What Do You Drive? (Non-debate)

Andrea - posted on 07/06/2010

We have a 2008 Chevy Impala which I LOVE. a 2005 Honda Odyssey, and a 2004 ford F350 Super duty crew cab, that would be my boyfriends
The Honda odyssey might be get traded in for SUV with 3rd row seating sometime in the next couple years. One of our friends have a Chevy Suburban and I really like it. When I drove it I thought I wasn't going to like because of the size but to my surprise it did really well and backing it up was a lot easier than I thought.

Becky - posted on 07/05/2010

I have a 2008 GMC Acadia. It's a mid-sized SUV, ours seats 7, but you can get them to seat 8 as well - with a bench seat in the second row instead of the captains chairs. I really like it. It's a great size for our family, and it's a good size for me. I'm a lousy parker, so anything bigger, and I'd always have to park a million miles away from the store where there were no other cars around, lol! It has a back-up sensor too, which is great. And I love my heated seats! Apparently now, you can also get cooled seats!
I haven't had any major problems with it. There have been 2 recalls on it, but they've been minor issues. One was with the windshield wipers and the other is with the heated windsheild washer fluid (which I rarely use anyways.)
But, if we have a third child, it's going to get a little tight for longer trips. There's not much cargo room if you have the rear seat up, so we'd have trouble fitting everything in if we took a cross-country trip. And when I babysat my infant niece the other day, to get her infant seat into the back seat - because my boys' carseats are in the middle row - I had to open the tailgate and slide it in that way. Quite the production.
Personally, I would drive a Honda if I was making the decision on my own, but my husband isn't a fan of imports, and this was considerably less expensive and bigger than what Honda had to offer. Plus, I think the Pilot (I think that's the equivilant in size) is ugly.

Holly - posted on 07/05/2010

I have a '97 Mercury Mountaineer. While it is an older car, it still drives wonderfully and it's so safe! We have had to replace most of the innards (transmission, air intake, some sensors, etc.), but it is truly a wonderful car. We are looking at selling it (because of it's age and the fact that we have to SMOG it again next year and we're not too sure it will pass with the new standards in place now), but I want to either get a new Mountaineer or something similar.

We are looking into minivans (either Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey) as well and I do like them, especially the 3rd row seating!

We are also looking at a Nissan Altima. It has a HUGE backseat and all the kids could sit comfortably (2 car seats and our 7 year-old still wasn't squished!).

I REALLY want something with a manual tranmission, but that may have to wait since not many family cars have manual :(

Chatty - posted on 07/05/2010

Absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE my 2001GMC Yukon Denali...

Charlene - posted on 07/04/2010

I have a 2008 Hyundai Accent (standard) and it's great!
I get AWESOME gas mileage, it's pretty roomy for a small car, lots of trunk space and the payments are 216$ a month.
The only regret I have is that it's a demo and there is no A/C which makes me really sad now. :P

Plus my car is an awesome colour. It's a really pretty sky blue.

ME - posted on 07/04/2010

I have an 06 Pontiac G6, which is great, and an Acura CL2 that I bought used before kids...I love both, but the "AC" is not really kid-friendly...In a perfect world, I would be able to buy a 4 door Acura of some description...or a Suburu Forrester, which I've always wanted.

LaCi - posted on 07/04/2010

I have a '05 trailblazer right now, I like it. I really don't have any complaints about it. It's the only SUV I've had. I loved my cousins 4runner also. As for cars, I loved LOVED my cavaliers, I'm pretty sure the Cobalt is just a cavalier renamed. Also loved my Camaros, but they're impractical with the tiny backseat. Had a Malibu once, it was pretty great.... Grand Prix sucked, a lot, most uncomfortable car ever made, do they still make those? Hope not. lol. I've gone through a lot of Chevys, good cars. Took a beating, lived to tell the tale. ;)

Jess - posted on 07/04/2010

I love my Subaru Impreza, zippy, sexy little car, highest safety rating and when I had my big car accident we all got out without a scratch and despite the seat belt laying over my belly no harm done. I was pregnant with Ava at the time.

My partner drives a Toyota Prius, its hybrid and great on petrol ! I like that car too but prefer my car because its all wheel drive and that little bit safer. The Prius is a company car, before we got that John had a Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Its a racing car though, but super safe for babies !

We both work in insurance and see A LOT of smashed cars. My advise would be to stay away from Kia cars. Kia standing for "killing innocent American's" *or Australian's, which is where we are from*

So my tip would be a nice Subaru All Wheel Drive with their famous Boxer Engine, can't beat it for reliability and safety!

Honda's are really good too !

C. - posted on 07/03/2010

Well while I'm at my mom's, it's her Kia Amanti. It's nice, looks like a Jaguar, rides very smooth, heated seats for winter- it's a luxury car through and through, but on the cheaper side.

In Hawaii, the hubs and I have a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. Someone ran into my husband while he was driving our brand new Elantra in Dec. 2008 and we didn't have enough money to buy a new car at the time.

I love it, though. I loved our Elantra a little more, but the Santa Fe has more space, it's higher so taller people like myself, my husband and my mom don't have any problems getting in. If I could remember all the features, I'd write about them. But it's been almost a year since I've even looked at that car, so.. But good luck on deciding :)

Meghan - posted on 07/03/2010

I keep getting told I should buy a dvd player for J cause he hates being in the car...seems like a good idea, but we all somehow managed without them right? I just turn the music up to drown him out (mother of the year, I know)

Sapphire - posted on 07/03/2010

"Ah Sharon - you're not going to get the built in dvd/tv things are you"

Oh hell no! We don't have them now, and we don't need them later! My son does have a portable DVD player that I just bought a month ago for our plane trip, and he used it in our rental car. Since we got home, it's been stashed away in the closet. He has a hand-held Vsmile Pocket that he plays in the car too. But I meant fancy features for me!

Rosie - posted on 07/03/2010

i drive a 2003 ford windstar. i like it and i will drive it for awhile longer. but i am interested in getting a car with 4 wheel drive. i live in iowa, and i've gotten stuck in the snow before. i was able to get out, but it still was pretty incoveinent. i also have some problem getting into my garage. it is seriously the smallest incline ever, and yet every winter i have issues. my hubby has 4 wheel drive and i never have a problem getting in with his car.

i'd like a new vehicle with better gas mileage, stow and go seating, and 4 wheel drive, but i still want that third row of seating. i havn't looked into cars too much, anybody know what vehicle has all these features?

La - posted on 07/03/2010

I drive a 2004 chevy cavalier...it was great when I was fresh out of college, single, and needed something compact that was good on gas...however, with my second child on the way and 2 stepchildren here on weekends we can't fit 4 car or booster seats. We can barely fit 3 in the backseat. We are looking into getting something with a third row that is affordable. The Hyundai vera cruz is great. We test drove it and looked at prices, but are waiting until I start working again to make the purchase. 10 year warranty on all hyundais!

Jenny - posted on 07/03/2010

I drive a 91 Toyota 4Runner. It is small enough to boot around in a city, strong enough to climb rocks up the mountain or tow our utilty trailer and has enough space for shopping/camping/hauling the family around. It is a 4 cyclinder and costs me $50 (at $106.9 per litre) to fill the tank from empty. It has little rust. You can drive a Toyota until it turns to dust, they are very hearty vehicles.

While I recommend Toyotas first I also like Nissans and Subarus.

Sharon - posted on 07/03/2010

Ah Sharon - you're not going to get the built in dvd/tv things are you? I haven't had those, I've always wondered what would the cost be to fix those things if something goes wrong! I'd like to keep wondering too, hahahaha!

The kids just use our two laptops. not as handy as having them built into the headrests or suspended from the ceiling but in the end more portable during trips and um, longer lasting (I think) and more easily repaired (I think!)

Meghan - posted on 07/03/2010

I have a 2001 Hyundai Elantra...It's been a GREAT car except for the fuel pump... already replaced 2 :( I have heard the Hyundai's suck the big one for fuel pumps.

My mom has a Kia Serrento (sp?) and this is her second one (traded it in when her lease was up). She swears by them. It's a nice ride. I guess Kia has one of the best safety ratings now too!

Sapphire - posted on 07/03/2010

We're going to look at the Tahoe as well. I prefer the mid-sized SUV, and hubby prefers the mini-van. My son wants us to get a Mustang convertible :-) 10 miles away is the mega auto-strip mall and we'll start looking more in detail in the Fall when the new cars come out, hoping to get a good deal on a leftover or recent repo. I would prefer to keep my Escape for another year though, but I am seeking something with all of those extra air bags and fancy features ;-)

Sharon - posted on 07/03/2010

lmao Carol!! I had the same thought!! If we get hit, I'll survive the crash but die smothered in the bags!!! lol

Johnny - posted on 07/03/2010

We have a 2004 Nissan Sentra which we are in the process of selling. Nothing wrong with it, but it just got way too small for our family, particularly when we make the 10 hour trip to the in-laws. That was getting downright painful. And safety was a consideration too with a much smaller car.

We just bought a new Hyundai Tuscon and we're loving it. It has more airbags than you could imagine. I'm actually afraid that if someone hits us, I'll survive but smother to death. It's got loads of room, amazing gas mileage (like as good as the Sentra!) and some cool features. We normally buy used, but because of super low interest rates and the fact that due to a new tax that is just being introduced her, we got a huge rebate on it. So it just made sense this time. It's a treat to have a brand new car.

Sharon - posted on 07/03/2010

what about the tahoe then?

Sapphire - posted on 07/03/2010

2 years ago my dad shopped for both the Chevy Suburban and the Ford Expedition. Ultimately, he bought the Expedition and I do love it! But, it's slightly too big for me. The Ford Focus is a replacement for the former Ford Escort, and we also had one of those. In fact, the Escort is what we drove cross country when we got married in 1999 from NJ to AZ with 2 kittens!
Like I said, we have always owned American: Ford, Chevy, Oldsmobile, Dodge! I think hubby also had a Chrysler in high school too for a few weeks.

Cathy - posted on 07/03/2010

I don't drive (yet, still need to book some lessons) but our family car is a Silver Ford Focus. Nothing to rave about. It goes from A-B smoothly and for a diesel engine it's pretty quiet.

Sharon - posted on 07/03/2010

2007 2500 3/4 ton black on black Chevy Suburban with limo tint.

it has an gas saving feature that allows it to switch to 4 cylinders when I don't need the power of 8. UH RAH!

I hate nothing about this truck. It gets better gas mileage than hubbys 6 cyl ford explorer and nissan pathfinder.

It seats all 3 kids and 3 - 4 of their friends, all their soccer gear and I shop at costco and still see out the back window. Well I could if it weren't so damn dark back there.

Its got a shit load of airbags. If we get into an accident with anything less than semi - WE"RE GONNA LIVE. I feel sorry for anything smaller than us. LMAO.

The only thing that I wish we had changed.... I wish I had ordered adjustable lumbar support captains chairs for the front two seats oh!

I sort of wish we had gotten leather seats but leather seats in arizona leaves you with 3rd degree burns on your ass and thighs. But cleaning white dog hair off black seats would be easier if they were leather!!! Oh and the lint! omfg who knew cloth/fabric seats would accumulate so much fricken LINT!!! ARGH!!! So I got neoprene water proof seat covers.. yeah baby!

Good Day! - posted on 07/03/2010

I drive a 2005 Nissan Altima. LOVE it! It was a wedding/college graduation/21st birthday present from my parents and husband. Because it's paid for and can potentially fit 3 car seats in the back (we've done it before with nieces and nephews), I'll drive the thing until the wheels fall off. Unless I have triplets in my next pregnancy.

My husband bought a 2001 Nissan Sentra last year. It's been a good little car for him. Gets great gas mileage which is why he bought it. The gas for his commute to work in his truck was taking it's toll on us financially. We considered having him drive my car to work, but it just wouldn't have worked well logistically.

But he didn't give up his 2001 Silverado. I wanted him to, but that's his love. We don't use it too much. His mom lives out of town, and when she visits, that's what she drives. And having a truck always comes in handy.

So yes, we are a three car family with only two drivers. Not ideal to me, but we have a use for each of the vehicles and we've been pleased with all of them.

Sapphire - posted on 07/03/2010

Thanks for the tip on the Tesla! (And also it's one of my very favorite bands from the 80's!) We're also going to check out Hyundai only because the dealership is around the corner-next door to the Ford dealer! My hubby has been checking out their mini-van, but I forgot what it's called. I think he didn;t like it at first becasue it's only a 4 cylinder and less power. I would have no problem at all if I could find an affordable, gently used Ford Escape Hybrid. We got good deals on our current vehicles as used vehicles-mine was part of the Hertz rental fleet, and hubby's was a repo from a local dealer.

Joanna - posted on 07/03/2010

I have a 2002 Hyundai Sonata, I've had it for 4 years and love it and don't want to let it go. I've barely had to make any repairs on it, it's done so good!



But with a new baby coming, we're also looking for a new vehicle. The Sonata isn't the safest car, apparently it didn't do too well in crash-test ratings (my husband just recently informed me of this). So we want something safer.





For anyone interested, my husband is a fabricator for different car companies, meaning he works with designers to sculpt and build the new car designs. He's worked for nearly every car company. But right now he's working for Tesla, who just went public this week. They do electric cars. Right now they have a sports car, but also a REALLY nice sedan that he worked on, that's not too expensive for an electric car. They are finishing up another model right now but it probably won't be available for awhile. But look them up and check out the Sedan (you can google Tesla Model S)! Very nice :)