Safe, practical SUV for family under 12k

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Mad Scientist
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#1641990 28-Sep-2016 17:37

MikeB4:

networkn:

MikeB4:

deadlyllama:

We have a 2005 MPV, it's great. Loads of room, back seat folds flat if you need the extra storage, and the configuration is more "small van" than "station wagon with extra seats" so the ride height is better. We bought our when it was 10 years old, $8.5K from turners (via Trademe) vs $11-12K from a dealer. We put the two child seats in the middle row, the back row is a little squished. But, yeah, you end up being one of those people who drives a people mover.

You get over the paranoia after a few years, probably due to the child induced parental exhaustion.

Nothing wrong with people movers, ignore that BS like the type spouted by Mr J Clarkson who would not know a car from a wheelbarrow. They are comfortable, versatile vehicles which are great for families. They have acres of space

something SUV's do not have lots of. They are great for holidays and great for the disabled.

I don't think that's a very accurate comment about Clarkson (Who it's pretty obvious you have a personal dislike for).

A lot of Clarksons (and other general critism) is about things like poor suspension (I've personally seen at least 3 people movers on their side) and poor looks etc.

The newer people are a lot better than they used to be, but in the OP's budget, he is looking at an older one with very high KM's.

Clarkson described folks who buy people movers are those for whom the kids are grown up and they are just waiting to die.

As for tip overs the same can be said for SUV's, try to drive them, van or MPV like a Lotus you will be in trouble.

I think those comments stem from hatred of soccer stars and rich mums. IIRC SUVs have been the top selling vehicles in Australia, since taking over from the Falcon-vs-COmmodore era.

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#1641992 28-Sep-2016 17:38

You'd get a reasonably nice '07 Mk3 CRV for your money. I've recently sold my 09 CRV and it was a great family car, we've had CRVs since our two kids were babies and they never felt short of space. Quite nice to drive also. For reliability I'd rate them well above a Mitsu or Mazda

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#1641993 28-Sep-2016 17:38

An outback is more a crossover. It's not quite as high as a big SUV but higher than a regular wagon. Same as an Audi allroad (out of your range)

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#1641996 28-Sep-2016 17:44

joker97:

networkn:

I'd take a wagon every day of the week and twice on Sundays. The Outback is a fantastic vehicle.

Space wise it's the same, but an SUV you drive higher, and if you need to load kids into car seats your back doesn't hurt as much. Wagons generally have much better fuel economy. Must be to do with wind resistance and maybe a bit of weight. There are wagons which are supposedly 7 seaters but I wouldn't put anyone in there, if you get rear ended by a heavier vehicle those dummies will be pancake.

The Volvo XC90 is a fantastic car, and I can assure you, if you get rear ended, you will not be a pancake (depending on speed and mass etc). Obviously, if you buy a car made of tinfoil then that's the risk you run like with anything of lesser quality.

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#1642025 28-Sep-2016 18:40

networkn:

joker97:

networkn:

I'd take a wagon every day of the week and twice on Sundays. The Outback is a fantastic vehicle.

Space wise it's the same, but an SUV you drive higher, and if you need to load kids into car seats your back doesn't hurt as much. Wagons generally have much better fuel economy. Must be to do with wind resistance and maybe a bit of weight. There are wagons which are supposedly 7 seaters but I wouldn't put anyone in there, if you get rear ended by a heavier vehicle those dummies will be pancake.

The Volvo XC90 is a fantastic car, and I can assure you, if you get rear ended, you will not be a pancake (depending on speed and mass etc). Obviously, if you buy a car made of tinfoil then that's the risk you run like with anything of lesser quality.

I say that because my mate's citroen hatchback (sorry can't tell what year or model) got rear ended by a very light truck - driver was distracted - at the roundabout. The truck came to within 3 inches of the rear seats ... And since the rear row of a 7 seater wagon is nearly flush with the rear bumper ...

techmeister

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#1642037 28-Sep-2016 19:27

MikeB4:

deadlyllama:

We have a 2005 MPV, it's great. Loads of room, back seat folds flat if you need the extra storage, and the configuration is more "small van" than "station wagon with extra seats" so the ride height is better. We bought our when it was 10 years old, $8.5K from turners (via Trademe) vs $11-12K from a dealer. We put the two child seats in the middle row, the back row is a little squished. But, yeah, you end up being one of those people who drives a people mover.

You get over the paranoia after a few years, probably due to the child induced parental exhaustion.

Nothing wrong with people movers, ignore that BS like the type spouted by Mr J Clarkson who would not know a car from a wheelbarrow. They are comfortable, versatile vehicles which are great for families. They have acres of space

something SUV's do not have lots of. They are great for holidays and great for the disabled.

Ha ha well said couldn't agree more, Clarkson is a dip.

I am a mechanic so I know the BS.

Bit of a Toyota fan myself but the 2004 and up Mazda MPV are nice vehicles and fairly reliable powerful comfortable

and cheap to buy.

networkn

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#1642052 28-Sep-2016 19:55

MikeB4:

Clarkson described folks who buy people movers are those for whom the kids are grown up and they are just waiting to die.

So? He makes lots of jokes that are stereotypical. Doesn't make him unknowledgeable about cars. I'd suggest his knowledge to cars in general is far superior to most, and his historical knowledge of cars is very very good.

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#1642055 28-Sep-2016 19:57

joker97:

networkn:

joker97:

networkn:

I'd take a wagon every day of the week and twice on Sundays. The Outback is a fantastic vehicle.

Space wise it's the same, but an SUV you drive higher, and if you need to load kids into car seats your back doesn't hurt as much. Wagons generally have much better fuel economy. Must be to do with wind resistance and maybe a bit of weight. There are wagons which are supposedly 7 seaters but I wouldn't put anyone in there, if you get rear ended by a heavier vehicle those dummies will be pancake.

The Volvo XC90 is a fantastic car, and I can assure you, if you get rear ended, you will not be a pancake (depending on speed and mass etc). Obviously, if you buy a car made of tinfoil then that's the risk you run like with anything of lesser quality.

I say that because my mate's citroen hatchback (sorry can't tell what year or model) got rear ended by a very light truck - driver was distracted - at the roundabout. The truck came to within 3 inches of the rear seats ... And since the rear row of a 7 seater wagon is nearly flush with the rear bumper ...

There is a big difference between a Hatchback and 7 seater in terms of how they are required to be designed for safety. For cars to get decent ANCAP ratings, the passengers must be protected. This generally applies to the cabin and the rest of the car is designed to crumple to absorb the impact so the cabin remains intact. In a true 7 seater, that design includes the extra seats when deployed.

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#1642072 28-Sep-2016 20:23

Design or not, when your back row of seats is flush with the bumper and the knees are cramped up against the middle seats = pancake when rear ended by a heavier vehicle.

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#1642084 28-Sep-2016 20:56

In terms of safety, I think you would have a better risk outcome spending your money on the following than a massive SUV:

Advanced driver training courses
Tires that are really good in the wet
Flights where they are feasible to replace long car trips.

Within budget you can get a 2012 Mazda 6 wagon which gives you a car that is a lot younger than the SUV's you were looking at.

Or a 2010 Subaru legacy Subaru pushes safety in its marketing really hard, and the interior space will be way more than the Medium suv's (CRV / Nissan Murano etc)

If you do want to look at SUV's the outlander sell for fairly cheap. They have an aluminium roof to lower centre of Gravity, and have great backseat room (the back seat slides back controlled by a lever under the front of the seat). Back seats are uncomfortable though, handling is a bit floatey, and roadnoise is loud. Crash test videos looked good.

[EDIT] If this isn't a typo (or damaged in some way) it is an awesome deal 2013 Volvo XC70 Crosswind (also listed on trademe at that price). XC70's are lifted wagons (like Subaru outback, audi allroad, VW Passat all-track) Volvo has a great reputation for safety and comfort).

MikeB4

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#1642097 28-Sep-2016 21:13

networkn:

MikeB4:

Clarkson described folks who buy people movers are those for whom the kids are grown up and they are just waiting to die.

So? He makes lots of jokes that are stereotypical. Doesn't make him unknowledgeable about cars. I'd suggest his knowledge to cars in general is far superior to most, and his historical knowledge of cars is very very good.

James May was the brains of the team, Clarkson only knows or cares about Kilowatts and drifting.

MikeAqua

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#1642099 28-Sep-2016 21:19

Our pulsar lasted about two weeks after we had kids.

The outlander is a nice vehicle. Hard to go past if it fits the car seats well. I drive it's big brother the pajero. Despite being quite a large vehicle, it never feels big to drive.

I have experience of getting kids in and out of car seats in two sedans, a station wagon, a previa and two SUVs.

The absolute worst to get kids in and out of car seats was the third row seats in the Previa. The SUVs were the easiest by a wide margin.

AWD adds a lot of safety margin on South Island roads during winter (ice, grit etc). I wouldn't be without AWD on winter road trips.

Once you own an SUV, you will never look back.

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#1642122 28-Sep-2016 21:57

AWD adds a lot of safety margin on South Island roads during winter (ice, grit etc). I wouldn't be without AWD on winter road trips.

What's peoples justification for comments like this? Sure, AWD help acceleration in slippery conditions, but for safety critical functions like braking, and turning, I can't see how it helps at all. Wouldn't running better tires - all season tires (M+S on sidewall) or winter tires be more useful.

Stability control is super valuable if you get onto a slide, but I imagine all car's OP is looking at will have it.

One nice thing about SUV's for road trips. Is that the driver gets less headlights in there eyes as they sit higher up.

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#1642123 28-Sep-2016 22:04

Scott3:

AWD adds a lot of safety margin on South Island roads during winter (ice, grit etc). I wouldn't be without AWD on winter road trips.

What's peoples justification for comments like this? Sure, AWD help acceleration in slippery conditions, but for safety critical functions like braking, and turning, I can't see how it helps at all. Wouldn't running better tires - all season tires (M+S on sidewall) or winter tires be more useful.

Stability control is super valuable if you get onto a slide, but I imagine all car's OP is looking at will have it.

One nice thing about SUV's for road trips. Is that the driver gets less headlights in there eyes as they sit higher up.

AWD helps you get going. It ain't gonna slow, turn, or stop you - for those you need winter tyres, stability control.

networkn

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#1642132 28-Sep-2016 22:08

MikeB4:

networkn:

MikeB4:

Clarkson described folks who buy people movers are those for whom the kids are grown up and they are just waiting to die.

So? He makes lots of jokes that are stereotypical. Doesn't make him unknowledgeable about cars. I'd suggest his knowledge to cars in general is far superior to most, and his historical knowledge of cars is very very good.

James May was the brains of the team, Clarkson only knows or cares about Kilowatts and drifting.

Heh we agree that of the 3 JM was more academic, but couldn't disagree more strongly about the other. I suggest you rewatch some episodes, the three of them conversing about quite specific models from history, specific specs on cars including engine sizes, specific transmissions etc. It certainly wasn't all JM.

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