...and statistically safer, too.
Recommend a family vehicle please
- Thread starter NavyVet88
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If I were to do it again, I would buy a minivan. We have a baby coming this spring and while the truck will work, it is a compromise for numerous reasons. Depending on your area, parking is a real pain for any full size truck. My Ram is 233" long while a Sienna is 204"; the last 2-ish feet can make all the difference for parking. Also, having the covered storage and lower step-in height of a minivan are two bonuses.
Here are some pictures of an infant seat in my Ram. Mine is a 20 so it will be the same body style as the current 22 DT"s.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/car-seat-install-latch-vs-seat-belt.349749/
I would prefer a body on frame for hard use.
Most families living in suburbia do not subject their vehicles to conditions where a BOF design carries an advantage.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
Well, off roading or towing? Yes. Anything else? Big no.
Take a look at the 2022 RAV4 hybrids. The model has been out since 2019 so they have worked the kinks out of the new model and just gave it a face lift. They are bigger than the Tiguans and get around 40 MPG (roughy 15 more than the Tiguan, according to Fuelly.) like others have mentioned, gas prices may be nearing $5/gallon. Buy the most fuel efficient car you can get your hands on now.
Comparison of a 25MPG car vs 40MPG, 15K miles per year, $4/gallon:
$2400 vs $1500 per year or $75 extra per month in fuel for the Tiguan. You will spend an extra $9,000 to get the 25MPG car to 150K.
Also, before the haters start. The batteries are warrantied for 10Y/150K.
Comparison of a 25MPG car vs 40MPG, 15K miles per year, $4/gallon:
$2400 vs $1500 per year or $75 extra per month in fuel for the Tiguan. You will spend an extra $9,000 to get the 25MPG car to 150K.
Also, before the haters start. The batteries are warrantied for 10Y/150K.
Exactly why would that be?
JHZR2
Staff member
Some people must be about 5 ft tall, carry nothing, and go nowhere... LOL!
We do pretty good with our Outback for weekend ski/bike trips with 3 or 4 people, camping means I bring out the trailer just to bring whatever you want then. If an AWD minivan didn't cost almost as much as a suburban and get similar mileage we'd probably get one of those. I agree though that the midsize 3 row SUV's don't haul more than 4 people AND their stuff very well. The midsize 2 row SUV's are growing bigger than their compact car roots and will get 3 or 4 around to most activities, and if we had to buy today I'd have a good look at a RAV4 hybrid, and perhaps the plugin one.
If you need AWD and don't care about mileage, and the size of it, a 6 seat crew cab pickup is a pretty decent family vehicle too.
The4Runner is terrible for a family unless you MUST HAVE off road ability.
Yep! The gently used ones probably have odometer roll backs.....
OP, the name of the game is rear seat legroom. You need to take your carseat and test fit it in whatever vehicle you're considering. Rear facing seats take up a good amount of space. When we had our first son, we had a Toyota Yaris sedan and we could not fit a rear facing seat in the back and use the front seat (it had to be moved too far forward).
We saw a couple buying a Kia Carnival when my wife bought her Stinger.
We were never minivan people but I checked one out as I play in a couple of Boston area bands in it would be pretty handy.
They are very nice inside!
We were never minivan people but I checked one out as I play in a couple of Boston area bands in it would be pretty handy.
They are very nice inside!
It has a 110 inch wheelbase-it's not great for towing.....
JHZR2
Staff member
I can see a crew cab being decent, especially with a tonneau cover.
Ive taken our five complete with an infant rear facing seat into my 1994 extended cab Dodge Ram CTD. Crew cab would be much more convenient!
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