Ok, Dad-mobile me....

Yeah, yeah, what car thread #573,652...

Ok need a Dad-mobile. I've looked at several options, but nothing is really jumping out right now. What say you Dorks, Super Dorks, Uber Dorks and the rest of you riff-raff?

Requirements:

• Needs to fit 2 adults, 2 kids with car seats and boosters, and a dog

SWMBO Requirements:

• Lower miles = better car
• Extended warranty = better car
• Newer = better car

My list of "nice to haves":

• Towing capacity of 5000+
• 4WD or AWD
• Leather seats
• Satellite radio, backup cam, other goodies
• Price in the low to mid 20s

Get creative. I recognize that just about any vehicle will be a compromise, I'm just trying to find the best one. Here's some I've considered:

• Explorer Sport: Expensive but good looking with turbos. Lower end towing, but AWD.
• Honda Pilot: A bit boring but AWD, weak towing, more expensive than it should be?
• Chevy Tahoe: big, plenty of options to choose from, good towing, 2WD
• Jeep Grand Cherokee: Too small interior space? Google "I made a mistake and bought a Jeep" Good towing and 4WD

Also, let me know if you want to buy a sweet IS-F!

Go!

F150 Super Cab - you'll have to do a bit of digging admittedly.

DaveEstey wrote: F150 Super Cab - you'll have to do a bit of digging admittedly.

I have a prissy and unintelligent dog, she wouldn't make it riding in the bed. Hell she jumped out of the window when I drove by the dog park.

I personally would like a truck more, but realistically I think we will get more use out of a SUV or Wagon.

Toyota Highlander? I don't know if the 2nd Gen models can tow 5000 lbs, though, and that's probably what you'll find in your price range.

Edit: Looks like it will tow 5000 lbs if it has the factory tow package.

FJ80/100 Landcrusher. Can be a bit pricey to get into a newer/lower milage example, but they run forever. Built like tanks, beastly off road, can be pretty swanky inside, and you're not likely to lose much money on it the way they hold value.

If it wasn't for the 5000lb towing requirement, a Minivan would fit your needs quite well.

Stefan (Not Bruce) wrote: If it wasn't for the 5000lb towing requirement, a Minivan would fit your needs quite well.

I'm still holding on to the dream of having a race car with 2 kids.

SWMBO Requirements: *THROW MONEY AT IT*

Glad to know she has some semblance of counterbalance in this endeavor. Given the combination of 5000+lb tow 'rating' and AWD or 4WD requirements, i think you're going to end up in something pretty big.

I say split the difference between 'something like a Tahoe' and 'THROW MONEY AT IT' and buy a $22k Escalade. It seems to represent both approaches at the same time.

BradLTL wrote:

Stefan (Not Bruce) wrote: If it wasn't for the 5000lb towing requirement, a Minivan would fit your needs quite well.

I'm still holding on to the dream of having a race car with 2 kids.

race a less heavy vehicle or lower the weight of your trailer?

A crew cab truck should easily fit two kids and a dog. Unless the dog is some kind of giant mutant. I fit two adults, FOUR kids and a dog and drive half way across the country and back twice a year in mine. Unless you legitimately NEED a third row, a pickup with a tonneau cover is way more useful than an SUV. You can even get one with a couple of turbos or a Coyote 5.0 or an LS or a Hemi, whatever you're in to.

You don't need an Explorer Sport. This has 290 Hp and gets right along:

Furious_E wrote: FJ80/100 Landcrusher. Can be a bit pricey to get into a newer/lower milage example, but they run forever. Built like tanks, beastly off road, can be pretty swanky inside, and you're not likely to lose much money on it the way they hold value.

And....12 mpg and I wouldn't want to that much with that auto. Also I think he is looking at newer than that.

I'd go Tahoe all day. Very competent tower, super roomy, V8 goodness and you just don't need AWD in Alabama.

I say Explorer. My granparents have one and it super nice and towed my project car easily. Don't remember if its the sport though.

Lexus gx 470 a little more than a pilot but will last forever. Your kids will be driving it when you downsize to a 2 sweater in late middle age.

Tahoe 4x4.

suburban.

Creative answer: A totally restored EFI-equipped Grand Wagoneer from Wagonmasters.

Javelin wrote: Creative answer: A totally restored EFI-equipped Grand Wagoneer from Wagonmasters.

I like it! $60k isn't going to happen though.

R63 AMG 4Matic

BradLTL wrote: Yeah, yeah, what car thread #573,652... Ok need a Dad-mobile. I've looked at several options, but nothing is really jumping out right now. What say you Dorks, Super Dorks, Uber Dorks and the rest of you riff-raff? Requirements: - Needs to fit 2 adults, 2 kids with car seats and boosters, and a dog SWMBO Requirements: - Lower miles = better car - Extended warranty = better car - Newer = better car My list of "nice to haves": - Towing capacity of 5000+ - 4WD or AWD - Leather seats - Satellite radio, backup cam, other goodies - Price in the low to mid 20s Get creative. I recognize that just about any vehicle will be a compromise, I'm just trying to find the best one. Here's some I've considered: - Explorer Sport: Expensive but good looking with turbos. Lower end towing, but AWD. - Honda Pilot: A bit boring but AWD, weak towing, more expensive than it should be? - Chevy Tahoe: big, plenty of options to choose from, good towing, 2WD - Jeep Grand Cherokee: Too small interior space? Google "I made a mistake and bought a Jeep" Good towing and 4WD Also, let me know if you want to buy a sweet IS-F! Go!

I was gonna say Macan Turbo till I saw low $20ks for price. A man can dream.

Are you wanting 4wd for security of bad weather, you don't want to buy snow tires, or you actually go offload and need 4wd to live?

CR-V nails it (I am 6'4" and am very comfortable in the CR-V, wife is 5'10" 1 boy in booster seat behind the driver and the other boy is 5'8". Good gas mileage too) except for the 5,000 lbs towing.

Tahoe is a go to on this one if you don't mind the gas (we all know that gas will go back up)

Toyota Sequoyah fits. Nissan Armada and of course the Lexus and Infiniti bling kitted models of the same guts.

Mercedes Benz GL/ML series also fit your towing and luxury requirements.

VW Toureg, Porsche Cayenne.

Odd ball would be a Ford Flex (4,500 lb towing capacity).

What's strange is this is my next swap around, I am either going 4wd Crew Cab truck or older Land Cruiser and buying a Mitsubishi i or Leaf or some other all electric car. I need something I can tow with and do cushy comfort for long range and the electric car for the 80% of our use.

The Ford Flex has an amazing amount of interior space. I can't quite figure out why people even buy the Explorer other than it's cheaper.

m4ff3w wrote: R63 AMG 4Matic

Very interesting. Found 1. And only 1 for sale. $34k is probably the absolute top of the budget, but 500hp talks amiright?

In reply to Flight Service:

4WD is for the one snow storm we get every three years, and the occasional muddy field.

BradLTL wrote:

m4ff3w wrote: R63 AMG 4Matic

Very interesting. Found 1. And only 1 for sale. $34k is probably the absolute top of the budget, but 500hp talks amiright?

Where is there one for sale? Seriously.

Edit: found it. Holy crap. There's only (maybe) a couple dozen in North America. I need to call them.

BradLTL wrote: In reply to Flight Service: 4WD is for the one snow storm we get every three years, and the occasional muddy field.

So you'll haul that extra weight and enjoy using more gas because you don't want to pay attention to where you drive or use chains or winter tires?

Interesting bit of logic there.