Michael recently stopped being a drummer in a local band but has the feeling the rock and roll life may come calling again. He needs a replacement for this Ford Transit that works as a comfortable daily driver while also having the space to haul his set. With a budget of $25,000, what car should he buy?
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Here is the scenario.
I quit being the drummer in a band and I just sold my 2018 Ford Transit 350 but, I might need to haul my drums in the future. I need something that can fit a reasonable bigger man (6’2″ about 350lbs). Heated seats and navigation and something that possibly my teenage daughters can drive and be seen in. I like big wagons and vans, but open to options. Trying to keep it under $25,000.
Quick Facts:
Budget: up to $25,000
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Daily Driver: Yes
Wants: Comfort, utility, modern features
Doesn’t want: Anything too expensive
Expert 1: Tom McParland – A Different Van
Michael, you already know if you are looking for a vehicle to comfortably and easily move people and a drum kit around that the van body style can’t be beat. At the $25,000 price point most of your Hondas and Toyotas are going to push into the higher miles, there are plenty of Chrysler and Dodge vans, but it seems you don’t want to go that route.
So how about something slightly different like the Mercedes Metris. Mercedes has been making some quality commercial vehicles for ages, and while most of their offerings are more similar to your Transit 350, the Metris blends the size of a minivan, with the usablity of a commercial van. What it lacks in fancy features, it makes up for in flexibility. Here is a 2018 Metris Passenger series with only 52,000 for just above your $25,5000 budget, the key feature from the ad is that the rear seats can be easily removed without tools.
Expert 2: Amber DaSilva – Ditch The Van
I hate to say it, but a van may not be best for your needs right now. Unless you’re on some real Neil Peart shit, your kit likely fits just fine in the back of an SUV, and that smaller, more passenger-oriented design will help you out on all your other needs.
Take this Lexus GX for just under $25,000 in Waldorf, for example. It’s got heated seats in the front and the back, as well as the finest built-in navigation that 2017 had to offer. Having driven one of these for years, I can guarantee you its suspension be more comfortable than any Metris or Sprinter out there.
For your kids, too, a GX will be a world away from a work van. Teenagers don’t always have the best sense of where the car they’re driving starts and ends, and the GX is nearly two feet shorter in length than a Metris — combine that with the backup camera, and you’re less likely to be paying for bumper touch-up paint every time one of the kids enters a parking garage. As much as we all love the #VanLife, the SUV is going to suit you better here. Maybe paint a wizard on the side to earn some band cred back.
Expert 3: Owen Bellwood – The Way Of The Wagon
Tom is right and another van would be a good shout for your needs – but it’s not the only route you can go down. As you’re a fan of big wagons, I reckon that’s a much better option for you – and as someone who’s loaded a drum kit into a Ford Focus before, I can assure you there’ll be space for your drums in a big wagon as well.
I think the next car for you is a lovely Mercedes station wagon, specifically this lovely Mercedes-Benz E-Class station wagon. You want comfort, the Benz has it in bucket loads. You want modern features, the Benz has heated leather seats, parking sensors, cruise control and all the luxury trimmings you’d expect from a German station wagon. On top of that, the E-Class wagon is a lovely looking runaround, especially finished in this lush blue paint.
As the drummer in a rock band, I’m sure you didn’t expect to become a Merc guy, but that time might have come. Plus, if you want something your teenagers can drive, I reckon they’d be happier hopping behind the wheel of this over another old van.
Expert 4: Collin Woodard – Big Things Come In Small Packages
If you’re looking for a car your daughters will want to be seen in, pretty much anything will probably make them happier than your old Ford Transit did. I’m sure it was great at what you needed it to do, but I’m pretty sure even Ford would admit it’s not a great car for impressing other teens. Unless you don’t mind them hotboxing it in there with all their friends, that is.
Then again, they’re also kids, and this is your car, so their opinion doesn’t really matter. If you want a Mercedes Metris, get yourself a Mercedes Metris. At the same time, I’d question the logic of buying a band van simply because you think you’ll get back into performing at some point in the future. So while I’m sure this recommendation will make your daughters happy, I’m actually thinking of you here — buy something just big and practical enough that you can fit your drums inside, but make daily driving a bigger priority.
According to a quick Google search for “smallest car fit drum kit,” drummers claim they can fit their drums inside quite a few surprisingly small cars, including the Honda Fit. You won’t have any room for passengers at that point, but your bandmates can get themselves to the show. There’s also more room for bigger drivers than you might expect. If that doesn’t work for you, you can always go bigger. Allegedly, one person fit a seven-piece kit in a Mazda 3 hatchback, so that could end up being a better option.
Finding either (or a larger, third option if those two still prove to be too small for you) for less than $25,000 shouldn’t be that hard, but here’s a 2022 Mazda 3 hatchback in Gettysburg that’s listed for $23,000 that looks like a good deal. At the very least, just consider not buying something massive because there’s a chance you’ll need to haul drums again.