All you mini-vanners - To van or not to van
luvmykids wrote: Ok ladies, those of you with vans .... I need your help. I really, really, really don't want one but I think I may have to suck it up and get one. I have an Excursion right now and HATE it because I can't park the darn thing and then when I do I get stuck and can't get back out. And the gas mileage is terrible. I have to be able to seat 6 on occasion but for everyday just me and the 3 kiddos. I've looked at the Chrysler Pacifica and like it except that the seats are all split (3 rows of 2 seats) and with 3 kids on a daily basis there will be too much fighting over who has to/gets to sit in a row by themselves.
Sooooo, the point is, I need you all to tell me how much and why you love your vans and how you got over the hump of giving in and getting one. I know it sounds silly but I guess I'm trying to hold onto some piece of me that just isn't a mini-vanner! (I've always driven nice cars, so the honker SUV was already a big deal)
C&K*s Mommie replied: I am sitting on the fence about getting one, too. I want one for the convienence of being able to jump in the van with the girls~ Instead of our usual, buckling one in and going around to buckle the other in, then getting into the car myself. But you eluded to this: there is a stigma attached to mini-vans.  I was looking at the Grand Caravans, because of the stow n' go seating.
Most importantly, to me is the fact that there is alot of wiggle room to negotiate with the prices. Moreso than cars or SUV's. Chris (who is an auto salesperson) knows more about them than I do, but I remember him saying something to that effect. You can get a better deal on a van, nowadays.
I am not much help, I know but I wanted to add my  . 
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One more thing.... we drove a Pacifica and that is one vehicle (IMHO) that unless they redesigned it, we would never consider buying. There is a huge blind spot at the back where the side windows meet the back window. I am not sure of what that area is called, though. The exterior frame, is so large that when you turn to look over your shoulder~ you have to say a quick prayer, or make a cross on your chest~ in hopes that noone (i.e. a motorcyclist), is in the lane next to you. Because it is nearly impossible to see because of that big area being in the way. The Kia van is another that we would never consider buying, either. It was way too small and tight~ even for our girls in their carseats! The more room the better!!
Just my opinions.... 
I hope that whatever you buy that you are most happy with it!! BEST WISHES!!!
Hillbilly Housewife replied: We have a 2005 Chevy Uplander.
Although at first we were generally happy with it, after sitting in the back back row with the baby and her carseat, it's a huge PITA to get in and out of if you're in the back. Especially if there are car seats in the 2 seats in the middle row.
And there's not as much "trunk" space as we'd first thought.
But if you don't go out of town much and your kids are big enough to get into the back seats on thjeir own....
danahas4monkeys replied: we have a Chevy Venture and I love it we went from a Taurus to the minivan I was so unsure, never really pictured myself a mini van kind of girl but I love it now, we can seat 7 (good thing cause there are 6 of us lol) we have tons of space inside and a luggage rack. For us one must have was the dual side sliding doors especially if you have more than one carseat! My MIL has a dodge caravan and I personally dont think its as roomy inside as ours. I am going to trade mine in soon and either get a Towne and Country or a newer Venture I really love mine!
Dana
MamaJAM replied: I can't imagine life without my minivans. We got our first one while preg with DD#3 - and have never looked back. I really don't get why people get so hung up over minivans -- it's a larger, comfortable vehicle that fits 'larger' families wonderfully. I like having enough room in the trunk (and on the floor under seats) to take everything we need when we travel. I feel safer. Not to mention that I like being up higher and seeing further down the road.
We've had a Plymoth Voyager -- very good minivan...though getting carseats into/out of the way back was a pain. I still miss that thing.
We also have a Chevy Astro....awesome van as far as roominess (it sat 8) - we had 2 carseats and a booster seat in the middle row of that for a while and it worked out fine. Sadly - the van itself was a dud and was constantly in for expensive repairs -- I couldn't wait to lose it's "money-pit" qualities though I REALLY miss the room!
Now we have a Saturn Relay -- it's actually a combo of a minivan and an SUV. I really like it -- it's a little smaller than what I'd really like....but we took a week-long trip this summer (all 7 of us) and had no problems getting everything we needed in there safely. Since it's part SUV - it has good pick-up and handles great in any weather.....and since it's a minivan - it holds my family nicely. (I admit that the DVD that came stadard with it is great for the kids on long trips.)
Honestly - minivans/vans are AWESOME...they have all the room you can want - and, especially the newer ones, have plenty of bells and whistles to keep everyone happy.
coasterqueen replied: Well I never had a problem with it to begin with. Dh did, but I didn't. In college he painted houses in the rich neighborhoods around us and so he needed a vehicle to transport all his painting stuff and ladders, etc. Our car wouldn't cut it and we couldn't afford a truck so he found a used mini van (the old ugly ones) to use. Even though he didn't want to he had no choice, money is money..you get over it, lol.
Anyways, I LOVE LOVE my mini van. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Course I like mine loaded, not sure I'd like it so much if it wasn't, lol. I do want a car someday for myself, but when my kids are gone. The mini van serves so many purposes for us. But I'll tell you the MAIN reason why we went with a mini van. While we love the look of many SUV's, I work in the insurance industry for a lobbying association and I see the research before it's published to the public on how DANGEROUS SUV's are. I just got a report last week, that I think was released to the public this past Sunday on how the seats in SUV's can't handle rear collission impact - MANY MANY got POOR ratings. There are just too many dangers for me to put my children in them. Even if I felt badly about how mini vans look I would still go with one for the safety. Dh and I did research to make sure this was the right choice for us and it was. It was a no brainer that our children's safety in a vehicle was much more important than going with the SUV fad.
So I'd say if anything SAFETY was our main motivator for getting the mini van over an SUV. I could go on and on why I love mine, but I won't bore you. 
I'd love to get a cute SUV for myself one day when my kids are REALLY grown and gone, or at least til I get grandchildren. Hopefully SUV's will be safer by then.
booey2 replied: We don't have one but I really really really want one. I am having a difficult time convincing DH that even with just the 2 boys we need one. We have 2 cars and neither will fit a youth hockey stick in them without it being in the car itself. So if they ever wanted to play hockey on a real team we need to get a bigger vehicle. I am still pushing for a van and I may get one if these darn gas prices would go down. Good luck with your decision, in my opinion every mom with 2 or more children needs a larger vehichle these days ie: a van/mini-van because they are making the cars so darn compact and small inside.
luvmykids replied:
I know, it's just the tiny part of me that for some reason, as much as I adore my kids, doesn't want to let go of my youth or something for some reason. I definitely need ease with 3 in carseats, it's such a pain to have to manually open both sides, go back and forth to buckle in, etc.
I've heard a lot about the Relay, think I'll go check one out.
Thanks for your input!
Freckled Momma replied: I also love my minivan, we have a Dodge Caravan, older model. With 4 kids it really helps out.
We are in the market for a new one and I was wondering about those new Saturns...thanks for the info! I would love a Honda Odyssey, though. My husband works for the company that makes the frames for Honda and I know how much they have to go through to make them safe. They don't skimp on anything. But we can't afford one right now...
Good luck on making your choice 
C&K*s Mommie replied:
So Karen, overall mini-vans get better safety ratings than SUVs??
coasterqueen replied: IMO yes. I asked our hotline director to send me some information on the research that's gone through our office. I read it and pass it on to her. She uses it to compile articles to the general public in our state.
Here's a link I had in my favorites file on Mini Van comparisons for the OP on the different mini vans out there: Mini Van comparison Now this is for 2005 mini van models.
Also mini van insurance quotes are generally cheaper than SUV's at least in our state they are. I can't tell you what they are in other states because there are certain factors, insurance codes, funds that are stacked on to quoting in our state.
coasterqueen replied: Also they ARE making SUV's safer than they used to be. They are spreading out the wheel bases as I've noticed with the last few models which helps tremendously but insurance companies in our state still view them as more potentially dangerous than a mini van, thus the increase in quotes.
Edit to add this great site as well: SUV Safety
There are many SUV's that have safe ratings like mini vans and they have over the past few years gotten safer, but not the truck based SUV's. Older model SUV's IMO are definitely not as safe as a mini van. That link has a lot of good info for the 2006 models.
fashionmumofboys replied: I have a blazer and it works well with the two carseats. Not really a mini van lover.
Jamison'smama replied: Thanks for the link Karen, I see that our 2005 Honda Odyssey is ranked number 1 and that is why we bought it. I had a Nissan Pathfinder and loved the look and stylishness of an SUV but realized that you get a LOT more for your money and it is much easier to travel with kids in a minivan. I love the auto open doors--that's my favorite but also the fold down seats, the sliding middle seats and the underfloor storage are worth the not-so-cool look of the minivan. Really, how much can we hold onto our youth when we have 2-3 carseats in the back anyway?
I vote minivan anyday! And the Honda is GREAT.
coasterqueen replied:
Yeah, we bought our minivan a few years before that and bought the Chrysler T&C which I think was rated second best to the Honda. We couldn't afford the Honda, though.  AND my DH is so anti-foreign (don't get me started because I know most of american car parts are in foreign countries, vice versa, lol) that he couldn't bring himself to buy a Honda. 
I DO love the auto-doors too. OMG I don't know where I'd be without them, seriously, especially with two kids in tow and a handful of bags.  I don't have the fold down seats (don't get me started there, I'm too sore on that one, lol) because the van we bought didn't have them. They actually didn't come out til the next year after ours.
And your right on the youth with car seat thing.  It's funny. I went to a baby shower with several of my girl friends. We met up at one house and were all going to ride together. As we were leaving we all looked at each other and said "ok, who DOESN'T have a vehicle with at least 2 car seats?"
5littleladies replied:
Ditto! We have a Plymouth Voyager right now and it has been a great vehicle for us, but I would love to have an Odyssey! I love having a mini van-with 4 kids its great having the space. 
3_call_me_mama replied: We LOVE our minivans and wouldn't trade them for anything ( Excpet both with all wheel drive.!!)
We have a 2003 Dodge grand caravan adn a 1999 Chrysler Town adn Country (loaded with AWD) teh dodge is loaded but not AWD. THEY work wonders for hauling stuff and gettnig everyone everywhere teh mileage isn't bad FAR better tthan the GMC Jimmy we used to have . Overall it was my fav car i've owned by far. Funny you say about losin gyour youth by buying one.. I lost my youth when i had chidlren.. never mind teh car i drove!! (Youth in the sense of being "hip" "fun " and "cool" I'd take safety over that anyday, plus i dont' actually feel any older driving that than the Subarus we have. Good luck with your decision.
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