Fun family hauler $32k and under.

[Chet Donnelly]

Storage capacity runs out quick with kids

We bought an Escape brand new in 2009 and kept it until 2014, and it wasn't bad with two kids (two car seats). When the third kid came along is when we went bigger...

 

[Primalzer]

Used 2014+ Explorer Sport? Good MPG, quick, sporty, plenty of room, etc.

Basically the same as the Flex, but the Explorer is much easier to find. To me, it came down to looks, and I much preferred the Flex. But that's a completely personal preference. The Flex is fairly polarizing...people either seem to love it or hate it.

 

[BeerOrGasoline]

FWIW my grandma has a '16 Escape Titanium AWD 2.0 and my mom has a '15 SRT Jeep and the Escape feels more sporty in day-to-day driving just for how nimble the chassis is and how light it feels compared to the Jeep. Also, the Escape averages ~19mpg (my Grandma is 83, and drives to her job as a pre-school teacher literally 1 mile from her house so it barely warms up by the time she arrives) and the SRT averages 9. Yes, NINE. My moms commute is 6 miles one way.





edit:
Escape is ~3600lbs in AWD flavor
SRT is ~5100lbs

 

[Primalzer]

that makes me feel pretty good getting around 17 romping around the suburbs, not really babying it

 

[BeerOrGasoline]

I mean, the Escape gets like 26ish going 80mph from Hometown, IL to Wisconsin Dells and back. The short trips just don't do it any justice.


I think the SRT gets like 15? In Eco mode with 4cyl off & the 8spd.

 

[Primalzer]

Woof

 

[jason05gt]

Do you guys really go out and romp on your wife's family hauler with car seats in back? Going WOT only accomplishes moving all the fallen goldfish to the back of the seat compartment...

I do all the time in my Wife's Edge if the kids aren't in there. I use the car quite a bit for running errands because of the cargo space.

 

[jason05gt]

Used 2014+ Explorer Sport? Good MPG, quick, sporty, plenty of room, etc.

Just another thought.

Still waiting to catch [MENTION=5001]Ryan02Stang[/MENTION] on the way to work with him in his wife's sport to race em in the rango. SEE YOU ON THE STREETS, BOI!!!!

I test drove a Explorer Sport before buying the Edge Sport. The difference is night and day. The Explorer is much bigger and felt kind of sluggish to me. The Edge definitely has a firmer suspension and handles much better. What I am getting at is the Explorer feels more like a sport SUV and the Edge is closer to a sporty sedan.

 

[Blood on Blood]

We bought an Escape brand new in 2009 and kept it until 2014, and it wasn't bad with two kids (two car seats). When the third kid came along is when we went bigger...

Pilot, 4Runner, Highlander, Explorer

 

[Chet Donnelly]

Pilot, 4Runner, Highlander, Explorer

Yeah...we ended up with an Explorer. You can't get any decent optioned, low miles 2016+ Explorer though for under $32k....

 

[Primalzer]

Yeah...we ended up with an Explorer. You can't get any decent optioned, low miles 2016+ Explorer though for under $32k....

Take a look, they're out there. Was just looking at them. Most seem to be around the $35K mark, but there are quite a few Sports for $32K and less

 

[Chet Donnelly]

Take a look, they're out there. Was just looking at them. Most seem to be around the $35K mark, but there are quite a few Sports for $32K and less

2016's??!!

In that case...thats what the OP should get (or a Flex).

 

[Primalzer]

2016's??!!

In that case...thats what the OP should get (or a Flex).

I added the 15's in there too, because there are a ton of 15's that are certified

https://www.cars.com/for-sale/searc...buryUsedLowMileage&searchSource=GN_REFINEMENT

 

[Smokinhot]

I hear there is a certain famous white SS for sale on the site.... just a weeee bit more though