Question for the Opponauts!

"Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?" (o51r15)
10/01/2013 at 17:35 • Filed to: Question

So, me and the wife just found out we have #2 on the way. We're currently daily driving a 2011 Aveo in my daughter's can kick my arm while driving. It's annoying and made me realize that there is no way we're going to be able to fit a newborn and a toddler in an Aveo. So here's where I need you. I don't have much money so I would be buying something used but what do you guys suggest (reasonably) I look into? I need something with 4WD or AWD (preferably 4WD) because Alaska and can double baby and double doggie if need be.

DISCUSSION (39)

Turner950s > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:38

Kinja'd!!!

LuczOr > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:38

The apparent answer is "miata" but I would suggest a toyota rav4. Great space, good enough in the weather, quite safe.

Milky > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:39

Boom /thread

Kinja'd!!!

EDIT: why the hell won't any image I use show up? Fuck you kinja.

Kinja'd!!!

2nd EDIT: Now they work, and I'm not going to delete the original edit because I'm proving a point that kinja sucks.

ttyymmnn > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:39

I can't make a good car recommendation, but I will say "Congratulations." My wife and I had one, then we tried for a second and ended up with twins. We got a used Odyssey. Not very Jalop, but it's a great vehicle.

MonkeePuzzle > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:39

I drive an impreza, its good for my two kids, had one since they were in rear facing car seats and it was a tight fit then, but perfectly fine with forward facing car seats and booster.

But, the wive's Rav4 is better, no bending when loading kids, but still not a bohemoth SUV. AWD, ABS, traction control, all standard.

Kugelblitz > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:40

Subaru Forester? Loved that car, great in all the weathers.

MonkeePuzzle > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:40

I drive an impreza, its good for my two kids, had one since they were in rear facing car seats and it was a tight fit then, but perfectly fine with forward facing car seats and booster.

But, the wive's Rav4 is better, no bending when loading kids, but still not a bohemoth SUV. AWD, ABS, traction control, all standard.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:40

Suzuki equator - It's a nissan frontier with a rubbish badge, lots of parts available for the mechanicals, and is thousands less than a frontier because it has a suzuki badge on it. Crew cab 4x4 models with around 50k miles on them can be had for 18k or less.

here's one for 17k

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > ttyymmnn
10/01/2013 at 17:41

I, personally, hate vans. I'm hoping that this is a single instead of twins (twins run in both or families). I'd rather just stick with the SUV's.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > LuczOr
10/01/2013 at 17:42

Awesome! Thanks! And I already told the wife that someday I will have my Miata.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Turner950s
10/01/2013 at 17:42

Solid. Big. 4WD. Fuck MPG, I want it!

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:43

I'm not sure what you mean by not much money, but here are my initial reactions:

Almost any Subaru
Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
4wd Pontiac Vibe (If money is quite tight)

A Subaru is probably the best answer though, an outback or Forester would be an ideal choice for a young family.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:44

I'm not sure what you mean by not much money, but here are my initial reactions:

Almost any Subaru
Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
4wd Pontiac Vibe (If money is quite tight)

A Subaru is probably the best answer though, an outback or Forester would be an ideal choice for a young family.

ttyymmnn > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:44

I didn't want a van either. But when I imagined three boys, shoulder to shoulder across the back seat on a 12-hour drive, I changed my mind.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Milky
10/01/2013 at 17:45

See, that's one of the things we've been looking at. That and the Patriot.

delete-me-please123 > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:45

The other oppo's are better suited to provide a good recommendation. Just wanted to drop a congrats.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:47

If I were in that boat (again) I'd go with an older Mazda6. you can get them for a decent price, they are pretty reliable and big enough for all of you and the baby's stuff. Fun to drive too! You could probably find a 3, but those tend to be a little over priced.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > delete-me-please123
10/01/2013 at 17:47

Well thank you!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > ttyymmnn
10/01/2013 at 17:47

Yea. I could see how that would change your mind...fast!

Patrick George > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:47

Forester? Outback? WRX hatch? The last one may be too small, but it could work.

HammerheadFistpunch > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:47

I have 2 kids (2 year old, newborn) and my fzj80 works pretty great and it was pretty cheap, but they really don't have a ton of rear leg room. Bonus: Kids fall asleep more easily/less car sick in a bouncy car...fact.

Kinja'd!!!

Though you may have to improvise some restraints if it gets real bumpy.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/01/2013 at 17:48

A few of the vehicles we've been thinking about are the Forester, Cherokee and Patriot. Thanks!

desertdog5051 > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:48

My kids are grown and gone (notice I didn't say grown up) So MGB works for me. See ya on the twisties. :)

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/01/2013 at 17:48

Volvo might work too, I think they made awd v70s right?

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:49

No helpful suggestions here. But Congrats on the second one!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > desertdog5051
10/01/2013 at 17:49

Some day I'll have my little RWD coupe and I'll meet you out there!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > desertdog5051
10/01/2013 at 17:49

Some day I'll have my little RWD coupe and I'll meet you out there!

HammerheadFistpunch > Kugelblitz
10/01/2013 at 17:50

Truth here, My 05 was a great kid hauler, though I wish it was little roomier in the back. There is a theme here: find a car with lots of rear seat space, not in the footwells where its pointless, make sure you measure from the seatback, on an angle to the top of the front seat bellow the headrest...thats going to be the critical measurement. in which case, I would vote legacy or outback.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > HammerheadFistpunch
10/01/2013 at 17:50

Rear leg room as in floor space for a 12 year old or room between the back of my arm and the end of her leg when she's in her car seat?

HammerheadFistpunch > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:54

as i said in another post, the number you are looking for is the linear measurement between the rear seat back (at the bottom) and the front seatback at the top. Basically if you have an infant car seat thats the first thing it will hit (the front seat back) and with a front facing its where their feet will hit first. Both my cars (jetta sportwagen tdi and 97 land cruiser) have abundant leg room, but the way the seats work, it really limits how you can fit car seats in. I didn't notice it before since she was on the passenger side and it wasn't an issue to have the passenger sit a little forward, but with 2 its more noticeable that I have to sit out of ideal driving position. the cruiser doesn't require much change, but the sportwagen does. This picture sums up what im talking about. When you car shop, take this measurement and go with the winner on size.

Kinja'd!!!

Milky > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 17:55

I personally am not to keen on the Patriot, but give the Cherokee high praise. I had a '92 with 206,000 miles on it when she finally died, and when that happened it was completely my fault. It could of gone a lot further. Great in the snow too.

HammerheadFistpunch > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 18:07

btw - congrats and condolences to your sleep. running on 2 hours today.

HammerheadFistpunch > ttyymmnn
10/01/2013 at 18:08

its too bad rear facing seats went out of style.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > HammerheadFistpunch
10/01/2013 at 18:10

With my job in the Air Force and already having one kid, I feel as if I'm ahead of the curve on lack of sleep. It'll probably get worse though.

HammerheadFistpunch > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 18:10

I loved my cherokee, plain and simple...but as a father of a toddler and newborn...the cherokee's safety isn't exactly confidence inspiring to me. The patriot would be safer for sure and honestly, that is starting to mean more and more to me....so I bought a tank

Kinja'd!!!

HammerheadFistpunch > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 18:13

yes it will. My 2+ year old daughter who was sleeping through the night perfectly decided it was fun to start waking me up several times in the night just to make sure she could. between that and helping with the feedings my blood caffeine content level is hovering around 20% on a daily basis.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > HammerheadFistpunch
10/01/2013 at 18:15

Ha ha ha great. Now I have that to look forward to. My daughter is 2 and a half almost and she already doesn't like sleeping.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > HammerheadFistpunch
10/01/2013 at 18:17

I've always wanted one of the early 2000's 4Runner. Maybe I can use this to sway my wife toward spending a little more!

HammerheadFistpunch > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
10/01/2013 at 18:19

well a 3rd gen SR5 is a great car, and a hellava lot cheaper to run than my cruiser. Just make sure to get a 3.4 and not a 3.0