So we're expecting our third child later this year and we're looking for a new yet decently affordable car that can accommodate 2 baby seats and a booster seat in the back, with enough room in the trunk to carry our stuff. Any suggestions?
Not sure what price range you're really looking at but the Dodge Charger has quiet a bit of room, I can fit 3 adults in my back seat, plus the trunk is pretty large. The v6 models have solid gas mileage and save a few thousand dollars. Then there is the R/T V8 models, which don't have as good of a mpg rating but are a blast to drive. I've had mine for over a year and it is definitely the best car I have owned.
Toyota Rav-4 is a good SUV. Its deceptive in size, ie from the outside it doesn't look to big, but it has more than enough room for two baby seats and a booster. My mom has one. Stay away from Jeep Brand- they've turned to shit.
Another good SUV is one of the newer models of the Subaru Forester. They have plenty room in them and are reliable and safe. Plus, they have AWD and have good gas mileage.
Chevy Traverse. Just picked up a 2014 yesterday for the exact same reasons you mentioned. The 3rd row seating really helps. Although, if you want captain seats for the middle row instead of the bench, you'll have to upgrade to the more expensive LT model. With current promotions and rebates, the final price for mine was $34,446.
Throwing another vote for the Rav-4. Borrowed my Aunts when it was time to haul my junk to the dorms. That thing hauls a ton which would have taken both our Civic and Accord 2-3 trips. Also handles pretty well. More like a regular sedan vs a SUV. Also the Honda Odyssey or the Toyota Sienna. Different Aunt has an older Odyssey, but it drives smoothly and has plenty of storage to boot. Only iffy thing is the sliding door, but that's probably just a case of my cousin not explaining how it works well enough.
Noooooo! Don't get a mini-van. You know your life is over when you get one of those. I have vowed to never get a mini-van. I have a Pontiac Torrent SUV, which of course they don't make anymore, but it's twin is the Chevy Equinox. I'd call it a mid-size SUV with a huge backseat area, plenty of storage in the back, and pretty good gas mileage.
But have you tried fitting 3 babyseats in the back? They're wider that you'd think, because you don't only need to be able to place them side by side, but you also need extra room to secure them. I don't feel like getting a minivan either, but if that's what it takes to get all the room and the safety I need, so be it. Function before flash!
I say call around and see what kind of promotions are going on. I got lucky. I was going to buy my traverse on Saturday. The price was originally $37,800. However, they didn't have the color I wanted in stock, so I had to wait until Tuesday. On Monday, GM started offering GM family pricing to all buyers. So that brought the price down to $34,446. Also on Sunday, the dealership started a new promotion matching your down payment up to $1000. Then there was other various rebates available, as well. If I signed on Saturday, I would've missed out on most of that.
It's big and roomy but a 5 year old, a 2 year old and a new born won't fit. I think that's how old the minitroptimuses are at this point. I have 2 kids, a 5 year old and 2 year old who are now both on stage 2 seats. I can barely sit with them in the back seat. Let along another car seat. Stage 3 booster, a stage 2 and a stage 1 perhaps.
This! Our daughter just turned 5, and our son will have just turned 4 by the time baby #3 shows up (end of October/beginning of November).
Which reminds me, I have to buy another seat soon. Whatever happened to our seats when we were children? Oh wait, we didn't have those... Edit: scratch that. I forgot how big stage 1 is. Live my dream and get a Toyota Optimus Prime.
Car seats are a scam, just look at them over the last 20 yrs. Its just like airbags, antilock and traction control. Everything everyone got along with for years and years without is all of a sudden necessary. Enough for now of that I guess. I mash mine in a SL2 Saturn, 99 or 96 lol. I have been eyeballing GMC Terrain, if u can leave without all the bullshit you can get them around $25k new, lot more palatable than most of the overpriced bullshit out there. Also, buy American, 75% of the money trail goes where the company is headquartered, not where it is made.
One that's a Transformer. In all honestly I'd suggest the KIA Rondo, but that's just because that's what my mom drives.
Well, we finally bought one today: a 2011 Ford Explorer XLT. Great price, feels good, looks good, roomy, all we were looking for in a SUV.
I was going to say subaru legacy estate but I dont know how the servicing cost are going to be like. And also, I was too late and you brought your car lol. I heard nothing but good stuff about the legacy. The newer models have awesome build quality. And you can pretend to be a rally driver for the day because the chassis is based on the Impreza Congrats on your purchase
