I just welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world last week.

My SL won't work for this, obviously.

I am contemplating like 15 cars to get.....there isn't much out that I really like right now.

I am contemplating either the new Escalade, Range, G500.......or a sedan (new GS, new S class, 7 series, CLS) or a bigger coupe (6 series, maybe even new CL). As you can see, I am all over the map right now. I am shying away from the coupe because I don't really think they are realistic for putting a baby seat in.

I am afraid to get a truck because I'm not used to driving a big car and I feel it might be such a change from driving the fast, sporty cars. Anyone have these same fears and if so, what did you end up doing? I would probably lease because I am in the city and don't drive as much but I don't want to be locked into a lease for 2-3 years and wish I hadn't gotten a SUV.

 

How about the GL450?

 

Ugly car....that and the ML I consider to be poser Benzes. I don't know who they are aiming at with those models. They are simply trying to complete against the GX which I don't like either. The RX and LX I understand....but what is the point of putting another in the middle? It's like putting another car in between the GS and LS.....

 

Just before we had our (now 11-week old) son, we traded my wife's sebring convertible for an RX350. Though it's absolutely the best choice possible for our situation, she's not a fan. Even though it's relatively small and car-based, she feels like she's driving a truck, which bothers her.

We'll be keeping it long term (10+ years) because it's a great family car, but as soon as our son is old enough to climb into the backseat on his own, she'll be getting another convertible as her primary car.

But an SUV may or may not be the best choice in your case. In ours it was because we're both tall (6'4" and 5'11"), so bending over to put him in the backseat and take him out would have worked a number on our backs. The backseat of the RX is right at waist level, so we can just put him in directly without bending. If we weren't both so tall, we would have gotten a sedan instead.

 

Congragulations on being a new daddy.

I don't see any reason for you to splurge on a large or truck-based SUV like the Escalade if you just have one child and don't carry heavy loads or tow large trailers. Vehicles in this class are not only awkward in traffic but hard to park, steer and handle like battleships, guzzle gas, and, in some cases like the GM and Ford models, have LOUSY brakes.


Nor do you need a large minivan at this time either, if you just have one child and don't need the minivan's 6-7 seats and humongous cargo area.

For what a new Escalade would cost (probably $60,000), you could go out, get a nice small, car-based SUV for half that amount or less, and put the remaining $30,000 into a fund for your new child's future.

My advice? Go look first at the Subaru Forester or Outback. Both are available in turbo and non-turbo forms and varying degrees of exterior and interior trim, though Subaru's color choices are a somewhat limited on both models. AWD is standard on all American-market Subarus. I myself have an Outback and LOVE it. It drives and rides just like a car because it IS a car...a slightly raised Legacy wagon...yet offers the versatility and traction of a small SUV. The Forester is similiarly very carlike....it is done on the Subaru Impreza's platform.

If, for any reason, you don't want a Subaru, there are a number of other excellent small, car-based SUV's on the market that will suit your needs with relatively good gas mileage and riding, steering, and handling characteristics...the Honda CR-V, lower-priced models of Toyota RAV4 (although this year's RAV-4 is somewhat larger than its predecessors), Mitsubishi Outlander, Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner, Mazda CX-7, Hyundai Tuscon and Santa Fe, and Kia Sportage and Sorento. All of these vehicles, except for the Sportage, according to Consumer Reports, have had average or better repair records in the past....especially the CR-V, which has been excellent, and the RAV-4, almost as good. Some of these vehicles, like the Tuscon and Santa Fe, by the policies of their manufacturers, come only with a V6 in the AWD/automatic format....fours are either not offered, or restricted to FWD and manual transmissions.

Keep two things in mind, though. One, in small car-based SUV's, AWD will rob some power and mileage (IMO the extra traction is worth it, especially in the winter). Two, the Subarus are easily the most carlike in handling (especially the Outback, where you won't notice much of a difference at all, especially with the turbo models with the more aggressive chassis and tires) , but none of these vehicles are sports cars. The higher-stance ones, like the Santa Fe and Sorento, have marked body roll...you don't want to try and throw them around corners.

If you decide you want to (or can afford to) spend a little more, then you can look at more upscale car-based vehicles in this class......Lexus RX350, Hyundai Veracruz, Acura MDX/RDX, Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander Limited, etc.....or the hybrid Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner. The Highlander will also have a hybrid version but it will be quite expensive.....you might as well get a Lexus for that money.

The Suzuki SX-4 is dirt-cheap (starting at 15-16K), and has a nice 3-position switch on the dash for FWD/AWD/Lock so you can disconnect the AWD for better mileage and more power when you want it, but it will probably be too small and underpowered for your family's needs, and the AWD system is new and unproven, unlike Subaru's. Still, if it will just be your wife driving the baby around and getting a limited amount of groceries or small shopping bags, it might be worth a look.

Amost all new vehicles today, by Federal law (even convertibles...I'm not sure about those?), have the LATCH hardware on top of the rear seats to make it easier (and safer) to attach child seats in back....that will apply to all of the vehicles I've mentioned above.

Good Luck.

 

Get an RX3xx. Its a great family hauler. My wife was used to driving a civic so she was opposed at first to driving a large car but she now loves the height of the SUV. Its also easy to load the baby in and the baby accessories.

 

I am moving from a long run of second gen GS to an FJ, will let you know

 

Congrats on the baby! Considering the class of vehicles you've mentioned, I think the new BMW X5 fits the bill. It drives and handles better than all the above mentioned. In addition, it is a safer more stable vehicle than the others. I would not attempt emergency accident avoidance maneuver at 65 mph on the highway (with family on board) in the other vehicles.. Test drive one

 

Having reviewed one, I agree with DASHOCKER on the X5's driving characteristics, but it is quite expensive......you will essentially spend Escalade-type money on one, especially with the V8, and the reliability is questionable. That's why I did not list it in my initial recommendations....and the Subaru Outback and Forester XT Turbo models, with their more aggressive suspension, come close to the X5's handling, for $20,000 less.

If safety, above all else, is top priority, the Volvo XC90 merits a look.....but it too, is likely to be unreliable and is fairly expensive.

 

Congrats on the child, I went from a Corolla to a Rav4, the Rav4 is just small enough that it doesn't feel like a truck, so you might want to take a look at the RDX or others in its class

 

My advice?.....don't even look at an M-Class. They have been unreliable since their first day on the market.

I'm not just being personally biased here, either.....check Consumer Reports.

 

Try this in the Volvo Xc90 and others http://youtube.com/watch?v=vYjbxX85Trc

Got to test out the SUV competion here

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ultimate+drive

 

i personally would not get an expensive SUV to take a kid around, they are going to mess it up in so many ways, something to think about

 

With the popularity of SUV's, primarily due to the high sight lines, perceived rugged, macho image (most of the carrying capacity of a mommy van without being . . . well you know . . . ) and street survivability, many new owners have been disappointed. They simply are not used to the bulk, lack of performance, rough ride, and queasy handling of a truck. Truck-based SUV's share that heritage.

A lot of progress has been made over the past ten years or so, but passenger cars have a huge advantage in development time alone, and remain the focus of most new automotive technology. SUV's are closing the gap - particularly with the "crossover" or car-based vehicles. Many good choices have been recommended here - still you should rent an SUV similar to what you intend to buy for a long weekend to get an idea of what you will be getting into. Despite the advertising, it's a whole different experience. See if you can live with it.

I've had an SUV as my daily driver (except for a few company cars) for well over thirty years. Prior to that I had a long string of sedans and station wagons. At one point I had a 3/4 ton 4X4 Suburban and an Opel Rallye - before opening the door of my selected mount, I had to stand there for a few seconds and recalibrate my brain before hoisting (or dropping) myself behind the wheel. Cornering, stopping, accelerating, even straight line driving requires a completely different set of standards.

My first crossover after a number of BIG truck-based SUV's was an RX 300 - and when the lease was up, I bought an RX 330. I suppose I led the rush to SUV popularity, crested the wave, and have now found comfort on the backside of it. While many truck-based SUV's are excellent products, for someone coming out of a sedan or sport coupe, I'd recommend a crossover - to ease the shock of transition if nothing else. You can get practically all of the amenities of more conventional car ownership with less of the immediate downside - performance, ride, handling, economy - or lack of same in an SUV.

Happy hunting!

 

The first two generations of the M-Class were notably unreliable....substantially worse than average. Past unreliability is no guarantee, of course, that future versions will be unreliable (the Ford Focus, for example, improved rapidly after about 2002 or so)........but, in general, a tiger doesn't change his stripes.

As far as most the current 07 vehicles are concerned, there will probably be some data for this coming December Consumer Reports 2008 New Vehicle Guide, but a better reliability picture will start to emerge by April, for the Annual Buyer's Guide....assuming, of course, that enough sales have been made and enough Questionnaires filled out and returned.