A minivan makes sense, but they don't want one

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Hi there: We will soon be in the market for a new kid-mobile. My husband hates minivans and refuses to buy one, which is fine by me. He also feels that life is not worth living if the vehicle isn't a standard transmission. We are driving an aging Volvo V70 with a rumble seat in the trunk. We have two seven-year-olds and a nine-year-old and drive a lot, so good mileage is important. I'm partial to Subaru because of the all-wheel-drive, but I'm open to suggestions. Do you have any? Suggestions that is. When a minivan is not an option, what should a busy family buy that will make a performance-crazed dad and a practically minded mom happy? - Thanks, Jennifer

Cato: Okay, Jenny, your hubby must get over his manual obsession. A do-it-yourself gearbox is not available in anything suitable to meet your three-kid needs.

But minivans are so cheap and functional, you and dear hubby might want to get one and then spend the leftovers on a sports car for date night. With two seven-year-olds and a niner, you most definitely need a weekly date night.

Vaughan: Jen, what's that wagon they're driving? A Vulcan? A Victor? Oh, a Volvo. They used to be popular, then Ford bought the company and let Volvo suffer a lingering near-death before dumping them at remainder-bin prices to the upstart Chinese auto maker Geely.

What will Geely eventually do with Volvo? Cato will tell you that an unlimited pot of Chinese government money guarantees a glorious future for Volvo. I don't think so. Can you say Chinese taxi cabs?

Cato: What's wrong with taxis? Mercedes makes them - dull yellow ones all over Germany. Toyota makes them - Prius cabs line Vancouver's curbs. I like Volvo's future as a taxi maker.

Vaughan: Okay, if you're happy recommending a future taxi, and if Jen and her mate are happy with Volvo, then why not the Volvo V50?

The V50 is a true station wagon with 1,700 litres of cargo space and all-wheel-drive. It also has a piece of IKEA furniture as the central console. With the 2.5-litre, five-cylinder, turbocharged engine you get 227 hp so hubby can play.

But no standard tranny. As Cato said, they've gone the way of the dodo, unfortunately.

Cato: Gotta stop you right there. The V50 is too small; so is any Subaru. Not enough room inside for the three booster seats Jenny and hubby are carting around. They need three rows of seating.

Vaughan: What? I'm shocked. You've always liked those Subies, Cato, because they're bulletproof quality-wise, although they have had that correctable issue with front-wheel shimmy. I like the Audi A4 Avant for these two, also. Nice wagon, very sporty.

Cato: Too small to accommodate three booster seats, not to mention the extra kid or two Jenny will find herself bringing along - friends of the kids.

Vaughan: Well, I'd like to tell Jen and sporty hubby that they should stick with Volvo and go for a new V50. Back in the day, Volvo was actually the top premium import in Canada - can you believe it? I owned one - used - a million years ago and loved it.

I feel sorry for the many excellent Volvo dealers in Canada who are standing by helplessly as Geely tries to figure out what to do with its new toy. I don't think it's going to turn out too well.

Cato: We want car shopping to turn out well for Jenny. Let's focus.

First choice: the Ford Flex. It's car-based and drives really well, and has three rows of seating. I like the all-wheel-drive Flex Limited. It lists for $43,199, but I can see at least $7,000 in discounts available. It's super-safe, too.

Vaughan: It looks like a hearse. Hubby will hate it; he'll die of embarrassment if he has to drive a Flex.

Cato: It's cheap enough so that they can buy it, do the family thing, and still get a stick-shift car for date nights.

Vaughan: If you're recommending crossovers, the obvious choice is the BMW X5. Also available with three rows of seats and it's perfect for sporty hubby.

Cato: The V-6 with all-wheel-drive lists for $59,990 and then Jen will need to add $2,100 for the third row of seats. But cash buyers can tap a $3,500 factory-to-dealer rebate.

Vaughan: I'll play your game, Cato. Jen and the husband should look at an Acura MDX - $57,900 with AWD and the Technology package.

Cato: No one pays full list for an MDX, not with a $5,000 factory rebate in the mix. My recommendation is the Flex and a date car.

Vaughan: Sporty hubby needs the Bimmer.

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HOW THEY COMPARE

Source: car manufacturers

Jeremy Cato and Michael Vaughan are co-hosts of Car/Business, which appears Fridays at 8 p.m. on Business News Network and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. on CTV.