Wanting your ideas on a new car - Page 2

Wow, all the great feedback, and just the info I was looking for with how many crates and kids all at once. 4pack-How does the leather hold up? Do you get puncture holes in the seats from the dogs nails, or is the leather pretty durable? The excursion while I love it, roomy and I would feel safe with the kids and puppers. BUT hubby says no, gas mileage and all. Bummer. SOOO, Expedition is my next choice, and he says ok, but they are hard to find in good condition and a good price. I figue if I bite my tounge for a bit I might find one.... I like the fact that the rear seats fold down with a button.. Lots of crates and room for the passengers as well. Suburban- LOVE the look! They did a great thing by redesigning the Suburban. The new ones are equiped with the cylinder shut off while on the highway to help on gas mileage... BUT $50,000? OYE! *gasp* Minivan- Love the new Grand Caravans... (yes I did say that..) My MIL has one, and it comes in handy. More affordable, flip and hide seats, so I wont have to store that dreaded 3rd row... Better gas mileage. But a MINIVAN? Hubby says I can be a soccer mom with killer dogs. Yeah, I aint laughing either. My truck, is my hubby's truck and I LOVE it. BUT I dont like the cap idea. Ewww. Ugly. Works for a lot of people, but I would like access to the dogs should I need to. Thank you EVERYONE for your info, I am going to print this out (all your measurements, and crate sizes , cant remember them all) and am going to mull it all over. Gosh, I have a lot to look at. I plan on buying after the first of the year.. Thank you again for all the perfect info!

I have a trailer... A box trailer 6x12... I had it customized for my hubbys motorcycle... Has diamond plate aluminum sheets and tie downs... fold down door. It would work on the long trips that i needed to haul a lot of dogs and supplies I suppose. You can even buy an airconditioner that attaches to the vent in the top.. BUT, I still wanted access to the dogs should I need it. Didn't even think of that until I went back and re-read this thread. With me being 6 foot tall, I am glad to read about the larger vehicles that you all have, and i am confident that something will catch my eye. Thanks again ya'all!! Missy

I have no puncture holes but I don't regularly have the dogs on the actual seats. I have one girl who stands on the back seat when she wants to know where we are headed. Still no problems. Right now tyhe new pup rides in front with me and has yet to do any damage. I try to keep it nice even with the dogs.

Ah yes...4pack... The equal rotation. Guilt free its your turn to go shotgun..lol! I know exactly what you mean! Thanks for letting me know about the leather, I am worried about the "doggie smell" from the cloth, and thought that leather wouldnt hold any odors. I have shampooed my backseat 4 times in 4 months.. I have come up with the half a** way to protect my seat at this point... Get a vinyl mattress cover (you know for the bedwetters, or kids that have acid reflux and puke out of the blue...like mine) a twin fits over the top and bottom of my back seat. I then place a large beachtowl over it for comfort and ease of washing. Works so far.. But that wet doggie smell kinda lingers. Does the Leather help with that?

Oh yeah, it helps. If the smell gets to bad I go to the car wash and what they do, the regular inside and outside job, gets the windows nose print free, carpet vacuumed, smell b gone. Speaking of wich I REALLY need to do that soon.

I have an 05 Chev Trailblazer and I love it! Two 400 crates can fit side by side in the cargo area without folding down the seats, so that leaves the whole row which can fit three people. Because it is a smaller SUV it gets good gas milage, about 19 on the highway. If I am carrying dogs that get along, I have a barrier between the cargo area and the back seats and I let them ride loose, that leaves room for cushy dog beds :)

I love my Dodge Truck, has the suicide doors on both sides. Room for all of us, and all of our dogs, Yes in the bed in crates.. Strapped down with heavy tow ratchet type straps so no coming loose, just in case. Tailgate closes, 4 500 series crates, maybe they're 600 I don't know, Anyway big big crates all 4 fit in the bed and close the gate. It's all good, mileage is ?able sometimes good sometimes not so good. 16 to 23 I think is about the best. 4X4 means I don't worry bout the weather, No I don't drive like an idiot on bad roads, but if I do fall in a ditch somewhere likely I can get out. I love my truck and will never go away from them !!

The excursion is a great and in my opinion probably the best for functionality.Everyone is talking about poor gas mileage.The excursion came with a choice of three different engines - a V8 gas, a V10 gas, and a 6.0L diesel. The V8 is not bad on gas but not good either, the V10 is , well think about it, it's a dam 10 cylinder, balls to the wall torque and horsepower.But when the speedometer goes up the gas guage goes down.The diesel however is the best of both worlds.Great fuel efficiency and more power than most who own one will ever need.Check out the diesel excursion and i think you'll like it. PS. I have worked for ford for a long time, and in my opinion, if you don't have a ford, then you don't have anything to drive.

mseebran and echomeadows- I have a 2005 Ford F150 FX4. I have the suicide doors like you Echo. And while I LOVE the truck, I dont love the idea of a cap. Ick. BUT yep LOVE the big truck. I am 6' tall, so it is quite comfy! LOVE the Fords though. My FIL has a Dodge 2500 with 4doors and a toneau cover. (forgive me if i spelled that wrong...tricky word) But while I LOVE the big trucks, it isnt feasable when I will have 2 kids (only one so far...) and need to go shopping, or to the grocery store... No room at that point for storage.. Ugh. I do think that an Expedition will be my vehicle of choice, as the excursion really bites the dust with gas mileage here. AND they are hard to come by around here. More available are the Expeditions. I have looked at the suburbans and the tahoes, and I like the look of the expeditions, and the ride is smoother. This is of course not counting the NEW ones.. But who has 50 grand to toss out now? As for "brand" of vehicle I prefer? FORD TRUCKS, and CHEVY CAMAROs!!! But I own a nissan.. and like Hondas..cars that is.. Not a GMC fan... But to each their own! Thanks again to all who gave me all the awesome info. 4pack, you talked me into leather!!! Doggie smell B-GONE!!! Wish me luck on finding one that hasnt been torn up...

I drive a Chevy Astro Van/AWD. V6. Not bad gas milage. 17 in the city and about 22 on the road. I have rear dutch doors, rear air and tinted windows. I carry 1 400 Vari Kennel and 1 500 in the back and can accomodate 2 more 400's in the middle loaded side ways. I also carry 100 pounds of gear for Sar. This is my second AStro. They stopped making them in 2005.I am probably going to have withdrawl when I go to replace this one. I alos pull a pop up. Van has over drive. Good luck