Is there a Vehicle for Larger Families with great MPG potential?

[roosterk0031]

Originally Posted by crasster

as my children age and we are finding the need to not only haul them, but their friends around.

Buying something to haul other peoples kids is the silly part.

[Frank Lee]

^ That is how we end up with Grandparents driving around in Expeditions and such.

[sarguy01]

Originally Posted by roosterk0031

Buying something to haul other peoples kids is the silly part.

Do you have kids??? If so, do you ever drive them anywhere? You never take their friends anywhere with you?

We don't pick up random kids and drive them around. But, we babysit each others kids for free, but usually end up picking them up or dropping them off. We also go to birthday parties, Girl Scouts, etc, etc and always end up helping out another parent by taking their kid/kids along. Those parents also help us sometimes in return.

I'd hardly say it is buying a vehicle to haul someone else's kids around.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by sarguy01

So, if one had a 50 mpg car and rented a van twice a year for one week, the fuel savings cost equals out to just driving a 22 mpg car around year round.

A 50 mpg car generally has less wear and tear than a van. Tires, brakes, suspension bits and just about everything else is going to cost less, too.

Being able to take our kids and at least one friend was a huge factor in our getting the minivan. She was tired of her huge, safe feeling SUV not being able to do that. Now her huge, (almost as) safe feeling minivan can do it, while getting better mileage and having tons more usable storage space. I'd put one of my kids in the front seat and the friend in the back, but you don't want to lock yourself into having to do that.

[roosterk0031]

Ton's of driving, hauling other peoples kids, I'm guessing a traveling youth sports team.

Let the other parents haul their own kids and drive the Yaris and get 40 mpg or have them cover half the gas and the 20 mpg minivan is now 40.

That's not the same as going to chucky cheese.

[jcp123]

Minivan is probably the way to go. That's the conclusion I have come to. But a Flex/Lincoln MKT is an interesting possible alternative.

[drainoil]

Same issue as you have. My solution-my dd is my Civic vx, wifes is a C-max. For when we need something for all 6 of us, I bought an older full size conversion van, some I could afford to pay Cash for as I hate payments. If I had to rent a minivan a few times a year, say a week at a time, that would cost me much more than I paid for the plush conversión van.

And for the few times I need something to haul stuff home from a home improvement Store, etc, this van really comes in handy. With quick release seats, I can have a completely flat floor and fit full size pieces of sheetrock for example (without getting wet in inclemente weather).

[Hersbird]

A grand caravan takes full sheets of plywood or drywall as well, one of it's long standing design features. Of course it won't carry as much weight as a full size but for normal progects it is great.

[Hersbird]

We take 3-4 driving vacations a year and that is more then 50% of the annual mileage we put on our people mover. Then there are lots of weekend trips to the lake, etc. A rental would cost way more. Here is a tip on saving gas, live closer to work. You can call a single occupant in a suburban a energy abuser but if he lives 3 miles from work he is better then the guy in a prius who lives 30 miles out.

[sarguy01]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

We take 3-4 driving vacations a year and that is more then 50% of the annual mileage we put on our people mover. Then there are lots of weekend trips to the lake, etc. A rental would cost way more. Here is a tip on saving gas, live closer to work. You can call a single occupant in a suburban a energy abuser but if they live 3 Mike's from work they are better then the guy in a prius who lives 30 miles out.

As long as the Suburban driver never goes anywhere aside from work and back!