My Saturns SL2 is on it's last leg. The brakes went out on Sunday and it's been running bad for months. We'd like to get a good 'family' SUV that I would primarily drive. We want something used, no earlier than 2004. I need something that will fit a full size stroller and still leave lots of room for other stuff as well as something nice and roomy for a car seat or 2 (since we are trying to expand our family). I have a Consumer Reports car issue that we are referring to to get info on what models are safe, and what models to stay away from. We don't want a minvan... just a roomy SUV type car (also something that isn't a huge gas guzzler). So I thought I would ask other moms what cars you have that you are happy with. I just have no idea on where to start. I would love any recommendations on SUV's or even if you know of a good place online that I can shop around (or if you know of someone selling a car). I don't have time (plus no car) to go hopping around to dealerships. I like to browse on my computer. Thanks for your help!
For $5.99 you can subscribe to Consumer Report for a month who has a great article on Used Cars!
After you find a car, remember to use Car Facts to research it's services and accidents.
I drive a 2005 Toyota Highlander. We love it. I have 2 car seats in the backseat and the cargo space fits my double stroller and I still have room for groceries. good luck
I have a Hyundai Santa Fe and love it. you can get 2 car seats in the back and there is pleanty of room in the back area. It is also pretty good on gas.
My mom drives a 2004 Honda CRV and it is great. She has my girls while i am at work and she is able to fit 2 car seats in the back with room for a small adult or teenager. The trunk has tons of space for a stroller (we used it for a double stroller when my older daughter was younger). It also gets great gas mileage and in true Honda form is extremly reliable. As a matter of fact my mom's battery just died yesterday... it was the original battery(5+ years old). WOW. I am thinking of getting a Honda once my girls are out of car seats. Good luck. P.S. look on www.autotrader.com
I have a late model Subaru Forester, and I absolutely love it!
S. H.
I also just had to trade in my Trailblazer, but I LOVED it. I wish I could have gotten another, but currently don't have the funds to go that route again. I would go back in a second though. It is a very reliable vehicle. I currently have a Pontiac Torrent and it seems to be working out alright also. It's a bit smaller than the trailblazer, but has plenty of room still.
Good luck!
LOVE my Honda CRV. Fits 2 car seats and has plenty of room for all the junk that goes with 2 kids. We had a Subaru Forester before this and it did pretty well also. We'd still have that one but it turned out to be a lemon, but we were considering another one. The CRV is enough bigger then the RAV that if you have the right two car seats you can fit a person in the back seat also. Mine gets about 25 MPG. Before that I had my Saturn SL2 and loved it. :)
Good luck!
Hi T.,
I drive a Chevy Trailblazer and I love it. I wouldn't trade it for the world. We too didn't want a mini van once our 93 Grand Cherokee died on us. I have a 110lbs Black lab who fits great in the back and have a 5yr old in a convertable carseat and still have room for 2 people to sit in the back(little snug but they fit). If we go bigger I would get a Tahoe they have 3 rows of seating. I know alot of places have hybrids, but i am a chevy girl all the way. and they last a good long time.
We love our Mazda 5! It has sliding side doors like a mini-van, but doesn't look like a mini-van. Ours is a 4 cylinder, so it gets good gas mileage. It has an optional third row - but it is tight - I'm not going to lie. But it will fit a full size stroller and some other things if you only use the second row. We're about to purchase a roof-top carrier b/c we're about to have our third and we have to use the 3rd row! But we still love it!
Hi T.,
My husband has an SL2, sorry to hear yours is going. I have a Jeep Cherokee that I love. It's not the Grand Cherokee, just the Sport. They don't make that model any more but not sure when they stopped, so you might be able to find one used. It's the perfect size for me and the 3 kids. Fits 3 car seats in the back, all my groceries for the week, occasionally called into service to haul furniture or mulch. Not too h*** o* gas, and runs great even after almost 150,000 miles! I have 2 friends with the Saturn Vue and they are both very happy with those. Best of luck!
We bought a Subaru Forrester a year ago and LOVE it. It is not as big as a regular SUV, but it is great on gas and never gets stuck in the snow. We used to have a Ford Explorer and this is as good if not better in the snow, and gets much better gas milage. You can easily fit 2 car seats in the back seat, not sure if 3 would fit. Comfortable ride, reliable, I'd buy another one in a heart beat!
Hi T.--We have a Honda Element and like it a lot. Sizewise it's great, since it's not huge--I hate SUVs and big cars (I drive a Scion XA, which is about the size of a tissue box, so my ideas on enough room might be a little skewed from other people's.)
The drawbacks are that the backseat can only hold 2 max--it's like bucket seats, sort of. Also, the doors open like french doors, out, so sometimes it can be tricky in tight parking lots. The great things are that the floor is rubber, so you can literally hose them down practically. Plenty of room in back--we've had golf clubs, pack n play, luggage, and a jumperoo back there at once.
Plus it's a more interesting looking car--that's a plus for me. A lot of people think it's ugly and call it the "Elephant." I think it's adorable.
Good luck!
4 door benz [ e series][ gas] . Disel is a pain .
Roomy , classy, safe, afforable,dependable ,great trunk too,
go on line i dothink car smart, car sense,something like that ... Get the 'car fax 'at any price !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck
always buy used .
Cars last decades and on and on .
I drive a Sable, but my husband is on his second Ford Explorer, which we really like.
I highly recommend going to Car Sense. They sell used cars and are wonderful! Very honest, and great cars. You can see all of their cars online as well.
We have a Kia Rondo and love it. It gets between 25- 30 miles a gallon hwy. It drives like a car but has plenty of space. We also have the optional 3rd row seating for when my parents are in town. We also looked at the mazda 5 which we liked.
I would do a kia sedona or a hyundai santa fe. they are both suv's that are not supposed to be gas guzzlers. My dad and stepmom had a santefe and so does my best friend and they both like it. I will consider this for myself when i get a new car. The dodge caravan is supposed to be nice also but i do not know much about it.
