OT- Affordable vehicle that seats 7 & is NOT a minivan???

[disneyfanfamily]

We have a full size van right now. We will be looking for a new vehicle within a year or 2. We cannot afford to keep putting money into it.

DH wants a Suburban or Yukon. Those are pretty pricey, plus gas hogs (however our full size van eats up the gas too!)

The 2005 Trailblazers have 3 seats, which is what I would like. DH does not think it is big enough. I guess men think size is important

Angela

 

[tiff211]

We have a full size van right now. We will be looking for a new vehicle within a year or 2. We cannot afford to keep putting money into it.

DH wants a Suburban or Yukon. Those are pretty pricey, plus gas hogs (however our full size van eats up the gas too!)

The 2005 Trailblazers have 3 seats, which is what I would like. DH does not think it is big enough. I guess men think size is important

Angela

DH wants to get trade in our expedition for a Surburban or Yukon also. I showed him the $79 receipt from filling up this weekend so maybe that will change his mind.

I like the trailblazer as well, also the GMC envoy.

 

[corie161]

I've had my heart set on a Trailblazer with the 3rd row seat, but after seeing the new Saturn Outlook I love the look of them too!

 

[csmommy]

What a great thread, this is what we would like to start looking for.

In a perfect world I would like a 7 passenger SUV with good gas milage. Any thoughts?

The price of gas is killing me!

 

[brandylouwho]

I love my freestyle too...and 2nd row bench seat is an option that makes it seat 7 (instead of 6). Although since we wanted leather seats it took a few xtra days for the dealer to locate one with the bench seats (buckets are far more popular, especially the higher end versions).

I think the 3rd row is comfortable, but I am only 5'2". Climbing back into the 3rd row on a regular basis might be annoying for adults, but fine for kids. We have 2 infant car seats in our 2nd row, so that makes it a bit of a pain to get into the 3rd row in car-yet I am glad we have it...we are only a family of 4 (plus one big dog) and we need the space when we need to haul more than just ourselves around. The theater seating is nice, seats are comfortable.

I would buy another Freestyle (soon to be Taurus X) again, although right now my husband is drooling over the Ford Edge. I think he just likes "new" things. I don't think those have a 3rd row seat though.

 

[Nascia]

I would never buy another Pacifica. We have a 2004 and have had all types of problems with it. I've had to replace both headlights, 1 fog light, all 4 sets of brakes, 2 rotors, the entire heating/ AC unit and I still think there's something wrong with the transmission that the dealer refuses to acknowledge. By the way, I only have 37k miles on it. The gas mileage was pretty bad, we averaged 17 mpg highway . We're in the process of trading ours in for a 2007 Sienna (as soon as our dealer finds one with the package we want).

 

[sammi6]

I haven't seen this posted on here yet, but do NOT buy a Mitsubishi! At least not the Endeavor. We bought one brand new off the lot and have had nothing but trouble from this car since day 5. Of course past the time that we could return it We tried arbitration but lost

 

[katerkat]

We have a Honda Pilot that seats 7, though the backseat is really for children. And there's very little cargo space when the third row is up. Other than that, it's an awesome car - I love it. We get decent gas mileage for an SUV (around 20 in town, 23 on the highway.) I paid about $29K for a brand-new one, but they've been out for a few years now so she should be able to find one used.

 

[Skatermom23]

We have a Honda Pilot that seats 7, though the backseat is really for children. And there's very little cargo space when the third row is up. Other than that, it's an awesome car - I love it. We get decent gas mileage for an SUV (around 20 in town, 23 on the highway.) I paid about $29K for a brand-new one, but they've been out for a few years now so she should be able to find one used.

I have the Pilot as well! I love having it! The third row folds away and leaves you with a huge cargo area. When I need to cart around a few extra kids, I just pull the third row up!

 

[shelemm]

A Mecrury Sable Wagon fits your description perfectly.

 

[smacky1]

What a great thread, this is what we would like to start looking for.

In a perfect world I would like a 7 passenger SUV with good gas milage. Any thoughts?

The price of gas is killing me!

Have you looked at the new toyota rav4?? 22/29 mpg. I believe there is a 3rd row option to seat more.

 

[jillyjoey]

I have a Ford Freestyle. I love it so much. Mine sits 6 but it has 2nd and 3rd row bucket seats. The cheaper models comes with bench seats in the 2nd and 3rd row. Also the seating is theater style. The very back seats are raised higher.

I get great gas mileage 20.5 miles in town and between 26 and 28 miles on the highway. I bought mine used (2006) at the end of nov. It only had 15000 miles on it and its totally deck out. All leather seats, sun roof. My would've cost me over 30,000.00 if I bought it new. I paid 19500.00

Hope your friend finds the car she wants

I have the Freestyle too with the bucket seats 2nd and 3rd row. Mine has the console between the seats in the 2nd row but I think there is an option for a bench seat in the 2nd row.

 

[csmommy]

Have you looked at the new toyota rav4?? 22/29 mpg. I believe there is a 3rd row option to seat more.

I currently have a Toyota Sienna & have that Oil Gunk problem so I will never purchase another Toyota again. Thanks anyway!

 

[december]

I bought a used 05 Ford Explorer with 3 rows of seats in August of 05. I got it for around $18000. We love it so much that my husband bought one just like it last year! I have silver and he has red. The kids can easily lift and lower the seats, and I can load whatever I want. I have had no problems with it at all, and it gets decent gas mileage.

 

[bethyg]

I currently have a Toyota Sienna & have that oil gunk problem so I will never purchase another Toyota again.

I'd like to hear more about the 'oil gunk'. We're looking into replacing our SUV and looking at Toyota Highlanders and Sequoias.

Thanks.

 

[Tink561]

I'd like to hear more about the 'oil gunk'. We're looking into replacing our SUV and looking at Toyota Highlanders and Sequoias.

Thanks.

I don't don't about an oil gunk problem. We have had Toyotas since 1987. We currently have a 2002 Sequoia that has 76000 miles on it and we still love it. We were looking to get a Suburban or something but decided we don't need the little bit of extra space in the back. We're just going to keep the Sequoia. We haven't had any problems at all with any of our Toyotas.

Before the Sequoia we had a RAV4 and liked it too. We just outgrew it.

 

[bumbershoot]

No one has mentioned the Kia Rondo yet! That's what DH and are looking into, for a year or so from now.

Though that new Saturn makes us go "hmm"...especially since he's a former Saturn service manager.

 

[Jen76b]

You can get an 07 Hyundia Sante Fe for around 23K. Plus it has an excellent warranty- 10y or 100,000.

 

[smacky1]

I currently have a Toyota Sienna & have that Oil Gunk problem so I will never purchase another Toyota again. Thanks anyway!

Id like to hear more about the oil gunk as well. I had a corolla that I drove to over 300,000 miles with no major problems so I always thought they were great. Would definately be interested in hearing more as I am thinking of buying the RAV 4.

 

[pixiepower1971]

Another vote for the Explorer with the 3rd seat. I love mine! I have a 2003 and if I had to replace it tomorrow I would buy the exact same thing.

I usually have 5 kids with me( I watch 3 kids before/after school)...2 with booster seats. Storage space is limited with the 3rd row up but the kids all fit in well and no one complains. 2 of the girls are almost 5 feet and sit in the 3rd row all the time. I can also put the 2 in boosters back there with no problems.

Gas mileage is ok and I am sure the pricing on a used one is reasonable.