Car Help

[Wendy]

I currently have a Lincoln Aviator. I love the car but I only get 10 mpg and it is not functional. I have bucket seats in the middle row, holding car seats. If anyone rides along, like my son he has to climb through the back window to the 3rd row or climb over the seats. When my third row seats are in use I have no room for a stroller or anything for that matter.

I am extremely worried to drive kids in a small vehicle so a car is out of the question. That is how I came across the Lincoln, it has the Cobra Mustang motor in it. I did not feel like an old lady switching from my previous Bullitt Mustang to this Aviator because it had a little speed under the hood. With that being said I need something else. More practical. I am anti-minivan. Well I could do a Honda Odyssey but I would probably end up divorced, my husband in anti-foreign. We are still receiving a paycheck from Ford even though he was laid off 3 1/2 years ago so I can understand his reasoning. Anyone out there driving a SUV that has either bench row in the middle and a lot of storage space in the back or even bucket seats in the middle with third row seating that still has room for storage in the back?

By the way, I am over the need for speed. I did mature a little but I do need something that will fit all of our junk.

 

[flatstick96]

My wife was also anti-minivan when we were shopping around for a more practical vehicle for her (once we started having kids). She is now in a Mazda MPV (minivan) and LOVES it.

It has proven to be reliable (we got it with about 40K miles on it, it now has almost 90K, and it's never had anything go wrong with it that I couldn't fix myself).

It has proven to be practical (you would be amazed at some of the looks I get in the Home Depot parking lot when I start loading it up; I've hauled lumber up to 10' long, baseboard up to 13', and a 20' extension ladder in it, and I could still close the back. About all I can't fit in it is full sheets of plywood).

It's fairly economical; my wife gets about 20 MPG and she drives like a bat out of hell.

It's not bad looking. Here is a picture of one just like hers:

The only down side (if it matters, and it doesn't to us) is that it's "foreign" (although Mazda has had a pretty tight relationship with Ford over the years).

 

[Obsessed]

We have a 2009 Honda Pilot that we like. (Honda does make some vehicles in the U.S., but I'm not sure about the Pilot.) We felt it had better storage space and a bigger third row than comparable vehicles from Toyota, Subaru, or Hyundai.

If you don't need four-wheel drive and can deal with driving a minivan, I think the Odyssey is a better value and more practical.

By the way, since you are worried about safety, you can check crash test results at the following websites:

http://www.iihs.org/
http://www.safercar.gov/

 

[Kratos]

Yeah, you can put your fears of small cars in crashes to bed. From the dozens of crashes I've seen, you aren't much better off in an SUV, unless you count more room to get thrown around in and the ability to roll over more easily as better.

 

[Yorkie]

It's fairly economical; my wife gets about 20 MPG and she drives like a bat out of hell.

Blimey, I get about 26mpg out of my Volvo 850 T5 and that's not driving carefully. Loads of room as it's the estate and a 2.3 litre turbo'd engine. No wonder the UK police use T5's as they certainly paddle on. Drive like Miss Daisy and you get around 30 mpg (though US gallons are different to UK gallons)

 

[tpoof]

I've seen that new Ford Flex looking quite trick

 

[gaseousclay]

I am anti-minivan. Well I could do a Honda Odyssey but I would probably end up divorced, my husband in anti-foreign. We are still receiving a paycheck from Ford even though he was laid off 3 1/2 years ago so I can understand his reasoning.

aren't most American cars built with foreign parts though? Hondas built in the USA are probably more American than most of the American companies out there.

 

[mmack66]

Buy a Chrysler minivan if you have to buy American. Or are they Italian now?

 

[garyg]

If you just can't do a Minivan then to get three rows and "trunk" space it is an Expedition. Very spacious, but not the thriftiest. Each row of seats takes approximately the same amount of fore and aft space, and a SUV has a longer hood than a mom-bomb .. and actually the minis with 3 rows don't have much room in the boot ..

Depends I guess on how many folks you need to get in at once

 

[82R100]

Buy a Chrysler minivan if you have to buy American. Or are they Italian now?

They most certainly are still what they were.

Hate to say it, Wendy, but the functionality you've described is that of a minivan. The new ones (Chrysler products included) have roll down windows in the sliding doors, if that helps at all.

- Chris

 

[machine99703]

I rented a Chevy uplander one time, it had all the room of a minivan without that minivan feel. Felt more like an SUV, but more manuverable. Gas mileage was pretty decent too. I'm not sure if that model is still available though...

 

[82R100]

I rented a Chevy uplander one time, it had all the room of a minivan without that minivan feel. Felt more like an SUV, but more manuverable. Gas mileage was pretty decent too. I'm not sure if that model is still available though...

Nope, GM closed the Doraville, GA plant a while ago. FWIW, the Uplander was a reworked Chevy Venture minivan with a blunt nose and a slightly raised suspension. We have a Venture that does fine by us, but they're not universally loved.

The Chrysler minivan is the only minivan still in production by a U.S. based manufacturer.

I guess you need to clarify, Wendy, are you looking for a new vehicle?

- Chris

 

[bandit82ta]

Not to knock anyone's opinion but the lines are rather blurred when relating to what is foreign and domestic. There are quite a few honda/toyota plants in the us and several gm/chrysler outside the US.

As far as safety, that should be based on crash ratings more so then size. There have been some really bad accidents on both sides of those coins. The SUV's seem safe but try an evasive maneuver and you may just roll it over with the softer shocks and longer travel.

My thought is visit all the dealers nearby, check prices and features and models. Get a few models you like and search out their safety ratings.

THEN goto carsurvey.org and look it up for actual owners comments by year/make/model. I used it myself in the past to see what people thought.

I would've never gone "foreign" before but I just bought my wife her 09 Civic to add to our garage of a 06 civic. Couldn't beat price to mpg to lastablity. Remember your plunk'n down serious cash no matter what so buy something based on merit not a grudge.

Good luck... buy'n any vehicle is a pain.

 

[Wendy]

My wife was also anti-minivan when we were shopping around for a more practical vehicle for her (once we started having kids). She is now in a Mazda MPV (minivan) and LOVES it.

It has proven to be reliable (we got it with about 40K miles on it, it now has almost 90K, and it's never had anything go wrong with it that I couldn't fix myself).

It has proven to be practical (you would be amazed at some of the looks I get in the Home Depot parking lot when I start loading it up; I've hauled lumber up to 10' long, baseboard up to 13', and a 20' extension ladder in it, and I could still close the back. About all I can't fit in it is full sheets of plywood).

It's fairly economical; my wife gets about 20 MPG and she drives like a bat out of hell.

It's not bad looking. Here is a picture of one just like hers:

The only down side (if it matters, and it doesn't to us) is that it's "foreign" (although Mazda has had a pretty tight relationship with Ford over the years).

I forgot about these. I also like these. I also can get employee discount because Ford has ownership of Mazda.
I must add my husband is anti-foreign when it comes to cars but we always have a Honda crotch rocket and a BMW motorcycle in the garage. I argue this foreign-American thing all the time but apparently you can have foreign bikes on the Ford lots but not cars.

 

[_JP_]

I am anti-minivan. Well I could do a Honda Odyssey but I would probably end up divorced, my husband in anti-foreign. We are still receiving a paycheck from Ford even though he was laid off 3 1/2 years ago so I can understand his reasoning.

By the way, I am over the need for speed. I did mature a little but I do need something that will fit all of our junk.

My Ford van was made in Canada. Seriously, automobile manufacturing in the U.S. has become so international that only the name and corporate headquarters is not foreign.

You might want to look into station wagon models, but most of the ones that I can think of are foreign makes. Other than that, a full sized Ford or Chevy van with the hottest engine that they offer.

 

[82R100]

You might want to look into station wagon models, but most of the ones that I can think of are foreign makes.

Of course, there's the Ford Flex, but it's a bit bizarre and probably a bit pricey.

 

[Wendy]

Yeah, you can put your fears of small cars in crashes to bed. From the dozens of crashes I've seen, you aren't much better off in an SUV, unless you count more room to get thrown around in and the ability to roll over more easily as better.

Yes I see that point also, but the kind of car I will drive is not suitable for car seats. IE Bullitt Mustang, RX-7, 69 Camaro, Honda CRX SI. The fire dept can not fit my carseats in the back that is why I ditched my Mustang. I used to do SCCA racing and drag with my brothers and always had a fun car. My daily driver was the mustang and the weekend car was the 69 Camaro. I am not really into a "family car". I do like the Dodge Charger it looks a little meaty. I do not drive far at all. I only have 40K on my Aviator now and it is a 2004. My husband has a 2005 Ford F150 Crew Cab but I have a little trouble parking. (I hate to admit that)

 

[Wendy]

aren't most American cars built with foreign parts though? Hondas built in the USA are probably more American than most of the American companies out there.

I agree. Honda years ago was 51% American, 49% foreign but there is still the fact we get a lot of money every year form Ford and wonderful benefits along with free education, well 15k per year. I always tell my hubby his check every April is his cut of the bills not mine : )

 

[gaseousclay]

I would've never gone "foreign" before but I just bought my wife her 09 Civic to add to our garage of a 06 civic. Couldn't beat price to mpg to lastablity. Remember your plunk'n down serious cash no matter what so buy something based on merit not a grudge.

Good luck... buy'n any vehicle is a pain.

co-signed. I wouldn't rule out buying an American car like the Ford Fusion but i'm practical about spending huge wads of cash on vehicles. it better have a decent price tag, great mileage and last me awhile. I made the mistake of buying a VW back in 2003 and will never buy their cars again. My Passat has been nothing but a nightmare. if I buy another car it will more than likely be a Honda

 

[Wendy]

Nope, GM closed the Doraville, GA plant a while ago. FWIW, the Uplander was a reworked Chevy Venture minivan with a blunt nose and a slightly raised suspension. We have a Venture that does fine by us, but they're not universally loved.

The Chrysler minivan is the only minivan still in production by a U.S. based manufacturer.

I guess you need to clarify, Wendy, are you looking for a new vehicle?

- Chris

I really do not care a new or used car is fine. I prefer someone else takes the depreciation hit than me though. I would like new/used. My hubby even though he worked and built my car does not do any work on cars. I pay to have my oil changed.