Car Purchase with eye towards first child
- Thread starter brngk
- Start date
Always thought the Element would be cool with;
1. 4" lift
2. reasonable power
3. real 4wd system
Buuuuutt, it was designed for the younger gen-x demographic and surprisingly failed there, and is popular with the 40-60 segment.
6Pins
Adventurer
You know that Gen-X is defined by being born between 1961 and 1981 right?
I'd second the Grand Cherokee, we had one after the Audi wagon was totaled and it lasted us up until we had kid #3 and the eldest was just miserable being squished between two car seats. I can't stand the seating position on mini-vans, so we always had either wagons or and SUV.
Element would be a good choice too, since it has the rubber floor. Whatever you get, make sure you get leather interior. You can't imagine the filth that kids put off and if you get cloth seats, you're looking at a myriad of stains and buying seat covers.
GroupSe7en
Adventurer
HEY! Watch it buddy - or I'll take you over my knee. LOL :sombrero:
You know that Gen-X is defined by being born between 1961 and 1981 right?
No I didnt. I thought there was a "me" generation, and something else in there also. Figured GX was post 1980s.
spikemd
Explorer
I put in a vote for a 4Runner. :smiley_drive:
I have a fourth gen (2003-2010) and love it. I love my Range Rover even more, but unless you can do all your own maintenance, I wouldn't recommend it.
My 4Runner fits three carseats across the back as I have three little ones from 3 months to 3 years old. Its my wife's DD.
Still have plenty of room in the back and with a roof rack, you can fit tons of gear.
I have the V8, which I love, but the V6 gets slightly better gas mileage. (1-2mpg)
With AT or MT tires, in stock form it is a very capable vehicle.
I recommend the 4th over the 3rd gen simply for space. I almost bought a 3rd gen, but I felt cramped in the interior. I am 6'2" and I can only imagine what 6'5" must feel like. Drive both and make the call.
You can pick up a 4th gen now for the $10K range and it will last you a long time with basic maintenance.
Good luck.
I have a fourth gen (2003-2010) and love it. I love my Range Rover even more, but unless you can do all your own maintenance, I wouldn't recommend it.
My 4Runner fits three carseats across the back as I have three little ones from 3 months to 3 years old. Its my wife's DD.
Still have plenty of room in the back and with a roof rack, you can fit tons of gear.
I have the V8, which I love, but the V6 gets slightly better gas mileage. (1-2mpg)
With AT or MT tires, in stock form it is a very capable vehicle.
I recommend the 4th over the 3rd gen simply for space. I almost bought a 3rd gen, but I felt cramped in the interior. I am 6'2" and I can only imagine what 6'5" must feel like. Drive both and make the call.
You can pick up a 4th gen now for the $10K range and it will last you a long time with basic maintenance.
Good luck.
Pskhaat
2005 Expedition Trophy Champion
On the flip side of that coin, any reason family-going can't be cool? A lot of folks want a 4WD and a Minivan but can't afford both. The 4WD can however cover both needs.
The crossovers are actually quite capable!
Agreed.
Again define off-road? Off-highway? These AWD cars do surprisingly well on a vast majority of back roads.
You are a father, right? "offspring" and "it"?? :ylsmoke:
Honu
lost on the mainland
http://www.puresuzuki.com/grand_vitara2.htm
they make some cool suzuki stuff also some of the suzuki boards have had some pretty cool setups and people get into them like any other vehicle
with aftermarket bumpers and lifts and racks and such
actually I want to get another samurai one day I had one back when I had a FJ40 and can say that thing fit in a few tight spots no other rig could get through !
the Vitara we had for most parts would go anywhere we wanted to
they make some cool suzuki stuff also some of the suzuki boards have had some pretty cool setups and people get into them like any other vehicle
with aftermarket bumpers and lifts and racks and such
actually I want to get another samurai one day
I had one back when I had a FJ40 and can say that thing fit in a few tight spots no other rig could get through ! the Vitara we had for most parts would go anywhere we wanted to
Well, someone finally caught that. Took a while.
(I was mirroring the tone of the OP, which I found rather, uh, academic)
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
I can understand where there is a genuine desire or need for 4wd. But what I'm referring to is *everybody else*. The 99.99% of SUV/Crossover buyers that will never as much as drive on a gravel road. Or at most, drive on the dirt road in the car camping ground, or a well graded gravel road to the farmers gate market. Given how practical and affordable minivans are, I don't understand people who don't need 4wd buying SUV's just because "minivans are uncool".
We got our LWB Montana, with a few options (captains chairs, rear A/C, Side airbags, remote entry, etc.) brand new, for the same price as a Honda Fit. They were giving them away! Most people easily spend twice that amount for a compact SUV/crossover. But then, cars aren't status symbols for us. They're rapidly depreciating transportation appliances. At best they can be fun to drive, if the vehicle fits the role. At worst, when purchased only for status... they depreciate, they get keyed, they get dinged, they get rock chipped... The van is a depreciating transportation appliance for us, so most affordable vehicle that serves the role wins. My truck and trackday car are more than just simple transportation.
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Pskhaat
2005 Expedition Trophy Champion
My observation is that these crossovers are prevalent in mountain climates where winter snow+ice can make one rethink the minivan. Yes, there are AWD minivans, but these come at a premium price and I would assume it is logical that the majority seeks not (or knows not to seek) AWD minivans where 4WD/AWD is needed.
Quick glance at Toyota reveals that the Sienna AWD starts at $32k (which I'm guessing by the time the dealer shoves options on you it will easily fall into the $37k category), vs. the 4Runner which options less. Just food for thought. Just one manufacturer, I know, but I can't foresee myself in any financial position to be dropping a shade under $40kUSD towards a minivan which is single- vs. dual-purpose.
Don't get me wrong, I'd drive a Minivan anywhere I could if given to me as uncool-is-the-new-cool in my life.
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
I live in a very wintry and quite hilly place. Snow tires and FWD will get you through anything that anyone would even think to be out in. I've only ever encountered 1 hill I haven't been able to drive up. I also couldn't safely go down it. On the brakes, ABS firing, while falling (accelerating) down the hill. I had to drive it into a snowbank to get it stopped before I got going too fast. 4wd couldn't drive up it either, BTW. And when my dad tried going down it in the Yukon, he also lost control, drove it into the bank, but the weight of the truck pushed it THROUGH the bank and into a tree.
I have done rallies with Blizzaks on a FWD car where I got up hills that people with AWD cars and lesser snow tires could not.
The whole traction in snow argument is a strawman. The reality is that most people will not drive in conditions where AWD is required anyway. I know many people with AWD cars who stay home during snow storms in which we are driving around in our FWD minivan. And it's not about getting stuck either. With the majority of normal AWD cars having 3 open diffs and no TC in the recent past, you could get a Subaru stuck just by removing traction from one wheel.
I have done rallies with Blizzaks on a FWD car where I got up hills that people with AWD cars and lesser snow tires could not.
The whole traction in snow argument is a strawman. The reality is that most people will not drive in conditions where AWD is required anyway. I know many people with AWD cars who stay home during snow storms in which we are driving around in our FWD minivan. And it's not about getting stuck either. With the majority of normal AWD cars having 3 open diffs and no TC in the recent past, you could get a Subaru stuck just by removing traction from one wheel.
BIGdaddy
Expedition Leader
three carseats will fit in an XJ. its just the front/back room thats an issue.
our minivan is very comfy for 5 or 6 people.
You do NOT have to buy a suburban to fit a couple kids in carseat..lol.
We've been thinking about adding something like a trooper or montero to the stable. Nice, cheap rigs that fit 5 or more comfortably.
our minivan is very comfy for 5 or 6 people.
You do NOT have to buy a suburban to fit a couple kids in carseat..lol.
We've been thinking about adding something like a trooper or montero to the stable. Nice, cheap rigs that fit 5 or more comfortably.
DrMoab
Explorer
You must not live in THAT snowy of an area. We have a Subaru outback, a Toyota Camry and of course my XJ. There have been times where my wife couldn't get the Outback...with AWD out of our driveway in the winter. The Camry? Please, don't make me laugh. During hard winter storms it stays parked and we deal with the Subi and the Jeep. front wheel drive cars are just not an option then. Granted it isn't an every day or usually even a once a month experience but it happens and I am very grateful that my wife has the option of an AWD vehicle. I wouldn't want her out on the roads in anything less.
Pskhaat
2005 Expedition Trophy Champion
You do if you take extended trips.
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