to haul around, you will be disappointed with any of the SUVs. Both my sons have 'em, and there just isn't enough room. Even the bigger ones, like the Durango, are too small for the mileage they get. At least in the ones they have, the third seat takes up all the cargo area, and is a pain to get into.

You'll be much happier with a mini-van. We had a Ford Aerostar about 25 years ago, and it was great. Yeah, it looks like a little bus, but its great for moving people, and having enough room for stuff too.

We bought a mini-van 6 years ago and we love it and I wouldn't want to be without one. The used mini van market is a buyers market, we bought ours when it was 2-3 years old with 80,000 mi and it was only $8-9000. They get okay mileage 24-26, insurance is cheaper than a SUV and they aren't as cool for your soon to be driving teenage driver (less of that I'll drive syndrome). I wouldn't get a 4 cylinder mini van, they are underpowered and get the same mileage. We have a Pontiac but the Dodges are good too, just stay away from the Fords-there is a reason they don't make them anymore.
Nate

I agree with the posts below about getting a minivan - especially in the price range you want to be in.

If you regularly use the third row any of the midsized SUVs are a PIA to use the third row. We had a Freestyle which was fine until we went from 2 to 4 children. Kids were climbing all over the place to get to the back seat. We now have Kia Sedona minivan and it is so much nicer than what we had.

Price wise you can get a much better minivan for $5000 than any SUV. And with gas headed up I wouldn't want to be feeding a 90s Durango with gas at $4 to $5 a gallon.

We've got a Ford Explorer Sport Trac. We love that thing. Bought it in 02. We've got over 260,000 miles on it,trouble free as you can get. We can get the 4 wheeler in the back to take it up north,seats 5 people,I've towed a mixer wagon and a big tandem axle manure spreader home with it. Just a super nice outfit.

The biggest thing to look at is power to weight ratio and gearing. A modern mini van is heavy enough that a 4 cyl engine would be about maxed out with just the weight of the vehicle and passengers and would get poor mileage. To the best of my knowledge none of the current minivans get much more than about 25 MPG. A lot of the Chrysler mini's had tranny issues. In the last few years they seem to have gotten that fixed. Most of them have little of no cargo space when all the seats have got someone in them. My son had one that had about 6" of cargo space behind the rear seats. His new one has about 18".

If safety is a concern then steer clear of the minvan market. About 3 years ago none of them passed so they created a "new" set of test for them. Just like the "in the class" rating for cars. 5 Star in a little car is not the same as 5 Star in a full sized car.

Now I know that you are concerned about mileage and don't need 4X4 (few people really do) but I would not discount the bigger SUV's. We have a 98 Suburban with the Vortech 5.8. It gets about 20 at 55 and 18 at 70. Even with the 3rd seat the cargo area is about 4 feet deep. With the rear seat removed and the center folder up it will carry 4x8 sheets of plywood. Now I will admit that ours is having mechanical problems......at 260,000 miles. We are going to replace it in the next couple of months.

As far as the Trailblazer and like sized SUVs they really don't get much more in mileage than the full sized ones. It's really only 2-3 MPG at beat and some get less than that. We traded a 2000 Explorer on the Suburban. It got 21 at 55. 1 MPG better.

Good luck with whatever you decide on.

Rick

My personal experience and experience here at the dealership, go with a Dodge grand caravan. We have 2 of them and load them to the max. They get between 23 and 26 MPG. We sell more of them than any other brand.

I have had several. I own a Ford Edge now and have to say, it's Ford's best kept secret.
I do not get excited over cars and SUVs , but I really like this one.

Suburbans that get 20 MPG but minivans get poor mileage?


The newest Suburban is rated more unsafe than the Dodge, Toyota, Kia and Honda minivans because it is more prone to tipping over in both aversion driving and side impacts.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/11/2012-chevrolet-suburban-rolls-over-during-nhtsa-side-impact-crash-test.html


http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Chevrolet_Suburban/Safety/

http://www.carsdirect.com/car-safety/4-best-crash-test-rating-vans-for-under-30000

All four of the minivans have a higher safety rating than the Suburban.

I don't know where you got the idea that minivans didn't do well in crash tests. For the most part they are the safest vehicles on the road.

A 5 star rating is a 5 star rating in all areas except one. From the NHTSA:

Can I compare vehicles from different classes?


Side crash rating results can be compared across all classes because all vehicles are hit with the same force by the same moving barrier or pole.

Rollover ratings can also be compared across all classes.

Frontal crash rating results can only be compared to other vehicles in the same class and whose weight is plus or minus 250 pounds of the vehicle being rated. This is because a frontal crash rating into a fixed barrier represents a crash between two vehicles of the same weight.

We have a Buick "Enclave" and we love it. Very roomy. Lots of space

You ride in a mini-van if you want to. My daughter-in-law got rear-ended by a Ranger. 20000 plus damage. The worst is it the Ranger made it to the back seat where my Grand Children were setting. broke the seat, but the kids are all right. Mileage isn't everything. They will ride in a big suv from now on. Vic

I'd stay away from the Jeep. Mine had electrical problems, even had factory reps come and look at it,couldn't figure it out.

(quoted from post at 13:26:46 04/17/12) Suburbans that get 20 MPG but minivans get poor mileage?


The newest Suburban is rated more unsafe than the Dodge, Toyota, Kia and Honda minivans because it is more prone to tipping over in both aversion driving and side impacts.

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/11/2012-chevrolet-suburban-rolls-over-during-nhtsa-side-impact-crash-test.html


http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/Chevrolet_Suburban/Safety/

http://www.carsdirect.com/car-safety/4-best-crash-test-rating-vans-for-under-30000

All four of the minivans have a higher safety rating than the Suburban.

I don't know where you got the idea that minivans didn't do well in crash tests. For the most part they are the safest vehicles on the road.

A 5 star rating is a 5 star rating in all areas except one. From the NHTSA:

Can I compare vehicles from different classes?


Side crash rating results can be compared across all classes because all vehicles are hit with the same force by the same moving barrier or pole.

Rollover ratings can also be compared across all classes.

Frontal crash rating results can only be compared to other vehicles in the same class and whose weight is plus or minus 250 pounds of the vehicle being rated. This is because a frontal crash rating into a fixed barrier represents a crash between two vehicles of the same weight.

Click to expand...

No go look it up, vehicles are tested in their size class for the ratings. It's not a well kept secret. They have also been accused of fudging the test in favor of echo boxes because of pressure from the EPA. I haven't seen a Suburban that has rolled over yet. I've seen a lot of mini vans that have. So you can look at the ratings all you like what they need to do is publish
the accidents for each type of vehicle by type of accident, injuries to the occupants and cost to repair the vehicle. In todays age of computers it would not be hard.


Also you can look up the stuff on the mini vans. They were tested just a few years back. Made headline news, they all failed in the class they were tested so they gave them a pass for that year and came up with a new class rating for them and retested the following year.

Rick

Test an HHR - someone on here said they are a POS, but we have two and love them.

Get a Buick Enclave, it won"t be cheap!!!

Our family has been switching most everything over to Hondas. For us it sure cut back the repairs ! Last one that went bye bye was the 2006 grand caravan really like the hauling cargo room and the stow and go seats,but it had way too many repairs needed.
Look at CRV and Pilots best we have ever owned by far.

I know you'd probably hate the van... but if you want cheap relative to age of vehicle and servicable for what you describe... get a van. Just watch that the old Caravan's haven't dumped the transmission cooler into the rad as they still had tank coolers and they were well known to fail.

Rod

Wayne, I'm not sure there are any favorites in this category. Especially without buying new and for lots of money.

Having said that...you can never have enough space. We currently have a 2004 Freestar, befor that we had a 98 Windstar. My wife crams those cars / vans so full stuff its incredable. We have two kids - 7 year old daughter and 22 month son, and a 5 year old yellow lab.
Back seat folds down flat, mid seats will come out but we leave them in most times. I've seen her haul both kids and 500 lbs of cranberries to markets. V6, no power problems. Not great gas milage - probably the same as my 01 F250 18 - 20 mpg.

The Freestar is not as comfy as the 98 Windstar, but it is adequate. We took the Freestar from Vancouver Island to San Diego and back last spring. Pod on roof and loaded in the back, not bad as long as I was driving.

Every year and a half flush the tranny, we probably should change the oil more frequently but.... Handles well in snow with proper snow tires, I also have chains if need be.

I drove lots of differnt mini vans. In the end it was price - the Fords were a bit cheaper than the Dodges I was looking at. Safety and comfort were about the same. I bought it in 06 with 40,000km for $10,000. It has 196,000 kms now and is probably worth not more than $3500 - 4000 if we are lucky.

When we replace it next year I would like to convince my wife to get a F150, or Chev 1500. Four full doors not the extended cab. But only the 6'6" box. I would get 4X4 - they all pretty much have it and with a pick up they are light on the rear. Maybe get a canopy too. Much more room for stuff - and dog in the back. A bit higher, just as good milage etc....unfortunatly she seems to want an SUV.

Good luck. I start searching a couple months ahead so that whena good deal comes along - I know it and can act imediatly. It doesn't sound like you have that luxury.
Grant

NCWayne, Just bought a 2011 Ford Edge in Jan. V6, 6speed auto, just running around as my Ins. work car it gets 22-23 all day long & at 70., 25mpg @ 65 with cruise set. The seats are great even after a 300 mile day. It is a 4 passenger best but will seat 5. The Navi- system is nice Mine has the older My Touch system, Even though mine was built back in June of 2011. If you have rough county roads get one with 18 in wheels not the larger 20s. I have been very pleased with mine so far I have put 12K on it since Jan 5th.
There are some bargains on the 3 yr old or so cars at 40K miles if you don't drive as much as I do. If you are looking for pre-owned. Hope this helps!
Later,
John A.

You do realize that is how they are designed right? They obsorb the impact (crumple zone) and keep it out of the passenger compartment.

Source of this not well kept secret?

get a excursion.....w/ the 7.3 PSD. That is what we did.....pull the camper wherever I want, have PLENTY of room availiable, and if she or I get into a wreck....unless the other is driving a kenworth.....we should be ok.

Mileage isnt everything.....I'd rather spend more on fuel but be SAFE!!!