2nd row captain chairs versus 2nd row split bench with dogs?

[mwl001]

I wondered about all the points discussed so far as I had a second row bench in the previous SUV. We got the captains chairs and love it. I have two teens that really enjoy their space. The friends that come along like the easy access to the back. The two dogs do just great and have easy access to the back but move closer to the front as seats become available.

I will say that adults usually love the second row captains a lot. If the wife and I go out with another couple and I drive the Expedition, I usually get a comment about how comfortable and luxurious the vehicle is. Interestingly enough, we don't get that same reaction when we drive the Mercedes sedan. Perhaps it is an expectations thing.

I think there is something about the sheer interior volume plus the isolation of the body on frame that is unique to full size SUVs - way before I bought an Expedition I ended up in a Tahoe for an Uber. It was just so much bigger than what I've been used to, also just the huge amount of space between the front seats, it was really nice. I've come to view these vehicles as basically private jets on the interstate - you're simply a few feet above everything and disconnected to the point that you can feel like you're slightly off the ground. If you view that as a luxury then I think that's what can cause people to view the vehicle as more luxurious than you might think.

It's also undeniable that 2nd row captains chairs have signified luxury outside of all other variables since the conversion van days many of us remember. Regularly carrying 3+ teens or adults? I agree captain's chairs seem like the obvious choice.

 

[5280tunage]

Definitely an expectation thing from my experience. Surprised a lot of people with the expedition, people who are used to the german brands.

When people get in the Mercedes, they're like "it better be luxurious, you rich ****. frankly there's more plastic inside from what I expected". :-D

I don't get any luxurious feedback from the BMW i just sold and the current Mercedes sedan I have. They actually comment how they're surprised how rough it drives (C63S)

Well now, a C63S I would completely expect a rough ride, it's suspension is tuned to run the Autobahn. Same as a G63, etc. Do people really have that false of a set of expectations that a C63S is going to ride like an S550? Or even an S550 and an AMG S63? Or in my previous stint, A grand cherokee summit vs. a grand cherokee SRT8?

 

[Brucek50]

Doesn't matter 6 of one half dozen of the other, animals are like children as they can screw up anything.

 

[MxRacer965]

2 kids, 9 and 6 with 2 dogs, 85lbs and 70lbs. We prefer the captains chairs. I put the 3rd row up or down based on need (how much cargo I’m hauling). The smaller dog chills out in the pass thru between the captains chairs generally, while I put the bigger dog in the cargo area. Like I said, seats for up or down depending on need. I’d never want the bench, waste of usable space for the dogs, kids stuff, other luggage. It’s just way more usable, and way more comfortable with captains.

 

[Dan B]

We have a Gen III el with bucket seats, and a Gen IV with a bench seat. To go with that we have 3 bird dogs (40-50# @). When we bought the Gen III we only had 2 dogs, my wife knew the dogs were not happy with the bucket seats and had me make a console to sit between the seats, it has a drawer, cup holders for dog water bottles, and the slope matches the incline on the seats. This gets covered with moving blankets, so the dogs are comfortable, and the seat fabric protected. The only advantage I see (which could be a disadvantage depending on your point of view) is that the dogs can access the 3rd row of seats, which we keep down, so they have access to the entire back in the Gen III, by walking between the captains seats. Our children are grown so hauling kids is not an issue for us. The dogs really have not told us which arrangement they prefer, although they may have discussed this with my wife. She of course drives the Gen IV (with the bench seat).

 

[carymccarr]

Definitely an expectation thing from my experience. Surprised a lot of people with the expedition, people who are used to the german brands.

When people get in the Mercedes, they're like "it better be luxurious, you rich ****. frankly there's more plastic inside from what I expected". :-D

I don't get any luxurious feedback from the BMW i just sold and the current Mercedes sedan I have. They actually comment how they're surprised how rough it drives (C63S)

To be fair most of the BMWs and Mercs people talk about here cost around the same or less than a expy platinum and certainly less than a Navi black label.

 

[Koz19MaxPlat]

It's really a personal thing. For me, I've got a family of 5 with 3 kids, 2 of whom are teenagers and nearly bigger than me @ 6'3. Simply put, they don't want their 8 year old sister between them on a bench, having already done that with our 16 Suburban and its bench. Yes, we're losing a seat where one less of their friends can come with us, but we benefit from not having to hear "this one sleeping on me," or "that one keeps hitting me with their elbow." Captains chairs bring me a quiet cabin for long car rides, and are absolutely worth the premium for that alone.

 

[Anerbe]

To be fair most of the BMWs and Mercs people talk about here cost around the same or less than a expy platinum and certainly less than a Navi black label.

The closest vehicle to our Expy/Navi from the Germans are the GLS and X7 in terms of usage and space. Even then, the sizing of the germans align more with the Explorer / Aviator sizes than the Expy/Nav. I believe people cross shop more the GLS/X7 with the Expy/Nav, weighing out size/utility vs. road performance/badge. I see Explorer / Aviator more synced with X5 / GLE, where again it's more utility vs. road/badge.

I would say the Germans aren't less - at minimum equal in price for base to base model MSRP comparison (starting at Expy Plat), with the Germans going 30-60% higher in comparing top trims (black label vs. AMG/Maybach/M/Alpina)

I'm talking more market / consumer perceptions vs. facts and figures.

Ford Platinum: I've found people respond in these two ways, sometimes both lines from the same person: "wow, they cost this much?" and "wow, this is much nicer than I expected"

Past X5: Nice car, I expected it to be for the price (expectations are higher).

For the C63S, yes it's very sport tuned, but that doesn't resonate with most peoples expectation of the brand. "Did they really make it like this?"

 

[Jeremygsu]

I've got a '15 Expedition with the bench but just took out the middle seat to now have two captains chairs. I've got two small kids in car seats and when my parents come in town, which is frequent, we all ride in my car. My Mom and wife ride in the third row and keep an eye on the kids in the second. My wife complained with the seat in she felt claustrophobic and trapped in the third row. With the seat out she can easily get to the kids if need be or get out of the car etc. so in our case we prefer the captains chairs.

It's all preference.

 

[carymccarr]

The closest vehicle to our Expy/Navi from the Germans are the GLS and X7 in terms of usage and space. Even then, the sizing of the germans align more with the Explorer / Aviator sizes than the Expy/Nav. I believe people cross shop more the GLS/X7 with the Expy/Nav, weighing out size/utility vs. road performance/badge. I see Explorer / Aviator more synced with X5 / GLE, where again it's more utility vs. road/badge.

I would say the Germans aren't less - at minimum equal in price for base to base model MSRP comparison (starting at Expy Plat), with the Germans going 30-60% higher in comparing top trims (black label vs. AMG/Maybach/M/Alpina)

I'm talking more market / consumer perceptions vs. facts and figures.

Ford Platinum: I've found people respond in these two ways, sometimes both lines from the same person: "wow, they cost this much?" and "wow, this is much nicer than I expected"

Past X5: Nice car, I expected it to be for the price (expectations are higher).

For the C63S, yes it's very sport tuned, but that doesn't resonate with most peoples expectation of the brand. "Did they really make it like this?"

I was talking about people comparing a 3 or 5 series BMW or C/E series Merc which are all MUCH less.

IMO Interior on the X7 and GLS580 are superior to my $101k navigator in almost every way.


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