We have been looking for a vehicle that would fit our growing family since we found out we are expecting number 4. Honestly, we’ve been looking for two years since before our third. The used car market has only become more and more intense over those two years. In part, it’s thanks to Covid creating a shortage in inventory for new vehicles. Inventory for used has also flying off the lots. There has then been a higher demand for used vehicles. It felt like every time we possibly found something, it already disappeared before we got a chance to look.
WE FOUND A FAMILY VEHICLE
It took us a long time to finally find a family vehicle that will fit us all as a family of 6. Hours and hours of looking and researching. Many sleepless nights thinking about the possibility of having to break the bank and spend way more than we were hoping to on a used vehicle. While we were not able to find a hybrid or electric used as we hoped (those are disappearing instantly when they hit the market at prices that are frightening to think about), we are happy to have a vehicle we can all travel in.
On Instagram and Facebook, we asked so many questions about vehicles for larger families. What people liked and disliked. It got to the point where we were just praying for something that would be right for us. One evening while doing my usual scrolling of car dealerships, repo places, and more I came across a new listing and sent it to my husband. He liked the looks of it too and we agreed we needed to go see it the next morning. Having had other vehicles sell before we could check them out, we knew we needed to go asap.
ACURA MDX
We now own a 2009 Acura MDX. While it may not have checked every single box, it checked the big ones that mattered plus a few that were a surprise bonus. The older girls were thrilled to discover that there is a DVD player in the car and a sunroof. These are two things that were on their little wish list for a new family vehicle. We were surprised to learn that the Acura MDX also had winter tires included. We’ve test-driven newer Acura MDX models since 2018.
Maybe it’s because this one is the same year as our CRV we love, it felt right as soon as we sat in it. There are little things we like in older vehicles, like knobs instead of a bunch of touch screens. We put a deposit on it and held our breath waiting for it to be checked over. The vehicle had only just been received the day before we saw the listing. It still needed to go through all its checks. Putting a deposit on it meant that no one else could purchase it (so no more missing out on a vehicle that got our attention) and we could back out if something came up that wasn’t right.
Thankfully everything worked out. No more worrying that we can’t all go somewhere together as a family once the baby arrives.
FIRST FAMILY DRIVE
We took our first family drive in the Acura MDX on one of the few sunny days of spring break. We drove out to Harrison. The kids got to explore and play somewhere different than their usual local playgrounds. We’ll still have to figure out what the car seat configuration will be once the baby is here and in an infant car seat, but so far both of the older girls want to be in the third row if they can. In the future, we may add rails and a roof rack, especially for camping, and the need to pack more.
If you’re in the same situation as us with trying to find a used vehicle, keep searching. It definitely took us a long time. Much longer than we expected with this market. The right vehicle is out there.
