Ditching the MiniVan

#26
#26
hog88 said:
Yeah there is crap for space in the wife’s Acadia with the 3rd row up.
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Well, 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet is 27 cu ft, and they have 23 cu ft. It takes a pretty big unit to have a lot of space behind a 3rd seat.
 
#28
#28
1972 Grad said:
You have different specs than I have found.

Buick Enclave : 204.3 in long
Chev Traverse: 204.3 in long

Enclave: 120.9 wheelbase
Traverse: 120.9 wheelbase

Luggage space: Behind 3rd row

Enclave 23.6 cu. ft
Traverse: 23.0 cu ft

Behind 2nd row:

Enclave 58.0 cu ft
Traverse 57.8 cu ft

Behind 1st row:
Enclave 97.6 cu ft
Traverse 98.2 cu ft

You must have looked up something else. Those 3 (Enclave, Acadia, and Traverse) are the same vehicle.
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Maybe you are looking at an older model?
 

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#29
#29
I checked and the Enclave is the same size as the Traverse. The Acadia is a good bit smaller: 194" long
 
#30
#30
kiddiedoc said:
I checked and the Enclave is the same size as the Traverse. The Acadia is a good bit smaller: 194" long
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Well, my wife's Enclave is a 2016, and at that time, the Acadia/Enclave/Traverse were all the same car. The Buick and Chevy still are, but I wasn't aware that they downsized the Acadia in 2017. They basically chopped 6 inches off the wheelbase and length, and knocked off 700 pounds.
 
#31
#31
kiddiedoc said:
Suburbans fall into my "avoiding monster trucks." We are looking for something new and neither of us like to drive trucks that big. We have friends that say they like theirs, though... Glad you do too.
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My congratulations on your wife not needing to compensate for your penis size.
 
#33
#33
kiddiedoc said:
I'm nervous about cargo space, with 3 kids and being spoiled by the van for 6 years...

Looks like Traverse and Atlas have the most, followed by the Durango. Acadia, Volvo, and QX60 are a good bit smaller.
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If you plan on ever using it for especially towing something like a power boat or a camper, make sure it can handle the weight, both suspension and engine. Make absolutely certain it has the factory tow package installed. The Durango will have a "Towing" feature that helps prevent trailer sway. Ford has a similar feature, so I suppose most manufacturers offer something. Look at the maximum weight of boats or campers you would possibly buy for your family. That weight should be no more than about 80% of the maximum towing capacity of whatever vehicle you buy. Remember, you'll also have your whole family and maybe vacation
gear added weight. Learn about the difference between standard SUV tires, truck tires, and heavy duty tires for heavier towing.

There's a reason Chevy makes an extended Suburban, Ford makes the extended Expedition, Dodge makes the Durango V8 Hemi, etc.

A family of 5 with lots of gear and towing along a camper, a boat, a couple of jet skis, or a trailer with a couple or three four wheelers is FUN! Been there, done that from Bar Harbor, Maine along the Eastern Seaboard to Key West, Fla. and all the Gulf Coast. From Rodanthe, NC on the Outer Banks to Park City, Utah. Tombstone, Pikes Peak, Tetons, and all points in between. We wore out a Navigator, and I always wished we'd gotten a 10 cyl. Ford Excursion for the extra power over long mountain grades and more space. Always more space. And there is no mini van that can tow real weight.
 
#34
#34
kiddiedoc said:
I'm nervous about cargo space, with 3 kids and being spoiled by the van for 6 years...

Looks like Traverse and Atlas have the most, followed by the Durango. Acadia, Volvo, and QX60 are a good bit smaller.
Click to expand...

Then again, you may be better off staying with a full featured mini van.
 
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#35
#35
Regulator said:
I dunno, doc. I think if you go midsize SUV, you're going to be disappointed in how much passenger room or how much storage/transport capability you're going to have when compared to the minivan, regardless of what you choose.
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Have to agree.

There’s a lot of reasons minivans just won’t ever go away.

They’re too damn practical.
 
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#36
#36
kiddiedoc said:
So, looking at 6-7 seater SUVs, avoiding monster trucks and $50k+ options, we have listed the Traverse, Durango, Atlas, XC90 as contenders. I just don't care for the Pilot.

Any suggestions/input (other than "get another van" -- my wife is ready to move on)?
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Get a Qx80 or Range Rover
 
#37
#37
kiddiedoc said:
Suburbans fall into my "avoiding monster trucks." We are looking for something new and neither of us like to drive trucks that big. We have friends that say they like theirs, though... Glad you do too.
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Got you and no prob. I was just making the point that a big family car doesn’t cost 50k+ if you shop around for a used one. New is definitely a different story.....
 
#40
#40
barknoxbrawler said:
Got you and no prob. I was just making the point that a big family car doesn’t cost 50k+ if you shop around for a used one. New is definitely a different story.....
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I had a Subaru Tribeca without the third row. Even without, the trunk space was no bigger than a small station wagon. I got a Toyota Highlander with optional third row. Having a teenage boy and two older boys, the third row is cramped for them. The trunk space is much better than the Subaru but it is still no where as much as the Honda Odessy we had about eight years ago. I could haul a family of Cubans in it.
 
#41
#41
Ford Expedition

Kids get big fast. The Extended Expedition will carry your family and three of their friends comfortably, and all your gear for a day in the mountains. My Jeep Grand Cherokee, which I love, will only do that with a car top carrier because space behind the third row is miniscule. Thinking small vehicle forces you into smaller outings. What do you want to carry with you? A small grill? Pic-nic basket(s). Beach umbrellas or canopy? Snorkel gear? Dump camping in wilderness areas? Do you go antiquing? With smaller SUVs you are limited and have to choose between not being able to ever bring your kids friends along so you can fold down the third row for gear. Or you bring them too but you have to get a roof rack system like Thule or Yakima, or a hitch carrier you can get the cooler and a grill on. If your kids are reaching middle school to high school you'll want one anyway, and a hitch receiver four bike carrier to be able to bike on the beach or on the "rail trails"- which are amazing by the way.

10 of the Best Long Rail Trails in the US | Bicycling

Good luck. I hope you get a vehicle that doesnt crimp your possibilities but expands and facilitates your family's lifestyle.
 
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#47
#47
Old dog is right. If you do stuff he describes, you will never have enough cargo space. And the 3rd seat will become obsolete in a hurry the way kids grow.
While certainly not glamorous, i recommend a crew cab full size truck. The back seat will accommodate the kids as they grow and cargo space is the truck bed.
We comfortably drove cross country pulling an RV travel trailer. Space not an issue.
 
#48
#48
Toyota Highlander. Seats 8 and because it’s a uni-body car-type frame and has that low floor, it still has cargo room comparable to the 4Runner, even though it looks smaller overall. Drives more like a car too. Of course, it’s not intended for more than light off-road driving.
 
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