Family Transportation: SUV or Mini Van...? (best, exhaust, mileage, buy)

[dkf747]

Minivan. Get a Dodge with the stow and go seating. I prefer the fourth generation models (2001-2007) over the current 5th generation models though.

[0akback]

Mini vans are awesome, I think all cars should have sliding doors. I never have to worry about my son dinging someone else's car.

I have a Mazda 5, it's a fabulous car for the money. Small platform, easy to park, handles great, seats 4 6-foot-plus adults and 2 kids easily. We usually keep the 3rd row folded flat for cargo and dogs. 6 CD changer, electric sunroof, allow wheels, electric windows in the rear (none of that pop-out-window crap) all that for $20k in 2006. Not sure what the run now, but I know they've made lots of interior improvement; more armrests and cubby holes, a/c vents for the 2nd row and such. We've taken it on lots of trips, up to 8 or 9 hours away. We've even shuttled around 6 adults in it, enough room for short trips this way.

[Omaha Rocks]

Originally Posted by dkf747

Minivan. Get a Dodge with the stow and go seating. I prefer the fourth generation models (2001-2007) over the current 5th generation models though.

We've got a 2004 Grand Caravan (my wife insisted she had to have one, even though our kids are grown).

There's only one thing I don't like about it - and that is that for some reason it's harder to see out the back than on earlier model Grand Caravans. I don't know why that is, but it is.

[josmchicago]

I'd go take them for a test run and price it out on a spreadsheet. Personally, SUV is what I prefer. But it depends on your kids and what age they are at.

[Coldjensens]

Not sure why you would need wither with only one child. Most sedans will give you plenty of room for three people and some stuff.

SUV's are a waste. remember what they are for. Are you going camping in a rural area with dirt or no roads? Driving in 3-4 feet of snow? Towing a boat while you transport 7 people? An SUV is not just a big station wagon. It is a utility vehicle. Basically a truck with a lot of seats. If you do nto need a truck, why would you buy one?

Same with a mini van. You sacrifice a lot to go from a sedan to a minivan. If you do not need to carry a lot of people, why not stick with the comfort, performance, economy, and safety of a nice sedan?

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by Egobop

I have owned both. For one or two children I would say a mini van is the way to go as long as you are not looking to tow anything. I have three children here full time and one daughter from a previous marriage that does not live here full time. With even just the three children I found the mini van to be too small. I also found the small SUVs to be too small as well. I own a 2001 Excursion and in the future will probably be going with an Expedition or Suburban (they do not make the Excursion any longer). I also tow a lot since I work on old cars which are not running when I acquire them.

I'm dying to know how any five passenger vehicle is too small for three kids and a driver. Not looking for a defend my SUV fight, I'm just curious.

[dsh1127]

Originally Posted by caution

one kid = sedan
two kids = sedan
three or more kids = mini van, cross over, pretend SUV
three or more kids + dog + camper or boat = capable, truck-based SUV

I agree! I know so many people that once they had one kid, they immediately had to sell the car and buy a minivan! I mean, if you really like them, that's fine, but it's not a pre-requisite to having a kid!

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Not sure why you would need wither with only one child. Most sedans will give you plenty of room for three people and some stuff.

SUV's are a waste. remember what they are for. Are you going camping in a rural area with dirt or no roads? Driving in 3-4 feet of snow? Towing a boat while you transport 7 people? An SUV is not just a big station wagon. It is a utility vehicle. Basically a truck with a lot of seats. If you do nto need a truck, why would you buy one?

Same with a mini van. You sacrifice a lot to go from a sedan to a minivan. If you do not need to carry a lot of people, why not stick with the comfort, performance, economy, and safety of a nice sedan?

I agree with you, too! We have 2 kids that are 10 & 12 now, and I have survived without a minivan or SUV. Didn't really want one - my four door sedan works just fine. My dh has an extra cab Dodge truck that seats six people easily, so if we need more room, or are going camping, that's what we take! Again, if you really like them, then by all means buy one..

[Egobop]

Originally Posted by ovcatto

I'm dying to know how any five passenger vehicle is too small for three kids and a driver. Not looking for a defend my SUV fight, I'm just curious.

Four kids and a driver. I have a 10 year old daughter from a previous marriage as well. I also currently am married so my wife makes another passenger. This makes six all together. The mini van was not bad for local trips to stores but when taking a long trip with the intention of staying in hotels for a few nights the van was too small. My truck has a bench seat in the middle and third row and both bench seats can seat three adults comfortably. There is also a good three feet behind the third row to the rear doors.

If I take out the third seat in the Excursion and fold the middle row into the floor I get a full eight feet from behind the front seat to the rear doors. I have already picked up 8 X 4 sheets of plywood with it and been able to close the rear doors. I also tow a 24 foot trailer with my truck that I transport cars with and I simply would not be able to do this with a min van or a small SUV. When I did have my mini van I had a separate pick up truck I used to do this with. Making a trip out of driving to someplace such as Rhode Island and then back to Long Island, NY to pick up a car with the family was out of the question then. Now I can take the whole family and make a weekend trip out of it.

Of course, not everyone needs a truck such as mine since different people have different size families and different towing and hauling needs. For me it works perfect since it means that I only have to have one vehicle for everything that I do.

I am not doing a "defend my SUV" fight at all. I should have been a bit more specific in my first post. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused by not making my point clearer. For me, the Excursion is practical, for others it would be overkill. If I did not have a need for a large SUV or pick up truck I would opt for a mini van over a small SUV. I do not see a small SUV as being a better family vehicle unless you do have something to tow that is not heavy enough for a larger truck and too heavy for a mini van. If you need a family vehicle and have no towing needs and do not get heavy snow more than a handful of times a year I would pick the mini van easily over an SUV. The mini van is safer and more convenient.

[Egobop]

Originally Posted by dsh1127

I agree! I know so many people that once they had one kid, they immediately had to sell the car and buy a minivan! I mean, if you really like them, that's fine, but it's not a pre-requisite to having a kid!



I agree with you, too! We have 2 kids that are 10 & 12 now, and I have survived without a minivan or SUV. Didn't really want one - my four door sedan works just fine. My dh has an extra cab Dodge truck that seats six people easily, so if we need more room, or are going camping, that's what we take! Again, if you really like them, then by all means buy one..

I do agree that with only two children a four door sedan is fine. I bought my minivan once there were three. I probably could have actually gotten by with a larger sedan such as the Crown Victoria or something that size as well. As the kids start to reach the teen years this can start to get a bit less roomy though.

[M3 Mitch]

How about a Miata and a mini version of a stock trailer?