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mathmama
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| Posted: March 04 2010 at 3:15pm | IP Logged
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Dh and I are starting to research our next car. Right now we have a Jeep Commander and its lease is up in a year. We do not want to buy out the lease since we really have it maxed out space wise. I was hoping for some insight from the ladies here. We are a one car family so this car needs to fit all of our needs. Right now we have 3 children, but God willing we will be adding more. We prefer to buy new since this is our only car and we *need* it to be reliable, also we make at least one long trip a year. We want something that is safe (that is a given) and we need 4 wheel drive. Perhaps all wheel drive would work, I am just not familiar with it. We live on the corner of 2 hills and our driveway, although about 5 feet long, sometimes necessitates the 4 wheel drive in order to get into the garage. We need room not just for each person but for a good deal of stuff since we go out to MI each year for an extended visit which requires us to take lots of stuff. I guess the last requirement is that it needs to be American made. This last requirement is for a couple of reasons. One is that my family (like all families in MI) have a long history with the Big 3 and if we bought a foreign made car family relations would most definitely be strained. I am not saying this is good or bad, it just is. The second and perhaps more important reason is that we can get discounts from each of the Big 3. So, we are looking at cars that are either Chrysler, Ford, or GM products.
Originally, I figured our only real choice was a Suburban. I love the Suburban for a number of reasons, but hate the price  Dh suggested a van, not a mini van. I see that GM's full size vans have all wheel drive. Does anyone have one of these? How is the all wheel drive? Does it work in snow on hills? I saw that Ford also has full size vans, but could not find out if they had all wheel or 4 wheel drive. Does anyone know?
I searched older threads and found that some women felt that the full size vans were very safe while others said that their husbands wouldn't let them drive one for safety reasons. Why this huge discrepancy? Can someone give me some insight here?
Thank you for any information/experience you can offer.
Beth
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Beth, wife to Tom and mommy to 4 beautiful girls:
Therese 11/04
Anna Mary 6/07
Veronica 10/09
Theodora 11/12
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 04 2010 at 3:18pm | IP Logged
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Have you used a front wheel drive vehicle? Our last mini-van was front wheel drive and it handled VERY well in snowy conditions.
Now we have the Ford E350 and use studded tires and drive v-e-r-y c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y in the winter. 
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mathmama
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| Posted: March 04 2010 at 3:36pm | IP Logged
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Front wheel drive will not cut it for us. It is hard to describe, but without 4 wheel drive we cannot get in our garage this time of year. It has to do with snow melting, running across the driveway and then freezing because the driveway gets no sunlight because of the placement of our property. Our property makes it necessary to park in the garage. Parking anywhere other than the garage makes getting the kids in and out of the house a real hassle. Also, without 4 wheel drive there are many times we wouldn't be able to even make it to our house. At times some of our neighbors, even some with 4 wheel drive, park at the bottom of the hill and hoof it up the hill when it snows. Of course, this is totally not possible with 3 little ones, nor is it safe.
Well, the Ford is definitely off the list. Thanks for the information 
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Beth, wife to Tom and mommy to 4 beautiful girls:
Therese 11/04
Anna Mary 6/07
Veronica 10/09
Theodora 11/12
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juststartn
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| Posted: March 04 2010 at 6:44pm | IP Logged
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Well, I'd check with the Ford company, and see if it is offered, Beth, cause she may have just not gotten it.
Even though 4 wheel drive would be great for us when we do replace, I know we're going with a Ford anyway (as DH says "They didn't take money" ).
Rachel
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Married DH 4/1/95
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John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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mathmama
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| Posted: March 11 2010 at 4:51am | IP Logged
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mathmama wrote:
I searched older threads and found that some women felt that the full size vans were very safe while others said that their husbands wouldn't let them drive one for safety reasons. Why this huge discrepancy? Can someone give me some insight here? |
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Just bumping this back up to see if anyone can address this.
Thanks!
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Beth, wife to Tom and mommy to 4 beautiful girls:
Therese 11/04
Anna Mary 6/07
Veronica 10/09
Theodora 11/12
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Teachin'Mine2
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| Posted: March 11 2010 at 9:37am | IP Logged
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I know a lot of large families use the vans, but I wouldn't want to be in one on snowy roads - especially in windy conditions. They're not great in the wind even on dry roads. But then again, there aren't too many options if you need seating for more than 7 or 8.
Minivans with front wheel drive, or all wheel drive, are definitely better in wind and snow than the full sized vans. Have you check out Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey?
HTH 
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Teachin'Mine2
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| Posted: March 11 2010 at 9:39am | IP Logged
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Teachin'Mine2 wrote:
I know a lot of large families use the vans, but I wouldn't want to be in one on snowy roads - especially in windy conditions. They're not great in the wind even on dry roads. But then again, there aren't too many options if you need seating for more than 7 or 8.
Minivans with front wheel drive, or all wheel drive, are definitely better in wind and snow than the full sized vans. Have you check out Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey?
HTH |
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ETA: Oops - I forgot the part about not being foreign ... I think the Sienna is made here in the states, not sure about the Odyssey, but if it has to be one of the big three, these won't work.
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Teachin'Mine2
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| Posted: March 11 2010 at 9:46am | IP Logged
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How about the Ford Explorer or Expedition? The mpg isn't great, but I think that with your roads and all they might be a lot better than a van. With fuel prices, a lot of SUV's are selling at very low costs. I know you want new, but if price is a concern, there are some great ones with very low mileage. Just a thought.
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: van question
