Need some research help Oppo

"wunderwagen wants a longer roof" (wunderwagen)
06/02/2015 at 20:19 • Filed to: None

Tell me what you know and think of this slightly lifted minivan without sliding doors from Chevy.

Here is the situation, my mother has asked me to look into cars as a replacement for her 07 Caravan that is starting to fall to pieces. She has been explicitly told by our mechanic to not even consider a newer Grand Caravan, I’m so glad she listened to him. She and step dad plan to buy in July and they are pretty dead set on a brand new vehicle, not used. They get the GM family discount, so the Traverse is pretty much on top of the list right now. They are willing to consider other options but do not like the price or looks of the Odyssey or Sienna. Step dad likes the Ford Flex but is concerned that it doesn’t have enough room and mom doesn’t like it with all the chrome that most have.

If you suggest something other than this it must have seating for 7-8. It will be the family vehicle and mom’s DD. Step dad doesn’t like trucks/SUVs, otherwise we’d get a Tahoe and be done so those are out. Have at it Oppo.

DISCUSSION (45)

TheOnelectronic > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 20:23

Everytime I see one from the rear, I’m struck by how massive its ass is.

#I’mhelping

EDIT: I may be thinking of the wrong chevy/wrong year.

JJ > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 20:24

Honestly, I think that the best option would be to go for the odyssey, however if your mom really dislikes it, I'd also consider a Mazda 5.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > JJ
06/02/2015 at 20:26

I don’t understand why, but she absolutely hates how it looks. I’ve said that she could find a CPO Odyssey how she wants but she is pretty adamant. The Mazda 5 is too small.

jkm7680 > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 20:30

Slightly below average GM product.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > TheOnelectronic
06/02/2015 at 20:30

I can tell you the Equinox is fat and god awful to look at. Maybe it’s that you’re thinking of.

Your boy, BJR > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 20:30

My stepdad had an Acadia Denali for a short time. I can genuinely say I’d rather have one than anything else in the segment. Idk about the Chevy, but the Denali had an unbelievably nice interior, it was great for schlepping my friends and his friends to concerts, was an awesome tailgate vehicle, and all around stupid practical and rode nice with a nice interior. I’d personally go for the Acadia over the Traverse, if only for the styling.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > jkm7680
06/02/2015 at 20:31

Recommend against it or something else? I’m gonna have them look at the Mazda CX-9.

jkm7680 > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 20:32

Everything else. Generally underwhelming cars seemingly designed for rental car companies.

Birddog > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 20:33

I know two people with the Traverse. They love the thing.

They are car consumers. Not enthusiasts. It fits every one of their needs perfectly.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Your boy, BJR
06/02/2015 at 20:34

They are trying to keep budget down, even with the GM discount. Not sure if an Acadia is in the cards.

The Denali trim is freaking insane, my grandmother has it on her Terrain. It’s a damn boat but a hell of a nice boat.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Birddog
06/02/2015 at 20:36

Sounds about right. Have they had any issues, major or otherwise?

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > jkm7680
06/02/2015 at 20:40

Gotcha. They don’t like the Odyssey or Sienna, and Nissan is just out of the question. Ford doesn’t attract them so I’m down to this in its various guises, the Mazda, and still looking.

jkm7680 > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 20:42

Mazda whatever it’s called is the best best probably.

Twism > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 20:51

In this category, the CX-9 is great but it drinks fuel like I drink craft beer (at an alarming rate),
the Santa Fe XL feels cheap but has a good drivetrain,
the GM trio is not that bad (haven’t driven the Traverse, but I really liked the GMC Acadia. It drove like a 98 Buick LeSarle... AND THAT’S A GOOD THING!),
Flex is as roomy, but has less ground clearance,
Pathfinder is a cheap minivan without any appeal (sorry nissan fanboi)
...

I might be missing some, but that’s what I drove so I can give you my opinion.

Overall, Traverse should be good if you are used to some GM-ness (cheap interior, some weird quirks after a few years). If not, check out the CX-9. It even has a Ford engine!

Your boy, BJR > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 20:52

Even an SLT Acadia?

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Your boy, BJR
06/02/2015 at 20:56

Not sure, I’ll run it by them. They like the Chevy and preferred it over the Acadia somewhat when looking at one during the yearly dealerama auto show.

Alex from Toronto > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 21:02

A bit boring but good nonetheless.

Seats are comfortable, 3.6 v6 is a solid engine, interior is okay but is way better after the refresh from a few years ago.

Birddog > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 21:22

They’re about 20 to 30 years older than me and they couldn’t be happier.

If they had issues I’d never hear the end of it.

AM > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 21:22

It’s nothing exciting but the Traverse is generally a good vehicle. It does everything you want it to, just nothing more. I will add that it is consistently one of the top sellers in its class so that can mean a lot.

not for canada - australian in disguise > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 21:45

What about the Sedona? Good looking, well equipped, not too expensive (About the same price range as the Traverse/Odyssey)

Kinja'd!!!

And that interior...

Kinja'd!!!

Thunderface > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 22:09

Ford Transit Connect minivan-thing. Fun to drive, apparently.

Kinja'd!!!

TheOnelectronic > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 22:17

It might be. At one point I know chevy made an SUV that had way too small of tail lights for it’s rear profile. Looked odd.

Captain of the Enterprise > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 23:03

My aunt had one and I drove it on a road trip. It wasn’t really my thing but it seemed pretty good. Comfortable, enough power. But blind spots are terrible. It seemed decently roomy but not a ton of room if your using all three rows. I also remember her complaining about how expensive the tires were but don't know what she paid just that they were Goodyears. If you have any specifics feel free to ask.

HammerheadFistpunch > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 23:24

They are good reliable cars. They wont set the world on fire but i like them. Interiors are good, ride is smooth and quiet and they get decent mileage all things considered

HammerheadFistpunch > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 23:25

Cx9 is a turd, high probability of engine/trans issues

boxrocket > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/02/2015 at 23:38

We’ve had a lot of these at work. We’ve nicknamed them the “Travesty”.

Calling it (and their brethren Enclave, Acadia, Outlook, etc.) a bloated land whale is an insult to whales, but not wholly inaccurate. They’re overly large for their platform, don’t make the best use of interior space, are relatively inefficient, have electronics issues, iffy interior quality (especially the plastics, ugh) with exposed fasteners throughout the cabin, the rear power lift-gates seem to be designed to fail every few months, the engine seems easily overwhelmed, and the turning radius feels greater than a Tahoe’s.

Alternately, they may wish to consider the Explorer, the Flex with a trim that doesn’t have the apparently-offensive chrome (or a Lincoln MKT, or have the chrome Plasti-Dipped), Expedition/Navigator, Mazda CX-9, the new Volvo XC90, Dodge Durango, Nissan Quest, Ford Transit/Transit Connect, the aforementioned mini(that aren’t so mini anymore) vans, Lexus GX/LX, Toyota Sequoia or Land Cruiser or 4Runner, or a used European luxury SUV (Mercedes ML/GL or Range Rover or LR3/4) from CarMax. The Explorer, Flex, and MKT have the advantage of multi-stage folding third row which have a minivan-like deep well behind the third row. The Transit is awesome in terms of raw usable space. The Titanium/Platinum Fords and the Lincoln shame the Denali trims from GMC or the LTZ trims on Chevy. The Durango is one of the few RWD SUVs that isn’t full size. The luxury SUVs could be considered a bit of a treat after the Dodge Grand Caravan.

Of those, the CX-9 and new XC90 would be my preference.

boxrocket > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/03/2015 at 00:28

Oh, forgot about the new Sedona, Sorento, and Santa Fe. A used Borrego and Veracruz (older but good) perhaps also. Pathfinder and QX60 (same car) are...ok.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/03/2015 at 07:06

As with most slightly-post-bankruptcy GM, actually not bad, but not much more than that.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > boxrocket
06/03/2015 at 08:25

Might get them to check out a Sedona, those do look nice.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > boxrocket
06/03/2015 at 08:31

Step dad refuses to get a truck and they would prefer FWD. Most Fords they won’t consider but I am trying to get them to look at the Flex at least since step dad likes them, possibly the Transit since you reminded me that it exists.

They do like the new XC-90 but it is more than they want to spend since step dad wants to get a new car soon as well.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > HammerheadFistpunch
06/03/2015 at 08:32

Ouch. Gotcha. Do not want those issues.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > HammerheadFistpunch
06/03/2015 at 08:33

That what the general consensus has been. The only major issues I could dig up were on the 2010s and 11s, the steering would go out/malfunction.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Captain of the Enterprise
06/03/2015 at 08:34

Any issues she has run into with it? When all three rows were used was that with all adults or children mixed in?

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Thunderface
06/03/2015 at 08:36

Going to try and have them look at one but I'm not holding my breath. My mom is pretty anti-Ford because of Grandad being a GM worker.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > not for canada - australian in disguise
06/03/2015 at 08:36

Has it had any issues that have cropped up? That's my only concern with telling them to look at it.

Captain of the Enterprise > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/03/2015 at 08:51

Adults, what helped was that the middle row could slide forwards and backwards so you could make more room for the third row.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Captain of the Enterprise
06/03/2015 at 09:51

So you had the 8 seat configuration I take it? Two benches?

They are looking at the 7 seater and the sisters are 11,11,13, and 18. I generally don't go with them that often so I would rarely be in it thankfully.

Captain of the Enterprise > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/03/2015 at 10:41

Yes although with adults the third row is really more for two people rather than three but if you have smaller people in it you would probably be fine.

boxrocket > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/03/2015 at 10:43

They certainly feel the most modern offering amongst traditional minivans. I took a Santa Fe on a road trip during the winter and myself and my three passengers appreciated that the rear seats were heated, which is a nice touch that’s becoming more and more common as an option.

HammerheadFistpunch > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/03/2015 at 11:08

We’ve had different generations and models of the lambda in my family for a few years now with no complaints and lots of happy miles. I like how they are significantly larger than the competition (pilot, highlander, etc) and can tow well.

not for canada - australian in disguise > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/03/2015 at 11:11

Not that I’ve heard of.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > HammerheadFistpunch
06/03/2015 at 13:19

That is good to hear. This thing needs to make a yearly trip to Florida from Ohio and be a reliable DD for mom. The towing ability would be nice if they ever need it.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > boxrocket
06/03/2015 at 13:20

Talked to mom earlier, she is pretty dead set on a Traverse now that she knows all that she can get on it with incentives and discounts. Will get them to crosshop a little to make sure they get what they like and is best.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Captain of the Enterprise
06/03/2015 at 13:21

We do have small people, and love to stuff them on rear bench seats.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
06/04/2015 at 00:44

Are minivans out of the question? The new Kia Sedona is a fine looking one!