Do You Need 2 SUVs for a Family of 5? I’M Deciding to Trade My Hatch for Another SUV

krnmusa on 06/02/2021 - 08:37
Last edited 06/02/2021 - 09:22

Hi OzBargainers,

I would like a 2nd opinion before I make a purchase. I want to avoid buyers remorse as much as possible before I buy my Toyota Kluger.

I will have a family of 3 kids soon and need to buy a bigger SUV (I don’t like VANs).
All 3 kids require Child Seats.

I currently have a 2015 Series 2 Honda CRV VTI - 75k Kms (no more warranty). Has quite a few big services coming up. I’m guessing (2K).

I also have a 2017 Series 10 Honda Civic VTI-S, 45k Kms (With 4 years factory warranty left and 3 years dealer warranty remaining on top = 7 years). No major services coming up. I did however just changed all my tyres during the Black Friday pirelli tyre sale 😆

My question:

I need to trade one in, it only makes sense to trade in my CRV as it’s getting older and not in warranty, But…by selling my SUV I would be still have 1 SUV and 1 Hatch.

However, if I sold my hatchback (work car, I currently work from home), we will have 2 SUVs, so it’ll be more convenient for 3 kids. That’s about it.

What are your thoughts??? Has anyone have experienced a similar situation?

Your thoughts would be highly appreciated.

Automotive Car SUV

Comments

  • Muzeeb on 06/02/2021 - 08:52
    +2

    Family of 3

    I think you mean 5

    • BargainMe on 06/02/2021 - 08:59
      +9

      The wife was probably traded in the for Kluger

      • whooah1979 on 06/02/2021 - 09:02
        +2

        Another cougar.

      • Islund on 06/02/2021 - 09:28
        +1

        No buyer’s remorse?

    • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2021 - 09:04
      -4

      No where in OP's post mentions they have a partner so it could be a family of 4. OP might also be so woke that they see itself as a meat popiscle hence it is in fact a family of 3

  • foxmulder on 06/02/2021 - 09:22
    +4

    If I were you I would just buy 1 car to accommodate the kids issue thus 7-8 car seats is better and roomy and at the same time using it for work then sell the other 3 cars to save overall in rego, insurance, etc.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 06/02/2021 - 09:53

      then sell the other 3 cars

      ????

      I currently have a 2015 Series 2 Honda CRV VTI I also have a 2017 Series 10 Honda Civic VTI-S

      • yellowfever on 06/02/2021 - 10:40
        +2

        1 + 1 = 3

        • trex on 06/02/2021 - 11:01
          +1

          You forgot about the wife

  • modsec802 on 06/02/2021 - 09:35
    +5

    Sell both and get a new Kia carnival or Odyssey

    • slick7 on 06/02/2021 - 12:26

      Or maybe just swap CRV for Odyssey - The Civic can still hold 3 kids in the back seat quite easily in the city but doesn't make sense to use it for holidays etc.

  • Ryanek on 06/02/2021 - 09:38

    Trade them both for a Kia Sorento. It's one less car to insure and maintain.

    • krnmusa on 06/02/2021 - 10:49

      I would love to do that, but we require 2 cars regardless 😢 work reasons and just in case emergencies. (Kids are unpredictable haha)

  • Euphemistic on 06/02/2021 - 09:57
    +7

    How often do you car swap? We have a ‘family car’ and a second car. Vast majority of the time if we go out as a family, or even one parent all kids it’s in the family car. Both of us regularly drive the family car, my wife very rarely drives the second car. Having said that, over the years the second car has grown with the kids and taking the second car is an easy option.

    If its ‘Her car’ and ‘his car’ and you don’t drive the others you need to be able to take all kids and stuff easily in either vehicle.

    • Quantumcat on 06/02/2021 - 10:37

      Agree, kids come with so much stuff that needs to live in the car, you don't want to have to have double that stuff across two cars (two strollers, two nappy bags and keep supply up in both of changes and clothes and nappies, two bags of snacks, two sets of water bottles, two sets of sunscreen etc etc)

    • krnmusa on 06/02/2021 - 10:46

      We usually change every 3-5 years or when the warranty expires, whatever comes first.
      But this time round, as Klugers are quite reliable and reasonably cheap to maintain (not sure about the hybrids), I am considering it to be a long term investment. Max 10 years. Most likely 7 years

      Atm I’m working from home due to covid. But eventually I’ll need to catch the train. The 2nd car is more for emergencies or if I need to drive to my on-site job, about a 30 min drive. Avoids most freeways.

      • slick7 on 06/02/2021 - 12:29

        Dont ever think about cars as a long term investment unless you really think you can sell for more than you bought 🙂

      • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2021 - 23:18
        +3

        Literally the least cost effective way to own cars lmao the dealers must love when you rock up every few years.

  • askme69 on 06/02/2021 - 10:06
    +7

    I dont consider any SUV as spacious or carry plenty of luggage. An old AU ford ia still way more roomier.

    Hell i use d to carry a 15 year old, child in a booster and a toddler in a car seat in a mk5 VW golf with 2 adults. No worries.

    • pharkurnell on 06/02/2021 - 10:47
      +1

      Pretty comfortable in teh drivers seat, but I'd hate to have been the poor 15yr old crammed in th back… LOL

    • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2021 - 10:48
      -3

      Oh so what you consider is more important than actual facts, like interior volume?

      If the SUV is bigger than an AU Ford, it's going to be roomier. Something like the Hyundai Palisade would be considerably bigger than an AU Falcon. So would a Range Rover Vogue or a LandCruiser 200.

      • jwh on 06/02/2021 - 11:11
        +2

        Those select large vehicles are quite roomy. The Territory has plenty of space.

        But the vast majority of SUV type vehicles sold today do have less interior space than an AU Falcon.

        • [Deactivated] on 06/02/2021 - 11:18
          -4

          So a smaller vehicle has less interior space. Gotcha. Thanks for pointing that out.

  • Tily on 06/02/2021 - 11:44
    +2

    It makes more sense to change the CRV since it’s out of warranty.

    Btw, we’re a family of 3 with 2 SUVs - 7 seater and 5 seater. Some might see it as an overkill but it’s fits our lifestyle and our budget.

    Ultimately you and your partner need to evaluate what you guys need out of your cars, since all families have different needs and budgets as well.

  • dp1 on 06/02/2021 - 15:49
    +7

    We're a family of 5 plus a medium sized dog and have never had a SUV, only a large shared wagon plus a small car (we took turns being the main driver of the wagon, bought it in 2010, swapped in 2014 then bought a second small car in 2016 so now we have 3 vehicles, eldest will be learning to drive in the wagon in a couple of years). Managed plenty of 100km-plus trips with all of us.
    Convincing parents that they must buy a SUV is a triumph of marketing.

    • bobkin on 06/02/2021 - 16:14
      +2

      I completely agree with you, but unfortunately there are now nowhere near as many options for wagons as there are for SUVs

      • dp1 on 06/02/2021 - 16:34
        +1

        If I were buying now, the European built commodore RS wagon would be my first choice, the newest are about 2 (?) years old, unpopular from day one so a bit of a bargain if you can get a low km one. Ours was a barely-driven demo Ford mondeo, it was out in Northam WA so nobody was ever interested in it to test drive (we almost doubled the odometer driving it back home to Perth then a round trip again to the dealership for stuff that was left behind in the traded-in car!). It was $30k back then but now they are closer to $50k so they struggle to compete with some cheaper SUVs.

    • Tily on 06/02/2021 - 16:54
      +1

      I don’t feel that it’s all about marketing.

      Our first family car we shortlisted when we were buying a car was SUV and a wagon, but chose the wagon because it had all the features that we wanted and it was a better drive as compared to the SUV. We had the wagon for about 3 years and we then did the upgrade to a SUV.

      Now the we have the SUV, there is no way I’m moving back to a wagon or a normal sedan. And it’s not because of marketing, but the higher clearance that it gives. No bending with car seats, when putting things in the boot and gives me better visibility on the roads.

      • dp1 on 06/02/2021 - 16:59

        Fair enough, you gave both a try. I always get given a SUV as a loan car when I get my convertible serviced (dealership trying to market them to customers with kids I assumed) and haven't been able to make myself like them yet.

  • SlartiBartFozz on 06/02/2021 - 20:55
    +3

    Two different classes of car are inherently not flexible and practical. Unless you live in an extreme weather zone like North Coast of Oz or have very steep driveway you shouldn't need 2 SUV (CRV doesn't really qualify for those anyway).
    You are better in most cases having a small 5seat car for everyday use, and an SUV/ute/ van/people mover for other times.

  • whitelie on 06/02/2021 - 23:45
    +3

    Sell the civic and buy a good size wagon. Passat/Skoda Superb would be my choice.

  • Ryk on 07/02/2021 - 08:34
    +4

    Why an SUV? They’re not bigger, just higher.
    Many are quite small inside with little boot space.

  • singingwolf on 07/02/2021 - 08:37
    +2

    Get one big family car and one fun run around.

  • Out24q on 07/02/2021 - 10:01

    You might struggle to fit 3 kids Seats on the back seat.
    Also not all cars have an anchor point behind each seat.

    You honestly might be better off with a 7 seater.

  • mrmachine on 07/02/2021 - 11:15
    +4

    You don't even need 1 SUV. Most SUVs offer barely any more room than my Skoda Octavia in which we coukd go camping for a week with 2 kids and now can fit 3 child seats across the back. The superb would be even bigger, and more space than most SUVs.

    But even with a bigger SUV, it might be big enough to transport 3 kids around town, but it won't be enough to transport the family and gear. Get a Multivan. So much room for 3 kids plus friends plus gear.

  • golfer dad on 07/02/2021 - 12:11

    We are a family of 5 and since the kids were young, we always had a SUV and a sedan. I like SUVs because the elevated driving views (hence not wagons), 4WD and flexibility to carry bulky items/long loads on odd occasions. 2 out of the 5 SUVs, we had 3 row seating which was handy when the in-laws visited or the odd occasions when we wanted to carry more than 5 ppl in 1 car. The 2nd car has always been a sedan as the wife is less confident driving the SUV and is the better option as it is more economical and generally easier to park (especially in the smaller shopping centres with tight parking spots). More often than not, you don't go out with the whole family together - when I am at work, it's the wife with the 3 kids so don't need a full 5 seater or when you go out to buy groceries, it's only be only one of you in the car so having x2 SUVs would be an overkill & higher running cost IMO. Our sedans have always been Commodore sized cars though to ensure there's plenty of room for the child seats/adult and as the kids grow up, rear legroom.

  • haimrevolution on 07/02/2021 - 17:26
    -1

    Audi Q7 is more than enough for your needs. If you don’t like the q7 then get a q7. Yes you read that right the Audi Q7 is the only thing big enough for what you need

    • Techie4066 on 07/02/2021 - 17:51
      +1

      Hahaha, really? Feel sorry for the kids in families of 5 that went on road trips in the Ford Escort, with luggage in the back and on the roof? The Q7 is the dumbest suggestion I have read here thus far. Having grown up in a Subaru Outback, when they were more like wagons as opposed to SUVs, with two child seats and one child in the middle seat in the back, smaller cars are more than enough as a second car to accompany an SUV.

  • HeWhoKnows on 08/02/2021 - 15:37

    OMG!
    Sounds like OP is going to have buyers remorse no matter what anyone says here
    Especially if OP doesnt discuss this with thier partner first !

    And Im sure OPs partner will care not what we have to say.

    So OP go and discuss with your partner.

    As far as Im concerned it matters not what 2nd car you have.
    The obvious thing is to have 2 cars that can easily transport a "growing" family of 5.
    One for local transport and the other for long trips/holidays.
    Of course the later can be used for both.
    So OP I suggest you go and work things out with your partner

  • brendanm on 08/02/2021 - 19:39

    Diesel Passat wagon.

  • brad1-8tsi on 10/02/2021 - 10:54

    Honda Odyssey. Best family car we ever had.

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