Recommend a 5 passenger $6,500 AWD? (Leaning toward crossovers)

Going from 18 minute commute to a 40 minute commute and I have a wife and three kids. Just don’t recommend a 2005 Yukon Denali, I’m too young to die.

....and can we make it as fun to drive as possible?

First gen Forester XT's are in that range.

BMW something#xi

Maybe something from the Ford line of SUV's just to be "on the opposing team" and change your luck.  

Expedition?

We bought a 2008 Ford Taurus X a couple years ago. It's been great. It's 3 row so really 7 passenger, and is smooth, comfortable, and surprisingly competent to drive. It's based on a Volvo platform (growth of the S80 / XC70 platform, I believe) and it shows in the ride and handling. It averages 20mpg in mixed driving. It's available for c-h-e-a-p for what you get. AWD works well - I can hang the tail out a bit on the snow. The Duratec V6 has a decent amount of power (260hp) so it's quick enough but the noises it makes are uninspiring. It's not going to fool you into thinking it's a sports car but it's really quite a decent vehicle for the prices they fetch nowadays. I bet you'd have a hard time spending $6,500 on one. We got ours for $3,000 with about 150k miles on it. It's been 100% trouble free.

Ford Taurus X.  Ours was one of the best cars we've ever owned, and it's reasonably light for a 7-passenger vehicle, and it's Volvo-derived chassis is pretty decent, too.  Plus, they depreciate like rocks.

D2 Audi S8?  Want a little Ronin in your life? :)  What could go wrong???

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/d/02-audi-s8-42-quattro/6445321310.html

(just a random ad I found on Craigslist, no affiliation)

The Taurus X really is just the Ford Flex before the facelift and image makeover.  Good Choice.  

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a4212/4221128/  

However, before the Taurus X name there was the Ford Freestyle.  The Freestyle with its 3.0L V6 and CVT trans should be avoided at all costs.  The Freestyle was an '05-'07 model.  For '08 & '09 the name was changed to Taurus X and mechanically it was overhauled to 3.5L and proper 6 speed auto trans but only got a minor facelift.  For '10 it was the full facelift to Ford Flex.   

bgkast said:

BMW something#xi

E60 xi

What $$$$ are you willing to spend/afford?

I think a Mazdaspeed 6 ticks all those boxes.

What about a Legacy GT? Both might be a bit tight for 3 kids, though. 

In reply to Tom_Spangler :

Funny GMTA moment.

hummm 3 kids. flex would work. Expedition the problem is the three kids and fun to drive. Really is not going to happen. I hate to say ot but mini van is where you should be looking.

I doubt you can find a Flex with AWD for the price you want 

759NRNG said:

What $$$$ are you willing to spend/afford?

I wrote $6,500 in the title.

I deserve to get $20,000 for what has happened to me but I’m planning on $6,500.

dean1484 said:

hummm 3 kids. flex would work. Expedition the problem is the three kids and fun to drive. Really is not going to happen. I hate to say ot but mini van is where you should be looking.

I don’t often have all 5 of us. For that, 90% of the time we have a new Grand Caravan. 

Jaguar x type. $4500 will get you a very nice one. 

crv is the easy button.  

a v6 rav4 would be a good one to grab..  no 4 cylinders.  The v6 rav4 was the fastest production toyota for a few years runnning.

So if I am reading this well. You already have a practical vehicle for the family trips but you want something fun and AWD that can seat 5 once in a while.

If that's the case, any large sedan with AWD will work:

- Legacy GT

- Volvo V70R or S80 V8

- Audi S4 (you didn't say anything about reliability)

- E46 BMW 330xi

- etc...

They will all seat 5 in relative comfort and be fun to drive.

If you need something a little more practical, I'll add second the Taurus X suggestion. It's a really nice car/SUV/thingy

I wish I could get the Infinity FX 35 out of my head...

My wife is pushing for me to stay giant full-size. 

Im not opposed but Yukon’s at least carry a stigma for me that I can’t shake.

So, is the Nissan radiator issue probably gonna be addressed if one bought a Pathfinder with over 100,000 miles?

My wife, God bless her, referring to the Taurus X, said “that doesn’t have the manly look that you deserve.”

I like the sentiment behind that statement at least.

ebonyandivory said:

I wish I could get the Infinity FX 35 out of my head...

 

It’s nice and not really family friendly for room in the rear. Real world MPG sucks for the FX35

Fueled by Caffeine said:

crv is the easy button.  

Yeah, get a Honda and be on the dealing end instead of the receiving end.

Try the V8 of the Infiniti FX45 and the V6 Infiniti ​​FX35 will be out of your head.  

manly look?

Sorry, I buy things based on their merits. The Taurus X is just like the Freestyle I loved, without the transmission that ruined it. A Sienna also has AWD and they have always been very good. People love CRVs. Basically, anything else is pissing fuel away.