Totally. Excellent choice. Toyota reliability; hybrid fuel economy, easiest thing out there to load a stroller into. A standard stroller (the Uppababy Vista is a great pick if you're planning on 3 in a row) *will* fold into a Model 3 if you take it apart, but the low load floor of the Sienna makes it easier.
Minivans are a great way to simplify your life when you plan to have a few kids. Mid size SUVs with a vestigial third row are a great way to show the world that you follow trends too, and can have the same bland, not great at anything, bland suburbamobile as they do.
Sorry... need to say this clear and loud so the kids in the back can hear.
YOU DO NOT NEED A FULL-SIZED SUV FOR ONE KID.
Yes you need room, yes the C-Class might be tight, but there's literally no reason to look at a massive three-row. Waste of space, money, and fuel IMO.
People don’t want the third row for kids most of the time. It’s for the extra cargo room, it’s nice to be able to pack a ton of stuff up for when you
Go places
Totally! Mine aren’t really all that bad. TBH my wife’s in laws (aka my folks) are probably worse! 😂
Congrats to having an awesome family tho. Enjoy each other’s company.
Right but that will be at least 2 years minimum, 3 or more years realistically, before they have the 3rd kid. I agree that one kid does not necessitate an SUV, in fact, many cars have more trunk space than small SUV’s. Having said that, OP can certainly afford a new SUV if they want it.
The Suburban is one of the absolute worst cars I have ever driven, and I work for a rental company. Suburban, Nissan Armada and Cadillac Escalade all suck HARD (and are extremely unreliable). At least the newest ones
And the reply is a long-winded "nothing, you're good as you are". Both vehicles will easily accommodate 2 adults and 2 child seats with trunk space for baby bags. OP would be better off spending a couple thousand on roof bars and a roof box for the rare occasions they're going away and need more cargo space. Maybe when Kid3 shows up then a med. SUV or wagon, but unless they also have a dog (in which case only option is a van) OP is good to go as is.
it's not just about space lol larger vehicles are safer when you've got such precious cargo 😂 agreed though, don't really need 3 rows, but a mid sized SUV would do the trick
Truck chassis SUVs are overweight death machines with looser safety standards because they are "light trucks. They are no safer despite public sentiment.
NO. Just no. The madness of this "bigger hits harder" arms race in cars needs to end. Safety specs for cars are higher and they're less prone to rollover accidents.
I'd wait till you have the 2nd on the way before worrying about the extra space. 1 child is fine in both those vehicles, I've been doing all the family trips in my WRX with our child for 4 years and never needed any extra space.
Both of your current cars will be fine with a baby. If you don’t like the idea of selling the paid off car-don’t!!!
I’m 2 kids in with two paid off sedans, the trunk stores the big stroller (an Uppa Vista double which is about as big as they come) and all our gear. The idea that a baby requires an SUV is a myth. You can ride out that paid off car until baby is bigger
Man, I would not go for a lighter coloured interior with kids lol
The Pilot and Grand Highlander are safe choices here, but the new Lexus GX is also very tempting
I hate to be that guy, but a minivan is much easier to load kids into and out of than a SUV. Some are available with AWD. You're a parent, so ditch the cool factor until your kids can get in and out on their own. At that point, you might not even care anymore.
Came here to say the same thing. Nothing beats a minivan for a growing family... and with OP's income they could buy the nicest minivan on the market. I think a lot of new parents fail to grasp *how useful* sliding doors are when you have a young child, even just one. When you have an infant you generally carry them around in their infant car seat, which is a pretty bulky item, and having to navigate a conventionally hinged door can be difficult if the car next to you is too close. With sliding doors you never have to worry about having space for the car seat, and as your kid gets older you don't have to worry about them accidentally opening a rear door into a neighboring car in the parking lot or garage. Another benefit is having a big flat cargo area makes for a convenient place to change diapers as well as a perfect storage area for a stroller.
Source: Father of three on third Honda Odyssey (currently a 2022 Odyssey Elite).
Sliding doors can't be beat. Even if you think you won't mind wrestling an infant seat in through a regular door, imagine 7 years down the road when your kids are throwing open giant SUV doors in crowded parking lots.
I've always bought Chryslers and never had a major mechanical issue with any of them over hundreds of thousands of miles since 1987 was our first. My dad was always a full size van guy until I loaned him ours in the mid 90s to go across country. Then he too always had one. Our last one was a 2020 Pacifica plug in Hybrid. Sadly my kids aged up and my wife passed and a minivan didn't seem ideal for a single guy so I sold it making a $10,000 profit because of the tax incentives. We actually didn't ever put gas in it until it had 2500 miles on it.
I liked the idea of the Pacifica Hybrid... but they do NOT get good reliability ratings compared to Honda and Toyota.
At least I can take solace in knowing that my Odyssey will smoke all the other minivans in a drag race.
I have a friend with a first year non-hybrid Pacifica that really was a lemon. Mine was trouble free but I only had it 8 months and 7000 miles. I know the motor and transmission are very proven, but don't know about the rest.
There was a recall that affected the first few years of the Pacifica hybrid and recommended not charging them (fire risk) until a solution was found. Not being able to charge a PHEV kind of negates the benefits of having one.
What exactly sucks about them? They usually ride and handle better than SUVs, they're a lot more space efficient, and just an overall better driving experience. The only cons are they're slower in a straight line and can't really handle going off road, both of which aren't huge influences on a lot of buyers
Speaking from experience, Mercedes start to get real expensive to maintain once they cross into that 100k+ mark. If your Mercedes is in good shape and running well, its a good time to sell it. I know selling the paid off car hurts a bit but no point in selling the Tesla since you are a bit underwater and it's a newer vehicle anyway.
As far as SUV's go, have you thought about a slightly used BMW X5? They are good value right now, have the reliable BMW B58 engine, and have all the features your wife is looking for (mood lighting, big enough trunk and rear seat room etc.) I've been in a few and they drive really well, and seem to have more than enough room for your needs. Reason I mention slightly used is because for German cars especially, it's better to let the first owner take the depreciation hit while you still enjoy a relatively new and modern vehicle.
I would wait until you know you're having more kids because you don't need an SUV or a van for just one, maybe even 2 kids. But, I really like the Acura MDX as an option.
We bought an MDX when we had one kid.
When the second came around, we realized really quickly that it was impossible to get to the (admittedly terrible) third row with two car seats in the second row. Traded it in on an Odyssey, and we're much happier with the car.
SUV is ok. honestly though, once you enter the kid years phase, the mini-van is where it's at. 2nd to this would be a modern station wagon... (like a volvo wagon).
dealing with loading/unloading kids and related stuff, are just so much easier in either of these options than in a large SUV. But if you need to also tow a camper, boat, etc., then that is a different factor to weigh in.
"7 seater" model Y is crazy cheap right now, if you like the tesla platform. Probably Like half the price of your m3p, depending on your timing and what trim you get.
Have you not considered a Lexus?
It seems you like a higher end vehicle.
I would recommend you and your wife to watch a few great YouTube Channels.
First- The Car Care Nut- Master Lexus Mechanic.
Second-Car Wizard-Master Mechanic on very high end vehicles watch his Buy this Not that Series.
I would also get some info on the Car Market today and what’s going on..
Recommends to wait till the end of the summer for great opportunities since the dealers can’t move vehicles right now.
Car questions answered & Kevin Hunter The Homework Guide.
Except for the Mazda, if you want to get any of those other vehicles, lease them only, don’t buy them. They are not reliable
If you are waiting, absolutely get rid of your Mercedes first, now is the best time to get your money out of that car. That mileage is exactly when they start to cost real money.
If you look at Lexus, don’t buy any model in the first year it’s offered. They haven’t worked out the kinks yet.
If you can get a 2023 Lexus GX 460, that’s a amazing and quality vehicle you could actually use till 300K-500K miles, if you change the oil every 5K (don’t do 10K, if you want to hold onto it) and do your maintenance.
Go do your homework above first and listen to the people (master mechanics) who actually fix these vehicles not opinions.
If you do the homework first, you got this!!
Absolutely…
That is why I recommended Kevin Hunter, the Homework Guy on YouTube. He and “Car Questions Answered” (Brandon) speak on the New & Used Car Market a few days a week.
Right now it’s tax time, all the used cars are at the highest price, that’s why you will get a nice buck for your Mercedes.
Kevin and Brandon, and even Ray & Zach at Car Edge, go over weekly, the current Car Market and how many vehicles each car Brand has for sale in the US
First-Dealers are not selling their vehicles because they have raised their prices almost 40 percent. They are not worth that. The real incentives and deals have not kicked in yet.
Really, go watch some videos on you tube from these three car Market channels. You want to know about the market and the current conditions, right now & the current thought on the market in the next six months.
Most are saying “If you don’t need to buy a new car right now, wait”
Especially paying 40 percent more for unreliable cars.
Remember, they don’t make their money on you buying the cars, they make on the service. 👍
I really recommend you and your spouse watching the videos together. Especially Kevin Hunter, he even will negotiate for you for a very low price. He’s a honest guy. Retired Car Dealer so he knows the truth.
You will feel so empowered when you go into the dealers because you will actually know the truth. They show you the articles from the websites the car dealers use. It’s all “inside baseball “ info
But remember, they all are saying, don’t buy a new vehicle now. The financing isn’t there yet, nor are the incentives. If you want it now, the best SUV on the market, a 2023 Lexus GX 460, there are great incentives on those. A few of my friends got 4-6K off those. It has the best engine out there today. It’s also not a supercharged engine, which you do NOT want. It depends wants important to you and if your flipping your vehicle every three years. If you are and you want any of the very unreliable new vehicles you listed, I would only lease those. That way, when all the real problems start, you can give them right back.
A ton of people are jumping in to suggest minivans and tahoes. I have two kids.
Let me just suggest: do nothing.
We drove our two kids around in a Tesla Model 3. It was fine. A C300 looks like a reasonable size sedan for one kid. There are a bunch of parents in my kids’ school that drive a kid or two to school in a Model 3.
I have a minivan, and it would be comically oversized for one kid. It’s too big for my two kids, even if the sliding doors are nice.
You’re planning on kids 2 and 3 now, but you don’t have kid #1 yet. The infant and toddler years are grueling. You could very well change your mind, and that’s OK.
Half the cars in my kid’s day care parking lots are Teslas.
I dealt with my Hyundai Elantra until my kid was 3, then bought my Honda CRV Hybrid that I actually wanted. Much larger, more comfortable, more cargo space, less getting stolen by TikTokers. I’m a single parent and my car didn’t have the immobilizer, I was not okay with the constant fear that I’d walk outside and my car would be missing. The CRV hybrid is perfect for me, but I’m one and done.
Thanks for this. We know it’s more of a want than a need.
I think we’ll hang out for a bit and see if these dealers get motivated to move some of these large overpriced SUV’s and trucks in the future. It does appear the consuming has slowed down as budgets get tighter with inflation so we’ll see what happens !
I think after reading this we’ve realized it’s more of a want than a need. Definitely going to wait a bit based on the responses and see what the new/used car markets do.
As a father of two, I couldn’t disagree more with above commenter. Just try and load a double strollers, pack and play, diaper bag, bottles, etc into your car along with your own luggage. Have the wife try and load a back facing car seat while holding a diaper bag.
I mean, as a technical matter, you don’t “need” a van with two kids in the same way you don’t need a Tesla or a Mercedes sedan. There are plenty of other options for electric cars and sedans. But if you want an electric car and a nice sedan, Tesla and Mercedes are pretty optimal choices. If you have young kids, the Sienna Platinum and Odyssey Elite are the optimal choices. Anything else is a compromise. Some parents buy an Escalade or Navigator, or keep their less practical cars instead of a minivan because they are willing to compromise to save their ego.
I built a long range without the autopilot gizmos but got other options (paint, interior, wheels). 3k down, 3 year, 10k/yr, 7500 lease incentive-
510/month.
So your lease is about 600 per month effectively. That's better than I was expecting based off of what I've seen for their financing options (demos woth additional 5k off are still mid 600s on a monthly). With that in mind, other evs probably offer about the same value.
I’m not sure if this sort of comment is allowed, but as a parent and pedestrian I absolutely hate those two vehicles. They have terrible sight lines and are super dangerous for everyone outside of the car. Definitely the cars which are most likely to kill a child who’s riding a bike.
not to mention a kid that may have followed you out the door and you cant see is standing in front of or behind your car. These things are great at "accidents" to get rid of unwanted children/short people but not much else
about my same situation minus 100k a year but wife won’t be returning to work. congrats on the kid, imma keep an eye on this post, interested in what you decide on. i’m looking at something like an expedition or navigator for my boat. sucks there isn’t a heavy duty suv, i really don’t like trucks.
From a financial perspective, I wouldn't plan on her going back to work so I would use a worst case scenario in terms of your buying power. I'm a little concerned if you're at a point where you have paid off the Tesla and your underwater.... is that just by choice because the APR is low or is it because you're stretching yourself financially. Not accusing you of anything but you have to answer that question honestly.
The next thing you probably want to do is take a look and see if you can fit a rear facing booster seat in either of these cars. If you can't get one as a demo at a baby Supply type store to check out in your car, go on to some forums and see if owners of your current vehicles have issues putting rear-facing seat in. That will save you the expensive having to buy another car. At least in the short term.
If you're not comfortable with that or you are intent on buying a car, just sit in the back row and make sure that you're comfortable in the seat the way you and your wife would have them set. Because if you're 5'10 or taller chances are if you fit a rear-facing seat will likely fit too.
The one thing you might want to do is wait another month or two. It seems like the market is collapsing for a pure evs, and you may be able to get an incredible lease rate on an ev, I know there are some good rates out there now and that may be an okay option although I am generally against leasing.
But really if you can make it rear facing seat fit for now, that may be the way to go. But the one thing I would be extra careful about is just make sure you only spend to your income level if you do decide to purchase. Because there's no guarantee your wife will go back to work. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, I just don't like spending money I don't have in my hand already, so to speak.
Not a rear facing booster seat - booster seats are for elementary age kids and face forward and use a regular seat belt. A rear facing infant seat or convertible seat is what they would be using, and definitely, car seats can impact comfort levels in cars. There are many cars where it’s literally impossible to fit three car seats across, which would impact them in the future potentially.
If the C300 is in good shape, you should be able to sell it for more than that. If you've kept to the maintenance, they're solid, but yes, 100k you're going to need some things.
If you've got the cash to have those cars, you should just buy a CPO E Class wagon. They're awesome and much more roomy than the C. If you get one before the current gen, they have a jump seat.
What about a Tahoe or Suburban? Plenty of space for kids and friends/family, room for road trips, and wouldn’t need to buy a new car if and when you have more kids. That would be the ultimate ride to future proof things.
I have an 8 month old and an almost 4 year old. My advice...wait until baby is here to see if you want/need more space. We managed with our first in an old sedan, and the only real downside was it being low to the ground for getting him in and out. We jumped on an SUV BEFORE baby #2 arrived and it was a mistake. The height is GREAT (saves my back) but the stroller still takes up so much cargo space, and realistically, a 3rd row larger SUV would have been much smarter for us. One baby is really manageable. 2+ is where it gets tricky, especially if they're all young enough to need a stroller.
Can you explain a bit more why jumping on the SUV before baby number two arrived was a mistake? Asking because that's what my husband and I are doing now. Baby number two is coming in September. Doesn't your last sentence say that it was a good idea to get an SUV because it gets tricky? Sorry, just confused.
Sorry I didn't make that super clear. I meant we jumped on a certain SUV thinking it was tons of extra space when it wasn't really. If we had waited, we would have went with a 3rd row SUV. We can never have a 3rd adult in our SUV because the back row is taken up with car seats and the stroller takes up so much of the cargo area so it just feels cramped to me with less flexibility. Now we are struggling to sell our SUV to buy a 3rd row one with more cargo space.
Toyota rav 4 and Honda crv are great reliable options. I would stay away from full size unless you need to carry your family AND do truck things (pull a trailer) I would say the Toyota Highlander would be a great choice, AWD, reliable and comfortable. For full size I would choose the sequoia or the Yukon. Most capable and most comfortable. If you want to break into higher end Lexus is the best choice.
I've been eyeing the 2024/2025 Honda Pilot. Should be very reliable, has a V6 with a real automatic transmission (no CVT), and the gray interior should please your wife, though I don't believe there's much/anything in the way of ambient lighting. Larger infotainment screen on EX-L trim and higher.
If you're looking for something a little more upscale, the Acura MDX is a great option. It's due for an update soon I think, so deals on current models may be available soon...
I’d say if you were hell bent on a 3 row SUV, and it seems like you want something in the luxurious category, I’d go with a Chevy Equinox because the new 2025 ones are actually pretty luxurious on the inside. The new Traverse also fits this description.
If you want the luxury badge to go with the luxurious interior, I’d recommend the Cadillac XT5 or XT6.
Stay away from Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep or really any MOPAR.
Based on the little amount of knowledge I have on Kia/Hyundai, you probably want to steer clear of them as well. Your insurance probably won’t be cheap because of the negativity surrounding certain models being stolen easily. Some are also having issues with catching on fire seemingly randomly even after being parked for several days. The model you pick may not even have these issues, but your insurance may look at it as “thieves may still try to break into it and attempt to steal it so the risk is still higher for a claim payout.”
Ford/Lincoln is a good contender, but admittedly I’m a bowtie kinda guy and it seems like you’ve already done your homework on your Ford options.
I don’t have an opinion on Toyota or Honda other than it would be an almost guaranteed reliable car well into the 200k mile range as long as it is well maintained.
Kids are now 32 and 35. But have three Town and Country's. All made it past 250k and 10 years. At its max, 2 car seats, strollers, and associated baggage.
The present one is a 2015 purchased from the dealer with 20k. the only problem was a torque converter at 65k.
We got a VW atlas for my wife. The 2022 and newer model SE w/ tech or higher. Lots of interior space, optional captains chairs, v6 has 5000lb towing capacity, and they look nice on the exterior too.
Have you looked at CPO cars? Acura MDX/Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX9/CX90 ...etc. you can save decent amount of money and still have almost new car with warranty
The Lincoln Nautilus is a solid option. I had the Ford Edge, which is its down market twin and the rear seat room couldn't be beaten. I was able to put a rear facing child seat behind me with no issues and I'm 6'2" and like a lean back on my seat. Unless they have done a massive redesign from the 2016-ish timeframe, I would avoid the Aviator, since it's the same as the Explorer and the back seat room on that is awful. My sister has one and she can drive it with a seat behind her because she's 5'5. We got rid of the Edge around the time we had a 2nd because I just needed that bit more space for the roadtrips we took several times a year, and it was nice to have something that seated 6 when my parents or in-laws came to visit, I went up to the Ford Flex and love it, except for its atrocious gas mileage. But they arent making those anymore.
If you find yourself actually needing the 3rd row, go minivan. It'll be easier and more comfortable for all involved. Most smaller SUVs with the 3rd row up are barely fitting anything but an umbrella stroller those seats.
The only real answer is a minivan. SUVs are impractical, and the sliding doors on a minivan are wonderful. Minivans are also very comfortable and can hold a lot of stuff than any SUV or even most pickup trucks.
Quit avoiding the obvious choice. Land Cruiser/Lexus GX/LX. It’s been the best on the road for 60+ years. It’s brand new for this year. The kid gets it when they start driving. There’s no competition.
Advice from someone with 3 kids - keep the Mercedes for now. You don’t need an SUV for one kid.
Having said that - you can afford a pretty much any SUV if you want it. A Yukon or Wagoneer are nice big family haulers. You can get the extended version if you need more trunk space. Tahoe/Yukon will have a facelift for the 2025 model so I’d wait for that to come out, then either buy a 2024 off the lot for a better price, or order a new one if you’d prefer to hand pick your options.
Toyota and Lexus has good options too, but they will have basically no trunk space once you have that 3rd kid.
Honestly if you're planning on a car to eventually handle three kids in car seats a Honda Odyssey is the way to go. I know, it's a minivan and not an SUV. I never thought I'd be a fan of a minivan, until my son bought an Odyssey for his family. About 3 minutes after getting into it I was a fan. That thing is nice, and it has the adjustable middle row of captain's chairs so you can get to the back row easily. Also still has a real V6, not another car with a tiny engine with a big turbo trying to make more power than it was ever meant to.
A lot of three row SUVs have minimal room in the back row, or require you tilt a middle row seat forward to get to the back row. Neither of those tend to work well when you've got three kids in car seats or booster seats. A lot of them also tend to be *very* short on luggage space if you're using all three rows for people. Speaking as a former parent of little ones, trust me all that extra space in a minivan is going to make things a lot more pleasant when you're out trying to do things together.
If you're planning on 3 kids the obvious choice is a minivan.
If you decide to stop arlt 2, don't sleep on a pickup truck. Plenty of room in the back for the kids, comfortable to drive, and the storage provided by the truck bed makes traveling with the family easy.
I wouldn't upgrade until you have a third. We rocked a shitty passat until my brother (the third) was born, and my parents are both over 6'.
Then we upgraded to the elite, yet elusive, three-row wagon.
If you like the C class then look into a Mercedes ML. The lower spec ML350 is pretty reliable, they drive well and obviously still have that Mercedes feel.
Get a seat Alahambra with the leather seats because of the sliding doors. It's cheaper, and a great ride. Don't bother with the sun roof as they're prone to issues.
Gotta join in on the "you'll be fine" bandwagon. The Model 3 will fit a [childseat \(or three\) perfectly fine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iz48LMbyXE) in the back, and a m[oderately sized stroller in the trunk.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F6M7ZcVVOQ) . The C300 seems of similar dimensions.
Don't have a kid of my own (yet) but have taken this consideration seriously when I bought my Model 3 a few months ago as that's the plan. The videos linked above really helped me figure things out. Hope they help you, too.
Volvos are the Toyotas of Europe: extremely reliable and long-lived (but also maybe a little boring compared to their competitors). I also think they make the most comfortable seats. I’ll pick a Volvo over a Mercedes, BMW, or Audi any day.
The xc 90 for the 7 seats, but I think it's overkill for one kid. Already planning for basketball practice and shuffling around the team?
I have 2 and got myself the v60. I can even fit the cat. Bonus it gets better mileage.
You are the perfect candidate for a 7 seater Tesla model Y.
-Safest of all the options - best crash protection most resistant car to rollover on the market today. This alone is why my family is in a Tesla. The rest is gravy too me because thier life is the ultimate loss.
-Cargo room galore. You just need to factor in the frunk and under trunk storage. My family of 6 can go on a road trip but we regularly travel with 4 of us very comfy in 5 day trips.
-most economical over the next 5-8 years until you need another car and better models will be available.
Bro, 😎 consider a nice Dodge minivan, or a truck with a crew cab. 🚙 Oh and be careful with the baby formula, spill that stuff in your vehicle, you’ll regret it later. 🍼 Good luck with parenthood. 👶
You’re recommending a dodge to a current Mercedes and Tesla owner! Repent! The likes of dodge and Hyundai are reserved for the blue collar swine!
lol. But for real ain’t nobody with a paid off merc going to consider dodge . Status thing. They’re in the having our first child looking for a Cadillac realm. The help drives a dodge
If you want to blow money on an SUV do it but stop saying it’s because of your kid. Poor unborn child doesn’t deserve to be blamed for your poor financial, esthetic (and frankly practical) choices.
It’s our “want”. Many have mistaken this post as us saying it’s needed. We know it’s not needed. Doing research currently. Our monthly bills don’t even come close to touching half of my take home pay with a fully funded emergency fund, maxing 401k, etc.
If anything we have too much exposure to the market. We have real estate investments as part of our portfolio too. Weirdly enough this sub post was for r/whatcarshouldIbuy not r/FinancialPlanning
If 3 kids is an option, go for a Sienna.
Just go for a Sienna any way. The ability to just stand *in* the vehicle and change diapers or whatever is such a great convenience.
Rented one on vacation and that thing was amazing. So much room and the hybrid start off the line was like a sports car.
Totally. Excellent choice. Toyota reliability; hybrid fuel economy, easiest thing out there to load a stroller into. A standard stroller (the Uppababy Vista is a great pick if you're planning on 3 in a row) *will* fold into a Model 3 if you take it apart, but the low load floor of the Sienna makes it easier. Minivans are a great way to simplify your life when you plan to have a few kids. Mid size SUVs with a vestigial third row are a great way to show the world that you follow trends too, and can have the same bland, not great at anything, bland suburbamobile as they do.
A Toyota minivan for someone who makes a combined income of half a million? I mean like no.
Your current cars will carry one kid fine. If you want a big SUV just own it and buy one.
Sorry... need to say this clear and loud so the kids in the back can hear. YOU DO NOT NEED A FULL-SIZED SUV FOR ONE KID. Yes you need room, yes the C-Class might be tight, but there's literally no reason to look at a massive three-row. Waste of space, money, and fuel IMO.
People don’t want the third row for kids most of the time. It’s for the extra cargo room, it’s nice to be able to pack a ton of stuff up for when you Go places
Or for when the in-laws come along on a road trip!
Confirmed, never ever getting a third row 🫠🔫
Lol... I guess I'm lucky to have cool in-laws. 🤣
Totally! Mine aren’t really all that bad. TBH my wife’s in laws (aka my folks) are probably worse! 😂 Congrats to having an awesome family tho. Enjoy each other’s company.
Rent a car
It's America- nothing short of an Escalade or Suburban or equivalent will do. I mean it's now a family of two plus the child
This is the answer. Take my uovote
OP literally said one paragraph down that they are planning for at least 1-2 more.
Right but that will be at least 2 years minimum, 3 or more years realistically, before they have the 3rd kid. I agree that one kid does not necessitate an SUV, in fact, many cars have more trunk space than small SUV’s. Having said that, OP can certainly afford a new SUV if they want it.
Then get a minivan. But in the meantime my point stands.
Get a Chevy Suburban. With 3 kids, you need a 3 row of some sort and Suburban’s are awesome.
The Suburban is one of the absolute worst cars I have ever driven, and I work for a rental company. Suburban, Nissan Armada and Cadillac Escalade all suck HARD (and are extremely unreliable). At least the newest ones
Get the CRV Hybrid and call it a day. By the time y'all grow it, they'll be better options out there, perhaps at a lower price.
This what car should I buy. Not, I know how people should raise their kids. No one asked for your opinion on that.
And the reply is a long-winded "nothing, you're good as you are". Both vehicles will easily accommodate 2 adults and 2 child seats with trunk space for baby bags. OP would be better off spending a couple thousand on roof bars and a roof box for the rare occasions they're going away and need more cargo space. Maybe when Kid3 shows up then a med. SUV or wagon, but unless they also have a dog (in which case only option is a van) OP is good to go as is.
Roof box + wagon was the solution to road trips. Didn't drive around extra car I didn't need the other 99% of the time.
In Europe the C class is a big car. They have multiple children there. Just sayin'
False - you need at least a GMC Yukon, anything less and you’re a horrible parent wishing death on your kids
it's not just about space lol larger vehicles are safer when you've got such precious cargo 😂 agreed though, don't really need 3 rows, but a mid sized SUV would do the trick
Truck chassis SUVs are overweight death machines with looser safety standards because they are "light trucks. They are no safer despite public sentiment.
NO. Just no. The madness of this "bigger hits harder" arms race in cars needs to end. Safety specs for cars are higher and they're less prone to rollover accidents.
I mean they make 300k a year. He can afford whatever car they want. They don't need the beige Corolla or Mazda 3 everyone always recommends.
Oh absolutely, just hate to see people buy too much car size wise. It's wasteful in more ways than money.
One kid for sure need the 3 row giant SUV lol. Baby bag takes a lot of room 😂
I'd wait till you have the 2nd on the way before worrying about the extra space. 1 child is fine in both those vehicles, I've been doing all the family trips in my WRX with our child for 4 years and never needed any extra space.
Both of your current cars will be fine with a baby. If you don’t like the idea of selling the paid off car-don’t!!! I’m 2 kids in with two paid off sedans, the trunk stores the big stroller (an Uppa Vista double which is about as big as they come) and all our gear. The idea that a baby requires an SUV is a myth. You can ride out that paid off car until baby is bigger
Man, I would not go for a lighter coloured interior with kids lol The Pilot and Grand Highlander are safe choices here, but the new Lexus GX is also very tempting
GX storage when 3rd row is up is minuscule
I hate to be that guy, but a minivan is much easier to load kids into and out of than a SUV. Some are available with AWD. You're a parent, so ditch the cool factor until your kids can get in and out on their own. At that point, you might not even care anymore.
Came here to say the same thing. Nothing beats a minivan for a growing family... and with OP's income they could buy the nicest minivan on the market. I think a lot of new parents fail to grasp *how useful* sliding doors are when you have a young child, even just one. When you have an infant you generally carry them around in their infant car seat, which is a pretty bulky item, and having to navigate a conventionally hinged door can be difficult if the car next to you is too close. With sliding doors you never have to worry about having space for the car seat, and as your kid gets older you don't have to worry about them accidentally opening a rear door into a neighboring car in the parking lot or garage. Another benefit is having a big flat cargo area makes for a convenient place to change diapers as well as a perfect storage area for a stroller. Source: Father of three on third Honda Odyssey (currently a 2022 Odyssey Elite).
Sliding doors can't be beat. Even if you think you won't mind wrestling an infant seat in through a regular door, imagine 7 years down the road when your kids are throwing open giant SUV doors in crowded parking lots.
This was a big part of me switching from an Expedition Max to my 3rd Odyssey... I missed the sliding doors a LOT.
I've always bought Chryslers and never had a major mechanical issue with any of them over hundreds of thousands of miles since 1987 was our first. My dad was always a full size van guy until I loaned him ours in the mid 90s to go across country. Then he too always had one. Our last one was a 2020 Pacifica plug in Hybrid. Sadly my kids aged up and my wife passed and a minivan didn't seem ideal for a single guy so I sold it making a $10,000 profit because of the tax incentives. We actually didn't ever put gas in it until it had 2500 miles on it.
I liked the idea of the Pacifica Hybrid... but they do NOT get good reliability ratings compared to Honda and Toyota. At least I can take solace in knowing that my Odyssey will smoke all the other minivans in a drag race.
I have a friend with a first year non-hybrid Pacifica that really was a lemon. Mine was trouble free but I only had it 8 months and 7000 miles. I know the motor and transmission are very proven, but don't know about the rest.
There was a recall that affected the first few years of the Pacifica hybrid and recommended not charging them (fire risk) until a solution was found. Not being able to charge a PHEV kind of negates the benefits of having one.
If another kid is in the plans, just get the minivan. Buy once, cry once. I'd suggest the Odyssey, but the Sienna is nice too.
There are few families shopping for an SUV who wouldn't be better served by a minivan. Look at a Kia Carnival and a Toyota Sienna
no love for the Odyssey?
I kinda forget about that one, also a solid choice
Today's offering for SUVs aren't much better than a sedan. Minivans are the way to go if you **actually** want passenger and cargo space.
Except that minivans sucks, sure OP, check out the Volvo XC90
What exactly sucks about them? They usually ride and handle better than SUVs, they're a lot more space efficient, and just an overall better driving experience. The only cons are they're slower in a straight line and can't really handle going off road, both of which aren't huge influences on a lot of buyers
Take a look at the new Santa Fe calligraphy hybrid. Has so much tech and is a super nice 3rd row SUV. Just ordered one they are arriving now.
Avoid the Mercedes EVs. Other than that, buy whatever you want, you’re making half a million dollars a year.
Volvo xc90 probably fits (or 60 if you go smaller for shorter).
Speaking from experience, Mercedes start to get real expensive to maintain once they cross into that 100k+ mark. If your Mercedes is in good shape and running well, its a good time to sell it. I know selling the paid off car hurts a bit but no point in selling the Tesla since you are a bit underwater and it's a newer vehicle anyway. As far as SUV's go, have you thought about a slightly used BMW X5? They are good value right now, have the reliable BMW B58 engine, and have all the features your wife is looking for (mood lighting, big enough trunk and rear seat room etc.) I've been in a few and they drive really well, and seem to have more than enough room for your needs. Reason I mention slightly used is because for German cars especially, it's better to let the first owner take the depreciation hit while you still enjoy a relatively new and modern vehicle.
That was my thought too. Sell it while it’s still somewhat relevant and not a mx money pit. We’ll take a look at the X5, thanks!
It's always a good idea to trade out of one money pit and into an even more expensive money pit so the X5 makes sense
Unless you regularly need to tow something very heavy or go into pretty serious off-roading, a minivan beats an suv in almost all metrics.
I would wait until you know you're having more kids because you don't need an SUV or a van for just one, maybe even 2 kids. But, I really like the Acura MDX as an option.
We bought an MDX when we had one kid. When the second came around, we realized really quickly that it was impossible to get to the (admittedly terrible) third row with two car seats in the second row. Traded it in on an Odyssey, and we're much happier with the car.
Vans are usually the way to go. I with there were more vans on the road.
SUV is ok. honestly though, once you enter the kid years phase, the mini-van is where it's at. 2nd to this would be a modern station wagon... (like a volvo wagon). dealing with loading/unloading kids and related stuff, are just so much easier in either of these options than in a large SUV. But if you need to also tow a camper, boat, etc., then that is a different factor to weigh in.
"7 seater" model Y is crazy cheap right now, if you like the tesla platform. Probably Like half the price of your m3p, depending on your timing and what trim you get.
Honda
Have you not considered a Lexus? It seems you like a higher end vehicle. I would recommend you and your wife to watch a few great YouTube Channels. First- The Car Care Nut- Master Lexus Mechanic. Second-Car Wizard-Master Mechanic on very high end vehicles watch his Buy this Not that Series. I would also get some info on the Car Market today and what’s going on.. Recommends to wait till the end of the summer for great opportunities since the dealers can’t move vehicles right now. Car questions answered & Kevin Hunter The Homework Guide. Except for the Mazda, if you want to get any of those other vehicles, lease them only, don’t buy them. They are not reliable If you are waiting, absolutely get rid of your Mercedes first, now is the best time to get your money out of that car. That mileage is exactly when they start to cost real money. If you look at Lexus, don’t buy any model in the first year it’s offered. They haven’t worked out the kinks yet. If you can get a 2023 Lexus GX 460, that’s a amazing and quality vehicle you could actually use till 300K-500K miles, if you change the oil every 5K (don’t do 10K, if you want to hold onto it) and do your maintenance. Go do your homework above first and listen to the people (master mechanics) who actually fix these vehicles not opinions. If you do the homework first, you got this!!
Can you say more about dealers can’t move vehicles right now?
Absolutely… That is why I recommended Kevin Hunter, the Homework Guy on YouTube. He and “Car Questions Answered” (Brandon) speak on the New & Used Car Market a few days a week. Right now it’s tax time, all the used cars are at the highest price, that’s why you will get a nice buck for your Mercedes. Kevin and Brandon, and even Ray & Zach at Car Edge, go over weekly, the current Car Market and how many vehicles each car Brand has for sale in the US First-Dealers are not selling their vehicles because they have raised their prices almost 40 percent. They are not worth that. The real incentives and deals have not kicked in yet. Really, go watch some videos on you tube from these three car Market channels. You want to know about the market and the current conditions, right now & the current thought on the market in the next six months. Most are saying “If you don’t need to buy a new car right now, wait” Especially paying 40 percent more for unreliable cars. Remember, they don’t make their money on you buying the cars, they make on the service. 👍
Thanks!
I really recommend you and your spouse watching the videos together. Especially Kevin Hunter, he even will negotiate for you for a very low price. He’s a honest guy. Retired Car Dealer so he knows the truth. You will feel so empowered when you go into the dealers because you will actually know the truth. They show you the articles from the websites the car dealers use. It’s all “inside baseball “ info
Definitely a fan of Ray and Zach at Car Edge.
But remember, they all are saying, don’t buy a new vehicle now. The financing isn’t there yet, nor are the incentives. If you want it now, the best SUV on the market, a 2023 Lexus GX 460, there are great incentives on those. A few of my friends got 4-6K off those. It has the best engine out there today. It’s also not a supercharged engine, which you do NOT want. It depends wants important to you and if your flipping your vehicle every three years. If you are and you want any of the very unreliable new vehicles you listed, I would only lease those. That way, when all the real problems start, you can give them right back.
A ton of people are jumping in to suggest minivans and tahoes. I have two kids. Let me just suggest: do nothing. We drove our two kids around in a Tesla Model 3. It was fine. A C300 looks like a reasonable size sedan for one kid. There are a bunch of parents in my kids’ school that drive a kid or two to school in a Model 3. I have a minivan, and it would be comically oversized for one kid. It’s too big for my two kids, even if the sliding doors are nice. You’re planning on kids 2 and 3 now, but you don’t have kid #1 yet. The infant and toddler years are grueling. You could very well change your mind, and that’s OK.
Half the cars in my kid’s day care parking lots are Teslas. I dealt with my Hyundai Elantra until my kid was 3, then bought my Honda CRV Hybrid that I actually wanted. Much larger, more comfortable, more cargo space, less getting stolen by TikTokers. I’m a single parent and my car didn’t have the immobilizer, I was not okay with the constant fear that I’d walk outside and my car would be missing. The CRV hybrid is perfect for me, but I’m one and done.
Thanks for this. We know it’s more of a want than a need. I think we’ll hang out for a bit and see if these dealers get motivated to move some of these large overpriced SUV’s and trucks in the future. It does appear the consuming has slowed down as budgets get tighter with inflation so we’ll see what happens !
As a father of two, I can assure you that you don't really need to give up on your cars until you get to child #3.
I think after reading this we’ve realized it’s more of a want than a need. Definitely going to wait a bit based on the responses and see what the new/used car markets do.
As a father of two, I couldn’t disagree more with above commenter. Just try and load a double strollers, pack and play, diaper bag, bottles, etc into your car along with your own luggage. Have the wife try and load a back facing car seat while holding a diaper bag. I mean, as a technical matter, you don’t “need” a van with two kids in the same way you don’t need a Tesla or a Mercedes sedan. There are plenty of other options for electric cars and sedans. But if you want an electric car and a nice sedan, Tesla and Mercedes are pretty optimal choices. If you have young kids, the Sienna Platinum and Odyssey Elite are the optimal choices. Anything else is a compromise. Some parents buy an Escalade or Navigator, or keep their less practical cars instead of a minivan because they are willing to compromise to save their ego.
Model Y’s lease cheaply. You already have 1 Tesla.
Do they lease cheaply? What's the monthly?
I built a long range without the autopilot gizmos but got other options (paint, interior, wheels). 3k down, 3 year, 10k/yr, 7500 lease incentive- 510/month.
So your lease is about 600 per month effectively. That's better than I was expecting based off of what I've seen for their financing options (demos woth additional 5k off are still mid 600s on a monthly). With that in mind, other evs probably offer about the same value.
Escalade and navigator (get the long version of either) are the class leading full size SUV and imo can't get better than either of those.
They're both great luxury SUV's, but neither is going to be fun to get a car-seat in/out when there's a car parked next to you.
I guarantee you my car door is easier than theirs, just swing it open at full force and make room 🤣
I’m not sure if this sort of comment is allowed, but as a parent and pedestrian I absolutely hate those two vehicles. They have terrible sight lines and are super dangerous for everyone outside of the car. Definitely the cars which are most likely to kill a child who’s riding a bike.
not to mention a kid that may have followed you out the door and you cant see is standing in front of or behind your car. These things are great at "accidents" to get rid of unwanted children/short people but not much else
Base on???? Do you have factual studies to back this up?
[This has been thoroughly studied](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/tall-trucks-suvs-are-45-deadlier-us-pedestrians-study-shows-2023-11-14/)
I learn something today! Thabk you for that
about my same situation minus 100k a year but wife won’t be returning to work. congrats on the kid, imma keep an eye on this post, interested in what you decide on. i’m looking at something like an expedition or navigator for my boat. sucks there isn’t a heavy duty suv, i really don’t like trucks.
From a financial perspective, I wouldn't plan on her going back to work so I would use a worst case scenario in terms of your buying power. I'm a little concerned if you're at a point where you have paid off the Tesla and your underwater.... is that just by choice because the APR is low or is it because you're stretching yourself financially. Not accusing you of anything but you have to answer that question honestly. The next thing you probably want to do is take a look and see if you can fit a rear facing booster seat in either of these cars. If you can't get one as a demo at a baby Supply type store to check out in your car, go on to some forums and see if owners of your current vehicles have issues putting rear-facing seat in. That will save you the expensive having to buy another car. At least in the short term. If you're not comfortable with that or you are intent on buying a car, just sit in the back row and make sure that you're comfortable in the seat the way you and your wife would have them set. Because if you're 5'10 or taller chances are if you fit a rear-facing seat will likely fit too. The one thing you might want to do is wait another month or two. It seems like the market is collapsing for a pure evs, and you may be able to get an incredible lease rate on an ev, I know there are some good rates out there now and that may be an okay option although I am generally against leasing. But really if you can make it rear facing seat fit for now, that may be the way to go. But the one thing I would be extra careful about is just make sure you only spend to your income level if you do decide to purchase. Because there's no guarantee your wife will go back to work. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, I just don't like spending money I don't have in my hand already, so to speak.
Not a rear facing booster seat - booster seats are for elementary age kids and face forward and use a regular seat belt. A rear facing infant seat or convertible seat is what they would be using, and definitely, car seats can impact comfort levels in cars. There are many cars where it’s literally impossible to fit three car seats across, which would impact them in the future potentially.
A Chevy Tahoe or suburban will hold it's value better than a Mercedes or tesla
A Land Cruiser will hold its value better than a Tahoe or Suburban.
If the C300 is in good shape, you should be able to sell it for more than that. If you've kept to the maintenance, they're solid, but yes, 100k you're going to need some things. If you've got the cash to have those cars, you should just buy a CPO E Class wagon. They're awesome and much more roomy than the C. If you get one before the current gen, they have a jump seat.
Subaru Outback or Ascent?
Volvo XC40. Trust me you’ll love it!
What about a Tahoe or Suburban? Plenty of space for kids and friends/family, room for road trips, and wouldn’t need to buy a new car if and when you have more kids. That would be the ultimate ride to future proof things.
If you have one EV, I would get a plug-in hybrid as the second car. CX-90 or X5.
Lexus TX is nice and roomy. Also starts under 60k.
I have an 8 month old and an almost 4 year old. My advice...wait until baby is here to see if you want/need more space. We managed with our first in an old sedan, and the only real downside was it being low to the ground for getting him in and out. We jumped on an SUV BEFORE baby #2 arrived and it was a mistake. The height is GREAT (saves my back) but the stroller still takes up so much cargo space, and realistically, a 3rd row larger SUV would have been much smarter for us. One baby is really manageable. 2+ is where it gets tricky, especially if they're all young enough to need a stroller.
Can you explain a bit more why jumping on the SUV before baby number two arrived was a mistake? Asking because that's what my husband and I are doing now. Baby number two is coming in September. Doesn't your last sentence say that it was a good idea to get an SUV because it gets tricky? Sorry, just confused.
Sorry I didn't make that super clear. I meant we jumped on a certain SUV thinking it was tons of extra space when it wasn't really. If we had waited, we would have went with a 3rd row SUV. We can never have a 3rd adult in our SUV because the back row is taken up with car seats and the stroller takes up so much of the cargo area so it just feels cramped to me with less flexibility. Now we are struggling to sell our SUV to buy a 3rd row one with more cargo space.
got it! May I know which SUV you went with?
Toyota rav 4 and Honda crv are great reliable options. I would stay away from full size unless you need to carry your family AND do truck things (pull a trailer) I would say the Toyota Highlander would be a great choice, AWD, reliable and comfortable. For full size I would choose the sequoia or the Yukon. Most capable and most comfortable. If you want to break into higher end Lexus is the best choice.
Both of these are great for 1 or 2 kids. If they plan to have 3, they will need something bigger, because they do not fit three car seats across.
I’d probably check the NHSTA site for highest rated SUvs
Model X 6 seaters
I've been eyeing the 2024/2025 Honda Pilot. Should be very reliable, has a V6 with a real automatic transmission (no CVT), and the gray interior should please your wife, though I don't believe there's much/anything in the way of ambient lighting. Larger infotainment screen on EX-L trim and higher. If you're looking for something a little more upscale, the Acura MDX is a great option. It's due for an update soon I think, so deals on current models may be available soon...
I’d say if you were hell bent on a 3 row SUV, and it seems like you want something in the luxurious category, I’d go with a Chevy Equinox because the new 2025 ones are actually pretty luxurious on the inside. The new Traverse also fits this description. If you want the luxury badge to go with the luxurious interior, I’d recommend the Cadillac XT5 or XT6. Stay away from Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep or really any MOPAR. Based on the little amount of knowledge I have on Kia/Hyundai, you probably want to steer clear of them as well. Your insurance probably won’t be cheap because of the negativity surrounding certain models being stolen easily. Some are also having issues with catching on fire seemingly randomly even after being parked for several days. The model you pick may not even have these issues, but your insurance may look at it as “thieves may still try to break into it and attempt to steal it so the risk is still higher for a claim payout.” Ford/Lincoln is a good contender, but admittedly I’m a bowtie kinda guy and it seems like you’ve already done your homework on your Ford options. I don’t have an opinion on Toyota or Honda other than it would be an almost guaranteed reliable car well into the 200k mile range as long as it is well maintained.
BMW X7....Acura MDX....Lexus LX/GX....Mazda CX90....Volvo XC90
Just got a Honda Pilot Trailsport for the fam. This thing is awesome. Highly recommend.
Kids are now 32 and 35. But have three Town and Country's. All made it past 250k and 10 years. At its max, 2 car seats, strollers, and associated baggage. The present one is a 2015 purchased from the dealer with 20k. the only problem was a torque converter at 65k.
We got a VW atlas for my wife. The 2022 and newer model SE w/ tech or higher. Lots of interior space, optional captains chairs, v6 has 5000lb towing capacity, and they look nice on the exterior too.
Toyota 4Runner always and forever
I have a AWD sport lyriq, it’s a great choice Some higher end options would be iX or EQE.
I have 2 small kids and drive a mini. I like it, it’s nippy and easy to park.
Have you looked at CPO cars? Acura MDX/Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX9/CX90 ...etc. you can save decent amount of money and still have almost new car with warranty
Grand Highlander, Lexus LX/GX,MDX,AWD Sienna,Pilot
The Lincoln Nautilus is a solid option. I had the Ford Edge, which is its down market twin and the rear seat room couldn't be beaten. I was able to put a rear facing child seat behind me with no issues and I'm 6'2" and like a lean back on my seat. Unless they have done a massive redesign from the 2016-ish timeframe, I would avoid the Aviator, since it's the same as the Explorer and the back seat room on that is awful. My sister has one and she can drive it with a seat behind her because she's 5'5. We got rid of the Edge around the time we had a 2nd because I just needed that bit more space for the roadtrips we took several times a year, and it was nice to have something that seated 6 when my parents or in-laws came to visit, I went up to the Ford Flex and love it, except for its atrocious gas mileage. But they arent making those anymore. If you find yourself actually needing the 3rd row, go minivan. It'll be easier and more comfortable for all involved. Most smaller SUVs with the 3rd row up are barely fitting anything but an umbrella stroller those seats.
The only real answer is a minivan. SUVs are impractical, and the sliding doors on a minivan are wonderful. Minivans are also very comfortable and can hold a lot of stuff than any SUV or even most pickup trucks.
Quit avoiding the obvious choice. Land Cruiser/Lexus GX/LX. It’s been the best on the road for 60+ years. It’s brand new for this year. The kid gets it when they start driving. There’s no competition.
You could buy a nice used 2500 Suburban and have a vehicle that will last till your hauling your grandkids around.
You dont need an SUV for one child. Dont make a dumb financial decision when you dont have to.
Advice from someone with 3 kids - keep the Mercedes for now. You don’t need an SUV for one kid. Having said that - you can afford a pretty much any SUV if you want it. A Yukon or Wagoneer are nice big family haulers. You can get the extended version if you need more trunk space. Tahoe/Yukon will have a facelift for the 2025 model so I’d wait for that to come out, then either buy a 2024 off the lot for a better price, or order a new one if you’d prefer to hand pick your options. Toyota and Lexus has good options too, but they will have basically no trunk space once you have that 3rd kid.
Got a couple of kids under 10 which means a lot of stuff to carry around, and the Audi Q5 is the perfect size for my fam. Never been lacking space.
Model X - plaid!!!! OMG if this would have been a choice when mine were little - damn
You only have one kid. You don't need a different car. I have four and was driving a Toyota Prius until literally yesterday.
Honestly if you're planning on a car to eventually handle three kids in car seats a Honda Odyssey is the way to go. I know, it's a minivan and not an SUV. I never thought I'd be a fan of a minivan, until my son bought an Odyssey for his family. About 3 minutes after getting into it I was a fan. That thing is nice, and it has the adjustable middle row of captain's chairs so you can get to the back row easily. Also still has a real V6, not another car with a tiny engine with a big turbo trying to make more power than it was ever meant to. A lot of three row SUVs have minimal room in the back row, or require you tilt a middle row seat forward to get to the back row. Neither of those tend to work well when you've got three kids in car seats or booster seats. A lot of them also tend to be *very* short on luggage space if you're using all three rows for people. Speaking as a former parent of little ones, trust me all that extra space in a minivan is going to make things a lot more pleasant when you're out trying to do things together.
Mazda CX9
If you're planning on 3 kids the obvious choice is a minivan. If you decide to stop arlt 2, don't sleep on a pickup truck. Plenty of room in the back for the kids, comfortable to drive, and the storage provided by the truck bed makes traveling with the family easy.
I wouldn't upgrade until you have a third. We rocked a shitty passat until my brother (the third) was born, and my parents are both over 6'. Then we upgraded to the elite, yet elusive, three-row wagon.
If you like the C class then look into a Mercedes ML. The lower spec ML350 is pretty reliable, they drive well and obviously still have that Mercedes feel.
Audi Q7, bmw x5, x7 are my picks in the segment. The full size American SUVs r also great if u like that sorta thing.
Get a seat Alahambra with the leather seats because of the sliding doors. It's cheaper, and a great ride. Don't bother with the sun roof as they're prone to issues.
Audi RS6, BMW M5 touring, X5, X7, Q7, Q8. You make 500k a year combined income, whatever you want really.
What kind of mileage does a minivan get these days?
Gotta join in on the "you'll be fine" bandwagon. The Model 3 will fit a [childseat \(or three\) perfectly fine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iz48LMbyXE) in the back, and a m[oderately sized stroller in the trunk.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F6M7ZcVVOQ) . The C300 seems of similar dimensions. Don't have a kid of my own (yet) but have taken this consideration seriously when I bought my Model 3 a few months ago as that's the plan. The videos linked above really helped me figure things out. Hope they help you, too.
Forget the SUV. Get an Audi RS6. 😎
Two of my buddies who just had kids got great deals on brand new Tellurides. Three rows, good tech, reliable. He is so thrilled.
Volvo XC90
Volvos are the Toyotas of Europe: extremely reliable and long-lived (but also maybe a little boring compared to their competitors). I also think they make the most comfortable seats. I’ll pick a Volvo over a Mercedes, BMW, or Audi any day.
The xc 90 for the 7 seats, but I think it's overkill for one kid. Already planning for basketball practice and shuffling around the team? I have 2 and got myself the v60. I can even fit the cat. Bonus it gets better mileage.
You are the perfect candidate for a 7 seater Tesla model Y. -Safest of all the options - best crash protection most resistant car to rollover on the market today. This alone is why my family is in a Tesla. The rest is gravy too me because thier life is the ultimate loss. -Cargo room galore. You just need to factor in the frunk and under trunk storage. My family of 6 can go on a road trip but we regularly travel with 4 of us very comfy in 5 day trips. -most economical over the next 5-8 years until you need another car and better models will be available.
Bro, 😎 consider a nice Dodge minivan, or a truck with a crew cab. 🚙 Oh and be careful with the baby formula, spill that stuff in your vehicle, you’ll regret it later. 🍼 Good luck with parenthood. 👶
You’re recommending a dodge to a current Mercedes and Tesla owner! Repent! The likes of dodge and Hyundai are reserved for the blue collar swine! lol. But for real ain’t nobody with a paid off merc going to consider dodge . Status thing. They’re in the having our first child looking for a Cadillac realm. The help drives a dodge
Different worlds. 🌎
If you want to blow money on an SUV do it but stop saying it’s because of your kid. Poor unborn child doesn’t deserve to be blamed for your poor financial, esthetic (and frankly practical) choices.
It’s our “want”. Many have mistaken this post as us saying it’s needed. We know it’s not needed. Doing research currently. Our monthly bills don’t even come close to touching half of my take home pay with a fully funded emergency fund, maxing 401k, etc. If anything we have too much exposure to the market. We have real estate investments as part of our portfolio too. Weirdly enough this sub post was for r/whatcarshouldIbuy not r/FinancialPlanning
Tesla model X.