[daza_gt]

G80 is my DD but we also have a Outback Wilderness for long roadtrips. That 2.4 turbo packs a punch

[speedmaster20d]

The M3

[RACE M3]

It is the family car lol I really want a sienna hybrid though. Test drove one and im disappointed with how much I enjoyed it.

[RACE M3]

Originally Posted by / / / M3

I wonder what people did 30+ years go (before SUV's became commonplace).

I remember sitting in the middle seat up front lol sedans use to fit 6-8 people lol

[Autoaddict]

Originally Posted by BRJ1243

This is the other half of our garage. M3C on one side, minivan on the other. Honestly, I love driving it. Plenty of power, big, reliable, just perfect for the ages of our 3 kids right now. Don't fear the minivan! Enthusiasts can appreciate and embrace all types of vehicles!

This. We also have a Honda Odyssey and it’s a work horse. It literally carries just about everything, kids can beat it up, doors slide open and has all the tech you need. Perfect for families.

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by Autoaddict

This. We also have a Honda Odyssey and it’s a work horse. It literally carries just about everything, kids can beat it up, doors slide open and has all the tech you need. Perfect for families.

I'm an older empty nester but I think you cannot beat a minivan for utility. I had a '99 Odyssey that was great.

You have to get past the looks -- I had to do that with my G80, too -- but otherwise the Toyota Sienna seems pretty compelling to me. Great fuel economy, AWD, etc.

[ChrisM4]

Originally Posted by / / / M3

I wonder what people did 30+ years go (before SUV's became commonplace).

You do realize that the Chevy Suburban has been in production since 1935? The Tahoe since 91, the Jeep Cherokee since 1974.

There was also the glorious era of massive station wagons.

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by / / / M3

I wonder what people did 30+ years go (before SUV's became commonplace).

You can fit a lot kids into a Pinto if you utilize the hatch area for a couple of them. I don't know that we thought it was fun, but it got us all to the movie theater...

[pizza240]

X5 or X7. X3 is nice too if you don't need the space. X3 fills ups quickly when you add kid stuff. If you want non-BMW or no-fun answers, I would typically suggest a new Honda Pilot or something similar but also reliable. New Lexus GX looks cool but probably a bore to drive for the 15-20 years that it'll last.

Macan is far too small (smaller in back seat than a G80 and less usable cargo space [M3 has wider trunk]). Cayenne is nice if you want to spend $30K more than an X5 with a lesser engine. Previous gen Q7 was a great vehicle with the supercharged 6 cyl. Also great on fuel. New one doesn't feel as good, and the popularity numbers show that.

My vote always goes to X5 for SUV. The inline 6 is plenty for it. Get the rear wheel steering option on any of these if available.

[Zepin]

I drive an '23 X5 for my daily and my wife drives a '21 Yukon Denali which works for our 4 kids. I then drive the '24 M4 Comp XD and my '67 Chevelle SS 396 when time allows. Just sold my '71 C10 pickup to make room for the M4. It's nice to have toys.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

Yeah fair. I took the kids out to BC this summer. Threw it all in the back and off we went. Kids don't need as much crap as parents think they do. I guess I don't live like most Americans with all their excessive shit and insane spacial needs.

I don't have kids (yet) and in my late 30s. I've come to appreciate not JUST the space, but the ride of a more comfortable car. Not to mention I may not want to drive a manual every single day.

I certainly much more prefer to drive my ex X3 m40i or X5 40i for long road trips, regardless of the space.

For what it's worth, my 2 brothers and I grew up in a 90s Passat, so I know we didn't "need" an SUV. But if you have the means, why not?

[rowdydaoudy]

I'm in a similar situation as you. I have a 23 tacoma that I drive for ~4 months or so out of the year and I have my 23 G80 6mt that I drive during non-salt/snow months here in Ohio.

2 kids + my wife. We mainly take my wifes new grand highlander when we're all together, but use my taco often. As much as I love it, I constantly debate swapping it with an X3M. I, personally, need the tow hitch though. I also love the no hesitation reliability my taco offers. I know I'd femto and want a 9 second daily SUV if I swapped out the taco lol.

Keep the tacoma.

[F82G82AND]

X3 ��

[sacowich]

Had a Honda Oddyssey for long time. 3 kids. Switched to Land River Discovery for towing capacity (horse trailer).

[masab321]

Originally Posted by rowdydaoudy

I'm in a similar situation as you. I have a 23 tacoma that I drive for ~4 months or so out of the year and I have my 23 G80 6mt that I drive during non-salt/snow months here in Ohio.

2 kids + my wife. We mainly take my wifes new grand highlander when we're all together, but use my taco often. As much as I love it, I constantly debate swapping it with an X3M. I, personally, need the tow hitch though. I also love the no hesitation reliability my taco offers. I know I'd femto and want a 9 second daily SUV if I swapped out the taco lol.

Keep the tacoma.

I love the taco and agree with the bullet proof reliability. It’s just that I need something more sportier now with decent back seat space for the baby.

[kbb]

We have a Land Rover Defender for the family. I still use my M3cs daily to take them to and from school. Had a X3 but needed something bigger and they can tow as well.

[Nicky_do_it]

Originally Posted by 08-335xi

If you have a family with 3 kids a crew cab truck is awesome. We had a F150 crew cab and the back seat is wide enough that even teenagers do not bump elbows much. Our kids loved it on longer trips. We had a truck in the family for about 10 years until the majority of them went off to college and we didn’t need consistent room for five or the kids wanted to drive on vacations in a second car.
The main downside of trucks is the ride, loose handling and fuel consumption. The F150 we had was the V6 TT with 10 speed AT and was plenty fast enough to be entertaining. A hard tonneau cover keeps the truck bed contents dry. The seats in that vehicle were actually cooled (not just ventilated) and were glorious on hot summer days. We have great memories in that vehicle, but now that we have fewer passengers our X3 M40 is substantially more fun to drive. I wish BMW would figure out that real cooled seats are an option most US buyers would pay for.

And depending where you live, trucks can be difficult to park and cant fit in garage. About 230 inches compromised by short bed. My family always had a truck in family but bed length was always at least 6 1/2.

Add Jeep Grand Cherokee L once they throw in the hurricane engine. Disappointed third row leg room is less than a Pilot but will forgive once hp is over 400

[SheBMW]

Originally Posted by Llarry

I'm an older empty nester but I think you cannot beat a minivan for utility.

I do agree with you, but...... I drove Minivans throughout most the 90's when my kids were small. Started with a Nissan Quest and ended up with a Toyota Sienna. When I think back on it they were great for carting kids around on field trips, family road trips etc. But oh, the horror! I have had my fair share and don't want to ever get behind the wheel of a minivan again!!!!

With the kids grown and it just being hubby and I traveling hubby's 4Runner is perfect and I don't feel like a frump when I have to drive it!

[Llarry]

Originally Posted by SheBMW

With the kids grown and it just being hubby and I traveling hubby's 4Runner is perfect and I don't feel like a frump when I have to drive it!

That's the problem with minivans, I think: Image. Particularly in (rare) AWD form, they are the ultimate utilitarian vehicle.

When we bought our 1998 Odyssey, the need was for space to transport our llamas. Fold/take out all seats and the back was just big enough to get two llamas in there.

After several years, the llama herd grew and we replaced the minivan with a Sprinter maxivan.

Admittedly our use case was far from the mainstream!

[Berzerker]

I recently had the opportunity to get an iX on loan for a few hours while a family member's car was having service and I was thoroughly impressed. I can get over the looks, the performance was quite good (not even the M60 model) and the range was impressive (95% charge was showing 320 miles).

I've heard they can get close to 400 miles on a full charge at highway speeds.

I don't think I'd have an issue DD one of them.

[Juanero]

G80 is the perfect family car

We got a van for trips w our 4 kids. Tacoma for hauling. Gt3 for fun.
My wife daily drives a Macan Turbo. She loves it. It has more aggressive stock exhaust note than the G80, and she likes the power. It's our second Macan Turbo (first Macan turbo only issues were the transfer case and oil cover leak from wrong specced bolts from the factory).

[Adcampo]

Originally Posted by ChrisM4

You do realize that the Chevy Suburban has been in production since 1935? The Tahoe since 91, the Jeep Cherokee since 1974.

There was also the glorious era of massive station wagons.

Station wagons were also much more popular 30 years ago.