Considering a new car

[windeye]

My 2000 mazda mpv is really coming to end of its life despite good maintenance. Bottom line is that I need a new replacement. My kids (three) are in college and in the near future we'd like to have a larger car ( 3 row) for vacation and college transport.

I am going to stay with gas powered cars,, Any suggestions?

 

[wpod]

Price. reliability and availability. Study up.

 

[simple_gifts]

Price range? Sienna.

 

[Kira]

Consider something which can pull a small-to-medium trailer.
With all 3 kids in college, what are the odds of all 3 vacationing with you at the same time?

 

[OppositeLocK]

Hard question to answer without a budget, but as a general recommendation, any 3-row SUV from a Japanese manufacturer.

 

[tasch72]

3 rear seat rows for 2+3 people? Are you giving each kid their own row or are you planning to remove rows for cargo? Initially, this would put you in Sprinter/Transit/Promaster territory.

But, I would not overbuy for the college transport aspect. A trailer would solve that problem and you can disconnect it. You can't disconnect the back half of a sprinter van.

I would also not expect the kids to all want to vacation together during and after college, let them grow their own wings. Maybe aim for something in the Ford Bronco range?

Are the kids all at the same college? If so, get them a used car to share.

 

[tyman]

Price range? Sienna.

Sienna
Odyssey
Hyundai Palisade
Kia Telluride

 

[SatinSilver]

Agree with Sienna, although it's only available as a hybrid which OP doesn't want. Maybe because it's a huge leap from a Mazda MPV. Which I can understand.

 

[OppositeLocK]

3 rear seat rows for 2+3 people? Are you giving each kid their own row or are you planning to remove rows for cargo? Initially, this would put you in Sprinter/Transit/Promaster territory.

But, I would not overbuy for the college transport aspect. A trailer would solve that problem and you can disconnect it. You can't disconnect the back half of a sprinter van.

I would also not expect the kids to all want to vacation together during and after college, let them grow their own wings. Maybe aim for something in the Ford Bronco range?

Are the kids all at the same college? If so, get them a used car to share.

Absolutely nothing wrong with spending time with family at any point in life.

I never understood the North American culture of trying to rush your kids out as soon as they turn 16-18 just so they can be on their own as if that's the only way to obtain independence.

 

[Passport1]

YOLO

This-->

 

[tasch72]

Absolutely nothing wrong with spending time with family at any point in life.

I never understood the North American culture of trying to rush your kids out as soon as they turn 16-18 just so they can be on their own as if that's the only way to obtain independence.

I agree, nothing wrong with that. I'm not here to debate parenting practices & family ideals, just here to help "right-size" OP's next $40,000+ investment.

I think OP was looking at the 1% use case as if it were their 99%. Once you're an empty nester, you're not going to need a van for daily activities. Kids aren't going to soccer/dance/gymnastics/football practice and need to be shuttled around to and from school/work. If OP also needs to shuttle a work crew to job sites for their job, then maybe a van would in fact be a better option.

If I was in OP's shoes, I would get a more practical daily driver that can handle the occasional trailer. Then, if I wanted to go on a family vacation, I would rent a van for a week so I wasn't stuck with something that I'm not going to get the full use out of.

 

[OppositeLocK]

I agree, nothing wrong with that. I'm not here to debate parenting practices & family ideals, just here to help "right-size" your next $40,000+ investment.

I think you're looking at the 1% use case as if it were your 99%. Once you're an empty nester, you're not going to need a van for daily activities. Your kids aren't going to soccer/dance/gymnastics/football practice and need to be shuttled around to and from school/work. If you also need to shuttle a work crew to job sites for your job, then maybe a van would in fact be a better option.

If I was in your shoes, I would get a more practical daily driver that can handle the occasional trailer. If you want to go on a family vacation, then rent a van for a week so you aren't stuck with something that you're not going to get the full use out of.

I'm not the opening poster. But with the majority of pick-ups on the road being driven constantly unloaded, I don't think people consider purchasing a vehicle for 99% of use cases.

Buying something like a Highlander or 4Runner makes a lot of sense to me. Reliability, resale value, capability, and safety (well I guess not on the 4Runner).

 

[The Critic]

Why is everyone assuming the OP has the interest in pulling a trailer? In my immediate neighborhood, there is only 1 house with a trailer....out of 50+. It isn't a common item to own nowadays, especially if you live in suburbia. Many municipalities prohibit parking such items in public view and most houses are no longer built with RV gates.

A midsize SUV with a useless 3rd row is probably your best option. In most situations you will only be using the first two rows...

 

[ARCOgraphite]

A Off-lease2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. Spacious,well screwed tiogether, AWD and 3 rows in a pinch.
Before the shortage, they could be had for well under 20K with low miles and good factory warranty.

I tried to get My wife to look at them but she went with the disappointing Outback.
At least they were two-grand off that day!.

 

[tasch72]

I'm not the opening poster. But with the majority of pick-ups on the road being driven constantly unloaded, I don't think people consider purchasing a vehicle for 99% of use cases.

Buying something like a Highlander or 4Runner makes a lot of sense to me. Reliability, resale value, capability, and safety (well I guess not on the 4Runner).

I realized that after and edited my verbiage.

Sometimes it is better to have and not need than to need and not have, which is why I recommended something along the lines of a Bronco.

 

[simple_gifts]

it's only available as a hybrid which OP doesn't want.

I guess i read gas powered as "not BEV"

 

[IndyIan]

A Off-lease2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. Spacious,well screwed tiogether, AWD and 3 rows in a pinch.
Before the shortage, they could be had for well under 20K with low miles and good factory warranty.

I tried to get My wife to look at them but she went with the disappointing Outback.
At least they were two-grand off that day!.

View attachment 68139

The 3rd row is good for the grandkids, at least the 2016 I looked at had a "recommended for people under 5'4" sign visible when you flip them out of the floor. I did actually kind of still fit at 6' but not for a very long trip. I'd rather sit 3 wide in the rear seats of our Outback for sure.
OP, I'd just get another minivan, as until you get into the huge SUV's, the 3 row SUV's are all cramped for people and cargo compared to a minivan. Or get whatever you want for a DD and rent a minivan when needed. We also run a small trailer behind the Outback(family of 4) for camping stuff and will use that for moving college things when the time comes.

 

[windeye]

Thanks guys/gals for chiming in, and sorry for lack of details/intention. Here are some more:

1st child is out of college for a few years, the middle one is half way in, and the third is one year in. We still like to go on summer vacation together, and everyone likes to take one car instead of two. I have a 2013 Camry and a 2007 Mazda3. I looked at the Highlander seriously, and space wise is as good as what I expected, esp the vertical opening at the hatch, see the table attached. It's hard for me to drop north of 40 grand for that. The Sienna is better, space wise, despite the second row is not removable now.

So it might be pre-mature when I originally said 3row car, which is really a preference. A more practical way might be getting a smaller SUV. I keep cars for a long time.

Thanks again for your comments.

Model	Overall dimension (in, L/W/H)	Space behind 3rd row (ft^3)	Space behind 2nd row (ft^3)	Space behind 1st row (ft^3)	Trunk (rear door) height (in)	Notes
2000 MPV	187/72/69	17.2	54	91.7	42	To be replaced
2021 RAV4 ($30K)	181/73/67	na	37.5	69.7	29(?)	OK to move btw school and home; 2.5L gas engine underpowered
2021 Highlander ($42K)	195/76/68	16	48.4	84.3	29(?)	Too expensive for the space gained;
2021 Sienna ($41K)	204/79/69	33.5	75.2	101	36(?)	Hybrid only, w/ 2.5L engine, underpowered; 2nd row seats not removable
2021 4Runner ($43K)	191/76/72	9 (option)	47	89	36(?)

 

[earthbound]

Absolutely nothing wrong with spending time with family at any point in life.

I never understood the North American culture of trying to rush your kids out as soon as they turn 16-18 just so they can be on their own as if that's the only way to obtain independence.

so we should what.....let them live with us until 30 like my neighbors kids???

 

[simple_gifts]

so we should what.....let them live with us until 30 like my neighbors kids???

Why is it your concern. Multigenerational households were defacto way of living in many immigrant families throughout the early 1900s

It is better to scrutinize how they are utilizing that situation than the situation itself. JMO.