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Post by jennifercw on Jul 13, 2023 1:39:19 GMT
From a cost/benefit perspective - how necessary is a 3rd row seat to you in a vehicle? Especially if you don't regularly drive children around...
Just wanting some different viewpoints as we get close to replacing our 2007 Odyssey. I'm leaning toward a mid-size SUV (maybe the crv hybrid?) but worried I'd miss having a 3rd row. We rarely need it these days but it does occasionally come in handy.
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Gennifer
Drama Llama
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Post by Gennifer on Jul 13, 2023 1:42:22 GMT
I think only you can decide that.
I test drove one this week without a third row, and I actually have 4 kids living at home still. My youngest is 15, and we rarely have more than 4 of us in the car, since the others tend to drive themselves. We don’t need the third row.
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Post by ~summer~ on Jul 13, 2023 1:43:06 GMT
I have a mid size hybrid suv and don’t care about a third row. But I’ve never had a 3rd row….(even with 3 kids)
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pantsonfire
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Post by pantsonfire on Jul 13, 2023 1:47:29 GMT
I will always have a mini van with 3rd row. Why? Medical equipment. Space. Lots and lots of space when it is not up. Option to drive ds, dd, and my parents.
I like having the option for just in case on top of all the space the trunk has for many reasons like Home Depot, travel, medical equipment, groceries, furniture, big items, etc.
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Post by busy on Jul 13, 2023 1:48:33 GMT
We only have one kid and a third row is necessary for us… but only because of the extra cargo space it affords for the dog. We never ever actually use the third row of seats, they are always folded flat. But that gives us lots of space for our big dog and luggage/gear when we’re going on road trips.
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milocat
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Location: 55 degrees north in Alberta, Canada
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Post by milocat on Jul 13, 2023 1:49:15 GMT
I've had two 3rd row suv's and have never used the third row for seating. But I love it for the large trunk space. I live an hour from the city so I can fill the trunk when I go to stock up on things. Fits me and my lifestyle.
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Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 8:37:11 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2023 2:19:21 GMT
Very rarely necessary once our kids were driving. Our 3rd row in our Toyota Highlander isn't super easy to get into for average-sized adults, yet would work in a pinch.
What I do love is we had the rubber mat option that was in the back and covered the back of the 3rd row. Ours is down almost exclusively and it's nice to have that rubber liner completely covering the large cargo area for grocery runs and hauling the dogs. Once we had a gallon of milk tip and leak and it was totally contained.
Edited to add: I'd also mention before this we had a Toyota Sequoia that very comfortably seated 8. If I regularly needed the option for third row seating, I'd only get it in a full-size; in anything smaller, it's there in a pinch or makes for a larger cargo area when folded down.
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Post by librarylady on Jul 13, 2023 2:27:06 GMT
About every 5 years my son and family visit and then we need the 3rd row. My sister has been nice enough to loan us her vehicle each time that 3rd seat was needed.
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snyder
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Posts: 4,323
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Post by snyder on Jul 13, 2023 2:30:38 GMT
The people in my family are not very petite, all adults, no kids. There is next to no room for people to sit in a 3rd row without having their knees hit their chin. I do love the room it provides for cargo space, especially for 3+ weeks of road tripping.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Jul 13, 2023 2:49:39 GMT
We only have one kid and a third row is necessary for us… but only because of the extra cargo space it affords for the dog. We never ever actually use the third row of seats, they are always folded flat. But that gives us lots of space for our big dog and luggage/gear when we’re going on road trips. Exactly this for us as well. I drove an Expedition for 12 years including while DD was in high school & college. It was rare for the 3rd row to come up. The same goes for my Lexus GX that I've had for 8 years. I can count on one hand the times the 3rd row has been up. I need that extra cargo space for luggage, dogs or just hauling stuff. I would not let a 3rd row deter me from choosing a car that otherwise was perfect. Just keep it flat. |
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Post by Basket1lady on Jul 13, 2023 2:51:52 GMT
We just bought a 2019 X3 and for the first time in 25 years, I went with the smaller SUV. I like to sit up higher in traffic, but no longer haul kids around. I do like how much room there is in the back for an adult to sit. I thought the cargo space would be small, but it’s actually pretty good. I couldn’t get 4 suitcases and the dog back there, but I can comfortably do a Costco run. The dog likes to sit behind me on the seat, so she never rides in back anyway.
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Post by ntsf on Jul 13, 2023 2:58:11 GMT
we haven't had a 3rd seat for years.. every since the kids left high school. we have an outback which can haul a serious amount of stuff.
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TXMary
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Post by TXMary on Jul 13, 2023 4:12:45 GMT
We don’t have any kids but we do use the third row occasionally. We’re always the ones who end up driving when going out to eat with a big group. When we aren’t using the third row seats the space gets plenty of use. I would really miss it if I gave it up.
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Post by Zee on Jul 13, 2023 4:15:16 GMT
To me, not at all, even when I had kids.
I just went on a girls trip and had to ride in that shitty 3rd row all through the mountains. Lol
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jul 13, 2023 4:20:37 GMT
We have a 3rd row in my Highlander but have never used it. But, we love the extra cargo space it gives us.
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used2scrap
Drama Llama
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Post by used2scrap on Jul 13, 2023 5:43:29 GMT
Having 3 kids, school carpool, and hauling the occasional grandparents around with us as well, 3 rows have been a necessity for years! Loved the Odyssey and both Pilots. But with oldest ds off in the Navy, middle dd not home from college this summer, and youngest at 14 bigger than his siblings, even he can’t really fold up back there well anymore.
I can’t see getting rid of my Pilot anytime soon though. But if I won the lottery I’d add a CRV and still keep the Pilot around for bigger trips, garden center, etc and the occasional family visits. But I don’t think I’d get another Pilot when she needs replacing (which is a long way off).
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Post by littlemama on Jul 13, 2023 10:14:56 GMT
If you ever have more adults than can fit in your vehicle, you just take 2 cars which you cant do when it 's a bunch of kids.
I have a Forester with tons of cargo space. No 3rd row
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Post by lisae on Jul 13, 2023 10:48:27 GMT
We used one a handful of times when vacationing with my stepdaughter and family. I had to have a van for the business I had at the time is the only reason I had this feature. Otherwise, it would have made more sense to just take 2 vehicles or rent one for a few days when they visited.
ETA: Grown children have children and that is where we needed the 3rd row.
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Post by cakediva on Jul 13, 2023 11:32:57 GMT
I come from a different angle - business purposes, but we also have 3 kids.
When I do a wedding show, I'm putting 8-10 display cakes in my vehicle plus all my display items & samples. And delivering wedding cakes, height can be a challenge as well.
But I was tired of the van! We rarely had all 3 kids in the car anymore (kids away at school) so I wanted to downsize to something newer.
I landed on an Escape - took a tape measure with me to measure height. I've only had one cake (a competition piece) I couldn't fit in as one, and that was larger than I would normally do anyway.
If I had to, 3 fit across the back but they would be squished.
I don't miss the van capacity - with the seats folded down, I can fit 8 cakes in the back, it folds flat, and if we need to pick up stuff at Home Depot or the hardware store, it is long enough that most things fit.
I LOVE my SUV!
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Post by Patter on Jul 13, 2023 12:03:14 GMT
Nope, haven't needed it since the girls left for college many years ago. I still have an SUV but have no need for a 3rd row. I need cargo space because I am always transporting something for someone. I think only you know what your needs are (people or cargo).  |
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pilcas
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Post by pilcas on Jul 13, 2023 12:35:07 GMT
Never had one, never needed it. We have two adult kids now. Our trunk is big enough for our needs.
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smartypants71
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Post by smartypants71 on Jul 13, 2023 13:01:38 GMT
I personally have no need for a 3rd row. They are so uncomfortable anyway.
I drive a Genesis SUV, and it has plenty of cargo space for us plus the big dog.
I don't really care to do road trips, but I figure we could just rent a van if we really wanted something bigger. Same for being at home - I can always call UberXL.
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Post by mikklynn on Jul 13, 2023 13:12:06 GMT
I have a Chevy Tahoe. Only children and very small adults can really ride in the 3rd row. There is no well for your legs and feet.
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Post by jenb72 on Jul 13, 2023 13:23:18 GMT
I have a 2020 Santa Fe. When I was looking for it, I also looked at the Palisade. The Palisade has the third row seat, but the Santa Fe does not. I have one grown kid living at home for a few more months as well as my BIL, and we use my Santa Fe as our travel car when we go on vacation. I find that I value the storage capacity in the hatchback much more than I would have the third row seat if I'd gotten the Palisade. We vacation a few times a year and the only time seat space has become an issue is for a holiday family cruise we're taking at the end of the year, but it's only an issue because my kids would rather ride with us than drive themselves. They have their own transportation, so it's really just a kind of first-world-problem for them. It's not a problem for us at all. But I really, really like having all the cargo space and have used it many times for travel, shopping for stuff for the house, helping kids move, etc., so I'm happy with the choice I made.
Jen
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amom23
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Post by amom23 on Jul 13, 2023 13:31:52 GMT
We currently have a Chevy Traverse. While we don't have a daily need for the 3rd row seat we do love and use the cargo space when it's flipped down. It's our downsized vehicle from our previous Yukon XL.
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TankTop
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Post by TankTop on Jul 13, 2023 13:34:13 GMT
I currently have a Bronco Sport.
Daughter is grown and lives in Arizona. Son is heading to college in the fall.
I love my car, but I have decided to go back to a third row after having daughter home a few times and taking a family vacay. We drove with sons girlfriend to meet her (she flew in) in a beach town and it was miserable. It was not so much about the extra seat but the extra storage.
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iowgirl
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Post by iowgirl on Jul 13, 2023 14:46:14 GMT
I have a Ford Expedition with the third row. I have had it forever, and was my main car to lug kids/family around when everyone was at home. The 3rd row worked, but it was not super comfy. We did a couple longish vacations with it, and swapped out the person who had to ride in the back. Two in the very back was plenty, but it would hold 3 (uncomfortably) And this is a big vehicle.
I still have the old girl, but all the backseats are folded down and she is my beater. LOL Once in a while, she gets pressed into hauling people, but she mostly hauls farm stuff.
My kids are grown and there is never a need for us to have that many seats. The ones who have kids, want to drive their own vehicles with car seats in them. We just meet up at the final destination.
I drive a 4 door pickup now, which has a nice big backseat. I can haul 5 people comfortably. That's enough.
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Post by scrappersue on Jul 13, 2023 14:54:41 GMT
I went from a Sienna Mini Van to a Honda CRV. At first I thought I would miss the third row and extra cargo space - not at all. My kids are grown and if we get together we take two vehicles. I enjoy driving a smaller vehicle and getting much better gas mileage.
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scrappinmama
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Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 13, 2023 15:12:14 GMT
We never use our 3rd row for passengers anymore. But it comes in handy to lay that seat flat when I'm buying bulky items or a big Costco purchase.
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Rhondito
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Post by Rhondito on Jul 13, 2023 15:26:26 GMT
I have a Passport and am perfectly fine without a third row. I love having the huge cargo area for travel and transporting dogs or sporting equipment.
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