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I hear they play very sharp if not warmed up properly.

If I understand correctly they are just the Chevrolet Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, reskinned and lengthened for a third row. The engine however is built by Suzuki and is not the chinese sourced V-6 that the P and C have. ymmv.......

If you're looking along the same kind of car, the Chevy Aveo took the place of the Geo Prizm. It does the job in spades. Get the 5-door hatch version: decent ride, handling, durability; a little shy on power, but not much; decent but not spectacular mileage. But the real kicker: I can haul anything I need to gigs as the occasion requires: people, tubas (yes, plural), all manner of guitars, basses & amplifiers, etc., just by folding the back seat down, and if I really need more room, fold it once more up against the back of the front seats. And the front seats don't have to be moved up that much, so you and a passenger can still ride in relative comfort.

If you want Toyota reliability, good cargo hauling capacity plus good gas mileage, and you don't want to climb up to get out of your car? Get a Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe.

If you're looking for a small SUV, don't forget to look at the Ford Escape: unibody, front wheel drive, great for everything from town to light offroading and camping, etc.

This has been my dream car lately, a 6 speed C5 Corvette. My big CC goes in the passenger seat, and a small F could go creatively in the back - these cars actually have very decent luggage space for a 2 seater as long as you don't get the convertible. If I ever got another big Martin for outdoor band playing, the body would go in the passenger seat and the bell in back. Preferably a 2001 C5 - first year of the 2nd gen stability control as well as more torque than the 97-00 C5's. (I do NOT like the newest C6 or the long-running prior C4 models, to each his own.)

MartyNeilan wrote:Why a C5 'Vette? No room for kids fighting and screaming in back, and with a tuba onboard (preferred means of travel) no room for a wife fighting and screaming in the passenger seat.

Funny, that's the exact same reason I kept my 1967 E-type convertible after my wife and I got married....

I have both a Prizm and a Matrix/Vibe. The Prizm is a real butt killer- no cruise and uncomfortable seats. 4 hours and I'm DONE. I've done a 17 hour trip in the Vibe, switching out drivers every few hours. those seats are COMFORTABLE.

107000 on the Prizm- 3 teens using it as a beater and learning to drive a stick- 3 fender benders by the teens resulting in the insurance co. totalling it and us buying it from them- about all we've had to do beyoond regular maintenance is a new clutch (go figure with 3 teens!)

85K on the Vibe - Air conditioner has cost us nearly 2000 but everything else has been great. It'll haul everything for 2 people to camp/cave/climb/paddle for a week INSIDE. (Well, the kayaks have to go on top)

The Geo is a great off road car. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... &plindex=1