Finding the Perfect Family Road Trip Vehicle

[Dayna]

Okay
I got suprised again when DH asked if I wanted to go look for a car this weekend. This all came up because we want to rent a car for a road trip this summer. We have a DD and DS and they need a bit more space then my Camry. Okay here is the dilema I know what I like when I see it and right now he is looking for a little more input than I've been giving. I'd rather not drive a minivan or SUV so I guess I'm liking for a crossover of the two or a small SUV. Anybody have a suggestion or a vehicle they just love. All suggestions are welcomed.

 

[pamperedlinda]

I drive a Volvo XC70 and I love it! Not too big and not too small.

 

[Debala715]

Last April I bought a Chevy HHR and love it. There are only two downfalls with this car, the placement of the cup holders and where they put the automatic window switches in the front seat. Some people confuse the HHR with the PT Cruiser, cause of the funky design. The HHR is classed as a SUV, but I tell people it looks more like an overgrown station wagon.I can tell you, loading it for a show has been a breeze!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

LOVE LOVE LOVE My Saturn Vue!

 

[Dayna]

I haven't looked at the first two but have looked at the Saturn. I'll be adding them to my list

 

[jrb0328]

honda pilot

 

[crystalscookingnow]

When my Uplander goes out or I talk DH into a new vehicle, we're getting the GMC Acadia. So much room! I can't wait!

 

[pamperedbecky]

Mine is definitely an SUV and not a good gas mileage car, but I LOVE it. It's a Volkswagen Touareg. It was my dream car!! And when we started looking into replacing my minivan about 6 months ago (and I assumed we'd just get another minivan), DH said "Now you'd better not complain in 2 years that you want an SUV." So of course I knew that's exactly what I would have done, so I decided I wanted the VW. The only thing I miss is the sliding side doors in really tight parking spaces when trying to the get the kids out, but it's pretty rare that I feel that way. I LOVE it! (Although not so much with these horrendous gas prices).

 

[NooraK]

I'm really enjoying my Ford Escape. It's an SUV, but not a big one. Plenty of room for my PC stuff, or a stroller and other things in the months to come. I opted for a V-6 gasoline engine over the I-4 hybrid since I don't drive too much city anyway. Compared to my previous car the gas mileage isn't all that great, but then again, my last car was a Honda Civic, and it just didn't fit my needs any more.

 

[pjpamchef]

I purchased my car after spending a month looking at cars on Autotrader.com
I ended up getting a Buick Rendezvous, With a third row seat that folds completely away. I LOVE this vehicle! I got a program car that was HALF what a new one was, and because it was certified I got a 1.9% loan from GM. The local dealer had a similar one on his lot, but it was $3K more, and he couldn't touch the financing! He wouldn't believe I would drive to Kansas City to purchase a car, duh $3,000 dollars for a 200 mile drive, oh yeah!
You can learn a lot about current prices, how they are loaded etc from studing online

 

[pamperedbecky]

One suggestion.....with all these brand new cars coming out, just be cautious of "first releases" of the cars. I researched the VW Touareg for a while and discovered there were many problems with the 2004 Touaregs, which was the first year they came out. Once they had kinks worked out, it got to be a better and better car with fewer problems. Luckily I have an '07 and it's been awesome. I haven't heard any grumblings about the '07s, but LOTS about the '04s. So just beware that it takes a couple years for kinks to be worked out in brand new cars, so you may want to steer away from those with all these brand new models coming out.

 

[chefjeanine]

Okay
I got suprised again when DH asked if I wanted to go look for a car this weekend. This all came up because we want to rent a car for a road trip this summer. We have a DD and DS and they need a bit more space then my Camry. Okay here is the dilema I know what I like when I see it and right now he is looking for a little more input than I've been giving. I'd rather not drive a minivan or SUV so I guess I'm liking for a crossover of the two or a small SUV. Anybody have a suggestion or a vehicle they just love. All suggestions are welcomed.

I have a Subaru Forester and it’s been a great car. Not good if your children are big as the passenger area doesn’t provide a ton of leg room. The back seats do fold down to provide more storage area.

I’ve been looking at the Ford Freestyle. This car has even more room than mine but doesn’t fall into that gigantic SUV category. We were looking at nice used ones (trying to put on the Millionaire Mentality and not buy new). They look good. If you want to buy new – they are now sold as the Taurus X. This car has plenty of comfortable room for passengers (3 rows of seats) and lots of cargo room (3rd and 2nd row can fold down).

Good luck!

 

[Stephaniecafe]

My husband is a safety specialist for GM here in Arizona at the dessert proving grounds. I have seen first hand the abuse the cars go through to make them safe and durable. I posted his stunt driving in a Blazer here in chef's lounge a little while back. If you asked me I would say buy a GM. Personally we had two Chevy Luminas because those where the kind of car my Husband used for driver training and they kept going for years even after student drivers and foreign drivers, deliberate tire blow outs and extreme heat. We bought ours used and they gave us a great driving experience for the last 5yrs. Then my husband just bought me a venture and a Ford Windstar. Those don't drive like a minivan. I have issues with parking and wasn't ever wanting a van for that reason... I haven't had any problem with the vans though. I love the extra space! Not to mention that when you buy a new car made by an American company the money goes to American families. It makes a difference to us and many thousands like us! Used cars, do what you want. Well heak, do what you want anyway... who am I to tell you what to do anyway. It's your car. Just sharing the love. Good luck finding a great vehicle. It is fun shopping!

 

[crystalscookingnow]

Stephanie - what kind of test results have been found with the Acadia? That's what I want next.

 

[erinyourpclady]

I love my Chrysler Aspen...........but next time we will have to go bigger. By next time I mean YEARS from now....that is what DH said anyway! OUr four kids and the dog (although if I get my way it will be TWO dogs) don't fit well for family trips!

I had a Dodge Grand Caravan. It was a absolutely fabulous car but I just didn't feel it was me. I miss the storage space but my "truck" is so much more me!

 

[vwpamperedchef]

I don't own the GMC Acadia but I do like it, however with just DH and I there really is no need for such a large car.

I have a VW beetle, so I guess I am not much help! LOL BUt I do love my car!

 

[Kitchen Diva]

GMC Acadia, Ford has a new cross over, so does Nissan. I drive a Buick Lucerne CXL- the thing is loaded and roomy. My previous cars have all been SUV's or Crossovers because we have two large dogs. Sadly my Buick is not a good car for dogs- Camel colored leather is just not puppy friendly! LOL

The Pontiac Torrent is a good crossover/small SUV- I would recommend one, however I was lucky enough to buy the ONLY Lemon that company made and after 18 months of issues, Pontiac bought it back from me. I have looked that vehicle up online and they do nothing but rant and rave about it, so it may be worth your time and effort to check it out.

Best of luck finding something!

 

[AnnieBee]

We have a pontiac vibe and LOVE it - it is pretty small, but great for cargo/storage. The front passenger seat folds completely flat and has a hard plastic back for hauling long stuff that can go from the rear all the way to the front. It is a sister car to the toyota matrix, so it has toyota quality. I'm not sure if it is bigger than a Camry though! But it gets great gas milage. With the way prices are going (everyone is saying $4+ soon) there is no way I would buy an SUV. I think a crossover is the way to go! We are even considering taking it on our summer trips instead of our minivan because of the gas prices, and that would be with 3 kids in the back.

If you did get a minivan I would totally recommend the Toyota Sienna. I am so not a minivan person, but I love this one. We have the 8 passenger, which is so handy, we can get 3 kids in the second row for tons of cargo space when we need it (like camping trips) unlike most vans where with 3 kids you have to use at least part of the 3rd row, which leaves hardly any cargo space, barely enough for groceries (the town and country is terrible for this IMO).

 

[PamperedDor]

I drive a surburban and love it - but yes it guzzles gas like crazy! But my sister in law has a Pacifica and loves loves loves it -

 

[Debala715]

Bringing up the gas issue, I can tell you that the Chevy HHR is 21/30 mpg.

 

[lissahope26]

Anyone have a Saturn Outlook? Hubby might be buying one this weekend.

 

[crystalscookingnow]

I think that's the Saturn version of the Acadia, which I love!

I saw the Outlook at the car show & it seemed to be the same. I think the GMC was a little fancier on the features (and the price), though.

 

[ChefEileen]

I drive a HONDA Element - LOVE IT!!!! - 20 mpg

RE: HHR & PT Cruiser - they look alike because they were designed by the same person. The guy worked for Chrysler, then he jumped ship and went to Chevy. We used to have a PT before the Honda - the PT is not good in the snow but it was fun to drive in good weather.

Eileen Houpt
Indenpendent Consultant

 

[legacypc46]

We've had a Toyota Highlander almost five years and love it. It's built on a Camry chassis, so it drives (and turns) like a car.

 

[Jennie4PC]

I have to say that I love my Dodge Caravan. What I love about it is the 2 door and I feel I have tons of room. My DH did say he was thinking about trading in my car for a newer van or an SUV

 

[jbdowd0798]

I have the OUTLOOK. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Its the same as the Acadia only if you want to spend more money. I think the features are all the same. We have 2 kids and its enough room for all plus some. We drove it cross country last summer (military move from RI to CA) and NEVER EVER had a problem. I just rolled 15K and the dealer out here has been great about doing any work/maintence at MY convience. They are open 6 days aweek which is great because they are 75mins away from my house. That is one draw back- Saturns getting warrenty work done has to be done at a Saturn Dealer, not just a GM dealer, but Saturn. Oh well, no biggie for me. Trust me- this is my 3rd Saturn and DH would by a full size truck if they made one! Thats how much we've loved our Saturns!

**Disclaimer- NO i don't work for Saturn! ha ha ha PM, call, email with any questions

 

[erinb]

honda pilot

I second that! I've had mine for two years now and will never go back to a car.

 

[Teresa Lynn]

love my hyundai santa fe

 

[Dayna]

This is getting to be so hard. I'm looking at all the cars and features I think I'll come up with my short list and give it to DH.

 

[PampMomof3]

My sister has a Ford Escape and she LOVES it. The only drawback for me (I was the one in the third row) is it has NO air vents back there! UGH! I was MISERABLE!!!

We have a 04 Honda Odyssey and LOVE it! We are SO happy it!!

 

[ughubug]

the RAV4 ROCKS!!!! Toyotas are a force to not be reckoned with! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

 

[daniellemorgan]

I have the Saturn Vue Hybrid and I love it!!! It's very roomy...enough room for myself, DH, DD (with carseat) and 87 lb dog...plus 2 more passengers. I fill up my gas tank about once a month. It's our only car so it's definitely driven a lot. I took an 8 hour trip (460 miles) and never had to get gas. 100% worth it!! Plus they are not very pricey. I think they start at $22,000.

 

[Jean DeVries]

LOVE LOVE LOVE My Saturn Vue!

I echo this.

LOVE LOVE LOVE My (sister's) Saturn Vue.

Get the one with heated seats...makes all the difference on road trips. She bought it when she was stationed in California, and shortly after we drove it from L.A. to Bellingham, WA. Best road trip ever....heated seats, comfy ride, good gas mileage, and an XM Radio that we could listed to Detroit Tiger baseball on the whole way.

My next car will be a Vue.

 

[daniellemorgan]

Get the one with heated seats...makes all the difference on road trips...Best road trip ever....heated seats,:balloon: comfy ride, good gas mileage,:love: and an XM Radio.:sing:

Mine has heated seats as well and they are the best thing ever, especially when you spend Christmas in Pittsburgh!! :balloon: I received free xm radio for 3 months and I loved it! :love: :love: 80's music and Oprah all day long!

 

[daniellemorgan]

Oh and when we got ours they were offering 0% interest!!! Can't beat that!

 

[Stephaniecafe]

Stephanie - what kind of test results have been found with the Acadia? That's what I want next.

DH has amazing things to say about the Acadia... but his main praise is that GM usually will do all it can to keep expenses low on what they put into a car (like most car producers) but in the case of the Acadia they really invested a lot. He loves how it handles and preformed on the safety. He's pretty picky too and he would tell you if it wasn't something to get. He works for them but he is also good at telling it like it is. In fact when I mentioned the Acadia he said "Ahhhh. Ahhhhcadia" Like he was in heaven. I think he wants one next too!!

 

[crystalscookingnow]

Cool. I would love to get one now, but I promised DH that I'd wait a year. I might have even said, or more, but I don't think that's going to happen!!

We've just got a few payments left on our Uplander & I promised we'd take our payments for a year & put it in a savings account for a down payment.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I have the Saturn Vue Hybrid and I love it!!! It's very roomy...enough room for myself, DH, DD (with carseat) and 87 lb dog...plus 2 more passengers. I fill up my gas tank about once a month. It's our only car so it's definitely driven a lot. I took an 8 hour trip (460 miles) and never had to get gas. 100% worth it!! Plus they are not very pricey. I think they start at $22,000.

The roominess is what sold me on it - but now I am so thankful for the gas mileage!

My next car will be the Vue Hybrid. (that wasn't an option when I got mine.)

Oh - and did I mention that mine is ORANGE? The fact that I could get it in orange sealed the deal for me!

 

[KellyTheChef]

I didn't read through all the posts...you may have your answer. I have a Kia Sportage and I LOVE IT!! I wanted something with a hatch back to make loading PC stuff easier and looked everywhere. It was between a Saturn VUE and this...and we have a dealership that gives you FREE MAINTENENCE for the life of your vehicle so that made our decision!

 

[Dayna]

No we are still looking or he is. My car is 93 camry. So it served its purpose. I want a car/suv that gets great gas mileage, is roomy enough for the kids (as this will be the traveling car). So I've given the narrowing it down to him. I'm just ready to go get it.

 

[DebbieJ]

My only advice is to NOT buy a brand new car. Go used and buy from a private party. You'll save SOOOO much money.