Hey guys,
If I could get some opinions, it would be very helpful. My wife and I own the following.

'06 TL Nav
'98 2.3 CL (will be sold upon purchasing a larger vehicle)

Our family will be growing soon... it's just us with a 13 month old at the moment. But looking forward to another one sometime down the road next year, we are starting to think about a larger family vehicle.

Here are some of our stipulations and opinions.

1) Budget around $25k-30k (out the door price possibly)
2) I like minivans, prefer the Honda Odyssey. Wife does NOT want it.
3) Wife wants a cuv like the Lexus RX350. Still out of our price range even for a used '07. Hopefully it will go down by next year? Current prices are hovering the low $30k's.
4) Not too interested in truck based suv's due to gas mileage/prices.
5) Wife does not want a station wagon!
6) I'd love an '07 MDX... but it's well out of our price range. So possibly a used '06 MDX?

I don't see too many options...

Thanks in advance!

-D

 

I'm sure you can find a used MDX for around that price range....looks a lot better than the RX

 

Oops, I forgot to mention the RDX. I drove it once... kind of like it. The looks are up for debates with my wife. The prices should drop even more by the end of this year.

Here are the vehicles that I would consider, based on the budget constraints.

1) '06 MDX
2) '07 RDX
3) '06-07 Odyssey
4) '07 RX350 (if prices are reasonable by end of this year)
5) '06 RX330 (next best option due to price)

I don't like the offerings from other companies... but any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Have you thought of a BMW 7 series? You can get an 03 745LI for around 25K, then tag and title.

First off, I would highly recommned the MDX over the RX, you get a lot more car, and plus you already are friends with the service department and know the people at the acura dealership, plus there is acuramdx dot org to help you with any MDX needs. The RDX, personally, I don't like, even though it is fast, it uses too much gas for a car it's size, hell, the 06 mdx gets better MPG.

 

25-30K gets you a cr-v, rav4, tiguan, forrester...

 

Pilot? Is that truck based?

 

Nope- it's Accord-based, like the Odyssey.

Other choices include the Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX7 and CX9.

Personally, we have an Odyssey, where the sliding doors are much easier to use for getting car seats and kids' stuff in and out than swinging doors of SUVs.

 

Pilot.
Pathfinder Armada.
Pacifica.

Those would be my frist 3 options.

The Murano is really nice too, but I'm listing the ones with available 3rd row seating.

 

In the Stupid Useless Vehicle (SUV) category, you could also look at a VW Touareg, or a Volvo XC 90...

How about a Volvo XC70? It sits higher, and is different. Along the same lines is an Audi Allroad.

I owned a Volvo V70 with 3 kids. Yes, they were a bit small at the time, but I'll tell you, once you drive one of those, you really do not want a tipsy van or a truck. Gas prices are going up, plus the ones I mention are pretty good handling. With 2 kids, the size is just right, IMO.

Just my

 

Thanks for the suggestions... they're good, don't get me wrong. But some may be more than we need. If we only plan for a second kid for now, some vehicles are too much like the Armada.

I'm hesitant to get into an old 7 series... not too fond of the Volvos or VWs... The new '09 Pilot is just ugly. The old ones are so so... but still may be too big for us.

I know, I'm being difficult... we just need to go take a look at these vehicles in person.

The RDX would be a fun cuv... but space may be an issue as it is not a large vehicle.

I like the idea of the Murano, even though trunk space is not plentiful. Our friends have an '05. I don't like the grill of the first gen. The interior seems a bit cheap, especially the flat doors. The new '09 Muranos are hideous.

Thanks for the input... I think we have to evaluate our pros and cons and what we want and need.

 

My wife was just as against the Odyssey until she drove it and realized how practical it is.

We have an 07.

Test drive, Test drive, Test drive. The Sienna is another good alternative.

 

If you have one child with another possibly on the way the RDX is simply too small. We dumped her '05 CRV knowing our first little guy was on the way. I actually preferred the handling/ride quality of the RDX but the MDX is much more practical for growing families.

 

I thought the Murano trunk is big enough. It's about the same cargo space a my Pathfinder. I think more. And for the most part I haven't had any problems with getting stuff in it.

 

Really? The Murano's trunk just appears smaller. I've never had a chance to actually compare. Thanks for the info.

How is the quality of the Murano?

We're planning the second... nothing baking in the oven yet.

I do like the Odyssey...

 

Check out the Hyundai Genesis when it gets out

 

Nothing beats a minivan when you have small kids. The lower loading height, the wide doors for getting baby into/out of baby chair, the cargo capacity. There's a reason why these things still sell well.

 

Honda Pilot
Acura Rdx or Mdx

 

MDX
RDX
PILOT
FORESTER

BMW 3 TOURING WAGON??? its not a "station wagon" but yes it is a wagon.

 

All crossovers are station wagons in denial. It's just a name game.

Also, my mom has a Forester and I wouldn't recommend it for a family with kids.

 

good call but its within price range NEW and gets decent gas mileage compared to an SUV... worth a look.

(i personally hate subarus though)

 

Naw, man. Rough, loud, not very spacious for passengers. I don't think it'd be what he's looking for as a family hauler.

My mom loves it though as a grocery hauler and daily driver that'll last forever though.

 

sweet... take it off the list.

1 less on the road for me to sneer at!

 

You know, I tried getting her to look at the 3 series wagon, but she wouldn't even consider it because it was a "wagon" as if the forester is any less of one. So aggravating.



To the OP, I vote the Pilot of Odyssey by the way.

 

And once you start putting in a stroller and a pack-and-play and kids toys and ...... you'll realize very quickly that an SUV is pretty much useless.

We love our Sienna, 3 kids (4 1/2, 2 1/2, 11 months) and we can fit them all and all their stuff very easily.

 

^ Not to mention the enormous cargo capacity with seats removed. Who needs a pickup when you have a minivan.

 

veracruz?

 

And just to clarify... the price range is what we are planning at this stage. We may opt to spend a bit more if the circumstance requires it.

Also, I'm definitely open to preowned to get a good value.

I see the practicality of minivans... but my wife feels that it may be too big for her. Of course this is where a test drive comes in.

I'm not fond of domestic brands... but our friend has a black Tahoe... I actually like the new look. The idea of a large suv would be fun... but not practical for us.

 

2008 Toyota Sienna:
Wheelbase: 119.3"
Total Length: 200"

2008 Chevy Tahoe:
Wheelbase: 116"
Total Length: 202"

2008 Acura MDX
Wheelbase: 108.3"
Total Length: 188.5"

 

We got a "certified" used Odyssey at the Honda store. Just turned 101k and love it. Decent gas mileage, reliable as an anvil, comfortable and lot's more room than an SUV.

Get you wife to drive one, not as hard to handle as she thinks and being tall it's easy to see out of.

 

300C
Charger
used magnum
All big V8 sedans

Crown vic
sable/taurus
All these you can get cheap & they will meet your needs.

 

Fixed.

 

can you even get a new Oddy for under 30k anymore?

 

one for highlander or 4 runner

 

I don't understand how Europeans get by with station wagons and yet here we need fucking school buses for a family of four.

 

because they dont bring every fucking toy with them wherever they go

 

station wagons are imo.

 

Acura Sensei -- it seems like you're the practical one in the family? :p

I would go with the Oddy, too. So useful -- decent gas mileage for the size, too.

As long as your wife's only concern is as to size/handling (as opposed to style, image, etc.), I think that a test drive will have her pleasantly surprised.

 

Well, we see eye to eye on most things when it comes to finances and practicality. I think she has a negative view of minivans... maybe she doesn't think it's hip?

Or maybe she's fixated on the RX350. She really LOVES the style. I think she fits the demographics in terms of what modern mothers want and not so much age.

I read an interesting article regarding the evolution of the "family vehicle". It started with the station wagon, to minivan, to suv, and now to crossovers. Of course they don't want to consider crossovers as station wagons, since cuvs are so much more capable.

My wife's brother in-law has a uncle who works at a honda dealership. Maybe he can get us a good deal.

Again, we bought the TL new and we love it. So we don't mind if the next vehicle is preowned.

I'll have to update you guys once we decide what we want to get in a year. We're anxious to start baking the second bun in the oven!

 

Thanks for the suggestions... but I am not a fan of domestic brands. The quality does not meet my standards.

My brother does work for DaimlerChrysler... he finds great deals often through the corporate purchasing program.

Sedans just don't offer the type of space that we will need down the road. I like the utility of minivans or cuvs if I need to make a run to Lowes.

 

For the most part, I agree. If we have another kid, let alone 2, we will probably have to get a mini van. Or at least become those people that use the luggage rack on top of the truck.

With one, the truck got pretty much packed on most trips. Luckily a lot of times we didn't have to take toys or a pack-and-play because my in-laws always had one.