car shopping

[Scoober1103]

I have the mother-in-laws (I swear it isn't mine) Mercedes Vito 115 here at the moment which I have to sell so it's a shame there is a bit of a geographical issue otherwise you could have got a bargain!

Other then the looks this thing actually drives better then expected with power to spare and the fuel economy is pretty good as well! 8 seats which you can remove in pairs or singular (two of each) and being so low it easily fits a bike in the back without the any effort. If I needed an 8 seater I would consider one but would probably go an all wheel drive suv with 7 seats instead.

[Speeddog]

Binky rented a Flex on a trip with her parents, and really liked it.

Not sure if it has enough room for your army.

[ungeheuer]

All this "your man-life is over coz you need to drive a vehicle with enough seats to accommodate your family" talk is just a little juvenile doncha think?

Buy the make the beast with two backsing minivan.  Any make the beast with two backsing minivan that does the job at the right price.

And don't listen to the fat, bald infertile "real men" in their convertibles 

[Ducatamount]

All this "your man-life is over coz you need to drive a vehicle with enough seats to accommodate your family" talk is just a little juvenile doncha think?

Buy the make the beast with two backsing minivan.  Any make the beast with two backsing minivan that does the job at the right price.

And don't listen to the fat, bald infertile "real men" in their convertibles 

It's an American thing that you won't understand and therefore easy to make fun of but it does matter here. 

[ungeheuer]

It's an American thing that you won't understand and therefore easy to make fun of but it does matter here. 

Who's making fun?

Juvenile is universal, so don't tell me what I do and do not understand 

[Ducatamount]

Bedtime for feisty, juicing aliens 

[Skybarney]

Hah,  Aussies borrow American car culture.  They do not know squat about the tease over a mini-van.  Despite the "juvenile" behavior of some of us giving him a hard time he (being American) gets it.  It is a standard tease amongst men here in America.  Not juvenile at all.     

We will still all ride in a mini-van, as long as there is free beer, or girls.

BTW lots and lots of American families buy mini-vans.  Pull up at the local bar and your gonna get ribbed.  It is all in good fun though and not really meant to be mean or to make him buy something else.

Here is a neat little fact I bet you do not know.  More than 70% of all cars sold in America are picked by women.  It is why women are actually on most of the design teams these days.  Happy wife, happy life and Privateer still rides a Duc so despite the minivan his manhood will remain intact.   

[ungeheuer]

Hah,  Aussies borrow American car culture.  They do not know squat about the tease over a mini-van.  Despite the "juvenile" behavior of some of us giving him a hard time he (being American) gets it.  It is a standard tease amongst men here in America.  Not juvenile at all.     

We will still all ride in a mini-van, as long as there is free beer, or girls.

BTW lots and lots of American families buy mini-vans.  Pull up at the local bar and your gonna get ribbed.  It is all in good fun though and not really meant to be mean or to make him buy something else.

Here is a neat little fact I bet you do not know.  More than 70% of all cars sold in America are picked by women.  It is why women are actually on most of the design teams these days.  Happy wife, happy life and Privateer still rides a Duc so despite the minivan his manhood will remain intact.   

Ahhh.. I see 

Thanks for explaining.

Coz no bloke in Australia would ever hang shit on his mates for showing up in something that looks like this...

[Howie]

 

[Speeddog]

That's awful. 

[Speedbag]

    

[Monsterlover]

Good god

[Howie]

My car dealer gave me a Nissan Cube for a loaner.  OK, not as bad as that...ummm...can't think of what to call that vehicle ungeheuer posted.
Worst handling of any car I ever drove, kinda felt like the wheels were connected to the steering gear with rubber bands.  Awful CVT, two modes, slow and noisier slow.  First time in my life I was happy driving in the slow lane at or below lane and you could put a lot of crap in it.  Kinda liked it, but I did know I would get the Audi back.

[Privateer]

I'd rather not have the minivan, honestly, but it's the right tool for the job right now.  Sliding doors mean the kids are effing dinging every car we park next to.  Walk up, pop the doors with the remote, kids climb and buckle themselves, auto-close the doors, and drive away.  Some of the cool ones the seats fold down into the floor, or at least fold flat, so I can fit plenty of stuff into it.  Shoulda seen me trying to bring my new BBQ home in the wife's mid-SUV.

yeah the flex is on our list too, but a little pricier.  It is my preference, but the price tag is deterring me.  Same with the Odyssey the wife wants.  Even used ones are ridiculously expensive.  Been seeing former fleet Grand Caravans in the low 20 range.  Most of the flex/odysseys are in the 25-30 range.  USED!

Suburban is a choice, have to see what I can fnd.  Seems like the MPG on those is about the same now as a minivan.  Wife drives a lot every day taking the kids where they need to be, so it's a consideration I have to take into account.

[muskrat]

Look into the ford explorer sport.  In fact, you can get the Eco boost engine in the limited trim as well BUT the sport is a lot more fun to drive.  You have a little "umph" when hitting the gas.  We drove ours at 85 mph for 4 hours and averaged 24mpg, I thought I was dreaming but I hand calculated (10 mph tail wind helped  )