WTF should I buy (A consolidated list of bad decisions)

[Ken]

Father in law has an Acadia. Makes all kind of weird clunking noises - went in for suspension work and those noises still persist. Transmission never seems to know which gear to be in. Awful car.

[JPolen01]

Father in law has an Acadia. Makes all kind of weird clunking noises - went in for suspension work and those noises still persist. Transmission never seems to know which gear to be in. Awful car.

What year? 

The interior doesn't bother me. I understand GM/Chevy shares buttons and switches between their vehicles. We aren't looking for Denali levels of luxury here. But if the materials do not hold up, that is a different story.

[Apoc]

My sister had an Acadia. She loved it for a few years and then she hated it because it started to fall apart, including some significant mechanical problems.

If your wife is skurred of Mazda, you shouldn't even be asking about GMC.

You need an F31, clearly.

[Sijray21]

Especially if you're coming from a Honda.

[Steve85]

We have a 2017 Acadia, bought used. It's been good, but I can't say I love it. It replaced a CX-5 and I was pushing for the CX-9. She really wanted middle row captains chairs so it won out over the other options she liked.

The motor is pretty strong which is nice. Don't have to ask too much of it when loaded up with everyone, luggage and another 300 pounds of ski gear on the roof.

It has about 40K on it now and I don't see any issues with the switch gear, everything still works, etc.

[.RJ]

You need an F31, clearly.

Probably has less cargo room than the CRV, unfortunately.

For $30k you can get a new Golf Alltrack with a 6/72 warranty, too although I think a CX-5/CX-9 is a nicer car.

[Jake]

Does anybody have experience with the 2nd gen GMC Acadia/Chevy Traverse? The wife is itching for a new car. She thinks we have outgrown the CRV (with one kid, I know), but I can always use an excuse to change out a vehicle. 20-30k mile CPO examples can be had for $28-30k and with our trade-in our payment would remain almost the same. Obviously the clock starts over and the payoff date moves out, but we are okay with that.

The CPO warranty covers 6 years/100k miles powertrain and 12 months/12k miles bumper to bumper. I have no experience with GM. How much will I love or hate this?

The 3.6 doesn't have a great reputation, plus uh, it's a GM. I wouldn't.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Lee - GM electrical problems worry me. But on the other hand, DJ had his truck forever and loved it.

I buy based on vehicles not brand. GM’s duramax and Allison combo just works. However in search of a new truck the 6.2 gas motors scared me and GMs old interior may have been shit but it didn’t fall apart. The new interiors look nicer but fall apart.

I would never ever buy a traverse/equinox/Gm mid size garbage.

Mazda CX-9 sounds better to me or a pilot?

Seems to me like you guys are the perfect business case for a Hyundai/Honda/Mazda mid size.

[Apoc]

You need an F31, clearly.

Probably has less cargo room than the CRV, unfortunately.

This is true... I'm just wondering how a CRV, with 50% more cargo space, is too small.

+1 to DJ's comments on Honda, Hyundai, or Mazda.

[Ken]

Father in law has an Acadia. Makes all kind of weird clunking noises - went in for suspension work and those noises still persist. Transmission never seems to know which gear to be in. Awful car.

What year? 

The interior doesn't bother me. I understand GM/Chevy shares buttons and switches between their vehicles. We aren't looking for Denali levels of luxury here. But if the materials do not hold up, that is a different story.

2016 - think it's Denali as well.

[JPolen01]

You need an F31, clearly.

Probably has less cargo room than the CRV, unfortunately.

This is true... I'm just wondering how a CRV, with 50% more cargo space, is too small.

+1 to DJ's comments on Honda, Hyundai, or Mazda.

50% more cargo area in the CRV only when the 3rd row is up in the Acadia. It would be down 99% of the time. 

Really just feeling out options and looking for input from people who actually have experience. So thanks for that Steve.

I don't know how many times I have to say it, but again Mazda is off the table. The CX-5 spent almost 3 weeks of ownership at the dealer for them to fix one problem and create a host of others. She is scared and I understand why. I would be willing to give Mazda another shot, but with a bunch of other options I'm not going to push it. 

She won't drive a wagon.

[.RJ]

She won't drive a wagon.

[Sijray21]

i was impressed by the Hyundai Sante Fe when i rode in a buddy's a couple years ago. It was the top trim model. What about the new Telluride or Palisade?

If you grow out of those with 1-3 kid(s) i'd be shocked.

[ScottyB]

^^ the new telluride's look baller as hell and quite a value for what they go for right now. Kia's come a loooooong way and their warranty is still amazing.

[JustinG]

Roof box and rails are cheaper than a new car

[Apoc]

You need an F31, clearly.

Probably has less cargo room than the CRV, unfortunately.

This is true... I'm just wondering how a CRV, with 50% more cargo space, is too small.

+1 to DJ's comments on Honda, Hyundai, or Mazda.

50% more cargo area in the CRV only when the 3rd row is up in the Acadia. It would be down 99% of the time. 

Really just feeling out options and looking for input from people who actually have experience. So thanks for that Steve.

I don't know how many times I have to say it, but again Mazda is off the table. The CX-5 spent almost 3 weeks of ownership at the dealer for them to fix one problem and create a host of others. She is scared and I understand why. I would be willing to give Mazda another shot, but with a bunch of other options I'm not going to push it. 

She won't drive a wagon.

I meant 50% more in the CRV over the F31.

[Evan]

I cant comprehend how a CRV is too small for one kid.
I have 2 and (had) a dog, and made plenty of 8+ hour road trip vacations and had plenty of room in a slightly smaller CX-5, even when we were carting around a pack&play and bob stroller.
After you pass the stroller,crib and rear facing seat stage, even more room opens up.

That doesn't answer your question though, so since you are happy with your CR-V, seems like keeping it in the family with a Pilot is the way to go. I know a few people with them and they seem to be adequate family appliances.
Personally, if I was in the market but had a lobotomy and didn't buy a CX-9 (I would), I would check out the Telluride despite the stupid name.
Ive always liked the Ford Edge, but that doesn't have a 3rd row which sounds like is a requirement.

also, cargo volume is a stupid metric to crosshop. Most of it is in the taller roof of the SUV, so unless you regularly pack your luggage to the roof, cargo footprint is a lot more important.

Honda loves to inflate the cargo volume of the CR-V by puffing out the top corner of the back, which doesn't do anything for practicality other than make it look like the car shit its pants

[JPolen01]

I cant comprehend how a CRV is too small for one kid.

This is where we are at in the conversation. But if we keep the payment the same and have a car we can grow into and we get something new I'll complain less. But yes a roofbox is my immediate answer.

[Sijray21]

yeah, i'm also kind of amazed, but i'm not sure how everyone packs. we were able to put a weeks worth of stuff, toys, beach stuff into Alissa's sportwagen for the 3 of us. It was a bit tight, but were able to do it. I think the CR-V is larger than our Sportwagen, but i could be wrong. I assume this is a want and not a need (and that's ok). I do find it nice having more room than you need.

[Apoc]

Evan's right in that you're in peak kid shit - until about age 3.

Packing to the roof is an art form.