So I'm looking for an Suv for the wife for less than $5k. She doesn't drive that much right now but we need more room for the 11wife month old and her car seat that is the size of Jupiter. Of course I have been looking at Cherokees. What else does Grm suggest? How are Exploders with over 120k miles on them?
With gas prices getting higher, you could probably get a good deal on a Tahoe or Expedition. Durangos are usually a good deal as well. Not sure on the Explorers, but they seem to hold up with good maintenance.
How many kids? With our first, we've been fine putting all of her various giant car seats in the back our our family sedan; no minivan or suv needed. W're looking for an SUV only now that we have a second due soon and another toddler that my wife watches every day.
If you have a car seat that big you NEED sliding doors.
Minivan
/thread
I too will say that Minivan is the right tool for the job.
I suspect she is unrealistically hung up on the image so that is why you ruled them out.
The idea of a Cherokee and "room" is a novel combination. I find their interiors to be smaller than most.
Buick Rendevous may be a good choice.
I recently have been noticing the Suzuki XL7's of the early '00 years. These are stretched Geo Trackers with more back seat room and a little 3rd row.
I know of a guy with a $3000 Tahoe for sale right now. Good shape and all. That would be my suggestion.... then you could save that extra $2k for gas.
Always had an aversion to them, but minivan is the best answer. SUV is a compromised answer - less room, more difficult loading/unloading, crappier mileage. Personally I don't like XJ interiors. Short seat bottoms suck on long trips and they aren't that big inside.
We've had a couple of Ford Escapes, I love them. I know some people don't like 'cute ute's but I think they look goiod, drive well and are resonable on gas if your comparing too a 'sploder or expedition.
The word Minivan was always banned by SWMBO in any car buying discussion. I've never minded them, but she refuse to sink that low. This is of course the same wonderfull woman who now defines a Vert Mustang as an SUV and car pool kid hauler. 
Having the exact same issue for my wife. She doesn't like the Mazda5 anymore.
:/
Yea she has a complete hatred to minivans. So bad that she wishes I could weld a cage around the whole car so she can just ram them all day long. Only one kid right now but the car seat doesn't sit too well in the berkeleyus. Tried talking her into a Volvo v70 and a crown Vic but not having those either. She likes the protoge5 but that wont have much for room than the focus.
I'm finding Saturn Vue's. Anybody know anything about them?
4cyl, run. 3.0L V6, run. later 3.5 Honda engine, not too bad.
Bobzilla wrote: 4cyl, run. 3.0L V6, run. later 3.5 Honda engine, not too bad.
I have a friend with a first model year 4cyl, bought new. It's never missed a beat, I think it's been to the moon and back a couple of times now. He's not an easy driver on it either, he's an autocrosser who enjoys his driving. He loves it. He's fitted some aftermarket suspension too it, I forget what, it takes the proverbial licking and keeps on ticking.
From the title I thought you were trying to make a trade.
Protege5 is tiny inside, that won't help you.
Try Kia Rondo.
I like an older CR-V or the 2001-2004 Pathfinder in that price range. GM also makes very good full-size SUVs (Suburban, Tahoe, etc.)...
My wife, too, hates the minivan stigma. So we got her a 2012 Equinox. Now she drives a station wagon!
The Equinox isn't a bad car, but it does get tight on room when we have lots of kid stuff loaded inside. It is comfortable, though. Better than the Honda SUV's in the interior, I think. I can only vouch for the 2012 model, though, which will be out of your budget.
jrflying wrote: So I'm looking for an Suv for the wife for less than $5k. She doesn't drive that much right now but we need more room for the 11wife month old and her car seat that is the size of Jupiter. Of course I have been looking at Cherokees. What else does Grm suggest? How are Exploders with over 120k miles on them?
What era of Exploder - 96-2001 - getting long in the tooth. Base 4.0 sucks - I had a 4.0 SOHC, but they are legendary for chucking the back timing chain and blamo! 5.0 - hard on fuel
2002-2010 - Transmission eaters from what I have heard. I know one guy who is on his 3rd.
I second the Escape - with the new gen out prices will drop, but space wise they are not the biggest
What about a Ford Edge? Much roomier than an Escape and the early ones must be getting down around your price mark.
Bobzilla wrote: 4cyl, run. 3.0L V6, run. later 3.5 Honda engine, not too bad.
Why run from the 4 cyl, aside from it being slow? The 4cyl (2.2 ecotec) is the most reliable engine in that car from what I understand.
4cyl/manual, fine (FWD only)
4cly/CVT, run
4cyl/std. auto, fine
3.0 opel v6, run faster
3.5 honda v6, not bad
Honestly, a midsize or bigger sedan should be adequate. I have had 2 rear-facing giganto-seats in an Impreza, it wasn't comfy, easy, or pretty, but it did work for short jaunts. It's all in the type of seat, the position of the seat in front of it, and it's placement on the rear bench.
How many younglings are in your plans? If more than 2, I would highly suggest biting the bullet and moving your search into the soul-sucking minivan/gas-guzzling Suburban neighborhood. It'll save you the expense of buying another vehicle when little #3 comes along. If you're only looking at one or two littles, I would look for a mid-size+ sedan before looking at an SUV, something in the Legacy's size-range will work well, even if you happen to have 2 rear-facing giganto-seats.
I've done the soul-sucking minivan, thing, I hated the idea of it before I got it, I hated it when it was 'mine' and I threw a party the day the transmission started to whinge, because it meant it was heading off to be someone else's nightmare.
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