Can any of the 3 row vehicles be ordered without the 3rd row these days? A friend of mine recently got a CX-9 and I find the 2nd row a bit cramped. To me, making that car a 2 row makes more sense. No folded seats taking up storage, no compromised rear seat legroom for a 3rd row that isn’t there. Is it something I'm mis…

CX-9 (lead pic) is the most cramped of the bunch, the least efficient, likely the least reliable and the one with the poorest resale value.

The CVT in the Ascent is a dealbreaker for me. I hate, hate, hate how if feels like it’s always starting in second gear.

As I suggested already, but is still in the greys, I think this is another example of when a well optioned Regal TourX fits the bill perfectly. Just because he wan’ts a “large vehicle” doesn’t mean it needs to seat 7 or 8 and be a CUV. A wagon is still a large vehicle

The CX-9 gets 23mpg combined vs 22mpg for the Pilot.

DING DING DING. looks good, fits all the requirements, isn’t some bloated SUV. Winner winner chicken dinner.

Exactly. A Cx-5 is plenty roomy for four adults since there is no attempt at squeezing a 3rd row in. With a $30K budget, you can just get into a lightly used AWD Grand Touring.

Better idea: Keep the 2nd down all the time, so people in the back get to lounge. This was my favorite thing to do in the old Tahoe I had in high school.

Here, let me fix your comment.

Also, if you’re worried about space for luggage you could hop into it’s longer, also AWD and Twin Turbo sister:

If I had to settle for an SUV I would be hard pressed to buy anything besides this or a Ascent. CX-9 is also a fabulous thing to sit in. 

When it does the “invisible poll” thing there are more than 2 choices! I want to know what the other options say!

And why do I have to click through through to a new screen to see my notifications now?

Yea... Start with an Audi design and change about 5%.

Neutral ... As the owner of both a GTI and an old Ranger truck I would absolutely buy a VW trucklet without a second thought.

I personally think the refreshed Corvair coupes are some of the best looking cars Chevy ever made.  I’d like to personally thank Ralph Nader for fucking that up for us.

My Mom loved Corvairs. One of my earliest childhood memories, circa 1970, is losing my favorite toy when the au pair was driving the Corvair and it went up in flames. My little sis was a baby, and my toy was in the baby crib on the back seat, which was totally destroyed. You’s also need to install proper rear belts…

The Corvair comes as a four-door sedan!

“...the sole transmission option is a paddle-shift ZF8 automatic gearbox—the best conventional torque converter-based automatic ever made.”

I’m definitely in the minority here, but I’ve always liked the look of this car. It was unique for the time period and stood out on the road. I think the styling has held up pretty well.