Mini Van advice

Mommy2Isabella wrote: OK! We don't have a vehicle that will fit the third baby so we are going to outright buy one, not finance but save up and buy one!

We want a van!! So whats the good bad and the ugly on your van??

We are looking to spend 12,000 or less, and we want one with power sliding doors ...
any advice and whats your top pick?

TheOaf66 replied: Well we have a 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager. It is not electric sliding doors but it has been quite reliable. We paid 6K for it 4 yrs ago. In my family we don't buy anything but Chrysler so I would have to lean you that way.

PrairieMom replied: We have a chevy uplander I think its a 2005. it has electric sliding doors, which IMO is a MUST another thing that would be nice would be the automatic rear door, but ours doesn't have that. I just know I miss having it.
One thing I have noticed being in other peoples vans is that having middle row seats that allow for a center isle, (seat, space seat not seat seat space) seem to be easier for getting children in and out of. also, one that has removable seats would be nice for someone in your situation because you will have 3 in full car seats, and will have to crawl all the way into the van to buckle the kids up, so, you could remove one of the middle row seats, and put the 2 bigger kids in the back, while putting baby in the remaining middle row seat to make it easier to buckle them in.

lisar replied: I say go with an SUV not a mini van. Sorry I am no mini van driver.

DVFlyer replied: We have a Toyota Sienna with power side and rear doors. It has been a very good vehicle.

Danalana replied: I don't know about minivans, but I have a Toyota Highlander...PLENTY of room for all 3 kids and lots of space in the back to haul things

boyohboyohboy replied: we have a kia sedona and its wonderful..
we put the older two in the back and then the baby in the middle row..
you can fold down all the seats and has good gas mileage..
it was also way less then the others in price that we looked at.

i think I remember something about dodge caravans being a high safety issue with roll over so that might be something to look into..
and the new mini vans come with side impact air bags that was important to me too.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I have an 05 saturn relay, it was there mini van made for about 2-3 years the stoped when the cross over cars were big. I have one automatic door, they do have some that have both. I like my saturn and have found them to be good quality cars/vans

Calimama replied:
LOL funny. I told DH I refuse to drive one at 21. But then again, we only have 1 kid.

Anyway my mom had the Sienna and LOVED it. I think the Honda Odessey looks nice too!

CantWait replied: We have a micro- mini van; a Mazda 5, and we LOVE it.

It's not as big as a mini van, but it still seats 6. The two behind the passenger and driver are VERY roomy, even for an adult to sit back there, and there are two smaller seats behind that, roomy enough for kids, but we have put adults back there as well. It's not a typical van though, it looks like a sporty car.

It doesn't have the power sliding doors though.

PrairieMom replied: you HAVE to have power sliding doors. Don't settle for less!

DVFlyer replied: Oh.... btw... there was nothing "Mini" about any of the MiniVans we looked at while shopping. They are FULL sized vehicles... something to keep in mind if garage space is tight etc.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
I agree.

I had a chevy uplander, and I had 3 kids under 3.

Just don't hit a snow bank, you might roll.

Danalana replied: Why do you have to have power sliding doors, Tara? What happened to good old fashioned arm power?

PrairieMom replied:
Well, imagine you are walking across the parking lot, you have one car seat with an infant, are carrying one child, trying to keep the other from getting run over, while dealing with your bags. Which hand are you going to use to open the door?

PrairieMom replied:
yeeeeah... but you could roll any thing, esp. an SUV, and I don't know that she needs to worry to much about snow drifts down there in SC. I will totally agree that it doesn't handle as well as my jeep 4x4 in snow tho.

Danalana replied:
My third hand!

lovemy2 replied: We have a 2005 Grand Caravan - never heard anything about roll overs with them and I always heard they had high safety ratings - anyway - we have two bench seats - I wish we had a row of captains chairs and then the bench in the back - it is easier to move around in it - we love it - but I also drive a 2008 Durango which is my true love but it definately isn't as easy with kids!!

BabyOwen427 replied: I have a 99 Chevy Tahoe. I know, it's not a minivan, it's an suv. But I love it. I have friends with small babies and have easily fit three carseats in it. Captian chairs for the front two and bench row for the back. It has the wheel distance that of a car so it has a tight turning radius to fit in small spaces. Barn doors on the back to access the large cargo area. I love it.

Honestly I'd never get a minivan. IMO they're ugly as sin. But if you find one and love it and it does what you need then congrats. If you're going to spend any money on a new car make sure you get a warranty and have a very trustworthy mechanic. And it never hurts to talk to the mechanic you use. Get their opinion on different makes and models. Cause they're not trying to sell the car they're more honest in their assessments than dealership salesmen are. Also talk with them to learn what you can do to help extend the life of your new car.

My hubby is a mechanic and last time we were looking at new cars (although we decided not to buy) he kept coming back to the Honda CRV. He says Honda's are fairly easy to work on.

Whatever you decide to do, congrats on the new car, and congrats on the new baby.

Calimama replied:
That made me spit out my drink.

CantWait replied:

austins mom replied:
I am the same way. Here where we are though mini vans are not what people drive.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Well honestly our van is a 16 year old piece of junk so I'm not a whole lot of help there, but I will say that if I could buy any mini van I want I'd get a Honda Odyssey - they're nice and they're supposed to be the safest van out there.

Mommy2Isabella replied: Thanks Guys!!

I will be 22 when I have this baby and I always said I wasn't a minivan person, but lets get real!

I will have 3 children, Isabella 3 , Isaia almost 2, and newborn. Meaning at least 2 strollers!

Unless I get an expedition or a HUGE SUV they aren't going to fit in the back of anyother car. I will also have 3 full out car seats. Not any booster seats! Bella probably will be in a full out carseat until she is 7 the way she "grows".

We were leaning toward Honda Odyssey, just because Honda's last a long time. But I wanted to see what people thought of their minivans!

So SUV's are out, we had one, with 8 passenger seating but it barely fit our 2 strollers that we have now that are small strollers.

I also want to be able to go on vacations and go to the grocery store, which I found with my Saturn Outlook, I had to put down the third seat and with two children in it , that can't happen.

I want something that I will be able to get back into the back easily and strap the other kids in. Also, keep in mind the ages of my children, my newborn would be attacked by the older sibilings if he/she is in between the two!!

moped replied: We rented a Dodge Grand Caravan in California and I actually liked it - would never buy one because it is a minivan, but I didn't mind it at all!

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
I used to have a Buick century - a full sized luxury sedan.. the 3 full carseats fit just fine in the back, just fyi. The youngest was in the middle, and the two older ones were quite nice about keeping her entertained, learned to be more quiet etc...