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Since we're talking about cars
I'm wondering if there are any others in this class of vehicles that we should look at. The main issue that I have is usable cargo space. Keefer and all future dogs need to be in crates and then when we travel (which is often) we take extra crates, grooming table, supplies, suitcases, etc.
We have driven - Ford Explorer, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, and Hyundai Veracruz. We are still planning on test driving - Chevy Traverse, Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Sienna, and Volvo XC90. The Toyota Sienna is the only minivan on the market with AWD and I would really like the vehicle for have AWD or 4WD. I probably will check out the Honda Odyssey just for comparison though.
We considered but didn't like well enough to drive Toyota 4Runner, Nissan Pathfinder, Buick Enclave, and Ford Flex. We also considered Acura MDX and Lexus RX350 and although I liked them, they were eliminated due to price and because they offered less cargo room.
Any others or opinions from what you've driven or been in? I've never bought a car before so I feel like it's an even bigger decision (my current car is a hand-me-down from my parents that my grandparents gave me money for when I was in college).
Re: Since we're talking about cars
I would probably lean heavily towards the minivan option and think about how frequently you would really need AWD or 4WD- perhaps if you are driving to a dog show when they are calling for a lot of snow you could rent a Tahoe or something? AWD & 4WD are only more useful/safe in snowy conditions that we don't have that much of here, they are not any safer in icy conditions, which we do have.
We test drove the Vovlo XC90 and felt cramped in it. It sounds like you really need a vehicle w/ the room/option for a 3rd row, or the flexibility to completely remove the 2nd row of seats.
Have you looked at more commercially oriented vehicles?
I think that the transit connects (http://www.ford.com/trucks/transitconnect/) offer so much room and flexibility. I kind of want one for furniture hauling...
Funny you should mention this as I've considered this option. It seems convenient as I wouldn't have to drive it all the time then, but perhaps not affordable at this time to have it as additional vehicle. It's definitely something I'm going to think about though. Thanks!
Honestly, w/what all you're talking about hauling around, I'd tend to agree w/Daisy and lean more towards the minivan option. Within our family (either personally or parents), we've got the XC90, MDX, Sienna, and Odyssey. The SUVs are great, but if you really want the cargo space, the minivans have been the way to go.
We went through this car hunt last spring, trying to find something to replace DH's Accord w/ b/c we needed the cargo space to haul his bass, plus still fit me and DS. We checked out various SUVs, but the only thing that really made sense given the amount we wanted to be able to fit was a minivan, and we ended up w/the Odyssey. We LOOOOOVE this thing, and it drives like a dream. My ILs' Sienna is pretty nice, too, but I prefer the handling/ride of Hondas to Toyotas. I've never considered AWD to be essential in a vehicle b/c of where we live, so we didn't even think about it when we bought the Odyssey, but if you're concerned about where you may be traveling for shows, then that would, as you said, eliminate the Odyssey.
Our Odyssey has most of the bells & whistles, which is nice, but I have to admit that my favorite feature is silly - I really love the doors! Click a button and they open/close, which is SO convenient when you're juggling a bunch of stuff. I get annoyed now when I'm trying to hang onto a bunch of stuff and open the Civic's doors now - haha!
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I checked this out too. It doesn't have a 3rd row so I was surprised how small it was since it's advertised as vet pet friendly.
Maybe I can convince DH to drive the minivan instead of me.
I'm so biased (see "car poll" post) but i say minivan, mainly because when you are NOT transporting all that stuff and going to dog shows etc, you are still going to want something that you can drive easily, and for me a minivan is so much easier to drive than a large SUV.
FWIW my mom bought a minivan a few years ago (her second) and they were going to get a Honda but according to CR Honda and Dodges have a similar issue with the transmission (this is all second-hand according to my father so I may have the terms wrong ha) so my dad felt for the increased price it wasn't worth it to get the Honda for it to have the same problem - and my mom loves her Caravan. Her first one was a caravan too and that lasted close to 200k miles. My parents drive the minivan to West Virginia in the winter as long as its not calling for significant snow and it does fine on the snow-packed roads up there.
I'm such a minivan pusher.
We have a Mercury Mountaineer, which is basically the Explorer, with the third row, which folds down into the floor for extra cargo space. We love it with 2 dogs (mini eskies), and a child, but if we were car shoping right now, we would go with a mini van, but one where all the seats were collapsible. Mini vans just have more foot to head room and I think they are more versatile, plus I *think* they tend to get better gas mileage than a mini van. FWIW we have AWD in our Mountaineer and I've seen it kick in (there is some kind of indicator) twice maybe in the 4 years we've had it. We had a car with 4WD for 5 years and seriously never used it.
I swore I would never be a mini van mom, but they really are great vehicles.