Car Shopping

Okay Readers (1,2, and 3 - thank you!),

With a steady progression of guests coming through for the next six months, we HAVE to have a vehicle with more seats and we have three weeks left to purchase it. We've done (way too much) internet research and today we crawled around several cars, much to the amusement of various car salesmen. 

We've narrowed it down to two options and I'm looking for all the input I can get to help us get to one.

Candidate Numero Uno: Toyota Tarago. 

In the US this was sold as the Previa but is not longer manufactured. It's the only "minivan"/"people-mover" Toyota makes here.

See a Pic

Pros:

• 8 seats
• good gas mileage
• lots of space

Cons:

• No "features"
• Drives like a sack of potatoes
• Third row of seats doesn't fold away so it's not good for transporting stuff or moving, etc.
• It looks like a minivan - which is an even bigger image-kill here than it is in the States

Candidate Numero Dos: Honda Odyssey

This is not the same as the Odyssey in the States. It has four car-style doors (not sliders) and is really low to the ground. 

See a Pic

Pros:

• Decent gas mileage
• Electronic stow 3rd row of seats
• Leather/sunroof/DVD/roof rails/seat warmers/etc, etc
• More responsive drive
• All seats lay flat so good for transporting stuff
• Strong resale value

Cons:

• 7 (not 8) seats
• Not as much boot (trunk) space when all seats are up

Okay, so when I put it out like this, it seems like the Honda is the clear choice. I think my hesitation boils down to one thing - I want a big family. I want a car the says "sure, pile in, the more the merrier" on the way to church, the beach, or a weekend getaway. The Odyssey is a great car for the family I have, but it is still too small for the family in my head. I can't clearly imagine where the dog would be in the car, when we get a dog. I can't see a bunch of high school boys piling in after soccer practice.

So what do I do? Do I drive around a car with way too much space and no features whatsoever, to hold a place for my dreams? Do I put up with a mushy gas petal day in day out because "what if" the mountains moved and our family suddenly blossomed from five to seven?

Is choosing the comfortable option and relinquishing that space me giving up on my dreams?

Why can't buying a car be just that? Just buying a car? Why is it so much more to me?

If, in the nearish future we needed a bigger car, that wouldn't be a problem. We'd sell what we have and buy one, just like we are now. Even so, I am really emotionally engaged in this purchase and I can't seem to shake it.

And before you suggest other options, (which I would normally appreciate), we have much less available in the Australian market. I would be looking at very different options in the States, but there's aren't really comparable options here. These are the best options for our needs, in this market. 

Okay, if any of you are into the car thing, feel free to comment away!

Comments

[Wendy Knight]

If the Odyssey has a better resale value, then you can always sell it when you need to, right? Holding onto it until Small Son is a high school soccer player would be pretty extreme...

[Amie R.]

I love our Odyssey and I mean love it. It does seat 8, but with carseats, that is not going to happen anyway. If we are to actually have the number of kids I have in my head, we will also have to get another car. I say go for what works now and then reassess your needs later. Who knows, maybe you are going to need a bigger car than what you have envisioned for yourself.

[mayhem]

7 vs 8 seats isn't a big difference, especially with carseats in there somewhere. Having the seats fold down in the back is a big deal-- much easier to travel/pack when it's just the five of you (for now).

Glad you got to meet Small Son's family! Sounds pretty awesome!

[Kelly]

We just got back from a camping vacation, where if we hadn't had fold down seats in my car I know I'd have never gotten everything home. We brought both of our vehicles, mini van with seats removed, and my suv...my husband had to leave unexpectedly (stupid work emergency), and I had to get all of our camping gear home. I shoved the big kids off on my parents, and put all the seats down around Mea's one seat, to stow all the gear.

Seats down, wins hands down, over 1 extra seat!

[Stelle Courney]

Planning for the future could really be pretty emotional, especially if you're going for a good buy. But think about practicality, and your satisfaction, too. And you said it yourself, you wouldn't mind changing in the near future. So, the question is, what would answer for your needs NOW?