Am shopping for a replacement to the X5...since we already have a fairly new "third-row, seats six" vehicle for the pediatrician/playdate/grocery store stuff, I am shooting for an under $25K 35mpg-plus four door option for those times when we don't need to seat everybody.

Looking ahead, we can consider a new X5 once our oldest graduates to a booster seat, but we are a couple years out. If we buy another SAV/SUV it is going to be a diesel or diesel hybrid. I am keeping my eye on the redesigned 2012 GL/ML Mercedes vehicles and am also warming up to the Q7. Of course the new Cayenne is sweet...but I'd like to get beyond the drool and Cheerios stage.

For now, in a small car, ideally I want to be able to seat up to three carseats (not many options), but I also want something with style and great road manners. Countryman seats four max, Mazda5 seats six, but I am not swooning to own a Mazda5. With the Countryman I can also order the adaptive Xenons.

Fire away..

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