Question for GM hockey members in the Ottawa/Neapean/Kanata area

shabbs wrote:

Cronie wrote:On a funny note, anyone here with small children? Have any of you run into the same issue in terms of installing rear-facing child seats and then having to move the shotgun seat SO far forward that NO ONE, not even a midget, can use the seat!?

It was SO frustrating for us, especially in a Matrix (I'm pretty epitomizes a FAMILY car) and we had NO room.

My wife's Vibe is pretty much the Matrix with different badges. We had no issues with the rear-facing seat in her car. We put it in the middle though as that's the safest spot and didn't have to move the shotgun seat at all. Plus, her car has the latch-system which makes installation so much easier. I'm assumiong the Matrix has it as well.

We did the same thing for my Dakota and put the rear-facing seat in the middle. My Dak doesn't have the latch system and it was a B1TCH to get it in properly.

We now have front facing seats in both vehicles, but they seats are no longer in the middle.

Cronie wrote:Ford Edge are interesting, but from what i've read and from other friends and family, Toyota and Honda (in our price range) are built to last... BElieve me, I'd LOVE to drive off in a BMW X5 or my wife's all-time dream, Land Rover, but sadly, Melnyk never returns my calls for employment, so it's off to Toyota for me.

Cronie wrote:Yeah, it wasn't a problem when we had my son, but once my daughter arrived, we moved his front-facing behind me (driver side) and so he wouldn't pound the crap out of her, we felt it made more sense to move her behind the shotgun seat.

Once she is switched to a forward facing, it will be a LOT easier, and yeah, the Matrix comes equipped with the Latches which makes EVERYTHING easier.

caissie_1 wrote:Gotta love the power to zoom :D:

shabbs wrote:

caissie_1 wrote:Gotta love the power to zoom :D:

Zoom in on that gorgeous tread of those tires... just had them put on this past weekend. LOVE 'EM!!!!

SeawaySensFan wrote:I tried Coopers and I like 'em!

Cronie wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:I tried Coopers and I like 'em!

My parents had a brand-new Mini Cooper S for about 5 months before they traded it for a BMW Z4! The Cooper was awesome, and surprisingly, at my height (6"4) it remains the ONLY car that I could sit in comfortably and still had at least an inch or two of clearance...

Cronie wrote:Hello fellow GM HOCKEY NUTS!

O.k. long story, but I'll try and sum it up quickly.

I've made it no secret that I am attempting to line up a decent job so that I and my family can return home to Ottawa; now that unfortunately isn't going as well or as smoothly as I'd hoped, but I'm still plugging away and hoping for the best.

Now, our lease on our Toyota Matrix is coming due in a few months, and I thought I would LOVE to do a road trip back home as I haven't been back since 2004 I believe and my Nanny has yet to lay her eyes on her Great grandson and great granddaughter, but I digress.

What I am wondering is my experience has taught me that you can NEVER have too many connections and referrals, so what I'm wondering is if anyone can recommend a reputable (I use that term loosely of course) and great deal Toyota Dealership and/or Sales person to deal with as the deals in our neck of the woods aren't that great sadly.

I appreciate any input any of you can suggest, and please, I'm not asking for any of you to put your word(s) or collective necks on the line for me or my family by 'vouching' for me or anything, merely asking for your recommendations or advice on a good dealership that increases my odds of haggling and/or snagging a good deal.

Thanks everyone.

shabbs wrote:A Rav4 would be a very good choice. Toyota's are legendary and the Rav4 has one of the highest value-retention ratings as well.

We're looking at a new vehicle to replace my wife's Vibe and have been considering something like a Ford Edge and possibly a Toyota Rav4. It's all about how good a deal one can get.

Here's my "family" vehicle of choice... heh heh:



I'll give you one guess what the license plate says...