What family mobile?

Ok, so there are some minor drawbacks to using a 20 year old big block powered Suburban as a family-mobile. I like the way this thing can haul practically anything (I once managed to fit my GS500 in the back after it broke its chain and left me stranded, although that's not a trick I would want to try pulling off again), and it's in great shape except the paint. But getting 12 miles to the gallon is not going to be good when the baby's old enough for long trips. It might be wise to downsize sometime next year. So, like any GRM fan, I thought I'd make a "What car" post - in the Off Topic forum, since motorsports potential is not needed.

The main requirements are four doors, reliable, safe, and plenty of rear seat room, both to fit a baby seat in there and because my wife (who's around 5'8" or 5'9") likes to ride in the back with the baby. I'd also like a step up in fuel economy, but compared to a 454 powered Suburban, just about anything is going to be a step up there.

Budget would be around $7,000, and we're open to large sedans, wagons, SUVs, and minivans - although I am significantly more open to minivans than she is. She at first was thinking no minivans whatsoever - then she saw those annoying Toyota Highlander commercials and found the kid so annoying she wanted to get a pristine wood sided first generation Caravan and put a bumper sticker on it that said, "Hi, we're the geek family." Given how rare first generation Carvans are, let alone ones in the same great shape they showed in the commercial, that may not happen.

WWGRMD?

Since getting my Cherokee on Saturday... that would be my vote. The gas mileage may not be the greatest, but with the spare $3500 you'd save, that would pay for the difference for at least half a decade. We've been seeing about 21-22mpg on the highway.

If you want more, maybe a RAV4/CRV?

Subaru Forester, XT if you can find it. Turbo goodness, AWD safety, and plenty of room... or even a Legacy Sedan/wagon. Though at that budget, the ones you do find might be sketchy.

See the Chevy Astro threads (my current winter beater search) but also a great step down from a Suburban. Lots of room, can haul and tow, and you're already used to the GM interior.

I have no experience with the Caravan, but they sold 40 billion of them so far so they must be doing something right.

I looked at the first-gen Hyundai/Kia and they offered a lot for the money (typical for Huyndai). They were a bit heavy, but that was due to them being WAY overbuilt. Those things are tanks and will last forever, just peek at the front A-arms and you will see what I mean. They never sold well so you might get a newer and lower mile example for your budget compared to the competition.

I see bland-looking Volvo wagons everywhere, and while boring to look at, I imagine that they are almost the ideal family car.

tune the Suburban- if it's a TBI model from the early 90's pull the timing forward to about 10btdc and add a spacer under the throttle body. the cost is minimal, and you may just gain enough mpg out of it to justify keeping it compared to buying something else. if you want to get more involved, maybe swap in some higher gears from a different truck/Suburban- unless you do a lot of towing, a 454 won't need 4.10 gears.

folding a 5'9" adult in and out of the back of a Cherokee will have that adult wanting to nut-punch you but quick.

last week myself and 2 coworkers rented a Mazda5. with the third row folded down there was ample room for 3 adults and our stuff. sliding rear doors are big plus for getting little ones in, buckled, out, and they can't open the doors into the car next to them.

when our Odyssey is due to be replaced, it will be replaced with a Mazda5.

yes cherokee rear seats suck.

I was also going to throw the Mazda 5 out there. You could even get them with a manual trans. The vans only were offered with a 4 cylinder so they are not as powerful as other minivan options.

I need to realize that not everyone is as tiny as me.

Camry or LS400.

My wife and I were both initially very opposed to minivans. Now, I recognize the fact that they are the perfect family vehicle. The carlike ride and fuel economy, the interior room and comfort, and the passenger and cargo carrying capability are unmatched, IMO.

I abhor the SUV concept. For most people, they just don't make sense. The vast majority of truck-based 4-wheel drive SUV's never do anything more strenuous than pick up kids from soccer practice and get groceries.

If I was looking to replace my '05 Mazda MPV today, I'd be test driving a Honda Odyssey right now. Mazda 5 is a great vehicle for those who can stand the smallness, but it's too tiny for me.

Honda Odyssey, except beware of possible transmission issues. I can't remember if it was the first or second one we had but Honda recognized that the trannies were made of glass and extended the warranty on one of them. Also, the odometers read something like 3-5% high so indicated miles (and mileage) will be a bit off - they had a class action settlement that resulted in extra miles tacked onto leases.

Buy a minivan. Dodge or Honda if you don't mind the yuppie tax, Chevy if you do. I hated them until I got one. Now I can't imagine not having one.

I still hate minivans and refuse to get one, unless it is race van.

Here ya go.

Yeah, I want that, or an AWD Astro with an LS6.

Minivan.
Wife has hers, I have mine both are 95 Caravans one is a grand. One 3.0, one 3.3. the 3.3 is the grand which is heavily loaded LE model gets 25mpg on the hwy 14.3ish around town which is short hop long cool down driving. 3.0 doesn't do much better and is a short wheelbase. They can be found cheap and as long as you are not hauling kids in and out of car seats 3 doors will work. I ran the grand with a 3 pass rear bench and a single middle bucket. Sure it only sat 6 but it made all seats easily accessible.
I do happen to recommend the 3.3 over the 3.0 similar mileage but the 3.3 has more torque and just a better feel for daily driving.

Question -- are you keeping the 'burban for towing purposes, or do you need something that will tow and do the family truckster thing? If I read into your original post, it sounds like you might keep the 'burban for towing and are just looking into a family hauler.

This might, er, well, it will cross your $7k budget, but what about a Jetta Sportwagen TDI? I know you'll be looking at used, but we just bought a 2011 to replace my wife's smushed Mazda3 (she likes the car with no previous owner history). She always wants a wagon/5-door and we've owned a Subaru Outback (2002) , the 3 (2009) , and now the Sportwagen (2011). I think the missus liked the Outback the best, TBH I liked it too, but since '02 they have gotten larger and more bloated. Of the three I like the Sportwagen the best......we just ticked over 1000 miles on it, it came with a full tank (15 gals) and we just filled it for the third time.....it's telling us that we're getting 36 mpg, and that's on a new/tight motor in mostly stop and go driving.

So to throw into the mix......check out the Sportwagen, OR an Outback.

MadScientistMatt wrote: She at first was thinking no minivans whatsoever - then she saw those annoying Toyota Highlander commercials and found the kid so annoying she wanted to get a pristine wood sided first generation Caravan and put a bumper sticker on it that said, "Hi, we're the geek family." Given how rare first generation Carvans are, let alone ones in the same great shape they showed in the commercial, that may not happen.

I have nothing constructive to add but I also hate those commercials with a passion. I really want the Roadmaster wagon in one of the versions.

Thanks for the responses, everyone! I had originally envisioned towing with the Suburban, but so far that's only happened once. I have used the Suburban's cargo capacity pretty often, though. I'm not 100% sure if I'd keep or sell the Suburban. But I could use a small utility trailer to replace its cargo capacity if I got a sedan. I might be able to stretch the budget, but not by much - my wife's staying home to care for the baby. Finding a Mazda5 in our price range seems like it might be tricky. Of course, they will have another year to depreciate...

I hadn't thought of the Kia vans. Predictably, they don't hold their value very well, so it's interesting to hear they were overbuilt. (Nothing kills resale value like those three letters.) Too many minivans seem to have used inadequate parts from a midsize sedan.

I'll have to look into the reliability on LS400s - being a top of the line luxury sedan, that usually means that it's got a ton of gizmos that are painfully expensive to replace. Of course, high end luxury cars are nearly as bad as Kias for losing resale value.

I bought this V-6 5 speed in 1995 with 40,000 miles on it. Now it's got 180,000 and doesn't miss a beat. It sits outside in my driveway for weeks unused because I have others, then I hook a trailer to it and go 25 hours to Michigan and back.

I just did a major service, timing belt, hoses, a radiator but other than that I just put gas in it.

Decent stereo, cruise control and unlike other SUVs you can crack the rear window while driving. Others you have to pop the hatch or get out and roll it down.

I'm 5'11", plenty of leg room for me in any of the seats.

I was going to trade it in this spring, but my son is looking for a second car, he'll get this one. He said the even for $3 to $5000 it's a pig in a poke, you don't know what you've got. This one he knmows the history and it will cost him only one dollar.

Dan

I'll pay you $2 for it

Mazda6 wagon

I'm surprised this thread has gone to 22 posts so far, and today my wife brought up the possibility of getting a Crown Victoria before anyone here chimed in and suggested getting a P71. The cop car brigade is slacking off.

Tell your wife it's time to start playing grownup.

My wife loved her Suburbans, and her Volvo wagon because she thought she was way too cool to drive a minivan.

Then we bought one.

She totally loves it. There is absolutely no better people mover on the planet.

And she's still pretty cool.

SVreX wrote: Tell your wife it's time to start playing grownup. My wife loved her Suburbans, and her Volvo wagon because she thought she was way too cool to drive a minivan. Then we bought one. She totally loves it. There is absolutely no better people mover on the planet. And she's still pretty cool.

What he said! I still can't convince my wife to buy one, but with the 3rd kid on the way and me being the primary kid hauler I think I will buy one. The first time you need to deal with the kids and you just get up and walk to the back seats you will be hooked.