Help me pick a car!

"Pearson Hurst" (phurst)
12/01/2016 at 09:49 • Filed to: None

Unfortunately, no, it’s not anything even remotely fun, but it’s time for my wife’s ‘05 Town & Country to be taken out to the back 40 and shot. We’re wide open to suggestions as long as it has 3 rows and room for 7, and ideally not another van, or a honking huge SUV. Yes, I know, this puts me squarely in the much maligned “crossover” segment, which I know little to nothing about. We’re looking for used, reliable and within a few grand either way of 15k. She seems fixated on a CX-9, but I’m looking for other things to look at as well. And....GO!

DISCUSSION (27)

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 09:53

Edit: i skipped over the room for 7 part like an idiot

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 09:54

Done, next question.

Kinja'd!!!

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 09:59

Ford Flex.

We almost bought one when we bought our T&C in 2013. Get one with the sunroof.

They are stupidly quiet on the road, get decent mileage and the hip-point at entry was the easiest ingress/egress I have ever experienced.

We chose not to get it as we have child seats and use the 3rd row every day, so flopping seats was a drawback compared to the van. And we got a screaming deal on a used van.

My citroen won't start > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 10:02

Ford Flex Ecoboost.

Kinja'd!!!

Lincoln MKT Ecoboost.

Kinja'd!!!

Stapleface > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 10:03

Room for 7? Yeah, you’re pretty much stuck getting a minivan, big ass SUV, or big ass crossover. Or a B-Body GM wagon. But if you want/need modern, the CX9 probably isn’t that bad of a choice.

Pearson Hurst > My citroen won't start
12/01/2016 at 10:09

A quick inventory search locally shows several of both, but they’re all up in the 20k range.

Tristan > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 10:10

Ford Flex. If not the Flex, just pick one of the other 12,459 crossovers on the market. They’re all the same thing in varying shades of gray.

Pearson Hurst > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
12/01/2016 at 10:11

Somehow I missed that the CX-5 is available with a 3rd row. Thanks!

Pearson Hurst > PotbellyJoe and 42 others
12/01/2016 at 10:12

You’re the second persono to mention a Flex. A quick search showed mostly examples out of my desired price range, but I’m going to keep looking at them. Thanks for the input and mini-review.

My citroen won't start > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 10:13

Really? I found several in the 13-15k range, huh, must be a locality thing.

Wacko > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 10:19

you may not like this answer but

Kinja'd!!!

Yes it’s a CVT,

I have a 2014 SL tech(leather and 8 inch navi and 13 speaker sound system)

I went to try it, just to rule it out. but ended up really liking it. 2014 is the second year or the cvt pathfinder, and is the last year without the fake shifts.

smooth and constant acceleration, way better MPGs than a Flex / explorer highlander and a better interior. Tows 5000 lbs

It has room inside. even with the 3 rows up. 2nd row is really spacious.

Kinja'd!!!

you can even fit a stroller or baby seat in the rear even with the 3rd row up.

i had mine since march 2015 and only problems I had was the window regulator had to be changed.

2015 and up have fake shift points and to me is against the point of a CVT. The CVT in the pathfinder just feels really good. I hate the feeling of automatic cars now because of my pathfinder.

Pearson Hurst > Wacko
12/01/2016 at 10:21

Interesting. my wife had mentioned a Pathfinder, but I kinda dismissed it out of had, since the last one I was in was in the mid 90s. I see a lot has changed...

TheRealBicycleBuck > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 10:36

The Flex with the Captain’s chairs in the second row eliminates the seat constant need to flop the seats to access the third row. I tried (unsuccessfully) to convince my wife to get one, but to no avail. Too much like a wagon for her tastes.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 10:57

Mercedes E-Class wagon with the third row. Good examples in v6and v8 trim can be had for less than $15000 easy

Wacko > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 11:11

i tried it to get my wife to stop talking about it, as i wanted a Flex.

but the Flex is harder on gas and the pathfinder’s interior is miles better.

3rd row access in the pathfinder is great too with or without a child seat

Kinja'd!!!

just don’t put the kid in the child seat first......

shop-teacher > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 11:18

Ford Flex. It’s ridiculously roomy, and in my opinion is quite the looker.

Sn210 > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 11:25

I was shopping cx-9's and Flexes last time around. Ended up with a Flex Ecoboost. The cx-9 was a close second, but I think these two are your best bet if you want to make the best out of your drive

Grab Paddle > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 11:45

Kinja'd!!!

Mercedes E-Class wagon. Has rear facing seats in the back so seating for 7 when needed. Get an AMG if you want over 500hp!

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/686351062/overview/

Pearson Hurst > Flyboy is FAA certified insane
12/01/2016 at 11:54

I actually think we’ll be buying my mom’s E Class wagon next year for my daughter. Can’t argue with the family discount, and mom only ever drives it to work and home.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 12:17

WAT?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Pearson Hurst
12/01/2016 at 12:21

We took my wife’s ‘08 CX-9 AWD GT (bought new & deeply discounted when gas was $4/gal) to 190k - recently sold it to my sister, and she’s loving it and close to 200k now. Quite good to drive for a big vehicle, an great in the mountains (took several trips in it to Colorado, and one all the way to Montana). We considered the new one, but it was just out at the time, so we went with a ‘14 MDX.