Another one bites the dust...As of August, I will be trading the Maxima in. I must now step up to a truck because my wife is pregnant with twins and we already have a little guy. I really appreciate all the info I recieved from you guys on the .ORG but now I must say good night. I am unsure of what to upgrade to, I was thinking 04-06 Denali or even an Armada, you know keep it in the family. Thanks again and I would consider all opinions on my next vehicle.

 

How times have changed!

Back in the 60s I owned a Corvette. When our daughter was born, I bought a 4-door Pontiac, but kept the Vette. When our son was born and got a little bigger -- I could no longer squeeze the family into the Vette and sold it. But the 4-door Pontiac worked for the family (and was a real come-down from the Vette).

With the Max you have 4 doors and space in the back seat for 2 child seats. If you really need more room in your vehicle, look at a mini-van.

 

If you really need more room in your vehicle, look at a mini-van. <---Absolutely not! I still need to be stylish and a mini-van just ain't it.

 

That was the position of my daughter-in-law. She owned a sedan and did not want anything else. With her second child, my son twisted her arm to get a mini-van. Now she would not be willing to give it up -- she loves the space and flexability it provides. With young children it is hard to be stylish. I had to give up my Vette (which was also hard at the time). You do what you have to do for your kids.

 

another new jersey-ian bites the dust :-(

 

You'll be surprised at how much room you can get out a Tahoe/Suburban sized truck. ESPECIALLY the Suburban.....wow!

 

I know it's about the kids but like Omarvelous stated the room in the trucks are equal or greater to that of a mini-van. And it's not hard to be stylish if you do it right. But i see where your coming from.

 

A truck drives like a truck -- I know -- I own one. A sedan drives differently than a truck. A mini-van (the better ones) drive more like a sedan than a truck. If you like the way a Max drives, you will prefer the mini-van to a Surburban -- which is definitely a Chevy truck. But I care more about the way a vehicle drives than how it looks -- and a Suburban looks like a pick-up truck with a canopy on the back. I own a pickup truck for the work it will do, not for styling.

 

Good luck with the addition to the family. I have twin daughters and one of them had twin boys.

 

I have a '05 Max and a full sized chevy extended cab truck (I know the crew cabs are a little bigger), but I have more leg and foot room in the back seat of the max than the back seat of the truck. It's easier to get the kids into their car seats in the max.

I agree with Light, if you're looking for cabin space and flexibility, then the minivan is it (not that I could ever do that!). Next to that would be a Tahoe/Subdivision type that has more seating options than a truck.

Other downside: trucks and Tahoe/Subdivision is their mpg. I get about 14/18 with the truck, I have a friend with a Ronda Odyssey and he gets 24/28. The ride quality of the truck is crap (solid rear axle with leaf springs) compared to my dad's Yukon, or any minivan I've ever been in.

 

Congrats! I have 7 month twin daughters.

 

I know that at times I sound like "Light" -- but he is older and has more experience (and stories) than I do. Thanks for the compliment.

All you say is correct. My son gets 24 to 29 in his wife's Odyssey. My wife does not like riding in my truck (unless the camper is on the back) because it rides so hard. She will not drive it -- the Max is her ride.

I suggest you shop both mini-vans and the larger van-trucks. Be certain to drive what you are buying (with your wife along) to be certain it "works" for both of you.

Final thought -- there are still a few station wagons out there that have three rows of seats. You might also check them out, too.

 

we desided to do the Durango... big enough to fit 2 carseats and another kif in the back then it has anouther entire row in the back.. knock on wood we only have 2 kids but they have friends and my wife toats them around.

Dont know what your view on Chrysler products are but i love the D.

We went on vacation to florida in september and rented a 2007 pacifica.. wanst even on the market yet... not a minivan and not really a truck.. and it was very comfortable and sporty.. it also had the third row if needed..

 

I have a 99 Dodge Ram with the long bed and extended cab. Bought it to haul a slide-in camper. The V-10 engine has plenty of torque but gets terrible mileage. It will certainly haul my camper most places and can move it faster than I want to drive. (I get better mileage not pushing all of that air at 70 MPH or faster -- try to keep the truck-camper combo at 65 or less).

While my son likes Hondas, my duaghter has a Chrysler mini-van with the seats that hide in the floor (for when you need to haul things and don't want to lift out the seats).

There are many choices out there to handle 3 kids, you just need to find the one that works best for you.

 

And you'll be surprised how few miles per gallon you would get from Tahoe/Suburban.

If I was in your situation Toyota Sienna would be my first choice.

 

Woops. Light gets a lot of credit around here, and deservedly so. Sorry didn't mean to overlook who did the actual typing. I had just spent time in other treads reading lights comments and that just stuck in my head! My wife also dislikes riding in my truck, and would rather rent a different car than have to drive my truck.

 

well congrats on the twins. My sister in law is due any day now. And before my wife passed she was a surrogate mom with twins. I would not wish a minivan on anyone but you should look at the oydessy. If you need a huge suv I would say the Q56 that thing is pure fire and the ride is great. better resale than the Denali. Good luck get all the sleep that you can now.

 

Well thank you guys, I really appreciate all the opinions. I will test drive as many vehicles as is possible. I started on the sleep already. QX56 is sick, that's why I mentioned the Armada. I also noticed no one suggested it, any reasons why. Thanks again.

 

Did not mention the Armada becasue you brought up the Denali and the Q56 would be in the same class as the Denali just trying to keep things on a level playing field. The Armada is very nice and if I were in to large SUV's would not mind having one of those. Heck just drive them all and pic the one you and the wifey like the best.

 

True and by the way, sorry for your loss, keep your head up!

 

How about keeping the Max and adding a Pathfinder.....

It works well for me, the wife, 2 kids and 2 dogs.

And it comes in black!!!!

 

My kids are 5 and 2 and still in car seats. We just purchased an 05 Maxima because we don't plan to have anymore. We also have an 02 Explorer and it was perfect for the kids when they were infants. We could pack it up with all their things (strollers, playpens, bags, toys, etc) when they went to grandmas house or we went out of town. Now that they are older, everything we need fits in the trunk! Good Luck on your purchase!

 

I had a 05 Magnum with the 5.7 V8 before the Maxima....it bit the dust...hard. It was safe, someone ended up heading the wrong way on the freeway and we hit them at about 60-65. Airbags went off and all the damage was to the vehicles and not us.





Anyways, it had tons of room in the back and there was plenty of stuff for me to mod as well as it fit my kids car seat, the wifes friends kid without a problem and had room for one more in the middle. Plus it got decent gas mileage. I averaged about 18.5 mpg city/hwy and on a trip to Vegas it got 25 on the way.

 

have you considered the murano? i just traded my 04 SE in on a silver murano SL. i loved my maxima but im a truck person. i love the murano because i feel like its very similar to the maxima when i drive it, its a truck, but not a real hard riding truck like a denail/tahoe

 

And you'll be equally surprised at the gas pump...

 

hehe, i had same exact reaction, see #15

 

ejjj ty, jakie kola masz na swojim samochodzie?

 

LOL, must have read over it but so true...

My buddy pays between $60-$80 (depending on gas prices) a pop to fill up his Tahoe...

 

Exact reason why I got rid of my JEEP once the prices were heading towards the SKY, hehe

 

HP Racing, osiemnastki LOL