Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Smart Shopper Please help me decide between...
562 messages, Last post on Sep 17, 2009 at 6:31 AM
You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester
|
|
|---|---|
|
I have enjoyed everything about my 04 Durango w/Hemi except the high monthly payment and the ridiculous gas guzzling. I think I have convinced hubby that a lower-priced more fuel-efficient vehicle is a wise choice for our family of 5 at this point. However, I find myself going in circles trying to decide what to buy. We really enjoy having the 3rd seat, as we have 3 children (11, 8 & 3) and do lots of carpools and take several road trips a year (cargo space is very important), plus Grandma visits regularly and may end up living with us permanently in the near future. So, a 7-seater is a HUGE plus for us, but I'm hesitant to call it an absolute necessity. I am looking at going with a 4cyl. engine for the better mileage. I'm trying to keep the price tag under $25.000 so I would have to go used on some of the vehicles I'm considering (I'm fine with that). Here is what I have been researching: 1. Used Toyota Rav4 w/3rd seat 2. Used Honda CRV (no 3rd seat available) 3. Mazda5 (only seats 6...we'd have to use the 3rd row on every outing) 4. Kia Rondo (sensible but not very cool...I'm trying pretty hard to maintain some cool factor, which is tough as a mom of 3...also, I'm not sure if I can get leather seats without getting a V6?) These are just the vehicles that I seem to keep coming back to...there may be something out there that is just perfect for me that I have completely missed. So, if anyone has any great advice for me as far as which of the above vehicles is the better choice, or if you know of another vehicle I should really be considering, please, please, please help me out!!! Thanks. 
|
|
|
Get a minivan. Maybe an MPV, since they are a little smaller? Or just go big with a Sienna. Most of the smaller SUV types are very limited as 7 seaters. Not very comfy, and zippo cargo room with the seat up. |
|
|
Replying to: lynnberman (Apr 28, 2008 11:04 am)
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: kyfdx (Apr 28, 2008 1:47 pm)
|
|
|
Replying to: lynnberman (Apr 28, 2008 11:04 am) |
|
|
Replying to: lynnberman (Apr 28, 2008 2:09 pm) Example (for illustration purposes only): does it make sense to save $500 per year in fuel costs by taking a 3 grand hit on the Durango?
|
|
|
Replying to: aredfield (Apr 28, 2008 5:21 am) They meet all your criteria and pricing.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: cccompson (Apr 28, 2008 4:41 pm)  Perhaps I need to mull this over for a little longer...thank you for making me think!
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: lynnberman (Apr 28, 2008 8:00 pm) Combine trips when you can and drive less aggressively. I can beat the pre-2007 EPA numbers by 15 percent or more on every car I have ever driven just by driving slower. Just accelerate more smoothly and slowly from stops and avoid sudden stops that waste energy. Are the tires on your durango filled to the right pressure? Do you keep a roof rack on the roof all the time even when you don't use it? I admit I am guilty of that because the rack is a PITA to get off. Put synthetic oil in the engine to pick up a little pit of extra MPG. To pick up even more fuel efficiency put synthetic in the transmission, transfer case and both differentials too. A service like that will probably run you 400-500 dollars at one time but you won't have to change out the synthetic again unless you put an additional 100,000 to 150,000 miles on the car.
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: british_rover (Apr 29, 2008 6:25 am) He agrees with you about keeping the Durango...the trouble is, HE is the aggressive driver! He drives the Durango on the weekends and occasionally during the week and he drives much faster, floors it when he pulls off from a stop, and brakes hard for speed bumps and the like. He has often commented on the fact that I drive like a grandma compared to him. I don't think I am going to get him to change! I've been telling him we need to use his car (Volvo S60) for family trips to soccer games and stuff like that (longer trips than my during-the-week quick trips), but he prefers taking the Durango b/c it has the DVD player for the kids and more cargo space for folding chairs, coolers, shade covers, etc. I really don't drive very much...to the kids' school, preschool, grocery store, piano lessons, etc., all of which are within 5 miles of my house. I did have the Lube shop put synthetic oil in at my last oil change a few weeks ago, and I have actually seen the mpg increase from 13.4 to 13.9, which I was very happy with. The EPA on my car is 12 City, 17 Hwy, so chances are I'm not going to get much better with the type of driving I do. It has roof rack rails--do I need to try and take those off (I'm clueless about this stuff!)? It only has 60K miles on it so I haven't really ever looked into any of the other fluids...no one has ever recommended replacing them. It does need new tires desperately which might help with the mileage a bit (we've been holding off until we decide whether to go with a new vehicle or not). I guess the feeling I'm getting is that there probably isn't a car on the market that is going to give me everything I want AND greatly improved gas mileage, so I might as well stick it out with the Durango...am I getting the right message here? 
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Smart Shopper Please help me decide between...
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
