OT Kiting/Family Vehicle ideas

Scribble · Since 18 Nov 2005 636 Posts NoPo Addicted

Sorry for the second OT post. My wife and I were talking and we may be able to sell my truck, pay off her car, and get something before next summer so we can travel/camp more easily with our son. I'm new to the concept of a "Family" vehicle so I could use some ideas. We have decided that our "Family" vehicle also needs to be a Recreational vehicle.

She is very opposed in buying a VW Vanagon for 15+k because they are so old now. I really like the idea of having one of those or a Sprinter van, but I think it's a little out of our price range. I'm looking for something used and probably around 10k.

Those of you with a Subaru. If you had a Rocketbox could you sleep in the car?
Anyone been in a Honda Element?

I pretty much want everything, but don't want to pay for it so I'm sure I will have to settle. Mostly I need a back seat so I can drive around Felix. I also want to be able to drive on the beach/snow, have all my gear out of site (rocketbox), possibly sleep in the vehicle if at all possible, and get decent gas mileage.

I checked out this http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-8335.html and got some ideas, but I guess I wanted to see if I could get the conversation going again for some more ideas.

Thanks,
Andy

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge

subaru are great safe cars, but they suck for sleeping in. They also seem to be a magnet for roadspray from every other car on 84. Eventhough they handle great and my first one lasted 300k+ miles, I will never buy one again because they are super uncomfortable for anyone with semi-wide shoulders and are too stressful to drive in the rain because of the visibility issue.
Been in a few elements, gas is ok at best, easy to sleep in, comfortable to drive.

Joe_Free · Since 13 Jan 2009 6 Posts PDX New Member

genek · Since 21 Jul 2006 2165 Posts East Po KGB

I have a Subaru Forester and I sleep in it without any problems. I have a twin sized air mattress (like $20 at REI) that fits perfectly with the front seats slid forward and the door shut. However, I don't think it would fit more than one person comfortably unless you're OK sharing a twin mattress with other people.

Not sure about the road spray comment. Are you saying the windshield is at a worse height than other cars for getting sprayed? Seems like when it's raining visibility is gonna suck anyway.

Joe_Free · Since 13 Jan 2009 6 Posts PDX New Member

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2103 Posts PNW Bigfoot

I drive a Subaru wagon, I'm 5'8'' and I have to sleep a bit sideways to fit inside with the back door shut. I love the reliablility and cheaper labor and parts, but I don't like the seats and insulation--lots of road noise. OK on the gas mileage (17-23) and I drive w/a rack all the time so that hurts it a bit. Love the AWD, but I wish it had more gurth to it as it gets tossed around some in the snow ruts and slush. Overall, I've been very happy with my Subaru, but next car will be a bit bigger. Maybe an AWD Volvo wagon.

Barfly and Wind Slither have aquired older tow units ( 12' in length appprox) to travel with and sleep in/live in while camping/kiting. I think you can get a 70's low-Liner for 1k that is in good shape. Some cheaper. . . . Might have to put alittle $ into it and some elbow grease, but it really is the cats-meow.

Look for one of the V-6 outback wagons, used, and put a hitch on it and get a older low-liner as well as a spacecase for the roof of the car. That would give you the best of all options.

Good luck.

jblum · Since 13 Jul 2008 307 Posts The Gorge Obsessed

I lived in a 2000 Subaru for 4 years, literally living in it. I had a box for all my stuff and kept a futon mattress folded in thirds in the back. When I got to destination I would fold down the seats and fold one third of the matress on top of the down seats and the other third out the back of the tail. I'm 6'3" and could sleep comfortably with the back hatch open. For raining/ covert sleeping, being in there with the hatch closed was a bit of a squeeze, but I got many a good night in the WalMart Parking lot undisturbed. Its low profile if that's what you need it to be. I sold out and traded up to a E-350 van, and now I've got lots more space but hating the gas milage. Also not low profile anymore.

My E-350 Diesel gets 20+mpg on the hwy, but isn't a good round town kinda vehicle. However, for space and convenience of having a place to sleep in, its one of the best converts I've seen. You can also get them 4x4 and outfitted as well (if not better) than a Westy. They're also a bit cheaper than the "collectible" VW counterpart.

All in all, I LOVED my Subaru, and was so glad to have had one. I put on 59k in 2.5 years without a single problem. I did the oil and plugs and that was it. Gas mileage was okay to bad for its size, but if you need the AWD or like driving, its a great rig.

Bettyboarder · Sat Dec 19, 09 8:48 pm

We have two subaru's and love them both....I would recommend getting a outback wagon over what I have which is the legacy wagon...it has a bit more clearance.

I think a great family combo would be an outback wagon (with a rocket box) towing a tent trailer...they are super light and can pick them up for a few hundred $$.

I tow the jetski and/or my motorcycle trailer alot with my legacy and never had problems a tent trailer would be a piece of cake

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

$500 bucks for a used Saturn that gets 35mpg.
How much for one of those Subies?

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/cto/1515310462.html

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

My wifes element gets 26 mpg on the cornhole fuel
almost 30 on regular gas
Seats make beds better than actual seats after a trip of 5 hrs.
I need a rest,,seats fold flat,are big enough for a double air bed.the rear also fold flat up against the sides or can be removed so you can haul plywood etc.

a 8' longboard fits nicely ,tons of room,pretty quick,rated to tow 4300 lbs.
and it's a Honda $$$$$$$$$$
you pay for what you get 2004 couple yrs. ago,17k miles, $16K
probably last longer than you will care about
and no none will think your wife a lezzy Laughing

or as Hein breifly pointed out lezzies go for them

I might add that it's noisy especially in the rear
it ain't no 30K rig ,but hold thier value well
and my wife loves it ,both grandkids ,all thier shit ,her dog and all our stuff
get a stick the autos are duds

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge

What i meant about the seats are that they are so narrow across the shoulder that you sit with your shoulders rolled forward. Had both my chiro and back doc tell me that the subie seats are horrible for lower back injuries.

And about the road spray: Love driving my friends element compared to my subie in the rain. Don't need to have the wipers on nearly as high, and you sit like I do driving my f250.

strapless101 · Since 17 Aug 2009 82 Posts gorge

And I've slept in the subie many a night, but the seats don't fold truly flat and it was never comfortable. If you really want a rig to sleep in get a pick up with a canopy or an element.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Not much of a family car but this dudes subie claims are ridiculous aye?? Subies are by far the best cars on the road, my 04 forester xt rips, and the seats are more comfortable than a lot of cars I have riden in, and snow?? YOU TALKIN BOUT SNOW??? I have driven mine up to brighton without snowtires in 3 feet of fresh on the roads, and it ripped the snow a new asshole, one of the best snow/handling cars there is.

If you wanna sleep in something comfortably the element is nice for sleeping in, I took my dads and slept in it for slingstock last year, but if you are trying to sleep you, your kid, and your wife that will be way too small. So your either looking at getting a vanagon like you said, or maybe there are some suv's that have seats that fold down pretty good. Either way I think you might be looking to drop more than 10k...

registered · Since 12 Jul 2005 1319 Posts tsunami Sandbagger

Subies are the best for the driving in adverse conditions because of the way the awd works and the low center of gravity. after 4 subies I was sick of them with ouil leaks and head gaskets ect. but maybe if you don't drive it like you stole it you will have better luck. I grabbed a crv from honda and I would not recomend it . the honda all wheel drive thinks to much. It is not made to get you unstuck , if your stuck it does not even engage the awd. The element has the same type but that is the only issue with the hondas....not a real awd system. The crv has a integra motor so it is fast but it feels like it want to tumble off the road in faST corners.

Audis and volvos are really neat cars but the reliability and cost of repairs are a bit of a disapointment.. basically cars suck so pick your poison.

MY BIG F 350 DIESEL CREW GETS 20 MPG AND IS PRETTY VERSITILE . PLUS WHEN YOU GO SNOW KITING IN THE RURAL WESTERN AREA YOU GET RIGSPECT FOR WHATEVER IT IS WORTH. aND YOU CAN PULL OUT MINI VANS AND SUCH FROM DITCHS, MAKING A FAMILIES DAY BETTER AND YOU CAN SLEEP IN THE BACK OR THE BACK SEAT.

Maybe a jeep liberty diesel that they made for a few years..

The annual automobile discussion. Wink

hobbsla · Since 28 Jan 2006 389 Posts Obsessed

Just do it!

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

Scribble · Since 18 Nov 2005 636 Posts NoPo Addicted

Blowhard, have you driven the Element on the sand? Curious if it will handle Whiskey Run, Sunset, and Jones Beach. Hell it would even be nice to drive on the beach at PC and not have to be the mule that hauls our shit all the way down to Gas Chambers.

Thanks for all the ideas guys. I do think we will end up spending more than 10k like Inept said.

I think my wife just wants to be able to sleep in it if the weather is cold and rainy like it has been sometimes when we go to Floras. So my ass will probably be in a tent when it's raining and she will be in the car with the baby.

Thanks again