[noflash]

I have horrible parameters, I know.

Wife hates minivans.
Should be fuel efficient ($3 gas around the corner).
Should be of the safest.
Easy access to child seat is a plus.
Of course, it can be a bimmer. We have a 2000 323it now.

A diesel X3 would be nice. I think I need a crossover that they haven't made yet.

BTW, babies due in July.

Ideas?
Hybrid Camry? Ugh, sounds boringly practical...

[kluke07]

I have a 10 month old and the car seat can be a pain in the a$% at times. The hooks for the seat are hard to get to. But well worth the trouble.

[NaTuReB0Y]

get a SUV....

[Squawks]

Lexus RX400h.

Spacious SUV with good luxuries and tons of space. Very safe as it's big - you'll kill the environmentalists in the small Toyota Priuses during a crash with just bumper damage to the SUV. Very good mileage, too - can anybody say 33 city mpg for an SUV?

[Nikki]

What's the price range?

What's wrong with the e90, too small?

[ward]

The new X5 is just around the corner, and I think you'd be find the MPG on the X3 to be acceptable

yeah, what's wrong with the E90?

[ryanmangos]

get a hummer...its like a tank so the baby will be safe =)

[Hunter399]

I saw an E60 M5 at a stop light today...He had two Sparco(I think) baby seats in the back

That looked pretty damn cool!

[noflash]

The e90 is fine. My wife's e46 is getting long in the tooth. It's got 71k miles or so. We will start with this car, but I anticipate getting the kid in and out of the car may get old -- maybe not. We'll see.

The RX400h is a great car, but I have heard the mpg is still disappointing and $50k is a lot for us.

I'm thinking the next-gen Highlander hybrid is right around the corner and hopefully BMW will bring the diesels in the next couple years.

Thanks for the responses.

[noflash]

Oh, and isn't BMW s'posed to come out with a crossover people-mover?

[Nikki]

Volvo S60, BMW X5, Mercedes E-Class, Lexus GS

less expensive: Honda Accord, BMW 3 series (hey why not two? lol), BMW X3, Toyota Camry (the new ones are nice, I saw one yesterday), Saab 9-5, Acura TL, Chrysler 300, Mazda6, Subaru Legacy, Nissan Maxima, VW Passat,

[Robin_NL]

Buy this one

[TENCHI]

why not a 3 series wagon?

[noflash]

Originally Posted by TENCHI

why not a 3 series wagon?

I love the 3 Tourings (we have one). I am thinking that putting the kid in and out of the car would be easier in one that rides a bit higher up.

Of course, time will tell how easy a kid in a 3 is.

[noflash]

Okay, we are going test driving tomorrow.

The wife/baby car finalists are:
new Camry
new Jetta

I'd like to consider the 325xit, but I'm not sure we can afford a new one. I'd like to consider a Subaru as well, but I think they get crappy gas mileage.

Any others I should consider?

[SoCal BMW999]

Get a wagon. My wife and I have two kids and have a VW Passat wagon. You'll be amazed with how much crap you'll haul around with kids. The new Passat wagon is kind of pricey. I would try the Subaru Legacy or Mazda 6.

[wahoo]

Agreed. We have a Touareg and a 4mo old. Still no enough room for all the baby crap. I'd trade the fn' thing but its paid for.

[noflash]

That's good advice. Out of everything we drove this weekend, we loved the '03 325xit the best. It's so close to the car we have (and the fact that I have calmed down a bit from the recent $800 steering pump replacement) I think we'll be keeping our '00 323it a bit longer.

It has 71k and the mechanics told me there weren't too many big ticket items like the steering pump that they see on these cars. My biggest worry is the auto-tranny (which can cost $3-5k!). We changed the tranny fluid at 60k miles so hopefully it'll last a little beyond 100k. KNOCK ON WOOD!! Maybe then we'll look at an e90 wagon... there should be a 335dt by then, right?

Wish our old wagon luck!

[canucklion]

hey noflash, if you want an inexpensive wagon that's pretty decent, may I suggest the Mazda3 wagon? it's pretty stylish and if you want, you can load it up with xenon, leather, and NAV too! got a great lil' engine to boot in its class.

[canucklion]

but of course if you can, get an E91

[aapriadi]

get honda pilot or crv..i guess lol!! sorry i suck at this

[noflash]

Originally Posted by canucklion

hey noflash, if you want an inexpensive wagon that's pretty decent, may I suggest the Mazda3 wagon? it's pretty stylish and if you want, you can load it up with xenon, leather, and NAV too! got a great lil' engine to boot in its class.

I actually like the Mazda 3's as well, but I think they have horrendous side crash test results. Not sure if that's with side airbags.

It's hard to make the wife drive an economy car, while I'm in a bimmer.

I think we'll wait a while and try for the e91.

Thanks all for the input!