Good luck with your search. Just got mine 2 weeks ago and love it.

 

My only complaint about our H3 is interior space, we bought new in 2006. Our kids were smaller when we bought it and it worked out fine. now???

We still got the 3 kids but they are now 13, 11 and 7 and it is tight, but doable. We put on a luggage rack for long trips, but truthfully the crew cab silverado always gets the call for those because it is just easier to pack and has so much more room. I am dying to take the H3 to the OBX beach in two weeks, but even with the roof rack we know it is not going to be something we want 5 people sitting in for 12 hour drive. Also you can;t open the hatch if you use a rear cargo carrier so the Silverado it is again...

We have filled it to the top when all 5 of us have gone shopping for the day even, so much so we had to put cases of soda ,etc..under the kids feet for the trip home.

Price to pay in my book, but I would never call an H3 a family vehicle unless it is a family of 4 or less. My wife will NEVER drive a mini-van, she hates them...but I do think when it comes to space she misses her 4runner.

We are keeping this H3 til it runs no more...but we are looking forward to getting something where space is not an issue once we loose a car payment from the budget next year.

 

i got mine there and felt good about them

tom

 

I'm still glad that having kids was still in style during the late 90's while we were having ours. I miss rocking our long-wheelbase minivan from that period, it was perfect for homeowners raising up a family.

Our H3 plus a utility trailer pretty much has us covered today but now I can't do a lumberyard run if it looks like rain.

 

Minivan is out of the question.. Wife nor I will drive a van.. Well, unless it's a V-Dub van..

I'm not tooo worried about the rainy day lumber runs.. I wouldn't be lumberin' on the rainy days anyway..

 

IMHO, H3 is never a good family car. I have a 7-month, it' OK when only hauling my wife, my baby, and me. It will be very uncomfortable if the grandparents visit. Also, the cargo room is not very big. If you put a normal stroller (Not umbrella stroller), it's hard to fill any other stuff in. Since the only way to put the stroller is lay it down and it'll occupy the whole cargo area. The hard rear suspension is something you should consider, too. I'd suggest a bigger SUV or van for a family car.

 

I have two teens (who are now headed off to college) and they say they prefer the H3 over the wifes SRX as the seats are more comfortable.