Anyone Switch from a Van to an SUV?

No, I don't think you are being a petty. My kids are 14 and 17 and we have two dogs we sometimes need to take with us. I still drive a Honda Odyssey because of the space (for going to the cabin and hauling extra boys) and the sliding doors. I love it EXCEPT that it handles horribly on the roads we have this record-setting winter. I will switch to something with AWD after I no longer need the space and sliding doors. I also like the way it handles when the roads aren't covered in snow and ice--more like a car than an SUV or truck.

Do you use the space in the van? I looked at the Journey and liked it as a second vehicle, but I could not give up the van for it. I use the van to its full capacity on a regular basis. The kids regularly each bring a friend along with them on family outings. We fill the van to the brim with our camping and fishing equipment in the summer. We often use it to transport large items such as furniture and bikes. I don't have the remote doors on my Grand Caravan, so I can do without that. If I had to move to a cheaper vehicle I would have to go for an older van rather than a smaller vehicle. I would never, ever lease a vehicle. Waste of money.

ETA: I live in the coldest city in the world. We have lots of snow and ice and my Grand Caravan handles wonderfully in those conditions!

I drive a minivan, and my husband drives an SUV. I love the minivan. I have had to drive the SUV at different times, and I do not like it as much as the minivan. I love the automatic doors! But I also really love just having sliding doors. My kids are still young (5 & 7), and I do not trust them not to yank the doors open and hit the car next to us in a parking lot!

My minivan gets better gas mileage than the SUV. But really, I just like it better for carrying passengers. It's easier to get in and out of. Our SUV does have a 3rd row, so we can take extra people. But it's harder to get into than the 3rd row of the minivan.

When the kids are older, I probably won't car so much.

Just my opinion, but I think leasing is a huge waste of money. Yes you have the warranty and the free oil changes. But you make all those payments and then don't own the vehicle. You pay almost as much as you would if you bought the car yourself, but then you have to give it back. At least with a car payment you actually own the car. So even though it goes down in value, there is a bit of a return. Just a though.

I am answering your question without factoring in the money. We have a Toyota Sienna - 2008 and a Toyota 4 Runner -2001 both are paid for in full. My husband and I switch cars based on what we are doing - mainly how far will he be driving as the 4 Runner is "his" car. Sienna has 98K and 4 Runner has 190K.

I have two children, 3 and 7. I prefer to have the Sienna with them - the van is lower so I don't have to help them get in and out. The 3 year old can't climb into the 4 Runner on his own at all! Plus we have the automatic doors on the van and even if they weren't automatic - the sliding doors make a huge difference in where I can park and making sure no one slams a door into another car. My 3 year old sometimes forgets about the door and has hit his head on the bottom of the rear door several times!

The van gets better gas mileage, is a smoother ride for long distance driving and has much more room than our SUV. I had a Toyota Solara - two door very sporty model before the van and swore I would never have a mini-van. Now I plan to drive one until the kids finish college (can you say tailgating!)...maybe longer. Oh, and our SUV only seats 5 while the Sienna seats 7. Since we often take grandparents or friends along it is better to have more seating.

Again - for us the van is cheaper. Less gas, less expensive for upkeep (the tires on the SUV are a fortune!), cheaper insurance (can't explain that one but it is true).

Be careful about the lower car note - are they actually just folding in what you owe on the Caravan into the new note on the Journey? If you are trading another 3 year car payment for a 6 year loan are you helping yourself? I don't do leases because we drive too much - seems like you do to since most leases are for 12K annually and you did 50K in 3 years?

Good luck!

We had a Town and Country that I used mostly and hubby had a Jeep Cherokee for business.

Personally, I liked the Cherokee because I hated the "mom van" but at the time it was the most practical thing to do.

It just depends on your personal taste.

As for notes... we don't carry car notes.

We went from a van to an SUV when the kids were a little older (young teens.) We have three kids and a dog and it wasn't a problem. Sure I missed the sliding doors and the ease of entry but since the kids were bigger and older they managed to get in and out just fine.

I had a dodge journey and drove it for less than a year before I traded it in for a caravan. I guess it depends on your needs but the van just has so much more room. If you put the third row up in the journey there is almost no trunk space. I have more kids and more dogs than you though and shop in bulk at sam's, we also have a bob double stroller that I take to the zoo or theme parks these things just don't fit in the journey. I love the sliding doors too.

First I would not lease and then buy out lease.
For me personally, never ever wanted a minivan. Main reason, they do not handle well in the snow. I would never get out of my driveway. Last year I bought a Honda Pilot and love it. I did look at the Honda Van but I could not get past the hearse look of it! Also would never get out of driveway. I am an SUV kind of grandma.

I have leased 5 cars. The buy-out at the end is usually astronomical. If you go into the lease not thinking that you will buy it at the end you will be much less disappointed.

We have several vans and SUV…..there is really no difference for me . We do not have payments though, all of them were bought on craigslist for under $1200

Your gasoline costs will go up so expect the payment for the car loan and gasoline to add up to about the same amount you pay now if not more. Gasoline is a bigger expense in the SUV. It is still much nicer to have all the room and extra's.

Most of my friends have vans. They all complain about how they handle in the snow.

One of my friends bought a 2009 Honda Pilot in Sept/2013.Because it was 4 yrs old, she got it for a great price and it has been great mechanically. She loves it and said it has been sooo much better in the snow than her former vehicle...a van.

I have no need for a van...but, I LOVE how them.