Mid Week Match-Up: Six Seats for Scirocconut
This week’s Mid Week Match-Up, victim is Scirocconut who asks DT to help him find a 6-passenger car for his growing family. Help me find the minivan/ wagon/ SUV of my dreams! With the arrival of baby number two, our beloved 2013 Honda Fit is a just a bit too small and my dearly beloved 2001 VW Golf comes up well under par as well. We want to replace the mighty VW with something that can haul the four of us and the occasional grandparent or two. Biggest priority: not that big — No land yachts or paramilitary SUVs! Ideally, we’d like the smallest, nimblest thing that can hold 6 people (two of them in car seats). And, Vince, please don’t try to sell me your Roadmaster.
First off, Scirocconut (if that’s your real name) the only way you will get the Roadmaster key is from my cold, dead, greasy hand…and I really don’t think I’d wish the fuel economy of an LT1 V8 hauling around 4,500 lbs of American steel on anyone with small children (10 mpg…THINK OF THE CHILDREN…oh yeah, they’ll have to pay for their own gas). Anyway…this 2012 Mazda5 Sport here on eBay bidding for $1,050 with 4 days to go is the correct answer to the person who wants a small minivan that gets good fuel economy. The Mazda5 might have sliding rear doors, but it is truely car sized without the added mass and thirsty V6 fuel economy that dominates the people carrier class.
What is a better small people hauler for less? Comments below.
Thanks for writing in, Scirocconut. I believe I can help….
[image src=" 3.bp.blogspot.com/_ytbPYtZNH5I/S5lfkOTvvlI/AAAAAAAAAzU/14EZWRk1yVA/s1600-h/roccolimo.jpg" width="400px"/]
Darn it, trying again.
[image src=" 3.bp.blogspot.com/_ytbPYtZNH5I/S5lfkOTvvlI/AAAAAAAAAzU/14EZWRk1yVA/s1600-h/roccolimo.jpg"/]
I give up. Another good joke killed by html. Just go here: 3.bp.blogspot.com/_ytbPYtZNH5I/S5lfkOTvvlI/AAAAAAAAAzU/14EZWRk1yVA/s1600-h/roccolimo.jpg
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Maybe this will work:
[image src=" i60.servimg.com/u/f60/15/00/38/78/roccol10.jpg" width="400px"/]
F' ing magician. I don't know how you did it. Maybe some sort of sorcery.
How did you get that to work? I tried twice and nuthin….
He didn't specify a budget; would he be able to afford a Tesla Model S? You'd never guess they are available with 3rd row seating by looking at them, but they are.
On a tighter budget, I'm going to suggest he get this. I found a slightly more entertaining 850R wagon, but couldn't figure out if it had the third row seat.
Hold onto your wallet…..
R63
Vince has an excellent answer. M(azda)5 FTW.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Alas, my budget does not enter the stratospheric realms of the Tesla S or R63, but man, the model S would be pretty sweet.
Mazda 5 seems like the clear winner although its generally poor (even for its class) crash testing is a little bit worrisome. Definitely worth a test drive.
The V70/850R is pretty much what I had in mind, although the idea of buying a Volvo with 150k+ miles on it is not one that is going to fly. I tried to find this on the internet but was unsuccessful, does anyone know what the last year that the V70 was sold with the optional 3rd row? 2002 seems like it might be it. Would be nice to know if a slightly newer (and less traveled) V70 might be an option.
Of course, it is looking more and more likely that the outcome is going to be to go with a standard 5-seater and just make the parents/in-laws hitch a ride with someone else. Might be better for everyone.
Saw this pop up here in AK the other day – you may have to source a third row seat to install, but va va voom!
anchorage.craigslist.org/cto/6065519039.html
v70r.com/forums/topic/12969-can-a-third-row-seat-be-added/
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Production_Group
Obviously…
Saab 96 wagon – seven passengers in a shoebox. Who knew Swedes were such little people.
Drove my sons Mazda 5 I gave him 9 years ago today and it feels great. My daughters is in a junkyard somewhere after hitting a highway divider at about a 10 degree angle from head on toward the driver side at around 50 mph. She walked away.
The size and feel is perfect in my experience.
Mercedes E350 wagon (or E320, etc). Rear facing jump seats standard, so the young uns can pull faces at the highway patrol behind you. Does it all, and with class. Doesn't feel like a compromise when you drive it solo. Just hope it doesn't break on you.
I think I've figured out the answer…you've got to look to the past…because not too long ago you could get a 6-passenger sedan without a third row…YUP, front bench seats rule! More coming in tomorrow's THURSDAY TWISTER!!
Roadma… Crown Vic?
Who needs a Budget…..? Ok what is it….lol
Does anybody have Exp with the 5 Cyl. Volvo's there seems to be plenty @ my local Auctions with bad motors…..
Mazda5 is a brilliant vehicle. I have rented 3 of these in the past for extensive family road trips and just love them. The size is excellent and they have that Mazda feeling in terms of handling and spirited powertrains. Not that the car is fast by any means, it is just, well it reminds me of my 2013 Honda Fit. It is "willing". Plus the Mazda5 is available with a manual transmission! My good friend bought a manual Mazda5 which I drove all over Connecticut and NY area one summer and it was so much better then the automatic. It is what I consider the perfect do everything car.
Oh, and my DD is a Tesla Model X and I STILL think the Mazda5 is a better car overall. That is just how good the Mazda5 is.