What 3rd row SUV for Snow season use? - Page 3

Yeah, we brought the two car seat bases, infant car seat and convertible car seat, plus the jogging stroller/chariot.  and we tried putting them in the cars, sometimes in different configurations and thought out how everyone would get in/out of the cars.   Oh vey.   I think I am in denial what I am in for - lol.

 

For longer trips, there would be space in the Traverse for someone to sit in back with the older child should someone need to be back there to help.

You also need to factor in the larger car seats they'll need when they're a little bigger.  The ones without snap-in bases.

 

For example, we currently have a Britax booster seat in the back of our Pilot for our 3 1/2 year old daughter, and then a Britax regular seat for our 1 year old son.  Those things are both huge.  When driving one of my daughter's friends of an equal age the other day, we put another Britax regular seat in the middle, but it was damn difficult to get it in there and getting the kids in and out definitely required some effort.

 

Putting the third car seat in the third row still would have been awkward for the kid back there to get in and out.

 

If we had a third child, I'm not sure what I'd do.  Possibly upgrade my wife's car to a minivan and keep my Pilot, which we'd still take skiing since a little awkwardness / effort for a trip wouldn't be a big deal like it would be on a daily basis.  I suppose by then my daughter would be out of her booster seat (I think) so that could simplify things, but this is definitely something you should consider.

As much as I love the CX-9 and think its real bargain compared to the competitors there is no way that's all fitting in there.  There just isn't enough space the the third row up.

I tried to like the Sienna because I think the idea of an AWD minivan is pretty cool but its looks like a spaceship to me.  I would prefer a little more typical Toyota bland styling in it.  

 

In my experience, the ones without the snap-in bases took up less lateral space than the ones with.  Once you go to dedicated boosters, they take still less space.  Size of car seat is inversely proportionate to size of child.

I think just about every minivan maker did for a while.  We had an AWD Chevy Astro on trip to Tahoe years ago but I think Toyota is the only one still offering such a thing.

it's kind of a shame they let the concept die but then again so did Ford with the Explorer. 

Why are most folks trying to figure out how to put the skis in the car.  What are the cons against putting them on the roof?

 

If you mean in a ski rack so they're exposed to the elements, it's because you get a bunch of gunk in your bindings.  At least that's why I don't do it (and if they go up top it's always in a box).

Early on in the thread Tromano said he'd prefer to put the skis in the car, but will resort to a box on top if it becomes necessary. 

Saw a new Durango today and remembered that I've been hearing really good things about them and the new GC.

Land Rover LR4. Done and done.

- You can actually fit adults comfortably (including me at 6'3") in the 7th row seats.
- The comfort and handling of the air suspension on long drives and even twisty roads is incredible. The air suspension also raises up 10 inches or so when you need it. This saved me when I got stuck on a boulder buried underneath a snow drift. The system detects you are stuck and raises up a few more inches to get you unstuck, which was just enough to raise me up off the boulder and get me back on my way.
- Not many other vehicles will handle more extreme off-road conditions better stock out of the box. Just go to any Land Rover dealership and take a test ride on their off-road course--the amount of lean LR4's have before they'll tip over is astounding.
- They are absolutely cavernous inside and with the all the seats completely flat you basically have a pick-up truck--it's even big enough to sleep inside. And no less than 3 panoramic sun roofs above every row of seating!
- I'm going on my 3rd year with mine and the reliability has been excellent. Don't believe the "Land Rovers are always in the shop" myth. Historically that was true with the Discovery's and some of the Range Rovers, but the LR4's are completely new from the ground up and based on engineering developed while owned by BMW and Ford. They are extremely reliable. Hang out on any LR4 forum and you won't find otherwise.
- The interior is extremely cleanly designed yet also luxurious, with leather-wrapped, hand stitched dash, etc.
- The stock Jaguar V8 engine with 375hp and 375 pound feet of torque is the smoothest, quietest, silkiest shifting system on the road. It can tow 7800 pounds. It tows our 3500 pound boat up Sierra roads like it wasn't even there.
- 0-60 in under 7 seconds.

The only downside, and I honestly mean the only downside so far, has been the gas mileage, which is going to actually be comparable for any other V8 with that much power. I average about 19 mpg highway on long trips and about 15 around town. 12 if you floor it from stop-light to stop-light. ;-)

You can probably find a great deal on a used LR4 that will absolutely blow away anything that's been mentioned on this thread so far in terms of comfort, power, handling, off-road/snow capability, storage AND luxury!

 

I've never had to take my Pilot to the dealer. We just had the 105,000 mile service done at an independent shop, and nothing else required but standard maintenance, tires and brakes. By the way, we got 75K out of the original brakes and 80K out of the original tires.

 

You can always have snap in anchors installed after market. Makes removal ever so much easier.

I love my new Durango. Enough room with decent gas mileage on the v6

well,

 

I'd go back to trying out with seats the models your interested in, of course letting the primary driver decide.  when it comes down to it, how long do you keep vehicles?   If not more than 5 yrs, then choose whichever you like best for the seat set up you like best.  If you keep em 5+ years, then your decision may not depend so much on kid size short of them today physically fitting as over the next 3-4 yrs, the twins will grow past the simple seats.

 

The note on service, well, I agree ... if you choose a Mazda 9, then you may not need to worry much on a local dealer as it's unlikely you will need one.   However as noted too, minivans really (to me) are a nice option as one needn't climb up into them for seating. 

 

Overall, my opinion is what are your primary needs for the 95% of the time?  If you only need the seating for 2-3 times a yr, or 1 to 2 times a month during ski season ... why worry?  We haul our kids two to 3 times a year on a 13hr drive to Co ... in a crew cab pick up .. 3 kids wide in the second seat.   We've survived, so overall, is it a significant issue or simply a wish?

 

On mileage, minivans get greater mileage in general.  Like Dad, we bought a 2000 GM but we did/do get 25mpg which is much better than the 20mpg the crew cab gets.  However the Crew has 4wd .... but as a friend noted, we only need 4wd 2-3 times a year and in most cases, one day makes the only big deference.

 

So, I'll go back to choosing what you want over what you think you may need, it really may not matter too greatly over a second choice. 

 

good luck!

pete

 

Wow - I didn't realize the LR4 was that large

Guess I got your post and someone else's mixed up.  

Glad you stayed on track even when the train tried to jump a few times. 

I have a 2011 Pilot and love it.  I've fit 3 car seats in the back before, but it's worth noting that the third row seats are more substantial and one side does include anchors for a car seat as well.  Even so, you're going to need to get a box top.

I would get a Chevy Tahoe if I had a third child.

I rented a GMC Acadia (GMC version of the Traverse) when I went to Mt. Hood a couple years ago. I was seriously impressed with its snow handling, as well as its fantastic and logically laid out interior, fit & finish, and driving manners. The only thing I didn't like was its mpg, but overall I think you made a great choice, Tromano.

 

What's really surprised me about them was their resale value. I liked my rental enough to include them in my shopping list last year, but I learned that used Acadias/Traverses cost a fortune, being only a few thousand less than a new one. That's a good sign to me. They are in very high demand up here.