Hyperventilating - need paper bag...

[thyme4change]

Leather is awesome. I never thought I would pay for it, and now I never want a car without leather. Throw up, food, mud - it all wipes right off.

[phil5185]

I don't think minivans have 4 wheel drive.

Ours does - I was surprised the first time I needed it, it will push thru snow with the front bumper, seems to go thru as much snow as my old Dodge 4WD truck.
Yeah, about as 'uncool' as it gets - no worries about it being stolen, LOL. But a box-on-wheels is about the ultimate in functionality. As for ski racks & bike racks - we just roll & tumble the seats flat and push everything in the back. On Alaskan trips we keep sleeping bags in the back.
I'll guess that the whistling is the windshield molding, the rubber on those cars protrudes and whistles similar to blowing on a blade of grass between your palms. Some start at only 45 mph, some more noticeable at 65 to 75. Have you ever had the windshield replaced?

[Deleted]

OMG I can't imagine spending 60K on a vehicle. We have 4 and all combined aren't worth that! 2 cars that get 30+ miles/gallon for commuting, a minivan, and a big ass 4 wheel drive 3/4 ton truck for when we need to tow or haul something and don't care about the 15mpg.

[thyme4change]

Now that you say it, it probably is the windsheild. In my hot sunny climate, rubber doesn't last long, so that rubber seal is likely dry and probably makes all kinds of noises.

I did have my windsheild replaced earlier this year. We have been on a couple of road trips and didn't notice any whistling. It was when we did the long drive last summer that my husband said "Wow - this car isn't new any more."

[thyme4change]

I went to the Toyota Website. I'm not sure how he got it up to $61k. I had $48k. Although, maybe his had the DVD player in it.

[qofcc]

Have you ever used this: www.kbb.com/perfect-car-finder

You can narrow the list to new cars that seat 6-8 passengers with 4WD. Seems that there's quite a selection in the $25-35K range.

I get your argument about keeping it 10 years until the kids are grown, but if you don't want to drive your current vehicle with 60K miles, how many years is it going to be until this one is at 60K miles and you're having this conversation again? Also, don't forget to compare the insurance on a new $60K vehicle vs. your used piece of junk.

[Deleted]

Apr 14, 2011 12:11:37 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I went to the Toyota Website. I'm not sure how he got it up to $61k. I had $48k. Although, maybe his had the DVD player in it.

A 13K DVD player?!?!

My Odyssey whistles a lot. It's the molding around the windshield.

[dividend]

I've said this before in car threads, but I'm not sure what you can do with a big SUV that you can't do with a minivan. My parents have always had one, and they used them to death - road trips and bike trips and moving and hauling boat/jet ski trailers.



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Here's a picture from 2 summers ago when 5 of us and our 5 bicycles drove from Kansas City to upstate new york for 8 days/400 miles of bicycling and camping. You can see we used a cargo carrier, two side Thule tray racks (including a custom one for Dad's extra long recumbent bicycle), and a hitch mounted rear rack that holds up to 4 bikes. Seriously - minivans are awesome.

When the green Plymouth in the picture finally started to require costly, high mileage repair, my parents shopped around and found a 2009 Honda certified used minivan for right around $20k. I can't even fathom paying 3 times that for a vehicle that seats 1 more person, and gets half the gas mileage.

[thyme4change]

but if you don't want to drive your current vehicle with 60K miles, how many years is it going to be until this one is at 60K miles and you're having this conversation again?

I expect to be having a car discussion in 7 years, when my daughter turns 16. The Honda will be 15 years old, this car would be 7 years old - and if life keeps going at it's current rate, they will have a combined 180k miles on it. At that point, I won't want to drive the Honda at all. I know we all love our old cars here, but unless our financial situation changes, I'll be done with it. My son is less than 2 years behind my daughter. So, at that point I could see us buying another car - probably a nice sedan, one of the bigger ones. I wouldn't buy another big vehicle for another 2 years of "family time" and I would just suck it up. Either we would quit the road trips, or we would take the old car, or we would take the new sedan (most likely!) The kids could have the accord, and when my son graduates from high school, maybe he takes the behemoth, or maybe not.

Hard to say what we would do then - a job with a longer commute or some other perfectly reasonable change in my life would alter my decision. But, if we buy Mack-the-truck, we will be committed to our two vehicles for 7 years.

[thyme4change]

but I'm not sure what you can do with a big SUV that you can't do with a minivan

Look cool.

[Jake 48]

What about renting the big car for the road trip and then something smaller more fuel efficient for your everyday use

[thyme4change]

Because I drive so few miles, I wouldn't buy a car for fuel efficiency - but certainly buying a more reasonably priced car is an option. My main concern for buying the big vehicle is to be able to drive around my kids and their friends. The road trip portion is a bonus, and really only "necessary" for one trip we have planned this year - we are taking my inlaws. The main focus would be my status as a soccer mom.

[thyme4change]

I shouldn't have used "status" - this is not so much a KUWTJ thing. I am absolutely sure no one would be impressed with me for buying an expensive car such as this. It isn't my intention. I meant "status" as in "I will drive it to school, with 2 or 3 extra kids that are also in soccer. Just as their families do for us."

[Clifford]

Once you go "mini" you never go back. They are the most utilitarian vehicles I have ever owned. I am now trying to figure out how to install a sliding door on my little sedan. Our minivan gets 23mpg.

[Sum Dum Gai]

Loop and I must be oddballs. We purposefully avoid larger vehicles so we won't get stuck carting around the kid's friends.

[Gardening Grandma]

That's more than my first AND second houses combined! (OK, I'm OLD) LOL

[Deleted]

Apr 14, 2011 13:06:03 GMT -5 Clifford said:

Once you go "mini" you never go back. They are the most utilitarian vehicles I have ever owned. I am now trying to figure out how to install a sliding door on my little sedan. Our minivan gets 23mpg.

I agree! I fought it for years, then broke down a couple months ago. That darn thing is like a livingroom on wheels that drives like a car. It was obviously designed with the main purpose to make a parent's life easier and does a great job of it. I drove "cool" trucks for years, and now I say "screw it". This is easier. LOL

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"OMG I can't imagine spending 60K on a vehicle.":::...

It is personal preference. I'd certainly never spend it on a truck. But an SC430 or a C55 AMG, or a fully loaded 535, maybe.

...:::"My main concern for buying the big vehicle is to be able to drive around my kids and their friends.":::...

This is indeed a valid decision point. My parents bought a van during the "2 kids in school and doing activities with friends" years. It was very nice to be able to take extra passengers without taking extra cars.

[Waffle]

As someone who just hates spending money on anything vehicle related - I just can't imagine spending that kind of money for a vehicle. I have no kids to embarass in my old uncool minivan.

Curious do you feel especially bad the first time an expensive vehicle gets a parking lot ding or some other similar mishap?

GG - $61,000 is more than I paid for my first house and more than I paid for my second house - but not more than both combined (I'm a little younger than you are).

[thyme4change]

It is almost as much as I paid for my first house - and I don't feel that was that long ago. Although, that house was a shack in the barrio - and it didn't come with a DVD player!

[qofcc]

It's more than I paid for my current house (but less than what I owe now that we added on)

[Deleted]

Apr 14, 2011 14:46:14 GMT -5 @tbird said:

I don't want to be a wet blanket or anything, but the last time I used this logic to try and get myself into the new car, I realized I could rent a huge SUV for the 10 day road trip

JUST FOR THE COST OF THE FIRST YEARS INCREASE IN INSURANCE!~!

ad I was only looking at a Rav4!

This is why we're selling my truck. I pay $700/year to insure it and we only really "need" to use it once or twice a year to pull the camper. Might as well rent or borrow for those couple weeks.

[Deleted]

I'd see if you can rent one for a day or two. When I was looking to replace my car I rented a different vehicle every time. It's easier to get a feel for the vehicle when you drive it for more than a few miles. Some of the larger SUV's I tested drove like drunken whales.

[thyme4change]

I don't want to be a wet blanket or anything, but the last time I used this logic to try and get myself into the new car, I realized I could rent a huge SUV for the 10 day road trip

I wish I hadn't put the road trip piece near the top. The primary purpose of the vehicle would be so both of my children can take a friend to the various places we go, and I can particpate in the carpool network. Having a big spacious vehicle for a road trip is just a bonus.

[973beachbum]

Apr 14, 2011 13:06:03 GMT -5 Clifford said:

Once you go "mini" you never go back. They are the most utilitarian vehicles I have ever owned. I am now trying to figure out how to install a sliding door on my little sedan. Our minivan gets 23mpg.

We had two minivans before we went to an SUV and I would never go back. ;D Towing with the Expedition is much better than towing with the minivan. Now not only can I accelerate I know I can stop too.

We have two totally different vehicles now though. We have the big 8 seater SUV and a small car. Normally gas prices don't make a difference as to which we drive but at least we do have that option. Plus the car is easier to parallel park at the beach.

I used to not care about car pooling till I needed it so I wouldn't have to be in two places at once. I really can't ask others to cart my kids all over when I can't reciprocate. IMO

[qofcc]

I fought against the minivan thing too... I liked my t-bird and then my skylark, but when we became a family of 6, I gave in and drove a minivan that seats 8 and I got to like it after a while. I didn't think I would. Of course we're done with that now and I drive an Impala.

[Deleted]

I say go for it if you can afford and that is what you truly want.
My wife hates the idea of a minivan and she would rather buy an SUV/truck before she gets near a minivan.

[busymom]

If you've got a big trip planned, you could rent a camper (and fill it FULL of people). I have a relative who used to work for a place that rented campers during tourist season, from the little ones to the huge ones that look like a house on wheels. It's quite reasonable to rent them by the week. (They rented one for a family reunion one year. It was great!)

[robbase]

people really should read The Millionaire Next Door and see what kind of vehicles the wealthy really drive, it will surprise you

[reader79]

Do it!

That way I can get my new Charger with no guilt... it's only ~$30K for the Rallye w/heated leather seats, etc.