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a back up family hauler for work around the house

The Right Car for Me | TrueDelta

ahm1127
Three-Car Garage

I have a Ford Fiesta cumuter car & we have a Chevy Suburban as family hauler. We want a vehicle the whole family fits in just in case 1 of the other 2 vehicles have an issue. We want nothing with worse mileage than Suburban but dont need anything as good as Fiesta. I was thinking a pick up truck but wife is iffy, she hates minivans too. I love offroad but dont need at this time, I think.

Priorities: Reliability & durability / Cargo capacity / Price or payments

Preferred Bodystyle(s): Hatch / Wagon / SUV / Pickup

Car Needs: Family transporter / Errands about town / Towing or hauling

Primary Driver(s): Short driver

Need minimum of 6 seats

Will consider both new and used cars
Maximum mileage: 90000
Maximum age: 7 years

Maximum price: US $ 18000

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Response from LectroFuel

11:15 pm July 27, 2016

First, the 2008-2013 Highlander is a comfy, but not exciting SUV. It can be had with a 3rd row and gets much better MPG than a Suburban, especially when you can get it as a hybrid (but that might go over your budget). The Highlander is really reliable and comes with a quick, smooth V6 engine (the hybrid is faster than the V6 and gets more MPG, but more $$$$$).

Second, the 2008 Honda Pilot is a roomy, mostly comfortable SUV with OK MPG and is reliable.

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Toyota Highlander
Honda Pilot

Response from mkaresh

7:48 am August 4, 2016

How old is the Suburban? The Fiesta should still be too new for repairs to be likely.

In general occasionally renting a car should be far less expensive than a third vehicle. Depreciation alone on a $18,000 vehicle would be at least $2,000 per year.

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Response from ahm1127

3:32 am August 5, 2016

I would kinda like to stay away from Honda & Toyota do to cost & they are very costly to maintain & repair. Ive had to many bad experiences w/Toyota to ever get another!

I have a 2005 Chevy Suburban. Ive had plenty of repairs & most are reported on True Delta for Fiesta.

Isn't renting a vehicle a lot more than owning, day to day? Yes, in 5 years it would be a lot cheaper. But I could be spending a good penny to fix a car, like transmission & another expense for rental would hurt. Suburban is paid off & Fiesta will be paid off next year. Maybe im looking at it wrong.

I was looking for a used car up to 7 years old or newer & if it needs some work it would work in my favor at this time. I would also drive less miles on each car sharing the driving on the 3.

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Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Dodge Ram 1500

Response from mkaresh

8:18 pm August 15, 2016

I assumed you'd only be renting a car when one of the others was in the shop, so maybe a few days a year.

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Response from ahm1127

12:19 am October 13, 2016

Have you ever been to a shop? this stuff aint cheap to fix & seems like they always take a week or so. I always do my own work at home.
If I had a third vehicle it would be 1 less thing to scramble for & no additional money out of the pocket & finding a vehicle to rent that will handle my family wouldnt be easy depending on what day I would need it.
In the long run you are absolutely correct that a rental would be a lot cheaper but depending on others stinks.
Ive been looking at cars with a front bench seat, very limited these days but would work great for my family & affordable compared to a truck.

What cars do you know of that can hold 6 people with a bench seat?

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Chevrolet Caprice
Chevrolet Impala
Ford Crown Victoria

Response from mkaresh

4:48 pm October 13, 2016

The Impala is probably the model to most recently have a front bench. I don't think any current cars do.

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Response from ahm1127

12:35 am October 14, 2016

Response from ahm1127

2:11 am January 5, 2017

Thanks for the help, wanted to let you know we settled with the Buick Enclave because the wife fell in love with it.
Seems like so many vehicles have issues these days & its mostly personal experiences & opinions that keep us with 1 manufacturer.

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Response from mkaresh

1:02 pm January 5, 2017

If it's the one she loves, you made the right choice.

I think we have a way to indicate that you bought the Enclave such that a photo of the model will appear at the top.

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Response from NormT

9:33 am July 20, 2017

best deal going on Crossovers below $20,000 is a used Enclave, a Traverse, or Acadia.

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Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
GMC Acadia
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