A.I. asks from Tucson, AZ on September 15, 2009
Need Info on 3Rd Row Seat Suvs
My family is looking to buy a used 2003-2006 vehicle with 3rd row seating..we have a 10yr old and an 8 yr old who fight and a 5 month old baby in a rear facing carseat..so my question is what is you favorite vehicle and why and also has anyone had any bad experiences with any of them?
Im looking to pay $7000 or so in cash for one and want a good reliable one that will last a while... Thanks
1 mom found this helpful
Featured Answers
C.C. answers from Dallas on September 21, 2009
I don't have an SUV (it bothered me because they seemed to be 'top-heavy' .... I bought a Dodge Ram (Regency Conversion) Van. It has captain's chairs in the middle row and a bench back seat. It has 76000 miles (original), AM/FM/cassette/CD in front; CD players/earphones in the middle and back seats. It also has a TV/VCR (if you still do video tapes) or it could probably have DVD player/s installed easily - the wiring is all there. It has shades on all windows and dual heat/air control. It averages about 17 mpg in town - close to 20 OTR. It is a 2000 so it's older than you requested, but if you're familiar with Dodges, they drive reliably well into the 200,000's. All routine maintenance has been done and it is kept covered. We hardly ever drive it anymore - used to drive it on vacation - it rides wonderfully.
Let me know if you're interested.
L.S. answers from Tyler on September 16, 2009
I bought a 2004 Honda odyssey last summer and I love it. The sliding door gives great access to the baby (rear facing or forward facing). I have a 6 year old and a one year old. They both sit in the 2nd row MOST of the time. The only negative on the vehicle is that the baby (once forward facing) is pretty far away. I can't reach her to give her stuff. So, I find my 6 year old fairly helpful with handing my 1 year old stuff.
However, when my son has friends along, they sit in the 3rd row and love it. It is easy to get in out out off and is fairly room (for smaller children). I think teenagers would be tight back there.
I paid $10,500 for it and found it on Craigslist. In Dealerships, they were asking about $15,000 for the same year.
-L.
More Answers
N.H. answers from Dallas on September 16, 2009
Love love love my suburban. This is my second one. The first was used and we wore it out and still sold it for a nice price. Good resale! My current one is new and wonderful. I wont give up my truck with 3 kids. Everyone has room. Room for friends and still a large trunk space for soccer stuff, we are the coach so we have tons to carry back and forth. We opted for the bench seats on all three rows and that give us seatign for 9. And yes to your question....we use all 9 more than we ever thought we would. Good luck!
H.B. answers from Dallas on September 15, 2009
I have a Ford Freestyle with captin seats. I love my car!! The other cars mentioned r very nice also but it's going to be hard finding one under 10,000. My freestyle was 1 year old fully loaded w/ leather and I only paid 11,000. I have sat in the 3rd row of my car and I had more room then my sisters Honda pilot. Plus with captain seats it's easier for someone to get in the back.
Good luck
H.
L.P. answers from Tyler on September 16, 2009
I drive a 2006 Toy Rav4 with a 3rd row and I LOVE it. It is much better on feul economy than the larger suvs and the 3rd row flips flat for groceries very easily, I can do it with one arm. The 3rd row only seats 2 passengers, and they have to be pretty petite, I have 2 dgtrs ages 14 and 10 and I have squeezed some pretty large 14/15 yr old boys into the 2nd and 3rd rows, it was just pretty tight.
Besides, all that, it is a lot of fun to drive, very easy to park and very reliable. I highly recommend you look at the rav4.
M.R. answers from Dallas on September 16, 2009
We have owned several mini-vans and several SUVS. We looked at Chevy Tahoes and Ford Expeditions. We have purchased two Ford Expeditions. I didn't like the foot room in the front seat of the Chevy Tahoes for the front passenger. The selling feature on the Ford Expeditions was the third seat. On the Tahoes the seats only fold down and if you want the extra trunk space in lieu of the third seat on occasions, you have to take the seat out. The Ford Expedition has the capability of pushing a button and the seats fold flat and you have a level floor. That is wonderful! Also, the third seat has a normal seat height, so if you have adults sitting in the back, your knees aren't up in your chin. Hope this helps!
M. Rowe
James Rowe Plumbing
(817)72-3860
www.jamesroweplumbing.com
K.P. answers from Lubbock on September 16, 2009
Give my husband a call :) His name is Mont Porter and he works at Gene Messer Toyota. ###-###-#### He is very good at matching people up with the car that's best for them and he does not take advantage of people the way some salesmen might. I may sound biased, I am his wife after all but I promise he will treat you right! Have a great day and good luck!
J.J. answers from Dallas on September 16, 2009
In that price range look for a Suzuki S7 - I think is what it is called - it is small - but seats 7 and is affordable.
I have a Volvo XC90 - it is a smaller SUV which seats 7 -I LOVE it - we tried the Honda Pilot and the Nissan Pathfinder as well as a few others and got the Volvo - I wanted a Sequoia - but just couldn't justify the V8 engine and gas consumption.
Good luck - you might do better with a minivan - the Hyundai Entourage is a good deal - great safety ratings - as well as the Kia Sedona...
N.S. answers from Abilene on September 16, 2009
I have a 2004 Ford Explorer that I absolutely love. It is 4 wheel drive that I can use when necessary and the 3rd row seating. When my daughter came to visit (5 of them) we all fit comfortably along with my mom. It gets around 20 mpg also so that's not too bad. I did a lot of research on it before buying and liked what I saw. After buying, I really liked it. Good Luck in your search.
C.C. answers from Dallas on September 15, 2009
I have a 2003 GMC Yukon XL and love it.
Email