Metris as a family van?

[76w115]

Anyone have any experience with the Metris? I was cleaning out the wife's nearly new MDX and was shocked at how she and the kids treat a nearly $60k car. Everything was sticky with kid garbage everywhere....

I love the fact that the car is trashed. To me it looks like a vibrant, busy family with young kids.

What I don't love however, is paying so much for a car that is too small, and frankly too nice to be covered in sticky. I have this fantasy of a car that is nice enough inside, easy to drive, but with rear seats designed like the back of a police car. Something I can clean out with a hose.

My wife wants a GL of course, but would be happy with any 3 pointed star. She's seen the videos on YouTube, and could be interested in the Metris. Thoughts?

[torsionbar]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but what's the opposition to simply cleaning the MDX and keeping it clean? I have kids too, so believe me I know what messy little buggers they can be. But if the interior space of the car is treated the same as the interior space of a home (i.e. when something gets dirty, you dont ignore it, you clean it) it will last a long time. Not sure if you have a garage or not, certainly taking time to clean the car's interior is made more complicated if you're stuck out in the elements.

That said, I'm not familiar with the materials used in the MDX, or how easy they are to clean. But things like buying some washable seat covers and rubber floor mats can really help. Also, there are professional detailing services that will shampoo carpets and do other deep cleaning tasks to help you out.

Agreed on the size though, the MDX, as with many modern SUV's, is large on the outside, but not very big inside. I think they focus more on the exterior styling and looks, rather than on space efficiency and practicality. I do like the look of the Metris, and it seems like the interior is cavernous.

[76w115]

I do clean it from time to time. It's a lease and there are other reasons not to like the car, so it will be going back in two years. The next car will be a long term purchase, so reliability and utility are key. We are also not so interested in bells or whistles on the next car, as it seems that the technology changes so quickly anyway and it's easy to fall into the trap of updating, just like a cell phone. Just want something bullet proof, simple, and useful.

[Diseasel300]

Food and soft drinks were not allowed in the family car when I was growing up. There were no exceptions to the rule, if you wanted to eat, you did it somewhere that people would normally eat. If you dropped trash in the back, it was to be put into one of the trash bags hanging on the seats, or taken with you when you got out.

Those habits stick with me today. Call me what you want, but I don't allow food or drinks in ANY of my vehicles, even by adults. Sorry, I'm not cleaning that up.

I've allowed it twice and regretted it both times. Had a brand new truck and let my sister get an ice cream. Wound up in the seat on the way home from the stealership. Left a stain in the first 20 minutes of owning the vehicle. Second time was with friends who got off an airplane from overseas. Went through a drive-through at 1AM as they were starving. Found a half-eaten hamburger under my driver's seat a week later. There will be no third time.

The point is to instill good habits in your kids early. If they're allowed to tear up and destroy a car as a kid, they'll do it as an adult. I've known far too many people who drove around in mobile dumpsters and it's absolutely disgusting! It's so easy to keep a car clean inside that there are no good excuses to let it get nasty, even with kids.

[martureo]

We really considered it. Went from a 2001 Odyssey to a 2010 Odyssey instead.

Both the wife and I wanted a three pointed star, preferably a diesel (she really misses her 1995 E300).

The metris was decently priced, but you'd need to load it up with options to make it bearable. No DVD options, no captain chair options for the second row, slightly higher seating arrangement and no diesel option killed it for us. We were told there'd be a diesel option (4 cyl turbo) coming in a year or so, but it'd only be available with 4Matic (which we didn't want).

Only certain dealers would work on them. We found one at our local dealer, pre-owned (10,000 miles) and it was snapped up next day. But apparently only the Sprinter dealers will do service (another 30 min away).

Our Odyssey is fully loaded (leather, navigation, DVD, heated seats, captains chairs) and although I don't think it would last as long, in the immediate need it was the right choice.

I've seen one or two V classes running around my area, most likely grey market diplomat vehicles. The price tag was ~$85k and looked more like the interior of a business jet than a family vehicle.

[76w115]

We have the DVD system in the acura. When it's good, it's just ok. When it's bad, they're fighting over what to watch. They bring their devices anyway, with unlimited data plans there is no need to saddle the car with that, or navigation. I can't see paying extra for those, which add nothing to resale and will certainly be outdated before we plan on getting rid of the car.

Recently, we dumped our feature-laden laundry machines for a set of Speed Queen commercial units. They cost more, and offer almost nothing in the way of features and gimmicks. The guy we bought from said "well, I guess we'll see you in 20 or so years for a new one". They're built like tanks, and we are very surprised at how good it feels to get back to basics.

Of course we would want every option available on our proposed Metris, but that only kicks the price up to 44k on the MB website. In the face of a CPO GL450 at $54k, that's not bad. Besides, the options seem to be ones that make sense. Some of the YouTube videos claim it's a 2.0 with commercial upgrades. If they're meant to be work vans I see no reason we couldn't drive it all day every day until the kids go to college.

If they came in Diesel 4matic, it would make the decision a no brainer. Good to know there's rumors of that out there.

When you were looking, did you get the chance to drive one?

[martureo]

Originally Posted by 76w115

We have the DVD system in the acura. When it's good, it's just ok. When it's bad, they're fighting over what to watch. They bring their devices anyway, with unlimited data plans there is no need to saddle the car with that, or navigation. I can't see paying extra for those, which add nothing to resale and will certainly be outdated before we plan on getting rid of the car.

Recently, we dumped our feature-laden laundry machines for a set of Speed Queen commercial units. They cost more, and offer almost nothing in the way of features and gimmicks. The guy we bought from said "well, I guess we'll see you in 20 or so years for a new one". They're built like tanks, and we are very surprised at how good it feels to get back to basics.

Of course we would want every option available on our proposed Metris, but that only kicks the price up to 44k on the MB website. In the face of a CPO GL450 at $54k, that's not bad. Besides, the options seem to be ones that make sense.

The options I was thinking of were really necessary ones that shouldn't have been non-standard. Painted bumpers? Really? Do I have to ask for that?

Some of the YouTube videos claim it's a 2.0 with commercial upgrades.

Yep.

If they're meant to be work vans I see no reason we couldn't drive it all day every day until the kids go to college.

That was had us pulling for it. I'd rather have a dressed up tank than a comfy but unreliable vehicle.

If they came in Diesel 4matic, it would make the decision a no brainer. Good to know there's rumors of that out there.

When you were looking, did you get the chance to drive one?

Yeah. Had to make an appointment a few times to get in. It drives smaller than it is.

I didn't get to drive far or do much with it, the guy was new and didn't want us doing much in it (we never went back for another drive like we planned). So my test drive wasn't enough to really experience it (I'd like to have parallel parked the thing at least).

[76w115]

I kinda get the painted bumpers as an option. In work or city use those black plastic ones are better. Probably not many of us looking to put a family in one. Airport shuttles maybe.

There's a black one almost fully loaded at a dealer about an hour away. The website shows it parked inside. Next time I'm in the area, I'm stopping in.

[76w115]

We pulled the trigger on a brand new fully loaded 2018 Metris back in December. Nearly 4 months and 6000 miles later, "Plasticvan" has proven to be much better than we imagined.

Of course it's a work van at heart. It's rough and loud on neighborhood roads. The rear seats are hard and don't adjust at all. It is not very attractive. We knew this before we bought it.

But, on the highway it is very smooth and quiet. Highway MPG is about 24-25. The heated front seats are very comfortable and supportive. You sit up very high and the windows are enormous, so you can see all around you very well.

When parked next to a Suburban, it is the same size, except the hood is much shorter. Despite its size, it is very nimble, and navigates parking lots with extreme ease. We've made u-turns (not K turns) in one shot on neighborhood streets. There is much more room inside, as the wife and kids can stand up and walk around as needed. The third row is a full sized seat, and we've fit 3 adults back there comfortably.

The best part, the family can't hurt it. We've packed it full of kids going to birthday parties. Next day, pick out the candy wrappers and fast food containers, wipe it clean, and it's back on duty. The dog vomited on the seat. Shrugged our shoulders, wiped it up, and carried on. The cup holders in front are large and have no seams, so when your drink spills it's not going to leave a sticky mess in the cracks forever. There's no moving parts inside, or cheap handles and levers to break. The front seats sit on metal boxes. The kids love it, and my wife actually prefers it to the MDX on almost every level. It's a wonder these things aren't everywhere by now.

[t walgamuth]

I looked at getting one a year or so ago. I'd use it for towing too and I have a dodge with cummins for that so it never seemed the perfect fit. I like them though and if I drove it I bet I'd want it.

[tyl604]

Not familiar with the Metris so I just looked it up. Can you really buy a new one for $25K?

[t walgamuth]

A simple one.

[HarvAMG]

Watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa8kHgmZIiQ

[76w115]

I saw that one before. Sort of an unfair comparison to the Odyssey and Sienna.

[t walgamuth]

He is an egotistical person who thinks he'll be famous for knocking a mercedes.

It is a work van with windows and seats not a mini van just because he says so. It also is taller than a mini van and has rear wheel drive. I'd rather have it than a honda.

It'll tow 5000# too. And it has up to 183 CF cargo capacity compared to an odessy with 142 CF.