HELP! Need Vehicle Recommendations!

Melissa, all I can tell you is that I LOVE my honda oddyssy. I have 216,000 miles plus and still get 22-26 on the freeway. It's a 2000 and I won't trade it in. Hope this helps, L.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Town and Country! It is awesome!
Auto-doors and so roomy. I don't have to climb into the van to put my kids in their car seats because its low enough to the ground. The back is great with a ton of storage space. It drives great and is very peppy!

I leased a Dodge Caravan in Jan 08 and I love it!! It was my first minivan and I was a little unsure but all that you get for $ you just can not beat it. We thinking at the end of my lease of purchasing a brand new minivan since it is safe, lots of room and great options. I also know someone who is a service manager at a Chrysler dealership and I asked him prior to leasing and he said the exact same thing that Carrie F.'s husband said. All cars have some issues but the only thing I have had to take my car in for was a recall (power steering hose). I would suggest looking into those also please buy AMERICAN we need to keep this economy going and purchasing AMERICAN means jobs stay here! Good luck with your search I know it can be hard!

My family's been happy with our Subaru Outback... We purchased ours shortly before our son was born in '05 and have been pleased with how it's performed. Great space in the back end. Great road handling. And, since we live in Michigan, the fact that it is remarkably safe and capable in snowy weather is paramount!

Subaru.com lists their Outbacks as starting at $22,995, though I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a better deal at a local dealer... I know the dealers 'round here are falling all over themselves to make a sale...

Best of luck

I LOVED my Ford Freestyle crossover. 7 seat belts and good on gas for that size vehicle. These days they call it the Taurus X, but its the same car. They are not terribly expensive. It has a full row of 3 seats behind the diver's, or your can have 2 captains chairs like in a minivan with a console for drinks and storage. The back is like an SUV, or you can pop up 2 more seats and have about the same room as a minivan. One thing I loved about this car is that in the back seats the floor is deep down so you have lots of leg room (and I have LONG legs). I traveled in the back a lot due to having an infant when we went on long trips, and its much more comfortable then my grandma's ford windstar minivan. Hers is a 2001, so its possible that it doesn't compare with current minivans. I'd just suggest test driving one and seeing what you think about it.

I got rid of mine when we moved to town last fall and gas was $4 a gallon. I regret it many times, as I downsized to a focus wagon. But once we're in a better place financially I'm going to go get another one!

I also have 2 little ones. We bought a used 2008 Chrysler Town and Country loaded: Leather and Dual DVD. We paid approx. 21,500. Only 13,000 miles. Looked New. We love it. It has so much space and the stow n go is easy to use.

i hate mini vans, i would recomend staying with jeep, we have a grand cherokee, i love it! it is easy to drive, big enough for the family and super fun on the sand dunes(if you like that sort of thing)we bought a used with only 57000 miles i think it is a 2002 and it cost us $11000.

Hi Melissa,
I looked at all the vehicles you had mentioned also, but I ended up with a Mercury Mariner and couldn't be happier! I just love it. For the money, it has more amenities than anything else I had looked at. If you need something larger, take a look at the Ford Flex. I thought it looked goofy at first, but I know people that have them and love them. They have lots of room, and great milage for such a large vehicle. I am so glad that you didn't mention a foreign vehicle. Good Luck!

I was not the minivan mom but I now have the Chrysler Town & Country and I LOVE IT!!!. I hate to admit it. They have really improved it from last years model.

I had a Dodge Caravan for six year and I really like it, I sold it to my neighbors sister four years ago and she is still driving it.

Hi Melissa

We just bought a used (2006)Ford Freestyle and I absolutely love it. I didn't think I would, but my husband made be drive it and see. The versatility is great. I love the gas mileage in it as well. We are a FORD family and have never owned anything else. I had a Ford Explorer before this and it was just as great too. The Ford Freestyle was renamed for 2009 and is now called the Taurus X. They are very nice vehicles and as I have noticed come with alot of options that are very nice. I hope this helps.

We have a 2007 Saturn Outlook and love it . We have three children (7,5,3) and travel alot. We are expecting another in June and still will fit. We got the version with 2 rows instead of second row pilot chairs so our car can seat 8. You would be amazed at what you can fit. We have loaded massive stuff from IKEA Wow!! Not sure of the price but with all the incentives these days it may fit the budget!
T. K

Hello,
I don't have any reccomendations, however for your sanity please dont buy a Chrysler Sebring, lol. they are Terrible!!! They have many problems flaws from stalling to windows and doors not opening. Its not only my 2007, I have met many other people with the same problems in both 07 and 08 models. Thank goodness I only have a year left on my lease!! I was looking at a Journey the other day, they seem really nice, but I am just so scared to get another Chrysler after my issues with this car.
Good luck, just make sure youe really research whatever your getting!
A.

Melissa, Whatever you decide to buy..PLEASE BUY AMERICAN... Our auto industry is having such a difficult time...

Not a Tahoe.... can't speak for all the Chevy makes & models, but def. not a Tahoe.

We had our F-350 crewcab truck stolen in Feb. we looked for over a month on what vehicle we wanted to replace the truck. We found that the Chrysler Town & Country minivan. We just absolutely love it. Having the seats that fold into the floor (all rear) is a fantastic opition. Along with the fuel effiency of a minivan. We fill up approximately once every ten days or so. I am giving you the sales man's information that we bought our T&C from at Livonia Chrysler Jeep on Plymouth Rd between Middlebelt and Merriman.

This is his bio off the website:
Dan Anderson ###-###-#### - Sales
I have been employed with Livonia Chrysler Jeep Since May of 2003. Prior to working with the dealership, I was a conductor for CSX Railroad. My passion has always been with the auto industry. I truly enjoy working with clients and aiding them with their previously owned vehicle purchase. In my free time, I like to be with my family, spending quality time with my daughter and working around the house.

Best of luck to you in finding a new vehicle. They have two T&C available at this time along with several other vehicles.

i don't know if you're brand-loyal, but we bought a nissan quest shortly after i had my second child, and i love it. we purchased it used about 2 yrs ago and haven't had any problems with it. ours has two 'bucket' seats in the middle and a 'bench' seat in the back. the bench seat completely folds into the floor, so that would be a lot of room for your dogs. ours also has a dvd player (but i'm guessing those are becoming pretty standard now). it also has lots of outlets (cigarette lighters) which i love for cell phones and for using my son's nebulizer when he needs to have breathing treatments when we're on trips. there is also a 'maintenece' screen that shows you how your tire pressure is and if a tire is low, a light comes on, just like if you're low on gas. ours does not have all the bells an whistles, but we've already talked that when it's time for my hubby's car to go, we'll give him this van and get another of the same...but with more goodies in it. i've seen them with two sun roofs and GPS. i also like the sensors on the rear bumper to let you know if something is behind your when you're backing up..

I leased a Ford Flex in October and LOVE it. By far the BEST vehical I have EVER owned!! Seats 7, it is SUPER roomy, drives GREAT. It's good on gas. I do not have one complaint. You can get the X Plan from any friend or neighbor working for Ford....or I'd be happy to get it for you :)

My husband works for GM and they have new discounts that he can get for anyone.. he says a Saturn Vue is really nice and would be around that price.

We have one and really like it plus it gets great gas mileage!

We have one child so far and two dogs.. we can fit both dogs in the trunk.

PM me if you have interest.

we just got a Dodge Town and Country in February... couldn't be happier. It basically the body of the Caravan... the size is perfect. love the seats. the drive is extremely, smooth and quiet.

I just leased a chrysler Town and Country and I love it. My husband is a mechanic and worked for a chrysler dealership for ten years and he says that they are very good vehicles. Yes they do have problems but nothing that a warranty can't fix and they are minor ones. No engine failures or trans failures just some electrical qwerks on some. I had a pacifica also and loved it had to give it up though because our lease was up. I would of gotten one of those in a heartbeat but they quite making them, big mistake. I lookeed at a journey which is a pacificas replacement and hated it.

Melissa.

CARAVAN...I traded my truck in for a van the day I found out I was pregnant with my second. I had a van for 4 years. LOVED IT. My Grand Caravan had th stow in go seats. SUCH A BLESSING. The power doors AMAZING so useful... and power hatch. I LOVED MY CARAVAN.. But the lease was up and we decided to try the commander. I MISS MY MINI VAN...SO MUCH MORE ROOM, GREAT WITH KIDS, and doGS..loved it. I'd say Dodge Grand Caravan in a heart beat!!

We just purchased a brand new Town & Country. After all the incentives currently available, it came to $23,000. We financed it over 72 months to keep the payment low and b/c we didn't have anything to put down. If you have cash you may be able to get an even better deal on it. The T&C we purchased is absolutely loaded - leather, DVD, auto everything. It's a $34,000 sticker price. I feel so spoiled. We were leasing a base Town & Country for the last two years and I loved that two. You can't beat all the storage and everything when you have kids and dogs!!! People who say they "hate" minivans have never truly considered all that they have to offer!!! Talk to Larry Curcuru at Fox Hills Chrysler. He is the BEST!!!!