family hauler options

[thebarber]

ok, so after a gruelling 12h drive back from timmins this past sunday, we've come to 3 conclusions.

1. we should take the monday on a holiday long weekend
2. we need a car w/ a/c
3. we need a car w/ cruise

so im looking, ideally, in the $10-12000 range (keep in mind i live in canada and prices are a bit different)

looking for something bigger than the aveo

ideally a wagon/hatch - - can also be small suv...its just my mother-in-law (who lives with us) will have trouble getting into/out of something higher...but if suv has readily available lowering kit, that'd be ok too

large sedan might do it too

something ideally reliable and/or cheap to fix

im not sure something the size of a matrix/vibe, focus hatch, optra, mazda 3, etc would work. right now we're essentially 3 adults with 1 child, but aiming for a 2nd child next year....so something wide would work if its a 5-seater

also not sure whether we'll go manual or auto....if we trade in the aveo (which we might not due to its low low resale) we'd need an auto as my mother-in-law need a car in the day as watches our daughter while we're at work

ideas thus far include:
chevy malibu maxx (mainly SS)
dodge magnum
nissan x-trail (canada only, heh heh)
mazda 6 wagon
mazda 5
some kind of minivan (likely domestic due to $ constraints)

any other ideas/comments, im open to them (please no domestic hate unless you have valid proof that one of the cars i listed has some kind of flaw other than the badge on the hood/trunk)

[WeeYari]

I've not regretted purchasing our used 2001 Grand Caravan 3+ years ago.

These things are SUPER CHEAP, and uber comfortable. May sit a little high for the mother-in-law, but can be lowered or running boards installed. Gets 10ish litres/100km highway on the annual NB runs.

Also, pull out the 2nd and 3rd row seats and will easily haul 4X8 sheet stock.

[coffiend]

Of the above listed, I would do the Mazda 5.

Maybe a used passat wagon? Unless VW isn't your thing...

[WeeYari]

Mazda5 is just starting to enter into the upper end of that price range. Pretty slim pickings currently. Might be more viable closer to a year from now.

[thebarber]

thats the thing, i know vans are super cheap for what you get...but don't really WANT a van quite yet...

[Shroomster]

don't you have the Auris in canada?

and don't get the magnum unless you like the low driver visibility range through the windows (read; big blind spots/pillars)


honestly I would look ( i say look only) at the Ford Flex......for what it is it's actually pretty nice....

[BailOut]

What about the Ford Fusion? It's won all sorts of engineering and consumer satisfaction awards, and Ford swears it's as reliable as anything Toyota makes (take that for what it's worth). Earlier models can be had for less than $10k.