Picking a Family Car

If you have kids and are looking for a new car it can be very challenging. The car industry is having some issues, as we all know, so a lot of deals are to be had. I have a preference for domestic cars, mostly because my dad was a car guy I guess. While it is true that the foreign cars used to be better quality then US cars they are much closer in reliability these days and foreign cars are now built in the US. All this really means is that the "origin" of the car should not be a deciding factor in choosing a car, but the features of the car should be the deciding factor.

1. Family Sedan - This would be the Honda Accord's or Saturn Aura's of the world. These are are a good choice if you are have a small family, 1 or 2 kids, and don't do much traveling or take friend's anywhere. They tend to get good gas mileage and are a comfortable ride.
2. Small SUV - Nissan Xterra or Toyota 4Runner are example of these cars. Actually a lot of cars fit in this category. They have a lot of the same drawback of a Sedan, but are bigger and can carry more. Some come with a third row, but once you add that third row - no more storage.
3. Large SUV - Ford Expedition and Chevy Tahoe are classic example of large SUV's. The number one problem in this segment is gas mileage. You can fit a lot of people and stuff in these vehicles. The drawback here is that if you have two small children in car seats you will not be able get into the back seat.
4. Crossovers - Saturn Outlook and Ford Flex fit this category. They have many similarities to SUV, but drive more like a car and do not have the "ruggedness" of an SUV. They also usually get better gas mileage.
5. Mini VAN - Chrysler Town and Country or Hyundai Entourage. The most dreaded of all family vehicles, yet the most practical. Many people try to avoid this option at all cost, but the fact of the matter is their is no better family car for the money on any car lot in the land.

Obviously, I can not cover every options here in this list. I have a Town and County which is my third mini van (first two were Ford's) and the fold flats seats are the best invention ever. For those people who need two vehicles I would recommend a Pick-up truck as the second car (if you own a home). They will allow for transportation of all kinds of stuff. If you don't want a Pick-up get a good utility trailer and a tow hitch for your van/SUV. Keep on trucking.