Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 13:54     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
Anonymous wrote:I think most of the Mercedes suv's are just minivans with 4 doors. I think THEY are fug and can't for the life of me figure out the appeal other than the big ass Mercedes logo on the front bumper.


+1

That is exactly what they are selling to the masses.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 13:53     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The reason I don't like minivans is because they don't have luxury interiors. When Mercedes comes out with a minivan, I'll take a look. Otherwise, I'll stick with the GL.


Take a look at the high end Sienna. It's more luxurious than a Mercedes.


+1

We own both. I agree with you.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 12:44     Subject: Re:Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
Anonymous wrote:I came across this article because I want the functionality of a SUV but with sliding doors of a minivan for ease of access.

Yes, some suvs with sliding doors would = minivan. But if you're on this message board, you're probably like me, the big different between minivan and suv is ground clearance and towing capability. A minivan does not have the same ground clearance as a 3rd row SUV, and a toyota/honda minivan can't tow a boat.


My parents used their 15 year plus old minivan to haul my grandparents boat all over the place. Never had a problem.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 12:31     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
They almost got rid of the 5 last year. I think enough people raised a stink to keep them in production.

I 'd have to look at the website, but I think I remember the manual being eliminated.

Fwiw, we bought both of ours certified pre-owned (pp who totaled the first one earlier this year). It gave us a longer warranty period in case anything happened.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 12:11     Subject: Re:Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
A bit of a tangent. Is the Mazda 5 no longer available in a manual transmission? That was one of the more appealing features for me. We have a crossover - older Lexus RX300. We will probably replace the Lexus with a newer model but are thinking of getting the 5 as a second vehicle with the extra seat. I'd like one car with a stick shift, especially the one that we park on the street in DC.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 11:57     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
I went from a vw beetle with 1 child to a mazda5 with 2. I need that third row for the occasional carpool and when my parents visit (which is often), but I just could not go full size minivan (my husband tried to talk me into one when I totaled the first 5 at the beginning of the summer and had to purchase another vehicle)

My only 2 options are the 5 or the Nissan rogue. The rogue 3rd row is pretty worthless, though. It wouldn't have worked for our purposes.

To me, the 5 feels pretty big. But again, I drove around with my first in a beetle for years. If they actually made station wagons with an extra row anymore, I'd buy that in a heartbeat.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 11:51     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
I think most of the Mercedes suv's are just minivans with 4 doors. I think THEY are fug and can't for the life of me figure out the appeal other than the big ass Mercedes logo on the front bumper.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 11:36     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The reason I don't like minivans is because they don't have luxury interiors. When Mercedes comes out with a minivan, I'll take a look. Otherwise, I'll stick with the GL.


Ask and ye shall receive.

http://www.freshnessmag.com/2012/04/23/mercedes-benz-viano-vision-diamond-luxury-van/

Import one here: http://autoline.info/s/vans-MERCEDES-BENZ-Viano--m2252.html


Ha ha ha

People are idiots. They will buy anything.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 11:35     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
Anonymous wrote:The reason I don't like minivans is because they don't have luxury interiors. When Mercedes comes out with a minivan, I'll take a look. Otherwise, I'll stick with the GL.


Take a look at the high end Sienna. It's more luxurious than a Mercedes.
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 11:31     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Well, I suppose I mean an SUV that does not LOOK like a minivan that still has sliding doors.


This is funny because I think a lot of SUVs are starting to look like minivans except they don't have sliding doors. Add the sliding doors and there isn't much to differentiate them.


Well, sure, but that's because 90% of SUV purchasers want and need a mini-van. But they have this kind of neurotic, misguided (and kind of tragic) misconception that by getting an SUV, they'll signal to everyone (including themselves) that they're really rugged, individualists who "go their own road". It's the modern equivalent of the sad, balding dude with the paunch who buys the Corvette and leaves his wife for the secretary.

Pure victims of 20+ years of saturation marketing.


I disagree completely, as someone who is (reluctantly) considering an SUV b/c my family is sizing out of our tiny compact. There are plenty of SUV's that aren't nearly as heinous looking as a minivan. I couldn't care less what it signals to anyone else - I just want to be happy driving the damn thing.


Great point!
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 11:29     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:SUV == looks like a big gas guzzler driven by a person who really doesn't care about the environment, hogs the road, blocks other drivers' views, takes up too much parking room, etc. etc.

Minivan = mom



So exactly what is someone with more than 2 kids supposed to do? Or even someone with two kids who has to travel a lot to see family? Flying is not any less harmful to environment. BTW, minivans and SUV's generally have similar MPGs.


Not necessarily. There are plenty of hybrid SUVs that have much better gas mileage than minivans and many sedans, and even our compact. Though to be fair, many cars have better gas mileage than our compact
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 11:26     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
Anonymous wrote:There is an SUV with AWD, I am sure. PPs may have mentioned it.

This thread is hysterical to me. I fought the MV tooth and nail. Kicking and screaming into MV world...no, no, no!

Fast forward to today. We have four newish cars (don't ask). My favorite to drive by far is the MV. Sometimes I get stuck with something to haul that is large, and I have the MV to bail me out. If the children have friends, the MV bails me out. The sliding doors ARE ALL THAT and a bag of chips! I agree with PP. I park far away near empty spaces. If someone parks near me and dings me, it is clear they went way out of their way to do so. I write down their plate number and report them. I also have a way of looking up their insurance (not hard, you can do it too). So, you just report it to their insurance company. If the dollar amount of your repairs is over a certain amount, they get points on their insurance! If they are not insured, you send them the bill (or your attorney does, either way). Easy.

If you never move anything large (doubtful) and you have no friends, you don't really need a MV.

MV haters make me laugh. I used to be one of them. I think it is funny that anyone would buy a new SUV and pay the extra hefty tax. I think when I see them that they must not be very good with money!


Whoever wrote this does not sound like a very nice person, so it is hard to take your advice and consider it credible. I know I can't. If you are ridiculing people who don't like minivans, or ridiculing anyone for that matter, you are not a nice person. Just my 2c.
Anonymous
Post 06/17/2013 06:50     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
Anonymous wrote:If not, why doesn't SOMEONE invent one? I would be all over that and I bet so many parents who were anti minivan for the uncool factor would be ok with an SUV that had sliding doors. Heck, I'm sure even non parents would love that. easier to get into the car in crowded parking lots and easier for passengers....So am I an idiot and this car already exists and I don't know about it? If so, let me know!


I earned a Toyota Lite Ace,a toyota Hiace( 1st generation) and now a Toyota Hiace( 3rd generation) all of them with sliding rear doors? Heaven knows how practical it is.I've tried SUV from friends,and I've never found more practical than sliding doors The only two SUV with slidind rear doors I've ever seen on the market are the CHEVROLET Uplander and the MITSUBISHI Delica D5.But I live in France where they will never be imported .ZOZ
Anonymous
Post 01/30/2013 20:15     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
Anonymous wrote:The reason I don't like minivans is because they don't have luxury interiors. When Mercedes comes out with a minivan, I'll take a look. Otherwise, I'll stick with the GL.


Ask and ye shall receive.

http://www.freshnessmag.com/2012/04/23/mercedes-benz-viano-vision-diamond-luxury-van/

Import one here: http://autoline.info/s/vans-MERCEDES-BENZ-Viano--m2252.html
Anonymous
Post 01/30/2013 20:05     Subject: Do SUVs with minivan style sliding doors exist?
The Mazda 5 is what we used to call "station wagon."