Opinions on Minivans

I totally understand about not wanting to get a van. When my oldest was nine months old, we found out that we had another on the way. We bought a Dodge Grand Caravan. I've come to love it. It comes in handy when having guests along. All of my seats in the back fold into the floor if I need to pick up big items. I have power sliding doors which definitely comes in handy. When the 2nd row seats are in the normal upright position, there is storage space under the floor where you can put things out of the way. I know the newer Grand Caravan have an option of a table between all the seats in the back.

I too have 2 boys, ages 3.5 and 18 months. We have a Chrysler Town and Country and love it. We shopped around and got a great deal on a used one, although it was practically new as we bought it in Feb. 2008 and it was a 2007 w/ about 27,000 miles on it. We love the stow-and-go feature and we love the ability to have different seat configuations. We actually have both our boys car seats on the back bench seat and at least one of the middle captians chairs folded in the floor at all times. When it's raining and we need to get them in the car without getting wet, or if we need to do a quick diaper change on the baby, we're set. It drives like a dream and is so comfortable for traveling (all my family lives out of state, so that was a consideration for us). This is the second car we've purchased from Hughes Motor Cars in Warrenton, Va and have been more than pleased. Their prices were great and their cars are in top-notch condition. I'm not affiliated with them in any way. We've just purchased my van and my husbands truck there and have been happy. I hope this helps.

well, i hate minivans- or so i thought. we bought our minivan last summer because that is when we had our fourth child (we waited to the last moment!) we had a bmw before, so it was a biiiiiiig change to say the least. i actually thought that if we had to buy a big vehicle, it would be an suv... but we didn't because the gas mileage is ridiculously low!

well, before we bought our minivan we asked mechanics what they thought. GOOD IDEA! they actually suggested a chevy venture (they see less of those for repairs due to manufacturing issues...) also, there IS a lot of room and i love the seats folding into the floor. it seats 8 very comfortably. it also has high safety ratings. also one cool feature is that it has the best or tied for the best in gas mileage and also "drives like a car" compared to other minivans. we actually love it. (coming from someone who has owned 3 bmws...) honda odysees are cuter and more popular, but they get transmission issues... who wants that???? they are also more expensive.

we bought our 2005 venure used... for only 9,000 bucks!!! 0 problems so far. we love it in every respect.

I have a 8 passenger Toyota Sienna that we bought in 2004. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE it! All of the seats are comfortable, which is important as the kids get older. The amount of cargo room is wonderful--we no longer need the cartopper on long trips. The gas mileage is fine, especially for a mini van (about 25 mpg on long trips). The get up and go is wonderful and it can even go very fast. We took it to Germany and it went 100 mph on the autobahn on a regular basis--not that I would ever speed here. The seats are easy to fold flat into the caro well. The turning radius is even better than on my car, which is great in crowded parking lots.

I LOVE my Honda Odyssey. When we were choosing, it was between the Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna, and the Odyssey won. Also, I'm pettite (just 4'11") and the Odyssey has adjustable seats AND moving pedals. It remembers two driver settings which is great so my husband and I can switch out without having to worry about moving the seats, etc. Safety, comfort, and the overall ride is great! Hope this helps.

I am partial to GM vehicles because my dad and father-in-law both work and retired from GM. We had a 99 Chevy Venture and I loved it! I would still have it today had some foreign and no insurance guy waited til I went through the green light to make his left hand turn. Since then my husband will not let me have anything smaller than a Tahoe so I have a Chevy Suburban with the entertainment package since we travel long distances (military) and have a dog. Love my suburban and got it used. During these hard times they are pretty cheap used. Mine was the price of minivan or expensive car. Back on minivans, the Chevy Uplander is really awesome from what I have heard a lot of friends say who have them. They did not think they would like them but they are better than they thought. Again, I am partial for my families sake! Think of your families needs and they options each have sometimes you need more than one will offer. Good Luck!

We have a Dodge Grand Caravan. We got it a year old and saved a lot of $ over brand new. The best feature is the stow and go seats. It is great to be able to have all of that storage space without any effort!
Good luck on your search!

if i could buy a new an id get the third row to be a stow n go so i'd have more storage when i needed it. one thing i like about mine though it that the last row of seats are split so that i can fold down one half and still use the other. also a van with theextended rear so that the back seats arent so close to the back window that you cant even fit a stroller back there. my middle row has two captains chairs and like that also because the kids cant reach each other to fight. mine also has a tv and vcr although ow im sure dvd would be better but just that they can watch tv on longer trips and such is nice. i also have leather and being able to just wipe off the seat are nice...in the winter if it is too cold fo you just put a cover on your seat. or get the heated seat option if you can. i got mine used on craigslist...i know its not as safe as a dealer but we coldnt afford anything new. we have a 2002 dodge grand caravan regency version.

I think we've all declared at one time or another that we would NEVER drive a mini-van. Once the family starts growing, however, you can't beat them for their utility. We have owned 3. The 1st was a Dodge Grand Caravan-very roomy & a comfortable ride-not reliable mechanically (required 2 of the 6 cylinders to be replaced at 50k miles!), so we will NEVER own a Dodge again. The 2nd was a Toyota Sienna, which was a great van. The new ones are even nicer. Great on safety & reliability. Our current van is a Nissan Quest. I, too, love the power sliding hatch & side door and the DVD player w/headphones :) It has a sportier design & is comfortable to drive. My main complaints are fuel economy (bad, but all my driving is local stop & go-it is better if we do any highway driving) and while the collapsible rear seat is a great feature, I wish it was a 60/40 split, so I could take all of my kids & still have the extra space. Since you have 2 kids, this shouldn't be a problem. Good luck with your decision.

K.

hEY THERE!
We have a 5 yr old and a 3 year old...and I LOVE OUR MINI VAN....ITS A TOWN & COUNTRY 2005. aND WE CALL HER OUR "WORK FORCE". How we have worked it is, the van has three sets of seats right?...so remove the center seats, keeping the back seats for the kids car seats...put down a throw rug in the open space....and WAYLA!...you open space for all the LOwes/Home Depot projects (cause the back seat will fold down for the long wood/metal/furniture we have moved)...I mean I could go on and on about how valuable doing that been for us. Because you always have a space to change diapers, feed the kids, the dog, lugage ...the lists goes on! I would (and NOW my huband) would never give up the VAN! We also have a mustang, and a convertable crossfire for when its just us!
Enjoy...we wont ever give up the minivan!
M.

My friend has the Honda Odyssey and loves it - she has had 2 of them. She got 250k miles off of the first one and is working on her first 100k miles on the second one. It is safe, economical to drive, and never gave her an ounce of trouble. Oh and even after 250k miles, it looked and worked as good as new.

J. my husband wanted to get a mini van 2 years ago I was then 27 years old I swore I would never drive a mini van. I was way tooooo young.So yes get bought one a Dodge Caravan. I have 2 girls 4 and 6. Let me just tell you I LOVE IT. Good luck with what ever you decide.

Hi J. my name is A. and I have two boys your boys' age and we had an SUV but just bought a Toyota Sienna and I love it. It has soooo much room for all thier stuff soccer, toys,etc and it is so nice and roomey I think it will be a great fit but I fought the whole minivan thing for a while but now would be lost without it. It is also ideal when family and friends come visit from out of town that we all fit into the van. So it has been great for our boys and family. Good luck and now it is a great time to buy with all the incentives , o% financing and rebates. A. W

Hi J.~

We have a Dodge Grand Caravan and absolutely LOVE it. We actually traded in our regular size caravan (which we also liked, but outgrew). My husband is a mechanic, so I don't have to tell you, he kinda has the 411 on a lot of vehicles. To be honest, we really like Honda's, but couldn't afford one, so we compromised on the Caravan and we really are happy with it. The stow n go seating is the best, really. It also has a built in DVD player which has been a lifesaver, not to mention all the little extra's like a cell phone holder for the driver, etc. So, good luck to you with whatever you choose, but if you do go with a Caravan, I think you will be very happy. P.S. we bought ours used. We don't ever buy new.

J.,
I have had 3 different vans and rented one when mine was having work done on it and I would have to say my fav was the one I rented, it was the dodge carvan stow and go. I was able to comfortable put my 5 children, ages 10.5 to 21 months in this for the week I had it. My 10.5 year old was able to sit in the 3rd row seat in between 2 car seats and commented on how much room she had and did not feel crowded. I was also able to stand between the 2 captains seats that make the 2nd row with plenty of room to buckel the kids in their seats in the back row, this is something I cannot do in my ford windstar which I currently have. We have been looking at trading in my van for a surburban but I think because of price we are going to look at the new dodge stow and go instead because of the room in them. Good luck.

Wow...you've gotten a lot of responses...I have to weigh in with my negative experience with my Chrysler Town and Country. It's a 2001...and the check engine light has now been on for almost two years...can't find anything wrong with the function or engine...it has to do with the "extras" windshield wipers, gas cap, etc and to get the light off it will take hours to determine which non-emergency extra is malfunctioning the light...big pain and I have been told not worth the money. The thing that scares me is now I don't know when something else really IS wrong...

In terms of options...as a mom, the power sliding doors and rear door are huge plus! The doors are heavy and with kids and groceries...they are a must. The stow and go seats are also fantastic...I only have one child so I don't regularly need all the seats and what a pain to take them out and store! The DVD is a plus but I have heard from other mom's it's an expensive thing to replace and with portable DVD players so cheap...it could be more economical and better for sanity for kids to each have their own...again, I have an only, so not a great judge of that myself. That being said, my sister just had baby #1 and plans on baby #2 and bought the brand new loaded 2009 Oddessy...it's sweet! If you can afford it...I have heard you can't beat them! Good luck!

LOVE my Odyssey. I have always loved Hondas. We loved our Honda Odyssey soo much that my husband just bought himself a used one to replace his truck. better gas and he is more than comfortable when driving. (he is a big man at 6'3" and 260. It cracks me up that people still care about driving a minivan. give it up people.. you are not young and single anymore.. you're a mom (or dad).. get over it! LOL.
Seriously.. Honday or Toyota are probably the best value over all. My sister has a Caravan and has had alot of mechanical problems. I haven't met one person with an Odyssey that has a problem. and we now have 2!
Good luck deciding and have fun looking.

I have found that sometimes it is not the make and model but the features you would like. Most everyone has responded saying I love what I have... with pros and cons....

I would suggest looking for the features-What do you want?

*stow and go seating is fabulous (we like to have one seat down to make even more room and storing a seat outside the van is a pain)
*automatic sliding doors are wonderful and safer (my four year old shut his head in the door a few months ago-he was fine and just really not thinking when he did it) but a more common issue then you might think (just usually fingers, hands or arms not heads)
*backseat windows that roll down
*back starage space
*airbags
*DVD player
*safety rating
*luggage rack or hitch
*Bench seats or captains chairs

you cannot get it all, but make a list of the priorities and keep them in mind.

We went with a Mercury Villager and love it-however there are a few things I would change- Stow and go seating being the first... We love to have the extra space and remove a chair, but it is a pain not to have it when I want to pick up extra little ones... So much easier with stow and go.
We traded a subaru in for what we have and feel good with it. we loved our subaru-just needed more space- We found one with a hitch and capability of top rack- We drove across the country this summer-2kids and me pregnant with the third and it was great-however we put the extra seat in the uhaul that we pulled (which it pulled great) so we would have more room in the van for us. We also do not have a DVD player in the van, but after a few days into the travel layed down the middle captains chair and strapped our laptop in it for the boys to chill and watch a movie-so we haven't found a great need for the DVD player since we have a laptop-(it would be nice, but I think for me the DVD is kinda the last perk in the line of what I want in a Van).

test drive- after driving a Subaru some car/vans are not going to feel as sturdy-safe... They feel a little lite.

Good Luck

We loved our Honda Odysey!! Seats 8 too.

I can say with confidence(because I own 2 different ones), that it truly depends on the needs of the family. We have a Pontiac Transport(it's an older model. It's great on gas, has a realy dependable engine, and rust resistant body(fiberglass mix). It has comfy head rests(which we found is really important), a lot of leg room and moving around room(for our dog and us) which is great for short trips, camping near home(lots of space in the rear) and potty breaks(we keep a flushable camping toilet in the back). The down-side is it has narrow seats pull out bucket seats throughout(no arm rest in the rear), heat in the rear but no air conditioning(due to a bad vent design), and only 1 side rear door(not too convienent). However, the rear seats are set with two in the back and three in the middle;so we fold the middle down for a table between the kids. to eat or play games together. the seat closest to the door fold forward for easier entry to the rear two seats. And again I must say it's very roomy inside both in overhead and moving around space.

We also have a Ford Windstar which has a smoother ride but a steel exterior(one chipof paint or ding and it stays forever). It has 2 side rear doors(Much easier to get both our kids out without the "who's getting out first" fight), wide comfy seats(2 bucket 1 bench-both removable), a video/dvd player(great for those long trips we take to the shore), stereo controls with a remote and heat/air conditioning in the rear over each person(which is totally awesome!!) The down-side is, it has ok leg room but not alot of moving around room(potty breaks are tougher and less storage in the rear), and not so comfy head rests. The big bonus is the adjustable pedals it has!(I have short legs). This too is an older model but for long trips, air in the summer, and for convienence getting in and out it's great. The gas mileage is about the same but it has a larger tank. However, the rear seats are set with two in the middle (with arm rests)and a bench in the back. You must walk between the two middle for rear entry. It also has less head room.

I like both my vans very much. For comfort and ease I 'd pick the Windstar. For utility and practicality It's the transport. If I had to buy a newer one, I would look into models that give the best mpg for gas, have a rust resistant exterior(it keeps nicer), definately theadjustable pedals, entertainment system w/DVD(we make many long trips), and individual air conditioning in the rear, possibly stow-and-go seats too.

I also avoided the minivan for a long time, but last April we bought a Honda Odyssey, and we love it. It is very comfortable and easy. I do wish it got better gas mileage, though; we tend to only get about 20 MPG around town. However, it has an economy feature that reduces the number of cylinders it uses if you maintain a steady speed; we've found that if you set cruise control to under 60 MPH on the highway, it gets more like 28 MPG. Don't be afraid to take the minivan step; you'll be glad you did!

I have had two kinds I have had a Dodge carvan but did not have good luck with it, bad transmisson, of course it was a older kind I am just a little afrid to buy another and I now own a ford freestar but I also know that they stoped making then. A couple months ago we went looking and there are some nice ones out there just depend on the look you are going for.

I LOVE my Honda Odyssey. I got it 5 years ago when pregnant with baby #4 - the whole family no longer would fit in a sedan. I love how eary the back seat (60/40 split) fold down. It drives like a car, is very reliable, etc. I've always had Hondas and love them. I liked the Honda over the Toyota because the Honda has several levels of cars instead of paying per feature and was cheaper (and readily available) than the Toyota with the features I wanted. Other features I love: the automatic doors opening both sides, the back windows go down, the height-adjustable driver seat.

J.,
My husband and I have three boys. We started out w/ a used 1992 Toyota Previa for 8 years. We never had to do anything but normal maintenance and when it reached 210,000 miles we decided, not out of problems but b/c of finances being available, to buy a new vehicle. We chose the new Toyota Sienna b/c of our experience w/ 1)the Toyota company, 2) the longevity of the vehicles and value we got for our money, 3) safety the Sienna has proven, 4) it is very comfortable and well worth its money since we like to travel and has the extra space in the back.
Also note, that we bought our Sienna in 2005 and we got into an accident a year ago. A lady ran a red light and hit us. It was my husband and me and my oldest son in the van. NONE of us were hurt and the lady was sent to the hospital. I feel very strongly about the safety of the Sienna. Airbags are all over the place!
I hope this helps and best of luck in finding the right vehicle for your families needs! A.

You won't ever catch me in a minivan! That's just a matter of preference though. I have a Chevy Tahoe and will continue to buy big SUVs because we need the space in thie vehicle, but we also need the towing capacity.

I've never liked the looks of minivans or the "stigma" that goes along with them.

As someone who NEVER thought she'd drive a minivan, let alone be happy to drive one, I can say that I LOVE my Grand Caravan. What I really could not live without, though, is the stow-and-go seating. It is so great to be able to adjust how much storage space there is in the back and how many seats there are. The seats really are easy to put up and down, too. The other thing I have become way to accustomed to is opening the doors with the key remote. With two kids, it's a huge help. Oh, and it's nice to have the separated seats for two kids in car seats (rather than a bench seat), to keep them, well, separated. I know most minivans probably offer these features at this point so this probably isn't a huge help. :) Good luck!

Everyone else has said it - I'll never, ever drive a minivan! Well, with four kids and a big black lab, a minivan was what I needed. We chose the Dodge Grand Caravan. I love it - it's affordable, easy for the kids to get in and out of, and we have plenty of storage for the very long distance trips we take.
My only thought - if you travel a lot where there is snow - get winter tires in winter- makes a big difference

S. -SAHWM of four ages 8, 5, 3, and1

Well you sure do have a lot of responses here. I HATED the idea of driving a minivan...it would never be me! Well that was until we were faced with military orders across country and a growing family. I decided on the Nissan Quest b/c I felt it didn't look like a typical minivan. I have had my care for a little over two years now and really like. We drove the car cross country with no problems. It is extremely convenient when going places and rides pretty smooth. Only complaint the bottom of car is a little low to the ground so you really have to watch our for things like debris in the freeway.

We love our 2007 Kia Sedona. It tested best for safety the year we bought it.

I would have liked a smaller model, but my husband is renovating our house and has to haul stuff. The only thing I don't like, is the lack of hidden storage.

Then again, you can lift the middle console to get back to the kids, if needed. There is also a built in baby mirror.

Seats are easy to collapse. We are tall, and the seat give really good neck support.

Hi J.!

We have 3 children and a godson with us and we have a Toyota Sienna. I LOVE IT!! It has 8 seats and a big cargo area (which in my trips and moves have been perfect for all my stuff, and I can still see thru the rearview mirror). It is very comfortable and something I noticed no one has addressed (okay after reading well someone did but not in the Sienna...), the sliding door windows roll down!!! Great for the summer!!! I saw that you have found info in gas and safety, so I'm not going to talk much about them. I think in gas is pretty darn good for a minivan, since we moved from Maine to Maryland and it took about tank and half or so; as for safety I love it, I can't feel any safer. We chose the Toyota Sienna because of it's aftermarket value, if that's the word... also because in the financial situation of today's market, Toyota seems to still be a pretty strong carmaker. We own two Toyota cars which we would never change for anything. I guess the best thing you can do is go to the dealerships and try them all with your family and go from there.
Good Luck!
N.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Kia Sedona! It's also rated the safest among minivans--several years in a row. The seating is very spacious and comfortable and the back seats fold down right in to the floor for easy loading/unloading of strollers/bags... Also, we've used the back several times as a picnic spot with the hatch open to watch the airplanes land in DC. We've taken several long east coast trips with 4 adults/1 baby and were all very happy and comfy. When looking at this van be sure to get prices on the longer wheelbase (regular size van) because they sell a short wheelbase version that cuts your trunk room by about 13 inches. We've had the van for 3 years and have had NO problems at all. You'll be so happy to have all the room of a van! It'll keep you organized too.

I have a 2003 Honda Odyssey and have 2 girls ages 6 and 8.

What I love: The automatic sliding doors, the ease of putting the rear seat up and down, the fact that I can drive so many people, the ease in which I can get in the back if I have to (to buckle a kid, switch car seats, etc), the seat warmers. We were nearly in a collision recently, and my husband was able to slam on the breaks and steer to avoid an accident. It really handled beautifully in that situation.

What I don't love: It feels big and "floaty" on the highway, I wish it had side airbags for the rear seats, doesn't do so well in snowy conditions.

Hope this helps! Also, my husband and I went to a car show to look at them all at once. I think it was this time of year. It helped to compare them.

Lots of responses.
I have a Toyotta Sienna, that I also love it. I chose it first, by safety ratings, I was able to get the one that has side airbags on the back rows, one sliding door on the right side that is very very convenient when dropping my son off at school. Then the price. I was thinking about this...the brand doesn't matter...the safety ratings for us was the most important then the conveniences and price.
Good luck.

My parents have had a minivan for as long as I can remember. Even with us kids grown and out of high school they still have their because of the amount of space and storage you can get with them. They have always had a Dodge Caravan, Grand Caravan, etc. Their current one has stow and go, DVD player...both come in very handy with kids. My husband and I have a Chrysler Town & Country which is form the same company...we bought ours used, and like you I didn't want a minivan but with 2 children even...traveling has become so much easier. Neither my parents nor us have had major problems with the vans.

I'm absolutely in love with my Nissan Quest! It's a sportier type minivan, believe it or not that does exist!! The inside design is different, the dash looks like a space ship! LOL!

Of course what you need to know about it is that it's very roomy, and it's very safe. Mine came with a DVD player installed with headphones, I highly recommend that for long road trips.

I like my van because it was very economical, looks a little "cooler" than the typical minivan, and it is very roomy. I test drove just about every van out there, and though car dealers kept telling me the quest was smaller inside than others, it feels much roomier so I find that hard to believe. My Quest has one automatic side door, and an automatic trunk! (or hatch, or whatever you call it!) I open and close both of those with my keychain or from a button up front.

The only drawback to this van is that there are two cupholders in the front seats. I didn't think that was an issue, but apparently I require 3 or 4 cupholders just for myself, and maybe a few more for my husband, too! :)

So good luck! I'd definitely go test drive a Nissan Quest! I sure love mine!