I have FOUR kids so my wife's relegated to the Yukon XL which is a great but small bus. I've had two Expeditions and loved the one prior to the current model. I just traded my '04 in on a '02 Range Rover because at 14k miles, the Expedition was going in for its THIRD brake job. The '02 Range Rover truly is a great SUV but sporty it is not.

With two kids, you get some choices I don't. I might be in the minority here but I'd steer clear of a car and go for something bigger. Believe me, when you're all in there, a car is simply not big enough for you and the gear. So, you're into a mid-size SUV. If money is no object, why not the Cayenne? If money is an object, then think about the VW Touareg. Motor-Trend's SUV of the year for '05. Co-developed with Porsche and I personally think it's got the better of the two interiors. My partner's wife has one and it' really solid, well thought out and nicely appointed (I sound like a car ad...) You can get the bigger engine and save a LOT of money vs. the Cayenne. The X5 is nice but a bit dated for my taste and there are a lot of them on the road.

 

Here's what we did, fellas (I don't think there were any gals posting here... if so, sorry):

I was driving an '02 Saab 9-5 Aero and my wife had an '04 Volvo XC90 T6. We were "all Swedish" and generally pleased (I loved the Saab). Anyway, I got the 911 itch (again) and convinced my wife she could go back to her pre-kid BMW rag-top, I could have my Porsche, and we could buy a reliable used minivan as the weekend kid hauler and my daily driver all for about the same $s that we were currently into our two Swedes.

Ergo, I found a '97 Odyssey in Vegas with 50k miles for $8k, flew up that afternoon and drove it home that night... the kids love it (they're 3 and 5), we don't worry about the occasional PB&J with apple juice lunch, and the thing just goes and goes.

I used to stress about the kids in the backseat of the $50k Volvo, now I'm just coooooool. Plus, the 993 is really the only maintenance issue (and NOT an insignificant one at that!) with the BMW under certified warranty and the Honda, well, a Honda!

Again, not everyone's cup of tea but it sure works for us. It's amazing how easy it is to drive a minivan when you know there's always something special sitting back home in the garage.

 

Get a late E39 5 Series. They are excellent value for money, well built and pretty fast with a big engine. My wife has automatic 535i and it's great. We have one baby with another one planned for sometime soon and I feel very happy that they are in something safe. How do I know this? My wife got cut up on a freeway, swerved, hit the curb and took out a huge lampost. The car (our first E39 535) was a write-off but the passenger cell was intact, all the doors opened and she and the baby survived without a scratch. I had no trouble putting her back in another one.

Good luck with your search.

Regards,

David

 

I love this one as a family car :

nice family car

Guess it s a matter of personal choice.

 

This link will get you at the car I ment :

quattroporte

 

Honda Odyssey or Chrysler Town and Country (with stow and go seating). These cars have more design and tech for people and stuff hauling than anything else out there. They are excellent purpose-built viehicles that drive and handle well. Ignore the stupid stereotypes about minivans aside and at least check them out. Just like a Porsche is made for what it does best, so are these.

 

If it's just your first baby on the way, I suspect anything SUV-like is probably overkill for the next 3 years. I'd go for a regular 4 door which will give you plenty of space for carrying essentials like the stroller, diapers, and baby food. You don't really need any extra space until the baby becomes the little kid (ie, 3+ years old), by which time you would be well prepped to splurge on the next Cayenne or bigger family hauler. Of those you mentioned, I reckon a used M5 will be MORE than sufficient. I'd also get a 4 door that you don't mind getting dinged (internally too!) as lugging all the stuff around to/from grocery stores, taming one's personal agro when the baby is crying etc, generally relegates the family car condition/cleanliness to second place. I'd save all the car fanaticism for the 993 as you may not have much energy beyond that! Good luck -

 

You might want to save some dough and go for a 530 or a 540 if you're going to do the sedan thing....my Dad used to drive a 528, and while not fast, it certainly handled great and was rock solid on the road. You won't be driving like a bat out of H-E-Double hockey sticks with your newborn baby in the back anyway, so a 530 would probably be good enough and will save you a boatload of cash.

If you are looking at SUVs, don't overlook the new Range Rover Sport--my Mom got one recently and it handles very well for an SUV, looks good, and has a big V8 engine. It eats gas like an F-14 Tomcat, but it is a pretty fun car [you can also get the supercharged version]

 

If you are after more space, as a "compromise" an e39 m5 is pretty ideal as its trunk will swallow big strollers, etc. If you can afford to be picky and you aren't a stereo nut, look for an m5 without the m audio enhanced bass option. The two m audio subwoofer enclosures hang down in the trunk and somewhat limit trunk space.

You will really enjoy the torque of the m5, but as many have already commented it is pretty soft in stock form as compared to a 993. And look for one with warranty left or research extended warranty options. They are complex machines.

 

The thing with minivans is that they are so practical. Ever lift a baby seat into the back of a tall SUV? And even the biggest SUV can't compare to the space inside a minivan. The third row is a perfect place to change a diaper, the power sliding doors are huge, the best ones drive at least as well as a sedan, the list goes on and on.

What I really like ( and I'll confess that my wife drives an 05 Odyssey Touring) that all the kids and my wife can quickly get inside the car in a parking lot, close and lock the doors and still have enough room inside for my wife to buckle the kids in their seats, and "walk" into her seat. I know that's paranoid, but you never know.

 

I say minivan all the way, I have always owned one and will never be without one. I have owned them all, currently have an 04 Honda Odyssey. NOTHING beats a minivan in roominess, accessibility, comfort and practicality. I currently have a minivan (Honda Odyssey), a sedan (Lexus LS400) and the 993TT and to tell you the truth the minivan is the most used

 

I'll have to admin I'm partial to wagons. More storage space than all but the big SUVs and some minivans, better handling than minivans or SUVs, and easier to get things in and out of the trunk than a sedan.

Volvo, Audi, Subaru, BMW, Mercedes, take your pick. All have AWD for the Seattle weather and trips over the mountains and some of these are pretty peppy. We have a Subaru Legacy right now (close to 10 years old and it looks nearly new inside and out), but will probably move to a Volvo V70 next.

 

Look at the Armada . Very powerful , well outfitted for kid hauling . Great race car tow vehicle . My wife wants to sell ours now that our daughter drives , so she can get a Mini Cooper S . The Duramax will be the hauler then .

 

Audi S4 Avant.

Lou

 

I wanted two things in a family car (1) safety and (2) fun to drive. I knew that I would spend enough time in it (weekends with my family) that it had to be fun to drive, but safety was most important. The immediate first thought was to get the largest SUV on the market. I'm glad I test drove several, and came to the conclusion that safety was more than just 'big and heavy'. Specifically, I felt that all of the SUVs sacrificed handling, and that this sacrifice worked against the size in the whole 'safety' equation. In addition, it was surprising to learn how little space was available inside many of these vehicles.

I then drove an Audi A6 wagon. Much better handling, fun to drive, a lot of space. I'm now on my second A6, but believe that a similar Volvo, BMW, etc. would also suffice. I do like the AWD and believe it adds a margin of safety, esp. in the winter. One thing to consider -- an A4/S4 would be too small for me. I had an S4 and loved it, but wouldn't want it for a family car -- too small. I really like the A6 -- surprising how 'light' it feels and drives, given its size. I've been on many 4+ hour trips and its comfortable and fun.