We have now had Mrs. CraigB's 2010 Nissan Altima for 10 years, it's not that we need to replace it, but both it and my truck are getting on in miles. It's not that we don't trust them, but you just have that nagging feeling in the back of your head when on a 1000+ mile roadtrip.
Plus, needs have changed some. Our son was 2 when we bought the Altima, we just needed to fit a car seat. Similar for the Frontier, he was in a booster seat. He's now a long legged 12 year old who is taller than his mother. He fits okay in the truck, but during family vacation when granny joins us with the snack bag, blankets and on and on, things start getting tight.
We are also still doing trips for work, have one next week to Louisiana, and it would be nice to have a larger interior to store tools, parts, etc. out of the weather and a little more secure. Plus the truck gets crap for fuel mileage, even compared to the vehicles we are looking at buying.
That's all the long way of saying we are looking at a late model Honda Odyssey, Pilot or Passport (probably won't/can't do new). I like Honda and we've had several of their cars in the past that treated us well, plus none of these have CVTs.
They all use the same 3.5 V6, but split on transmissions with the van getting a 10 speed auto and the 2 SUVs getting a mere 9 speeds.
Pros for the Odyssey? Space, like cavernous space. Best MPGs of the three (though that's only by 1 or 2 on the highway).
Cons for the Odyssey? That space comes at being largest, but only by 6"/150mm in length over the Pilot and slightly over 12"/300mm for the Passport. No AWD available. Honestly, the 2018 refresh looks, odd to me, so that's subjective, but so is the next con. It's a minivan, I mean it does come with some stigma.
Pros for the Pilot? AWD is available. Seats 7 or 8 like the Odyssey (depends on the seating options). Looks pretty good, if not a bit bulky still.
Cons for the Pilot? It's about half the space in the cargo area. That's about it.
Pros for the Passport? AWD is available. You gain back some of the lost cargo area (at the expense of the 3rd row). Subjectively the best looking in the bunch (especially in the newer Trailsport trim, I'm a sucker of chunky/knobby tires). It's the smallest, but really only in length.
Cons for the Passport? You loose the 3rd row, not that this a huge deal breaker. We don't usually need to haul more than 4 butts in one go, but the option to is nice. It's the smallest, but not like that's the worst thing in the rural area we live.
Anyone have any input on this quandary?
Plus, needs have changed some. Our son was 2 when we bought the Altima, we just needed to fit a car seat. Similar for the Frontier, he was in a booster seat. He's now a long legged 12 year old who is taller than his mother. He fits okay in the truck, but during family vacation when granny joins us with the snack bag, blankets and on and on, things start getting tight.
We are also still doing trips for work, have one next week to Louisiana, and it would be nice to have a larger interior to store tools, parts, etc. out of the weather and a little more secure. Plus the truck gets crap for fuel mileage, even compared to the vehicles we are looking at buying.
That's all the long way of saying we are looking at a late model Honda Odyssey, Pilot or Passport (probably won't/can't do new). I like Honda and we've had several of their cars in the past that treated us well, plus none of these have CVTs.
They all use the same 3.5 V6, but split on transmissions with the van getting a 10 speed auto and the 2 SUVs getting a mere 9 speeds.
Pros for the Odyssey? Space, like cavernous space. Best MPGs of the three (though that's only by 1 or 2 on the highway).
Cons for the Odyssey? That space comes at being largest, but only by 6"/150mm in length over the Pilot and slightly over 12"/300mm for the Passport. No AWD available. Honestly, the 2018 refresh looks, odd to me, so that's subjective, but so is the next con. It's a minivan, I mean it does come with some stigma.
Pros for the Pilot? AWD is available. Seats 7 or 8 like the Odyssey (depends on the seating options). Looks pretty good, if not a bit bulky still.
Cons for the Pilot? It's about half the space in the cargo area. That's about it.
Pros for the Passport? AWD is available. You gain back some of the lost cargo area (at the expense of the 3rd row). Subjectively the best looking in the bunch (especially in the newer Trailsport trim, I'm a sucker of chunky/knobby tires). It's the smallest, but really only in length.
Cons for the Passport? You loose the 3rd row, not that this a huge deal breaker. We don't usually need to haul more than 4 butts in one go, but the option to is nice. It's the smallest, but not like that's the worst thing in the rural area we live.
Anyone have any input on this quandary?
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