Reply With QuoteThe Lincoln MKT may have many, if not all of what you are looking for.
The eco-boost engine can use regular 87 octane (though premium is recommended).
I am looking to buy a new vehicle and for the first time the highest priority issue is the tech/computer/gadgets/cellphone interface being the major selling point.
Practically I need something to cart around all 5 family members (2 adults, 3 young kids).
Some features I want:
- blue tooth for the phone
- good voice capabilities to search internet/talk on phone / maps while driving
- a cool TV for the driver on the dash for GPS maps and maybe even DVD
- HDMI and USB
- a hard drive to store media on
- rear view camera
Some features I think are cool:
- Nintendo DS / Gameboy / Vita audio/video jacks for the back row TVs
From the practical perspective my brain tells me I should buy a Honda Odyssey. But I personally am looking at a 7 seater SUV.
I want an SUV that takes unleaded gas so that limits things (more for principle, not a fan of premium gas)
So I am polling my parent friends at Q23 to see what they think.....
The Lincoln MKT may have many, if not all of what you are looking for.
The eco-boost engine can use regular 87 octane (though premium is recommended).
In most states that I'm aware of it is illegal to have an entertainment playback device visible to the driver (this includes having a laptop in the passenger seat).Originally Posted by DrDel
In almost all normal practical situations an SUV is going to be an inferior choice for a family. Higher step up, worse gas mileage, less safe (higher roll over percentage), no sliding doors, etc.From the practical perspective my brain tells me I should buy a Honda Odyssey. But I personally am looking at a 7 seater SUV.
I've had two different Odysseys and would not consider anything else except the later model Siennas if I were looking for a larger sized minivan.
Most of those gadget features are available on the premium trim versions of all the compact SUV/crossovers I've been looking at recently. Other then the hard drive, anyway. And you can always add additional stuff. The fuel thing should also not be a problem, at least in that class.
Some of the newer compact SUVs push 30mpg highway. You also see that in the FWD versions of some the mid-size SUVs.
Yeah, but those compacts and SUVs with that kind of mpg won't seat 7.
He noted that he really only needs something that seats five. Something like a Ford Edge should comfortably seat the five he says he needs to seat and does have a 30mpg FWD version. Especially since the kids are young.
When did this:
Some features I want:
- blue tooth for the phone
- good voice capabilities to search internet/talk on phone / maps while driving
- a cool TV for the driver on the dash for GPS maps and maybe even DVD
- HDMI and USB
- a hard drive to store media on
- rear view camera
Trump this:?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSW2RH1GX3U
And if you have 3 young kids, it is almost imperative that you can seat more than 5 much moreso than if the kids are older (and able to keep their hands to themselves).
Personally, with three young kids myself, my next vehicle will likely be a Ford Flex or Lincoln MKT. Current Sienna owner.
This! Oh God, this.
Del, have you at test driven an XC90 yet?
Screw that. Get a Mercedes Sprinter van. My buddy has three adolescent kids and just got one. He LOVES it.
http://www.mbsprinterusa.com/sprinter/passenger-van
Wouldn't mind picking up a Ford Flex for my next vehicle.
Roger, that Sprinter Van is awesome. Roughly the same price as the Flex too.
Does that Sprinter van get about 9 mpg? I guess if you have to ask...
Back row TVs are so last decade. Just buy a couple ipads. You'll save money and they're better in every way.
I feel the same way about built-in navigation. The aftermarket stuff is so much better. Just buy a high-end aftermarket unit and get it professionally mounted. (what she said) Or maybe even a nexus 7, or a 7" ipad if they come out with GPS and the iOS6 nav is any good.
If you want to watch a movie in the front seat for whatever reason, prop up an ipad. If you want to watch a movie while driving, well, that's suicidal.
Oh, and if you want to provide internet access in the car for long trips, get one of the ipads with 4G cellular access. The newest model can work like a mifi for like 20+ hours due to its enormous battery, although obviously you could just plug it in inside the car if you need to.
The turbo-diesel is somewhere in the 20-25 mpg range on the highway. City is about 17. That's pretty good for something almost 9-foot tall and that carries your kid's entire soccer team.
Last edited by Lunch of Kong; 08-15-2012 at 08:46 AM.
The wife and I traded in my Jetta Sportswagon for a Routan. Our kids are 15, 12, and 11 and we needed the space. From what I can tell, it has everything you are looking for from a vehicle. Give one a drive. Our two oldest watched the last of season four of Supernatural on the trip to Florida and back and the youngest watched Captain America and both Ironman movies on the far rear screen. Travel was a breeze. Gets around 20-21 in town and we got 29ish on the highway.
Damn it, Wong. Now I want a Sprinter Van. My wife will shit a brick, and I don't think it will fit in my garage.
I still want one, though.
Get a van (Sienna/Odyssey). We have a Honda Pilot which was great for 2 kids, but doesn't work well with 3 young kids. With the size of car seats, we can only fit 2 kids in the middle row. While it seats 8, those in the back row have to climb over the middle row to sit down, and...there's no AC or heat for the rear row.
You don't face those issues with an Odyssey or Sienna.
Thanks for the input everyone. I guess I am going with the Odyssey and I will buy 3 tablets for backrow entertainment (Android.. not apple)
Awesome. The sprinter van transforms into an autobot:
http://www.mbsprinterusa.com/images/...=1344906268081
Pretty much this. Tech changes so fast that most car systems are obsolete by the time they get on the lot. Portability is key. My boys each have their own device and sometimes they will share an ipad to watch a movie with headphones. I just load it up with movies before we go on vacation.
Most cars with bluetooth will run audio over the stereo as well if they kids don't want headphones. I will tell you that my 8 & 11 year old are completely headphoned now in the car just so they don't have to listen to my old man music.
I drive a 2011 Flex with the Sync voice command system and am thinking about upgrading to the 2013 model since they have added the My Ford Touch system to it (SEL level or better IIRC). My wife's 2011 Edge has the MFT system and it does a lot of what Del is looking for. I have the same size family and it works well for family trips in comfort. And because it's not a minivan, I get to keep my manhood. : P
My comments in bold:
Go take a look at a Ford dealership, their current level of tech in these cars is impressive. And you have the benefit of having 2+ years worth of software upgrades making things more stable and functional. A lot of the early bugs have been stamped out.Practically I need something to cart around all 5 family members (2 adults, 3 young kids).
Some features I want:
- blue tooth for the phone YES, works well with my iPhone 4, including audio streaming
- good voice capabilities to search internet/talk on phone / maps while driving No net searching, but very solid voice recogition & command system, and MFT uses an SD-card based navigation system.
- a cool TV for the driver on the dash for GPS maps and maybe even DVD MFT includes a touch-enabled LCD screen that will display video if it's not in drive
- HDMI and USB NO, YES
- a hard drive to store media on Not really needed, there is a USB jack in the console that allows you to use any USB drive or ipod-style player for media, with voice-command playback by artist, song title, etc
- rear view camera YES
What kind of cool tech are you guys seeing in fun-to-drive vehicles, for those of us not relegated to minivan/SUV life?
I have a 2008 Altima that I've been really happy with, but its tech is limited to an iPad adapter in the glove compartment with an old 60GB iPod Photo on it that doesn't get used much anymore due to the horrid stereo UI, Bluetooth handfree for voice calls, and a ProClip mount for my iPhone 4S that actually provides the music/nav nowadays.
But as I look at new car tech, it looks like the integrated electronics have gotten a lot more sophisticated. Plus some other interesting tech like batteries that charge off your braking action and power the AC/lights/etc.
What's cool out there that you guys have seen? My Altima's about to be paid off, so I'll likely try to get a couple more years out of it, but come 2014 or so I'll be looking for a sport sedan... (Altima/Mazda 6/etc -- something with room that doesn't drive like a Camry.)
Mercedes park the car for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQJvMruwPQg
Fiskers let you select between different engine noises, including one that makes your car sound like a Tron light cycle. http://youtu.be/ABlWqBB6zPE?t=27s
Nissan GT-Rs have an MFD designed by Polyphony Digital (the guys who make the Gran Turismo video games) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7hcTM97AKM
Last edited by Lunch of Kong; 08-16-2012 at 05:44 PM.
One of the cars I have is mid-80s luxury sedan and it is very comfortable car. That car still has HUGE cell phone built in.
Not too happy with the radiostations in my neck of the woods.
With respect to Blue tooth in cars, how easy is it to stream radio internet music from my phone to my car (I have a 6 gig/month cellphone data plan).
Do I have to look for something specific in the Blue Tooth technology when looking for a car or if the car is blue tooth then is it assumed I can stream internet radio from my phone to my car audio?
thank you
Nope, you can't assume that. My 2008 Altima has Bluetooth, but it only works for calls, not audio. To stream Pandora/Rhapsody, I have to use the AUX jack on the front of the stereo.
how does one tell if the blue tooth streams audio? is there some type of patented technology or "trademark" name to look for when buying a car?
believing the car agent (excuse my cynicism) probably isn't the best move....
You could google it, or just take your phone with you for the test drive and try it out.
If you are buying a Ford or Lincoln, anything with Sync can stream audio via bluetooth.
Here is a chart of phones and devices compatible with Sync.
What do you guys think about factory GPS units vs. the portable options? I've been looking at different vehicles that offer it built in, but other then the convenience of it being integrated I can't really see the argument. I suppose if you used your GPS all the time it might make sense, but the portables are a lot cheaper at this point and a lot of the car systems bundle it as part of other packages that include features you might not want.
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