A first gen Sequoia would meet all your needs: fits lots of people and stuff, can tow, really reliable, better interior than GM, not tragic to drive. Look for the guide that was posted here recently, basically get an 05+ and be sure the timing belt was done. My dad had an 02 Sequoia when new and it was much better to drive than I expected.
In reply to Sonic :
I had not thought about those at all, so I looked them up. You're right, they fit the people and the towing. Found this one local:
https://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/d/vancouver-2005-toyota-sequoia-limited/7187037854.html
I just don't know that spending $2,200 more dollars for 110,000 more miles is really the right move?
With 6 people and a trailer, are you worried about going over the payload rating? Or are family hauling and towing duties separate?
I still maintain that this is a lateral move.
I've never driven a V8 XC90, but I did drive the 3.2 model and I've driven the Ecoboost Flex. They both drive similarly with the sporty edge going to the Flex. I do love the Volvo V8 but I doubt it would change what is a very relax, almost Buick-like driving experience. While the transmissions are different, I don't know if they would feel different.
The towing capacities are almost identical at 4960 lbs for the XC90 vs 4500 lbs for the Flex.
While the PTU in the Volvo V8 is stronger than the previous generations, it still suffers from a failed AWD pump that takes away your AWD. It's the same pump that all P2 Volvos have and it's a very common issue. The part isn't that expensive anymore but it's a pain to change.
And if you think that a Volvo of that era has better electronics than the Ford, you are mistaken. You will have CEM module, ABS module, transmission module, etc....problems. Go check out Xemodex's site for all the stuff you can expect to change.
Despite all this, you may really prefer the Volvo. It's just not a logical choice.
In reply to Javelin (Forum Supporter) :
They have the same problem as the Tahoe. Which is no space with the third row up. Other than that the seqouia is a good choice.
Just get a proper minivan and stop wrapping your pride in what you drive. Very few care and many will mock you for getting something that is bound to be unreliable.
If you need to tow, get a tow pig or occasionally rent one.
You're making this decision harder and more expensive than it needs to be.
Stefan (Forum Supporter) said:
You're making this decision harder and more expensive than it needs to be.
I agree with this...
Suburban or minivan..
Fueled by Caffeine said:Stefan (Forum Supporter) said:
You're making this decision harder and more expensive than it needs to be.
I agree with this...
Suburban or minivan..
All the minivans in my price range have terrible reliability (Chrysler head gaskets and transmissions, Honda transmissions, etc) or 250k miles. Suburbans physically do not fit in my driveway.
Fueled by Caffeine said:In reply to Javelin (Forum Supporter) :
They have the same problem as the Tahoe. Which is no space with the third row up. Other than that the seqouia is a good choice.
So does the Volvo. The only way around that is Suburban. I know I may be biased but we love ours (2006 2500 with the 8.1). Poor MPG, but that is to be expected and we don't drive it every day anymore, so that is a small issue. Will haul or tow anything you need or want, and has plenty of space for luggage even with all the seats occupied, and the 3rd row is actually usable for anyone over the age of 10.
3rd row highlander.. https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/d/portland-2005-toyota-highlander-4wd-6/7182957242.html You can't kill these.
https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/cto/d/portland-2011-infiniti-qx56-theatre-pkg/7189079356.html gx56...
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I forgot that Highlanders had an available 3rd row. That's a solid option...
Javelin (Forum Supporter) said:Fueled by Caffeine said:Stefan (Forum Supporter) said:
You're making this decision harder and more expensive than it needs to be.
I agree with this...
Suburban or minivan..
All the minivans in my price range have terrible reliability (Chrysler head gaskets and transmissions, Honda transmissions, etc) or 250k miles. Suburbans physically do not fit in my driveway.
The difference is that once those issues are fixed, they generally stay fixed for the rest of your time with the rig.
I know my brother rode an Odyssey into the ground and after the second transmission it was finally sent off to the salvage yard as the kids were all big enough to drive themselves. the first transmission was under warranty, the second was a good used unit that lasted nearly as long (taken from a wrecked car).
Just sayin' that known issues with established fixes are typically better than ones you don't know about or hasn't happened yet.
Can you park the 'burban on the street?
Low miles, 3 row, Shorter than a 'Burb, stone simple drivetrain
Sell the camping stuff to some overlander/van life type to recoup $
Javelin (Forum Supporter) said:In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I forgot that Highlanders had an available 3rd row. That's a solid option...
It isn't. We looked at them, it has the same issue as nearly every other SUV with a 3rd row. Impossible to access, complete lack of space behind them, etc. Wife was dead set against minivans, we looked at all of the 3rd row suvs at the autoshow. None of them could actually fit a human being or if they did, you couldn't put anything behind them that was useful. The only ones that worked were the Surburban or Excursion based models and those were much too expensive and large for our needs.
Stefan (Forum Supporter) said:Javelin (Forum Supporter) said:In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I forgot that Highlanders had an available 3rd row. That's a solid option...
It isn't. We looked at them, it has the same issue as nearly every other SUV with a 3rd row. Impossible to access, complete lack of space behind them, etc. Wife was dead set against minivans, we looked at all of the 3rd row suvs at the autoshow. None of them could actually fit a human being or if they did, you couldn't put anything behind them that was useful. The only ones that worked were the Surburban or Excursion based models and those were much too expensive and large for our needs.
That's exactly why I am looking at alternatives! I cannot stress enough that a Suburban is about 50% too much for what I actually need and physically does not fit in my life. I have looked in person at the local minivans in my price range, and they are all used-up, high-mileage, garbage. I cannot afford one new/nice enough. So what has a third row that is useful for a pair of 5 year olds about 10% of the time? XC90, R350/R500, and...?
I can tell you that kids grow, and fast. We had a 3rd row 5th gen 4runner and they always fought with who was sitting in the back. Smaller the vehicle, the more complaining you are going to have. Plus if you plan on taking it on any trips in a smaller suv you can count your luggage area good bye with the 3rd row seats up. I know you may not see yourself in a bigger suv but if you have 4 kids you pretty much have already sealed the deal on a bigger car.
In reply to Placemotorsports :
This is why family-oriented wagons are what I am looking for, that ability to grow.
Get a Honda Pilot and be done with it. I think they drive decently, tow 5k with a transmission cooler, and I (I'm 5'10" 170lbs) can actually fit in the 3rd row. We even drove ours with 4 kids from CT to FL and back last year. Plus it'll fit in your driveway.
I wish i could remember all the things i've owned or driven at the same time. I had an 06 Highlander Hybrid. It was fairly fast, fairly efficient, very reliable, very comfortable, didn't feel huge, had a fantastic 2nd row and a 3rd row that didn't suck as much as it looked like from the outside. I couldn't get in or out of it very easily (im 6'0, definitely not under 10yo) but once in it i was pretty ok because they recline to a comfortable angle and the 2nd row can slide forward which is good because the 2nd row legroom is frankly excessive. You could slide the 2nd row forward to where 2nd and 3rd each had decent legroom. My cousin needed a car at that time, or i'd have kept it.
I also have an 05 pacifica although my wife rear ended it (she was in a different car behind me, long story) and i havent driven it since February. Every seat is comfortable and space behind the 3rd row is usable. That thing is the closest thing to the functionality of a minivan without being a minivan. On the outside, anyway. It's basically a chrysler minivan with a bigger motor and an E-class rear suspension, which is good because i put Magnum SRT rear springs and Koni Strt's back there and was going to install a 22mm rear sway bar for a charger/magnum as well before it got wrecked. Its not bad and i'll probably fix it at some point. I was shocked how much i liked that car after upgrading the suspension a little. Before it drove exactly like a Caravan but with less space and no real upside besides the looks. Afterwards it felt like exactly what they marketed it as, some kind of 'sports tourer 3 row'. Not as good a car overall as the highlander, but definitely better at being a 3-row since i could easily get in and out of the back AND fit in them fine. I also towed with it a little, just fine. I also owned a v6 Magnum at one point and unless you're going to add enough power to do RWD stuff with it, the Pacifica was just better overall after the minor suspension mods. Magnums arent 3-rows anyway, sadly.
I did some work on a Pilot from that era a few months ago. It's very roomy but it is exceedingly boring and somehow drives more boring than the same era Odyssey which i like.
I drove an R500 before i bought the Cayenne, and also drove mazdeuce's R63 before that. I dont love the Mercedes interior design of the era but it's a nice place to spend time and fairly quick but not sporty (even though the one i drove had some kind of amg trim package). Funnily enough, one of the highly placed people on that project moved over to the Pacifica project afterwards post-daimlerchrysler merger and you can tell that the Pacifica is ergonomically a slightly better executed version of the same idea, just built with much cheaper everything. I liked the R500 but the sportiness of the Cayenne won me over by a mile because i didn't need the 3rd row. The sportiness of the R63 was not up to the Cayenne either, but it felt a lot more special than the r500. Just not 7 times more special in the way that it was 7 times more expensive than an R500. If they had sold the R550 here i might have bought one of those instead of the Cayenne, but that's theoretical. I still harbor dark curiosity about a GL550, but I have no reason to go looking, really.
Did you post FS thread for Flex?
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:Did you post FS thread for Flex?
Nope, I decided to buck up and fix it.
In reply to Javelin (Forum Supporter) :
A what what now?
good choice.
Javelin (Forum Supporter) said:In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
I need to hold 2 adults and 4 kids, not 5 adults and 3 kids and 3 dogs. A Suburban won't even fit in my driveway. That said, I did look at Tahoe's. I'm still honestly really turned off on GM's after my Saturn Vue Ecotec and Grand Prix GT. Drivetrains run forever, but man does the rest of the car fall apart bad.
Not to defend GM too strongly, but the Burb (and Tahoe, that suits your size) has VERY little in common with the questionable quality of those two!
I see your gonna try again with the flex; prolly a good plan. Hope it goes well. Keep us updated. My wife and I were in the same place after I wrecked her F150 Eboost with only 72K miles. We were down to either a flex or a Honda van. But anything with comparable miles was $5 - 10K too high for us.
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