Car, Minivan, SUV, Pickup truck???

So now that you all know about us having a baby....the next question would be: What's should I replace my cars with?

I have a 2001 Toyota Celica GTS that she was driving as well as the 97 Dodge Dakota pick up extra-cab but the car is too small and the pickup truck is stick shift so she can't drive it.

PS: she doesn't want a minivan, don't ask me why not, but I'll like to get one myself but you know how that goes....Right now is whatever she wants :(

I keep looking at the new Dodge Caliber, Honda Ridgeline, Honda minivan or the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

What do you guys think?

I vote for the Ridgeline...It has enough space for a seat in the back plus you get to carry your badass bike around in the bed!

As for me, I'm hoping to get an 07 335i BMW coupe (300HP twin turbo). Of course my wife and I aren't expecting anytime soon :D

I'm goin to wait for toyota to come out with a hybrid tacoma or tundra, that would be awesome. Ford makes that hybrid escape, its a ford but it probably gets pretty good gas mileage. I vote out of your choices though for the honda as well. gotta be able to take the bike somehow

I fought this stigma right up to the point that I realized how stupid I really was. We went with the minivan and have discovered that it is one of the most versatile, best family / light hauling / loaded to the gills / luxury car like / good gas mileage vehicles made. There is not another better vehicle for the journey you are about to embark on - Thust me when I say - get the frickin van! :D

Bring the carseat to the dealerships, have your wife put it in and out while pretending to load a baby and see how much easier it is to get in and out of the van vs. any other vehicle made. The power sliding doors are a godsend! The modern vans are also very luxurious now and handle like a good car. With gas prices rising, they are ones to go for!

A good alternative would be a Ford Freestyle - more SUV like than a minivan, more room and better handling and better gas mileage than an SUV. Volvo safety engineered structure, and the limited versions are a beautifull luxury car.

Skip the SUV macho bullshit thing - I'm already on the other side of the fence (just had my third (and last "snip / snip :o ") child) and am very happy with our choice!!

I have a Ford Freestyle. Very versatile and has the Constant Velocity Transmission so gas mileage is close to 30 mpg hwy and it has a 210 hp V6. I love it... tons of room and very comfortable.

I vote for the Ridgeline...It has enough space for a seat in the back plus you get to carry your badass bike around in the bed!

As for me, I'm hoping to get an 07 335i BMW coupe (300HP twin turbo). Of course my wife and I aren't expecting anytime soon :D


thanks for rubbing it in :D j/k

i also wants the ridgeline.

I fought this stigma right up to the point that I realized how stupid I really was. We went with the minivan and have discovered that it is one of the most versatile, best family / light hauling / loaded to the gills / luxury car like / good gas mileage vehicles made. There is not another better vehicle for the journey you are about to embark on - Thust me when I say - get the frickin van! :D

Bring the carseat to the dealerships, have your wife put it in and out while pretending to load a baby and see how much easier it is to get in and out of the van vs. any other vehicle made. The power sliding doors are a godsend! The modern vans are also very luxurious now and handle like a good car. With gas prices rising, they are ones to go for!

A good alternative would be a Ford Freestyle - more SUV like than a minivan, more room and better handling and better gas mileage than an SUV. Volvo safety engineered structure, and the limited versions are a beautifull luxury car.

Skip the SUV macho bullshit thing - I'm already on the other side of the fence (just had my third (and last "snip / snip :o ") child) and am very happy with our choice!!

I want anything with 5 doors, she's the one that wants the damn SUV, She's locked on the Grand Cherokee.

That's a great idea about bringing the car seat to the dealer and let her try it :) thanks for the idea.

you forgot, whatever the wife brings home :D

i was thinking more like this

The sliding doors of a minivan does make it easy to put a carseat in. Plus the Odyssey handles suprisingly well for a minivan, my inlaws got one.

But somehow, after seeing the new Burger King commercial for their burger, I cant see myself with a minivan :D

Metal-

I hate to admit this, but right now, my wife and I both drive Minivans. We got a Dodge Grand Caravan and a Honda Odyssey. The Honda is of course, much better, but the whole idea of a minivan with kids is unbeatable. We've got a 6 yr old boy and and 1 yr old girl and between putting the kids in and out every day, carpooling to my boys sports, camping and everyday driving....the minivan just makes sense for people with kids, especially if gas mileage is a concern. I love SUVs and I really miss my Full Size Pickup, but I've still got my RR And my '69 Camaro, so I could care less about driving a minivan to work when the weather is bad.

Just my $.02, but you can't go wrong with the Honda Odyssey!!

Merecedes R500--

there's nothing to hate about Minivans, I like them myself but it's not me the problem, it's her now, she doesn't want a minivan.

I been wanting a minivan for a long time now (I could still fit the bike in it anyways) but she's not ready to get one for some reason.

Merecedes R500--


I don't like you TrackHo :D

Metal, I would not got out and make anymore debt if I was you. You can not predict what type of expenses will be coming your way soon. Even if you can pay cash for a car, It would not be the most wise way to spend (money) it at this time. Just keep status quo for a while and save your cash.

This is what I have..I dont have kids of my own, but if i did, i would have no problems having them in it.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/joeroke/112_1324.jpg

i have a titan with a new born and i have lots of room to still carry four adults and the baby,we looked at the nissan minivan and let me tell you that thing is nice! you know what is right when you test drive it.

I don't like you TrackHo :D

I have 2 huge dogs (120lb and 80lb) and a baby on the way. I currently drive a Mercedes station wagon which I love. I HATE suvs, they are slow, handle like shit, and dont stop. I have to pull a trailer to the trak but thats NO biggie.

I just looked at the R350 last weekend an the there is a TON of room in it. An MDX costs $45K and is really too small--so $48K for an R350 aint so bad--for a meager $56K you get the V8. I am going to test drive them both this weekend and report back.

And Yes, I like that funky cross-over design--though I could live w/o 4/wheel drive

get the Honda Odyssey ... easier to load/unload baby-stuff + its a Honda ... can't go wrong there, can ya ?
FWiW every suburban family i know owns one and they all vouch for it.

My wife and I drive this...mainly my wife.
Beauty of this vehicle, its one of the few that have reclining rear seats.
More pictures here:
http://www.chrysler.com/pacifica/features/exterior_photos/index.html?bid=1754636&pid=12187454&adid=23951915&rid=0

thanks for the all the input guys.

-I did show my wife the Nissan Morano, too small
-she doesn't like the Pacifica (and I'll love to have that)
-I will like to get the Oddyssy (she almost likes it)
-MDX and Mercedes are way out of my pockets

The Caravan was on the list also but between gas per miles and maintenance, It's kind of no winning me over.

I want something we could keep for sometime without worring about it (I just wish she would want the Honda Oddyssy or Ridgeline)

In 2004 we bought a new Toyota Sienna (minivan) and my wife fought tooth and nail to the very end against buying it. She wanted a Toyota SUV (forget which one) even though it had very litttle room for our two Golden Retrievers or anything else we may want to carry. After 6 months driving the Sienna she absolutely loves it, will not consider any other vehicle! It has power everything including sliding side and rear doors, a real godsend when your hands are full. I don't know why women love those SUVs, can't stand them myself. As others have already said, minivans are one of the most versatile vehicles ever made.

Now, that being said I recently purchased a Honda Ridgeline and cannot say enough good about it! Awesome in every way, tows my 3klb trailer as though it weren't even there. I'm not quite sure how it manages that since it only has about 250hp. The cabin is so quiet and the engine so smooth you have to drive one to appreciate it. Our Sienna is a very nice luxury vehicle but the Ridgeline makes it feel like a bucket of bolts.

I think either the Ridgeline or Odyssey would be excellent choices for a young growing family with the minivan being the most practical. Good luck with whatever you decide to buy!

i was thinking more like this
http://www.1000rr.net/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=4489


That's what we have, but not the Touring edition. It kicks ass...holds a lot, seats eight easily, faster than snot and actually handles, plus it gets halfway decent gas mileage. What I love is passing Harleys on twisty roads with it. It isn't my 1000RR, but it can still kick Harley butt!

Cheers! M2

I would say keep the truck (to move crap like your bike, furniture ect. ), assuming its paid off, get rid off the celica and buy a bigger (if you need the room) more economical car. With rising gas prices its ridiculous to have a truck/SUV as your daily driver, unless you're loaded of course. I'm not rich, so I enjoy spending my money on things other than gas. Honda makes a hybrid Accord and yes toyota does make a hybrid SUV, but the gas mileage isn't near a hybrid car. Civic hybrid is smallish, but gets hella gas mileage. Happy car hunting!

I also pull my 3500# boat with the minivan. It does better than my 99 5.2 Durango, it was all huff and puff and single digit mpg. The Oddessy just pulls strong and smooth.

The CBR will fit completely inside the van with only the windscreen taken off

http://pictures.getzendiner.com/MyCBR 050.jpg

I have a full size 4 door pick up truck, 3 dirtbikes and 3 kids no problem. :)

I also pull my 3500# boat with the minivan. It does better than my 99 5.2 Durango, it was all huff and puff and single digit mpg. The Oddessy just pulls strong and smooth.

The CBR will fit completely inside the van with only the windscreen taken off

http://pictures.getzendiner.com/MyCBR 050.jpg


are you serious,...i might have to get one then

get something that is Fuel effcient because gas is probably never gonna fall under $3

thanks for the all the input guys ... .... Honda Oddyssy or Ridgeline)

in case you didn't notice, Chrysler's Pacifica is the poor man's Mercedez R series
the Mrs rented one to flog one weekend & we liked EVERYthing except the wipers

yet the Odyssey only seems to get better with every passing year

I would say keep the truck (to move crap like your bike, furniture ect. ), assuming its paid off, get rid off the celica and buy a bigger (if you need the room) more economical car. With rising gas prices its ridiculous to have a truck/SUV as your daily driver, unless you're loaded of course. I'm not rich, so I enjoy spending my money on things other than gas. Honda makes a hybrid Accord and yes toyota does make a hybrid SUV, but the gas mileage isn't near a hybrid car. Civic hybrid is smallish, but gets hella gas mileage. Happy car hunting!


i can ensure you that i'm no way near LOADED and the only reason why i'm doing the pool now it's so i could have an idea (first baby) of what could work and could not.

I personally don't want a SUV and I will hold on to the pick up until the time is near but the celica has to go, I just want to get something I'll keep for some time (or she could use for sometime)

thanks for the advice.

in case you didn't notice, Chrysler's Pacifica is the poor man's Mercedez R series
the Mrs rented one to flog one weekend & we liked EVERYthing except the wipers

yet the Odyssey only seems to get better with every passing year

what about the wipers?

I also pull my 3500# boat with the minivan. It does better than my 99 5.2 Durango, it was all huff and puff and single digit mpg. The Oddessy just pulls strong and smooth.

The CBR will fit completely inside the van with only the windscreen taken off

http://pictures.getzendiner.com/MyCBR 050.jpg


nice...that's what i need then, specially on that color too ;)

Leather or Cloth? (I would say leather for easy cleaning right?)

leather, yes, easier to clean. And the front seats are heated. I have 3 kids and don't even want to know what some of the stuff I have cleaned off the seats is!

This one is getting kind of old. Only a few months left on the lease. I want to get another one, my wife wants a white Escalade.

good information Jgetz524 Thanks.

I won't be leassing, that's for sure. It's got to be a one time purchase. I just don't want to do payments.

Yes, I am done with leasing, too. Maybe I'll buy the van at the end of the lease, and let my wife get her escalade. When the kids get older, I'll need some serious pulling power. 3 kids means at least 4 bikes/quads and a camper or something. A little more than the minivan can pull.

My 5 year old is already a madman on a jr50. I don't think he realizes it has brakes! He wants to know why I keep using a screwdriver on the throttle (limits the max twist). I wonder what bone he is going to break first?

hahahaha, nice. No bones to be broken, they are too young for that, those little bones are still flexible :D

in case you didn't notice, Chrysler's Pacifica is the poor man's Mercedez R series
the Mrs rented one to flog one weekend & we liked EVERYthing except the wipers

yet the Odyssey only seems to get better with every passing year

I did the same--I liked it except it was soooooooooo gutless. It was irritating on the freeway it could never decide which gear to be in. Maybe they have improved the motor--with some more power it would be cool.

I am hopeful that the new Merc 350 motor will have some guts--on paper it looks pretty decent 268HP (ish)

I am AMAZED with the power (272HP) of the wifes Acura TL and she still gets 26MPG on the freeway--If only Acura would build a V6 based cross-over. I hate SUV's--but right now its between the MDX and the R500