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Help me pick a car!
Right now I drive an SUV. I know, I'm going straight to Hell. But I have two big dogs and may be starting a family in the next year or so, so I like the idea of being able to throw the kiddos in the back seat and the dogs in the back cargo area. And I take the bus to work most days, so I don't feel toooo guilty, but I do feel like a hypocrite because I preach green in every aspect of my life, and here I am driving around this big ol' clunker. I want something more EF and gas efficient.
So, what shoud I get? I was thinking of something along the lines of a Subaru Outback, but to be honest, I just don't like Outbacks for some reason. I know Audi makes something with a similar shape (the A4, I think), and I am intrigued by the Mini Cooper Clubman (the longer ones with the cargo area - though I'd have to really check it out to make sure the cargo area was big enough for my dogs). I am also thinking maybe like a Ford Escape Hybrid, though DH is convinced hybrids are bad because the engines break down a lot or something?
I always keep my eyes peeled on the road for ideas, but I just don't know what to get! What would you get in my situation?
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Re: Help me pick a car!
My parent's have two Priuses. One they have had for five years, and they have never had any engine trouble.
What size dogs do you have?
I personally feel that a lot of the hatchback cars have a lot more room than you might initially think and they generally get good gas mileage.
I love the Mazda 3
I don't really know if it is "green," but the Kia Soul looks kind of cool,
The toyota Scion line
Volvo also makes a hatchback.
I love these smaller cars b/c they tend to get higher gas mileage and they are surprisingly roomy...you can easily get a baby in the back plus your groceries. MH is 6'3'' with very long legs. We drove around Europe in a small hatchback and he loved it.
This topic is near and dear to my heart, lol.
We had a Toyota Matrix. Amazing fuel economy (it is basically a Corolla wagon) and we could put the dog in the way back, and fit 3 carseats across the back. We sold it bc my brother gave us his old Corolla, so now we have a corolla and a civic. Both work fine for 2 or 3 kids in terms of carseat space, but not in terms of cargo space. I would kill to have the Matrix back though!
Here is the thing though. Once i hit 2 kids I reallllllly wanted more space. Like a minivan. Because not only do you have the kid, you have the stroller, then a double stroller, plus I keep some spare diapers and clothes changes for the kids, plus the diaper bag, and I always have 2 or 3 slings or baby carriers in the car, plus I keep stuff for pools (wading pools) so towel, swimsuit, etc, plus I need the sand toys for parks, and then if we are going to be at the park all day I have a cooler to pack our lunch in.
You get the picture.
If I KNEW I was only having 2 kids I think I would get the Mazda 5. It is a mini-minivan. Since we might have a 3rd, we are probably going to just go for the van.
I reread that and realize I sound crazy re. all the crap in my car.
But, I am a SAHM right now, and most days we hit a park, and sometimes if we are out doing errands, we will spur-of-the-moment decide to stop at a wading pool or something. So all the crap that I haul around gets used regularly. And if I had to pack and unpack it from the house every time I would never be able to get out the door and always be forgetting something.
And to make me sound even nuttier, DS is potty training so I also have a potty in the trunk for emergnecy side of the road poop breaks. Oh the joys of motherhood.
I'm one of those people! I said this in a PP but I love my truck now, 05 Ford Escape, have had minimal problems and get 20-23 mpg. Now that I'm more eco-conscious I totally want the new hybrid. I figure give them a year to work out the kinks (like with any new model) and then I'm in! Plus they're wicked sporty-mom-stylish.
I'm one of those people! I said this in a PP but I love my truck now, 05 Ford Escape, have had minimal problems and get 20-23 mpg. Now that I'm more eco-conscious I totally want the new hybrid. I figure give them a year to work out the kinks (like with any new model) and then I'm in! Plus they're wicked sporty-mom-stylish.
I really love my 2007 Prius, we're planning on keeping it when we have kids. I don't know why the OP's husband thinks hybrids engines break down a lot, I've never heard that. Mine has 60K miles on it, and my boss's 2007 Civic hybrid has 120K, with no engine problems whatsoever.
Hatchbacks have a lot more space than you think. I regularly fit 5 adults comfortably. Most sedans say they fit 5, but really they fit 4. I can fit 2 carseats in the backseat, there's anchors built in and everything. The trunk part under the hatchback is flat and large, so we're going to put the dog back there. The backseat fold flat, and I've fit (separately of course) 4 chairs, 2 bicycles, and a 8ft X-mas tree back there. Every single person who gets into my Prius for the first time goes "Whoa, it's really roomy in here."
I get 46 MPG, it's pretty much the same for city and highway. My iPod plugs right into the dash, and the steering wheel has radio and A/C controls on it, which is super helpful in rush hour traffic when I can't take my eyes off the road for a second. It's the best car I've ever owned, period.
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Chevy and GMC make hybrid SUV's too by the way. I will say I work for GM and driving around in that thing with the engine off is pretty cool.
I drive a 2006 saab 9-3 wagon and it fits 100lbs of puppies in the back. The back seat isn't fit for adults, but I get great mileage and the turbo charger gives plenty of power. The dogs love it, I love it, and it was pretty cheap (I got it used) considering the leather, sunroof, ipod, turbo, and 25-30mpg I get.
Any ideas if they're going to make hybrids for the Traverse or Arcadia? Sorry, I figured I'd try. DH and I love Travese/Arcadia/Enclave. DH is 6'5" and not only do we have to worry about fitting 2-3 kids (we don't have any yet), a dog, and my mother in the car, By far, these vehicles fit what we want with the features we're looking for. The Cx9 is a close second for me. But the gas mileage isn't that great.
OP Audi has a Q7 with turbo disel that might work if you'll have the 3rd row down all the time. If you need someone to sit in the 3rd row, I'll be tight. I couldn't get back there and I'm 5'4".
Jetta TDI wagon or Audi A3 TDI.
We have an '09 Jetta TDI (sedan) and it's great. I drive mostly on the highway and it's super easy to get at least 50mpg. Around town it really varies--but I'd say in the 30-40 range is not difficult.
If we can save up enough money, our next car will be the A3 TDI. It's really nice.
I believe both are still eligible for a federal tax credit, too.
I have a Pontiac Vibe and with a lab and a rottie, I love my car!