Advice on Large 2nd Cars

[John V]

Originally Posted by JST

Am seriously considering going with the Model 3 and trading in the Model S, for a variety of reasons.

That would leave me with a Model 3 and a Golf R. I think that's perfectly cromulent; the Model 3 can take a surprisingly large amount of luggage and with a 300 mile range would be a better trip car in some ways than the Model S.

But let's play it out and say in 12 months I decide I need a bigger 2nd car. What to buy?

So the play here is you'd unload the Golf R and get a "larger than a Model Hamburger" second car to take on trips to the beach?

Is the driving requirement here 1) more luggage space or B) more elbow room for rugrats? If B, there isn't much other than "three row SUV" that fits the bill. Any sedan type thing is going to be about the same amount of space as a Model Hamburger for three kids across, right? I may be totally wrong, an Accord may truly have more hip / shoulder room than a 3. It certainly looks larger. But at that point why not just get rid of both the Golf R and the 3 and drive an Accord? Financially and functionally that makes the most sense.

If the answer is 1), some kind of cool hatchback/wagon type thing might be the answer. Panamera (though I hesitate to call that dog-taking-a-dump "cool"), Mercedes/AMG wagon (how much ya got to spend on maintenance and repairs?) might be options.

Haven't you for years promoted the merits of various Ford EcoBoost SUV things (Edge, Flex, etc, I can't keep those things straight)? Sounds like it's time to put your money where your mouth is At least they'll (probably) be cheap to own and operate.

[FC]

Originally Posted by John V

dog-taking-a-dump

[ff]

Originally Posted by John V

I may be totally wrong, an Accord may truly have more hip / shoulder room than a 3.

In the rear, the Accord has 2.5" more hip and shoulder room, and 5" more legroom. Assuming you were referring to the Model 3, and not a BMW 3.

[wdc330i]

X5 with third row. Try to get the real sports suspension. Get a Thule rooftop box as well, because once you deploy the third row, there isn't much cargo room left.

Or, wait for the new 3 wagon.

Or, wait for the X7.

There really is an advantage to having something taller on the highway. And the X5 visibility from its greenhouse is great.

Mercedes E63. Although my spouse really didn't like the one she drove (lots of power lag.) Perhaps the new engines have fixed the problem in the current model.

Used Panamera, perhaps. Is there one with seating for three in the back? Our loaner had two bucket seats.

The advantage to the lower wagon solutions is easier access to the roofbox, which you will still need.

[Josh (PA)]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

X5 with third row. Try to get the real sports suspension. Get a Thule rooftop box as well, because once you deploy the third row, there isn't much cargo room left.

Or, wait for the new 3 wagon.

Or, wait for the X7.

There really is an advantage to having something taller on the highway. And the X5 visibility from its greenhouse is great.

Mercedes E63. Although my spouse really didn't like the one she drove (lots of power lag.) Perhaps the new engines have fixed the problem in the current model.

Did she drive the E63 wagon? I remember your comments on the standard e wagon being a dog, but didn't know you sampled the e63 as well. I was bummed when you commented how un-fun the e wagon was, I had high hopes that it would be our next car.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by Josh (PA)

Did she drive the E63 wagon? I remember your comments on the standard e wagon being a dog, but didn't know you sampled the e63 as well. I was bummed when you commented how un-fun the e wagon was, I had high hopes that it would be our next car.

Oops, sorry. No, she just drove the standard E350.

[JST]

Originally Posted by John V

So the play here is you'd unload the Golf R and get a "larger than a Model Hamburger" second car to take on trips to the beach?

Is the driving requirement here 1) more luggage space or B) more elbow room for rugrats? If B, there isn't much other than "three row SUV" that fits the bill. Any sedan type thing is going to be about the same amount of space as a Model Hamburger for three kids across, right? I may be totally wrong, an Accord may truly have more hip / shoulder room than a 3. It certainly looks larger. But at that point why not just get rid of both the Golf R and the 3 and drive an Accord? Financially and functionally that makes the most sense.

If the answer is 1), some kind of cool hatchback/wagon type thing might be the answer. Panamera (though I hesitate to call that dog-taking-a-dump "cool"), Mercedes/AMG wagon (how much ya got to spend on maintenance and repairs?) might be options.

Haven't you for years promoted the merits of various Ford EcoBoost SUV things (Edge, Flex, etc, I can't keep those things straight)? Sounds like it's time to put your money where your mouth is At least they'll (probably) be cheap to own and operate.

It's really a hip room thing in the back seat. The Model S is wide enough that three across is doable (that's one of the reasons I got one, because back when I needed car seats, it would take 3 across). The Model 3 is probably not, at least comfortably. In every other way the 3 and S are roughly equivalent, though because the S is a hatchback it can accept bulky cargo that the 3 can't--but the trunk opening in the 3 is surprisingly large.

I like Nick's plan. Renting is a pain but if we are really talking about 1 or 2 trips a year, it makes more sense than driving some giant tank around (and parking it--both my wife and I park in underground garages).

But ha ha on Ecoboost things. Yes, I am hoist on my petard there. The current gen Explorer blows, but I suspect the new one is going to be a lot more interesting to drive.

[jpgurl]

Originally Posted by John V

Haven't you for years promoted the merits of various Ford EcoBoost SUV things (Edge, Flex, etc, I can't keep those things straight)? Sounds like it's time to put your money where your mouth is At least they'll (probably) be cheap to own and operate.

This. Get a Ford Flex.

Cheap. Third row. Reliable.

Originally Posted by JST

“Can it transport 3 kids,* 2 adults, and luggage 4 hours to the beach?”

Yes.

We love ours. I know, I know... Looks like a box/ass/etc... It's very polarizing. But practical.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by jpgurl

This. Get a Ford Flex.

Cheap. Third row. Reliable.



Yes.

We love ours. I know, I know... Looks like a box/ass/etc... It's very polarizing. But practical.

I believe JST suggested the Flex to me more than once when looking for such a vehicle. We don't have one for stupid reasons, not because it isn't a near perfect vehicle for what it does well.

[Jeff_DML]

has anyone test driven the honda accord 6MT? actually seems like it could be a option for my situation but guessing it does not drive that sporty.