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Now THIS Is A Ride I Could Get Used To

After I drove the Tahoe to BlogHer, Chevy offered to let me drive a Traverse for a week, since that’s one of the cars on The List.  (The List compiles the cars we are considering to replace our aging minivan whenever it decides to die and go to the happy hunting ground in the sky, which can’t happen soon enough for me.)  I’ve been tooling around town in the Traverse for the past few days, and I’m just warning you… they’re going to have to bodily remove me to take it back next week.

It’s really fun to drive.  It’s quiet and handles nicely, and despite the fact that it’s a big, heavy car, it has no problem accelerating to get on the highway, and the brakes are remarkably responsive, even in the rain.  Inside, the driver’s seat is comfortable, you can adjust the lumbar support, and you sit up nice and high.

My only complaint thus far is that it’s kind of hard to climb in and out of, especially in a skirt.  I was commenting on this fact to my neighbor, who owns a Traverse.  I remarked that it needs one of those steps like the SUVs have as she pointed over to her Traverse and said, “You need the running boards.”

Ah yes, running boards.  That’s what they’re called.  So they ARE an option.  Chevy thought of everything.

Ours is loaded (except, evidently, for running boards.)  It has leather interior, all wheel drive, a backup camera (HALLELUJAH!), a power lift gate (DREAMY) and an entertainment system.

The kids like it too.

They are particularly fascinated with the fact that their windows roll down.  (And ALL the way down, not halfway like in Daddy’s car.)  And, needless to say, they love the entertainment system.  We have never had a DVD player for our car; in fact, I have intentionally avoided it cause I’m mean like that.  But I couldn’t resist letting them try this out since we have it, and they are in heaven.

We’re taking the car to Virginia for the weekend, and they’ve already packed their favorite movies.  I guess I’ll give in and let them fry their brains just this once.  It will probably be the quietest trip we’ve ever taken.  [Update: AND IT WAS!!]

I’m anxious to see how it packs for a road trip.  That’s one of my biggest considerations with a new car, as we do travel quite a bit.  So far, it seems VERY roomy inside.  I’d even venture to say that it has as much room as our Sienna (keeping in mind, we have the older, smaller model.)  If so, the Traverse is definitely moving to the top of The List.  [Update: It definitely has as much room as our minivan. Impressive.]

Stay tuned…  The next post I publish will be from Williamsburg!

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23 Responses

  1. Hey Jo-Lynne, that looks like such a fun car! I hope you and your family have a safe, quiet and fun road trip to VA. Happy travels.

  2. Looks great! I also have a Sienna, it’s a piece of junk, I can’t wait to get rid of it. But we still have 4.5 years left to pay on hubby’s truck, so a new car will have to wait a while for me!

    1. Really? We’ve been pleased with our Sienna. It’s been good to us, and I find it incredibly comfortable. I loved the ease of the minivan when I had babies, but I’m ready for something different.

      1. Sadly, ours has been nothing but bad luck from Day 3, when it got egged as I was driving down the street on Halloween! I think it was a curse. It’s been hit NUMEROUS times, stolen, just falls apart, i.e. inside door panels falling apart, making it impossible to open the door, window gaskets falling off. Liftgate doesn’t close right Batteries don’t like to hold a charge, It’s only 5 years old, and I had to have the entire ENGINE replaced (of course, this was not covered by the PLATINUM warranty I paid for). It’s currently in the shop again, it’s been making very scary noises.

        I think we just got a dud or something, most people have been happy with theirs!! Just my luck….LOL

  3. What exactly is The List? Is this simply just a list of cars that you guys are considering or is there more to it? We are looking for a non-minivan which would fit three car seats across the backseat and am just wondering if The List is something that would help our search.

    1. Yeah, a list of cars we’ve been considering. I’ve been gradually test driving various crossovers. I actually prefer a car with the quad seating, so the kids can easily access the third row. If you want a car that allows 3 car seats in a row, I’m not sure what to advise. Are you looking for a crossover?

  4. Once you go with a DVD in the car you NEVER go back – just a warning.

    I use to love Chevy’s. We have a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer. We bought it used – it was about a year old and had 40,000 miles on it. It was a great car but the entire electronic componet that runs your speedometer, fuel gage, oil gage etc… starting going shortly after we bought it but I did not think anything about it until the speedometer went on a trip. I was upset because this vehicle was less than 3 years old – why would something like this be going wrong. It was a fix of over $700 and to me this should not be happening in such a young car with low mileage. I did some research and this is a common problem with Chevy. I would definatly ask about this before you buy one.

  5. Oooh can’t wait to hear what you think. I have my eye on a GMC Acadia at the moment for my husband’s new vehicle.

    Uhh yeah, my Denali would be a nightmare without running boards (and it still is sometimes to be honest if I’m caught off guard getting in on the passenger side).

    1. The Acadia is definitely near the top of The List. I have yet to test drive one, but my neighbor had one and I remember liking it a lot.

  6. I have got to say, you look pretty darn good in that car! It suits you well, and it seems like it has some great upgrades. We’re kinda looking for a replacement for our Expedition, and it too is HARD to get up and into (especially pregnant and I’m assuming it will be hard to hoist the carrier up and into the base once baby arrives). Can’t wait to hear about all the cars on The List and your eventual choice!

    1. The Tahoe is nice, and I definitely like the way it has plenty of room but doesn’t feel imposing to drive, like the Tahoe did. I imagine the Expedition is even longer than the Tahoe; it’s comparable to the Suburban, right?

  7. Ooh, it suits you well. And yes, as a girl who wears skirts most of the time, running boards are key to not mortifying your kids in front of school (or yourself)

  8. The Traverse is something we are looking at as well as the Buick Enclave and the Arcadia. We need something bigger than our Volvo wagon but not looking to get a mini van. 3 rows of seats are key for us and having a roof rack. We travel a lot and enjoy camping so we need the room. Hope your trip to VA goes well…even if it’s raining.

    1. The Acadia is high up on The List. 🙂 I want to test drive one. I think the Enclave is gorgeous, but it’s pricier than the Acadia and Traverse.

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