Well, it's no secret we've been car "shopping" for a while now. I think normally we would've settled on a car by now and been over and done with it. Truth is, I think we're afraid. Heck, I know we're afraid. But how long should we wait? Is now the time? Will it EVER be the time again? This much I know, we'll be very certain to not purchase a Government Motors vehicle. Not that we were GM people in the first place, but we just can't be now for several reasons. It's a shame, because they have a couple of pretty vehicles...and by pretty I mean ginormous SUVS that get 19 mpg. We recently bought a work truck for DaddyP. Motor Trends truck of the year, as Jack can tell you and list the reason why (he reads WAY too much,) and being a Ford, we are pleased with it immensely. Lots of nice-nice, but as my MIL pointed out, "A FORD?" Yeah, who knew, right? My SIL recently sent her Mercury mini-van up the river (the Y had fallen off years ago and was affectionately referred to as "The Mercur.") She got one of those Toyota safari looking things? But a Toyota? It's unAmerican, right? What's a car buyer supposed to do?
At this house, we try to by vehicles based on what we like, not a name or a brand(--although I won't lie, I like me some brands!!) But who wants to get hung out to dry? How do you know when you're gonna be hung out to dry? Saturn? Yeah, I was thinking one of those was a contender not too awful long ago. Now, what's gonna become of them? Scarey! Hummer? Yikes! We have friends and family with all of these brands. I don't even know what this means for them.
Here is where our thoughts are lately for us:
We have 3 kids, obviously, who aren't getting any shorter. Currently we drive a vehicle that has 2 rows (Ford Freestyle,) and most of our past vehicles were Fords that we ended up trading in at pertinent times. The birth of a second or third child. A vehicle more commuter friendly, etc. So while we have traded in a good number of Fords for other Fords, our reasons have always been mostly trying to keep a vehicle that would fit our family and lifestyle/needs. So, having 3 kids means you probably should have 2 rows in the back. But we've found that 3 rows = less leg room for the occupants of those 2 rows. So the dilemma then becomes do you have 2 rows which allows your kids to not gouge and poke (in theory) each other but leaves them riding with their legs under their chins, or do you opt for 1 back row which leaves them sitting next to each other (need I say more?), but that also gives them considerably more leg room.
Plus, vehicles that seat over 5 passengers typically get pitiful gas mileage, and I'm sorry, I do NOT ever want our main family vehicle to get lower than 30mpg if at all possible. 25 MINIMUM. Mind you, DaddyP just bought a new work truck, and obviously that things not getting over 21mpg. It's not our main vehicle though, and we need something for hauling his equipment, kid's bikes, mulch-haha. But, for our main family vehicle, how do you decide? What do you choose?
Ok, so that limits some vehicles. In this arena, what would we be looking at? Well, a Ford Fusion Hybrid (which is a nice enough looking car, but ya know..if I'm going mid-sized Sedan...I don't know if I wanna Ford...but...), the Fusion gets 34 for the regular version and 44 for the Hybrid. We saw a pimped out one the other day, and it was a nice looking ride. Still, the price tag was comparable to that of a luxury sedan (I just see no need in an extravagant car for the sake of the name/image) I just don't want a Fusion, though. I do want the Fusion's mpg, however. Nothing comes close to that.
As of right now, this is the vehicle that I want. Honestly, it's the vehicle that I've drooled over for several years. It's the vehicle that I'm gunning for still. I know, I know. Problem? Yep. Gas mileage. I can't do it! I think it's extravagant and wrong to not think about gas mileage in this day and age. I can't stand the thought of a guzzler. Can NOT! Not to mention that fuel standards are changing rapidly, and who wants to buy the 19mpg vehicle when 30+ vehicles are where we're headed in the not-so-distant future? And hybrids? I read a Car and Driver report (or some such thing) that said that even hybrid technology was so quickly changing that some types were already obselete. HELLO!? What's a girl to do? Can someone out there in Car Land please make up their mind? How did we make it to 2010's door step and this is where our vehicle market has taken us? Gas guzzlers and technology that didn't keep up? Makes me mad.
Well, I think we may have found a new contender tonight. This guy. It's comparable to the Lexus crossover version without the overpriced stigma of paying for that "image." Very roomy on the inside. 21/29 mpg (nice!), and the one that I drove was nicely appointed, to sound like I know what I'm talking about. I really liked it and the features it had. But mostly, I just liked it's mpg.
If you've recently bought a family friendly/sized vehicle that gets good gas mileage, either comment or email me. I'm curious!
3 comments:
We have the Yukon XL.....mostly because w/ 4 kids, we can't fit in to a "normal" sized car of any kind. So, it's a 3 rower or a minivan. We chose the 3 rows (seating for 8) - and we love it, actually. But, we don't do a ton of long distance driving either, so the gas mileage thing isn't really a big deal right now.
I LOVE both of the cars you linked to. Very nice! Good luck making a choice. :)
I absolutely love my Honda minivan, although gas milage is low 20s in town. Plenty of leg room in all the rows .. while still having a huge back end for storage. That was one thing I didn't like about alot of 3 row vehicles was that there was no "trunk" to speak of. My Odyssey is my fav vehicle to date.. even though it is the dreaded ... MINIVAN! :)
Well, we just bought a new SUV so I can totally relate! However I just wanted to point out that Toyotas are almost 95% made in the US now. 3 plants are here locally in WV and having a family memeber that works there we got a pretty nice discount that allowed be to get what I wanted. The Toytoa 4runner. Mileage is so-so, but it has every bell and whistle, plenty of room for 4 kids and a 6'4 hubby. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, it.
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