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

[grlpwrd]

I was going to get a Toyota Highlander or Sequoia or a Chevy Suburban, but decided on a 12 passenger van that I bought off of eBay. It is wonderful! I used to drive an older Chevy Astro van, 1991 Toyota Landcruiser (sold), and a 2003 Ford Expedition (totalled in a storm), but I like my supersized van.

All 7 of us fit comfortably plus there is a lot of room for friends or family who come along. I also use it for ebaying (transporting my stuff), Craigslisting (? lol), my home daycare, and for traveling. It has multiple uses and it works wonderfully for us.

 

[Tink561]

The thing I love about Sequoias and similar is that you have the three rows and storage space all the time.

 

[mom0299]

I LOVE my Honda Pilot!!!!! It actually seats 8. I got a used one last year and wouldn't trade it for anything. We've driven it to WDW once and to the beach twice. It is a very comfortable traveling car. I needed something that would hold my kids and their friends as well as all of my family when we travel. It has plenty of space, but it isn't a minivan. I got rid of my minivan and will never go back.

 

[drivencrazy]

My Mom has a Toyota Sequoia and LOVES it! Her's is a 2001 and she bought it new. That thing is HUGE, lots bigger than my Ford Explorer, but we didn't want something that big.......not sure it would fit in the garage!!

 

[csmommy]

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.

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.

If you google Toyota engine sludge you will find LOTS to read!

These are the vehicles affected:

VEHICLE MODEL YEARS
Camry 4 cyl. 1997-2001
Camry 6 cyl. 1997-2002
Camry Solara 4 cyl. 1999-2001
Camry Solara 6 cyl. 1999-2002
Sienna 6 cyl. 1998-2002
Avalon 6 cyl. 1997-2002
Celica 4 cyl. 1997-1999
Highlander 6 cyl. 2001-2002
Lexus ES 300 1997-2002
Lexus RX 300 1999-2002

Here is a link to one of the articles: http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=150&did=1262

Now I just do not trust them.

 

[Tink561]

My Mom has a Toyota Sequoia and LOVES it! Her's is a 2001 and she bought it new. That thing is HUGE, lots bigger than my Ford Explorer, but we didn't want something that big.......not sure it would fit in the garage!!

Mine barely fits in our garage...by inches.

 

[natenapril]

I was just thnking about this too. This fall my DH and I will be trading in our full size GMC Sierra for a SUV. My DH and I are really tall and we have three children (2 in carseats).
Right now we(okay me ) are leaning towards a Yukon/Tahoe.
We are NOT the "minivan type" either

 

[loveysbydesign]

Thanks for your opinions. I think they've narrowed it down to the Hyundai Santa Fe, Buick Rendevous, Honda pilot, Ford Freestyle and Toyota Highlander.
I know they make Ford Explorer's with 7 seat now too but don't know anyone who owns one!

 

[Nascia]

My inlaws bought the Santa Fe late last year and have really been pleased with it. They said it handles nice and gets fairly good gas milage.

 

[Shannon G]

Thanks for your opinions. I think they've narrowed it down to the Hyundai Santa Fe, Buick Rendevous, Honda pilot, Ford Freestyle and Toyota Highlander.
I know they make Ford Explorer's with 7 seat now too but don't know anyone who owns one!

I bought a 2006 Rendezvous a few months ago, and I love it! I don't use the 3rd row seat very often, but it is very handy when my nieces happen to be visiting. It handles great, and, as a previous poster mentioned, it's very quiet. A couple of weeks ago we had a family wedding to attend, and my brothers family rode along with my kids and I. My brother drove my Rendezvous, and after starting it, hestitated and looked at me and asked "Is it running?" It was so quiet he wasn't sure at first if it had actually started.

 

[harleyquinn]

I have a thread about this on the CB lol.

The best free car website is www.edmunds.com You can read reviews of all the cars mentioned, see what they cost with options and read user reviews.

Love that site!

 

[Poohbug]

I recently had the same problem-just had my third child and couldn't fit them well in the back of the car(which died anyway) We just bought a used Ford Freestyle and I really like it. I drives more like a car, gas mileage is pretty good. I can put all three kids-with car seats/boosters-in the second row and keep the third row folded down for great cargo space(you really need more cargo area for groceries/shopping then a van can offer). I have heard that many new models are coming out soon but that doesn't matter to me because we couldn't afford new anyway. I test drove a Toyota and Chrysler van and the Freestyle fits my needs better.

Happy car hunting.

Dee

 

[Sandi]

I really like my Honda Pilot. Like others, we don't use the 3rd row all that often, but it sure is handy when we need it. Yesterday I had to drive a group of 5 6th graders on a school field trip. They had plenty of room in the second and third rows. A tall person would not be comfortable in the third row, but kids and shorties (like me) are fine.

We were so pleased with the Pilot's performance that, when we needed to replace DH's Ford F-150, he chose a Honda Ridgeline.

 

[Alice28]

Wait, wait, I have one more suggestion-

the Subaru B9 Tribeca!

We've had ours for about 15 months and I still LOVE it like the first day I got it.

It seats 2 in front, 3 in the middle, 2 in back.

The back is really just for children and your storage space is quite minimal when those seats are up.

It handles like a DREAM- all subarus have AWD. The gas mileage is OK- not horrible, but not great. A 16.5 gallon tank gets me about 300 miles.

Subarus always test EXTERMELY high in safety ratings & customer satisfaction. We had an outback before this and loved it too, but outgrew it and I did NOT want a minivan either.

They aren't cheap though. I think we paid about $31,000. But Subarus do hold their resale value WELL. we sold the outback for $14,000 in 2006; paid $18,000 for it in 2002.

 

[Cindy B]

MY DH bought a used Expedition (seats 7 or 8) a few years back. It was affordable because it was used. Before the Expedition, we had an Explorer that fit 7.

There is a newer larger Jeep out in the market that is larger.. I think its called the Commander? It is a three rows of seats car.

 

[jenrein]

we just bought the Hyundai Tucson- we did look at the Sante Fe- the new model is gorgeous. I hate the minivan...I will not EVER drive a minivan. I will however drive my nice black Tucson and it fits my 6, 8 and 11 yr olds nicely. We drove it 24 hours from NY to FL. We folded the seats down and made a very illegal bed for the kids to sleep while we drove at night and they fit great like that too. It carries our hockey equipment (which is like bigger than me!) our lacrosse and our ballet, tap and hip-hop shoes/bags...etc. I love it and the Sante Fe is even larger. You cant beat the 10yr/100,000 mile warranty and free oil changes for life either!

 

[loveysbydesign]

It seats 2 in front, 3 in the middle, 2 in back

How is the seating configuration for the Santa Fe and Rendevous? The same as the Tribeca? or is it 2-2-3?

 

[Shannon G]

How is the seating configuration for the Santa Fe and Rendevous? The same as the Tribeca? or is it 2-2-3?

My Rendezvous is 2-3-2. Mine has a bench seat in the middle row, but I think it's also available with the two bucket seats in the middle row.

 

[HM]

My husband drives a Buick Rendevous. We don't have the third seat because I drive a van that affords that extra room. I just wanted to let you know how wonderfully his car drives. I just love driving his car as opposed to driving mine. It handles really well...plus you sit pretty high on the road so you have good vision.

 

[shelly3girls]

We preferred the Pilot over it's competitors b/c it seats 8 instead of 7. Doesn't sound like a big deal to many but I have 3 kids and our close friends have 3 so when we go places together it is nice fitting all 6 kids in one car. Also the reliability rating was the best.

We looked at the Jeep that seats 7. It was a joke, I thought my Honda had small storage....