Let me preface this by saying, I don't need a list of environmental reasons why we shouldn't buy one. I'm just wondering if any of you have any recommendations for 7-passenger SUVs or minivans (or ones to avoid).
Thanks.
Used to drive a GMC Yukon. I liked it. Plenty of room for 7. Drove well enough. Mileage wasn't great, but still comprable to what most mid-size SUV's are getting these days. I put 130k miles on it without any significant engine trouble, but there was a trend of little nuisance items going out on me.
I rented a 2010 Chrysler Touring mini van..........it was very, very nice. The only complaint I had was the armrests were a bit hard. My elbows started aching after awhile.
Nice touches? Power sliding doors with the remote alarm........power rear door. Lots of cup holders and pockets for storage. It drove great, smooth and had plenty of power. I had 6 people and gang of stuff stored behind the rear seat for vacation...........
I own a Tahoe and its very smooth driving and extremely reliable but doesnt have a 3rd row, so I needed a mini van.
Your Tahoe doesn't have a third row? I thought Tahoe's were for 7-8 passengers?I rented a 2010 Chrysler Touring mini van..........it was very, very nice. The only complaint I had was the armrests were a bit hard. My elbows started aching after awhile.
Nice touches? Power sliding doors with the remote alarm........power rear door. Lots of cup holders and pockets for storage. It drove great, smooth and had plenty of power. I had 6 people and gang of stuff stored behind the rear seat for vacation...........
I own a Tahoe and its very smooth driving and extremely reliable but doesnt have a 3rd row, so I needed a mini van.
IIRC 3rd row seat is optional in Tahoe/Yukon.
Get an SUV. Minivans are just too family-ish and apple pie-ish. LJ can still look like a badass in an SUV, but not in a minivan.
7 passengers? You are talking Yank Tanks…Suburban & Expeditions…Ford has the edge in reliability & quality…August is a great time to buy a Ford due to 0% financing & cash backs…
If you can get buy with a smaller vehicle Honda makes a nice minivan…I think Honda products are the most trouble free you can own…
I would stay away from Chrysler products no matter how good the deal is…
It's been a while since I've had one, but for 3 carseats a minivan is the way to go. But not too mini, get as big a one as you can. It makes things much, much easier if you can actually get into the van itself to deal with the kids than it is to stand at the door and try to reach each one. Also I recommend one without a front seat "center console"; I found that I liked being able to get to each kid right away without having to stop the car, get out, and walk around to the passenger doors---my husband just pulled off the road and I was immediately with whoever needed me. I had an AWD Chevy Astro Van. I don't know if they still make those, but the thing was a workhorse---moved us from Washington, to Georgia, to Maryland and then to Texas (with a dog, a hamster, and a bird) without any problems.
A lot of this is going to depend on your budget. I like the LX models by Lexus the best, but they cost as much as half a house. The GX models are also nice and a "little" more affordable. Check out the Toyotas since they're the same platform.
I have older relatives who, as grandparents, won't drive anything other than the Odyssey. Priced a little higher, but they swear it's worth every penny.
Tlong- Spoken like a single rich guy… Lexus?
What’s needed is a basic family vehicle for kids & their friends...Ford, Chevy or Honda…Where talking vehicle with spaghettios smeared on the windows, ice cream on the seats, French fries smeared in the door panels…Its what kids do…
Desflood- The Honda Mini Van is a well made, easy to drive vehicle...I think it is the best of the Mini Van bunch...
Yeah, my kids have outgrown the VUE - time to trade in for something bigger. The Honda is my first choice so far.
But I love my VUE
Fuel economy is not the best, but if it was me and I had the money, I'd go Sequoia.
Something else you might want to consider is the condition of the roads around you/where you'll be driving it. If you don't plan on taking long trips, OR you hit a bunch of large bumps/potholes/bad roads, the drivetrain of the SUV will hold up much better over the long haul. Probably the engine too, since they typically pack V-8 powerplants that run forever.
If you plan on going cross-country, a minivan is going to give you superior MPG, but probably won't offer as much interior room or look as cool. SUVs are also far better at towing, not getting stuck in bad weather conditions, etc.
Kori, y'all should look at the Buick Enclave before you buy. It's getting rave reviews in the 7 seat crossover category.
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...Buick_Enclave/
If you want to go larger the top line Ford Expeditions are really slick. We had no problem with two car seats last time the grandkids were in town with plenty of room to spare. Three would have been no problem.
Where the Expedition totally kicks the Suburban/Tahoe's ass is in the versatility of the back row seating. Just flip a switch and it lays down flat and disappears. No wrestling with the third row seats taking them in/out like the Suburban/Tahoes.
Last edited by CosmicCowboy; 08-09-2010 at 10:50 AM.
The honda one is pretty spacious. I just can't remember the name right now. A buddy of mine houses his 4 kids and wife in there pretty good. Add me to that equation and it still housed everyone comfortably.
Wait. I think it's called the Honda odyssey.
Buick cars have been the most reliable of the GM line for two decades…The problem I have with Buick are too few dealers…Will your local Chevy dealer work on them now that GM has closed so many dealerships? Before buying a Buick see how many dealerships are available close to your home…
Also Buick's don’t seem to have the cash back offers & price wiggle room that Ford & Chevy have…
Oh, you aren't gonna make a "deal" on an Enclave, but theres a reason people are still willing to play sticker...
No...........at the time we needed space for 5..............also, the 3rd seat was like a $5000 option.
I'm not a huge SUV fan, for their looks as much as anything else, but I recently rode in a friend's Honda Pilot and really liked it. Seating for 8, I think, and at almost 6' tall I was still pretty comfortable in the back seat.
Admittedly, I haven't a clue how it would do with three kids in car seats, though. It's not something I usually think about.
I have a 2007 Dodge Grand caravan, and I have to tell you it is as cool as a minivan can be (admittedly, this is not very cool relative to other stuff). Yes I call it my swagger wagon. Anyway, the stow and go seating is phenomenal I can go from 3 rows of seats to only the two front seats and a flat floor for moving stuff in a total of about a minute. It is spacious and it seems that it is one of the things that Dodge was able to get right.
Go to pick and pull, and grab a third row seat off of a tahoe, save some money.No...........at the time we needed space for 5..............also, the 3rd seat was like a $5000 option.
I'd agree here. They no longer make the Sequoia but you can still buy used ones for cheap or they might have some unsold new ones. My mom has had a Sequoia and 60,000 miles later has never experienced any problems with it, the back row comes out if you want space to haul stuff. The only issue with it is it's not the most spacious 8 seater in the world.Fuel economy is not the best, but if it was me and I had the money, I'd go Sequoia.
My Tahoe doesnt even have the structure to mount the seat............I think that is why it was such a huge $ option. The back floor is clean, doesnt have the mounting tracks.
That sucks, is there a floor mat you can lift up or something? I bought a redezvous without the third row, but it has the structure there if I ever wanted to buy one.My Tahoe doesnt even have the structure to mount the seat............I think that is why it was such a huge $ option. The back floor is clean, doesnt have the mounting tracks.
I guess I just assumed they were all like that.
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