The wife and I are looking into getting her a new vehicle since her PT Criuser got hit a month or so back. Thankfully the damage was only cosmetic, and actually looks very minor, but given the area damaged and the cost to have a shop repair it, the insurance company is totalling it out. We're going to be smart about the deal and keep the thing with a salvage title for her to drive temporarily and use the money from the insurance, with some additional, to get her something else to drive. I say that because nowdays we need enough room for our daughter and her friends....and their cheerleading stuff.... as well as enough room for us to pack for a trip without being full floor to ceiling.
As such, we have been debating over what to get. The vehicles that come to mind are the Ford Explorers, the Chevy Trailblazers, the Jeep Navigators, the Dodge Durangos, and the Toyota 4 runners. Too, the wife has looked at a couple of the 'minivans' from the various makers.
Like I said, we're looking for something that has plenty of room for three or four girls (the daughters best friends are twins, and they have a sister a year to so younger who usually goes where they go) so a third seat would be nice. Too there needs to be additional room for their stuff, and/or room for a family to pack for a week's vacation with room to breath. Also, since the wife will be using it to commute to work we'd like for it to get good gas mileage. In that light, we're thinking one of the V6 models at the most, or in the minivan department possibly even one of the 4 cylinders. We don't towing power, we don't need 4-wd, or anything else along those lines for that matter. What we do need is something fuel efficient with way more room than a PT cruiser can offer. Lastly, we're looking to spend around $5000, and while I'm the 'older the better' type, the wife would like something from '02 on to present, but I think she would also be willing to settle for something from the mid 90's on, if it was well kept.
Now to the meat of the question. What experiences have you guys had with any of the aformentioned vehicles both good and bad. What kind of gas mileage were/are you getting, etc, etc, etc, etc. I'll say right up front when it comes to the newer SUV's and minivans I know nothing about any of them, so any advice or comments offered that will help us figure out which vehicles to look at and which ones to steer clear of would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Wayne
As such, we have been debating over what to get. The vehicles that come to mind are the Ford Explorers, the Chevy Trailblazers, the Jeep Navigators, the Dodge Durangos, and the Toyota 4 runners. Too, the wife has looked at a couple of the 'minivans' from the various makers.
Like I said, we're looking for something that has plenty of room for three or four girls (the daughters best friends are twins, and they have a sister a year to so younger who usually goes where they go) so a third seat would be nice. Too there needs to be additional room for their stuff, and/or room for a family to pack for a week's vacation with room to breath. Also, since the wife will be using it to commute to work we'd like for it to get good gas mileage. In that light, we're thinking one of the V6 models at the most, or in the minivan department possibly even one of the 4 cylinders. We don't towing power, we don't need 4-wd, or anything else along those lines for that matter. What we do need is something fuel efficient with way more room than a PT cruiser can offer. Lastly, we're looking to spend around $5000, and while I'm the 'older the better' type, the wife would like something from '02 on to present, but I think she would also be willing to settle for something from the mid 90's on, if it was well kept.
Now to the meat of the question. What experiences have you guys had with any of the aformentioned vehicles both good and bad. What kind of gas mileage were/are you getting, etc, etc, etc, etc. I'll say right up front when it comes to the newer SUV's and minivans I know nothing about any of them, so any advice or comments offered that will help us figure out which vehicles to look at and which ones to steer clear of would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Wayne