Anyone Want to Discuss Minivans (& SUVs) with me?

[Wendy31]

We currently have a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan. We've had it since 2008, & it has about 94,000 miles on it.

It's been a good van for us w/ only minor repairs & routine maintenance. In the past year, we've been "babying" it to help it last longer until we're ready to purchase another, & we've rented another van for any out-of-town trips.

So, now we've started looking for a new minivan.

On one of our trips, we ended up w/ a Kia Sedona. I really liked it & thought it was fun... for a minivan. However, it doesn't have Stow-and-Go seats which I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE on my Caravan. Plus, you can't remove the 2nd row seats at all. So that takes the Kia out of the running.

DH has long been interested in the Honda Odyssey - primarily because of the reputation & reliability & longevity. (We drive vehicles until they're "done.") However, neither one of us likes the look of the Odyssey. He thinks it looks rather hearse-like. I don't like how you can see the track of the sliding doors on both sides.

Additionally, I think (& this is just my opinion), because the Odyssey has been the #1 selling minivan for so many years, Honda has stopped caring about the design & has just been relying on their reputation.

(Also, I know the minivan market is shrinking, & car makers, in general, don't put much as much thought & effort into the minivan.)

Anyway, we went to look at Odysseys yesterday, & I could not stand the sales guy. The Chrysler & Toyota sales guys both offered us water & coffee, were helpful, & just generally friendly. We practically had to beg the Odyssey guy to unlock a van so we could see inside. And he took 3 different phone calls while we were him.

He also knew NOTHING about the redesign of the 2018 Odyssey which was revealed yesterday. And, since we were asking about the rumored design changes of the 2018 Odyssey, you'd think he'd realize we were in the market for a new van. Instead, he showed us a 2016. And, once we saw the inside, DH wasn't that impressed.

I want a blue van. Our dealer only has dark gray, light gray, white, & black Odysseys, & the sales guy was less than helpful w/ any information on how long it would take to get a blue van.

So, we also looked at the Toyota Sienna yesterday. Much, much better experience! And, after a test drive, DH was ready to purchase. The sales guy was wonderful, & he even found a 2017 van for me in the exact lovely blue color I want.

Overall, I think I like the Sienna except for 3 things:

1. The tracks in the floor where the 2nd & 3rd row seats go back & forth. (DH says the tracks are covered w/ floor mats, but still...)

2. It doesn't have Stow-and-Go seats.

3. It doesn't score as high on front-crash ratings as the Odyssey & Chrysler Pacifica. It's still "good" but not as good as the other 2.

(* There are rumors that there will be a redesign for 2018 which will probably take care of the front-side crash rating.)

We looked at the Chrysler Pacifica as well.

The new Pacifica received Car & Driver's 2017 Minivan of the Year. On Consumer Reports, it's #3 behind the Odyssey & Sienna - but it's #3 only because of the "reliability" factor - it's new, so there's a big question mark on how well it'll perform longevity-wise. On everything else, it scores either the same or above the Odyssey & Sienna.

Plus, it has my beloved Stow-and-Go seats!

So I thought I would LOVE it... except I didn't.

I'm short, & I didn't feel like I could see as well in the driver's seat. The front end feels much bigger to me - even though it's only 2 inches wider than the Sienna. The front end actually reminds me of a SUV... which is fine except I know I'd worry all the time about parking.

Additionally, DH did not like at all how he had to duck under the window molding to get in the driver's seat. And, when he's sitting in the driver's seat, the top of his head is right at that molding. For the most part, it was pretty much a deal breaker for him.

However, I keep going back to all all the reviews for the Pacifica & how all the car journalists are so excited about it. It has the nicest interior.

I also like the safety ratings - it beats the Sienna.

So, anyway, after looking at all 3, I think DH is ready to purchase the Sienna. I'm still wavering between the Sienna & Pacifica.

And, after we got home, I started thinking about SUVs.

At what age do kids "age out" of a minivan? Are we past the minivan stage?

Would I be just as happy w/ a Toyota Highlander?

I pack A LOT when we go on trips, so I'm concerned we wouldn't have enough room for everyone plus all our stuff on trips in a Highlander.

Additionally, it's nice in a minivan to be able to put all the seats down when you do need to cart something or for a trip to Home Depot or Lowes.

So....

If you've read all my thoughts, THANK YOU!!

Does anyone have any advice, opinions, and/or suggestions regarding Odyssey/Sienna/Pacifica? (Honestly, the Odyssey is pretty much out of the running...)

What about going from a minivan to a mid-size SUV like the Highlander? Would I regret it?

 

[tvguy]

My supervisor has a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country (same van you have) with 200,000 miles on it. Those vans will go 250,000 miles easily. My advice with only 94,000 miles on yours, fix what ever is wrong with it, and drive it another 100,000 miles. It's going to be a lot cheaper.

Full disclosure, my "weekend/vacation/long trip/family" car is at 1987 Suburban with 154,000 miles on it. Always going to be a lot cheaper to fix than replace.

 

[mjkacmom]

We own 4 Honda Odysseys (2000, 2003, 2005, 2006). As you can see, they really last! I'd get another, but I refuse to buy new. We do tons of carpooling, minivans are so much easier.I honestly couldn't care less what they look like, I'm all about function.

 

[morgan98]

Upfront I will say I do not have children nor have I owned a mini-van. However, I am fairly familiar with the Highlander and have rented several min-vans on trips. I am going to chime in on your Highlander vs. mini-van part of your question.

It appears from your signature that you have three children (two are teens). I would venture to guess you sometimes bring their friend with you and I have no doubt that at times you have a lot of "stuff". A Highlander is not going to have the type of interior space of flexibility in terms of storage and seating that you are used to. If you are going to consider an SUV, I would think you are going to have to look at something larger in order to compete with the mini-van.

ETA: I would also add that I would buy the Honda or Toyota before I would roll the dice on a "new" Chrysler product.

 

[DisAuntie]

I would never choose Chrysler over Honda or Toyota.

 

[bethy]

I have a 2016 Sienna and love the interior space. It's not a luxurious as my prior SUV though. But it has significantly more interior space than my friend's 2016 Sequoia. So I can't imagine the Highlander would even come close in spaciousness for family hauling. We bought the Sienna due to the AWD since we drive a ton in the snow. With studded snow tires it has been unstoppable.

Personally, I had SUV's when my kids were younger but the older they get the MORE I need and want the space of a minivan. Kids and their friends get bigger and not smaller.

About the stow and go seats. We rented a T&C once and found the second row seats were soooo much less comfy than the Sienna's seats. For me it was worth giving up stow and go to have much plusher seats. They come in and out of the car pretty easily for Home Depot trips

 

[Hikergirl]

I went from a minivan to a Toyota Highlander. I have a love hate relationship with my Highlander. I love the way it drives, it looks and its color. I hate how cheap the interior is turning out to be. The space is a huge issue if you need the third seat up, as in there is none. Also, the seating for 7 is very crammed unless you are transporting small children in the middle and third seats. I have a 2013 so it was the model before the 2014 re-design (which I don't like at all), so things I don't like about my 2013 may have changed for the 2014 and newer.
I have been toying with the idea of trading in my Highlander and getting a Honda Pilot.
I did love my minivan, but I drive my cars for 10+ years and since I had 2 teens at the time I just couldn't see myself driving a minivan when the kids were driving their own cars.

So, my advice is go with a Honda Pilot even though that wasn't one of your choices LOL

 

[Wendy31]

My supervisor has a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country (same van you have) with 200,000 miles on it. Those vans will go 250,000 miles easily. My advice with only 94,000 miles on yours, fix what ever is wrong with it, and drive it another 100,000 miles. It's going to be a lot cheaper.

Full disclosure, my "weekend/vacation/long trip/family" car is at 1987 Suburban with 154,000 miles on it. Always going to be a lot cheaper to fix than replace.

I agree... to an extent. Our 2005 Grand Caravan has really been a good vehicle. We've actually had less problems w/ it than my sister has had w/ her newer Odyssey - of which I keep reminding DH as an argument for going w/ another Chrysler because I'll really miss our Stow-and-Go seats. LOL!

But, again, within the last year (as DH keeps reminding ME), we've been babying it, & we don't take it on long trips. Right now, we need new brakes. And DH is worried that the transmission will go soon - I think that's common at about 110,000 +/- miles w/ the Caravan. He'd prefer to buy than to fix this time.

We own 4 Honda Odysseys (2000, 2003, 2005, 2006). As you can see, they really last! I'd get another, but I refuse to buy new. We do tons of carpooling, minivans are so much easier.I honestly couldn't care less what they look like, I'm all about function.

DH drives an hour each way to work, & he has a Honda Civic. And one of the reasons he purchased the Civic is Honda's reputation for reliability & longevity. And that's why he's been wanting to make the trade to a Honda van.

We just weren't that impressed w/ the Honda Odyssey though. (I realize a lot of that could have to do w/ the sales guy - at least for me.)

Upfront I will say I do not have children nor have I owned a mini-van. However, I am fairly familiar with the Highlander and have rented several min-vans on trips. I am going to chime in on your Highlander vs. mini-van part of your question.

It appears from your signature that you have three children (two are teens). I would venture to guess you sometimes bring their friend with you and I have no doubt that at times you have a lot of "stuff". A Highlander is not going to have the type of interior space of flexibility in terms of storage and seating that you are used to. If you are going to consider an SUV, I would think you are going to have to look at something larger in order to compete with the mini-van.

ETA: I would also add that I would buy the Honda or Toyota before I would roll the dice on a "new" Chrysler product.

Yes, 3 children - 2 teens & 1 elementary-aged. And we do bring friends w/ us. And my parents ride w/ us to various things as well.

So, you're right. We need the easy "in & out" passenger space of a minivan.

I'd also miss all the cargo space too - especially on long trips. We take our dog w/ us as well.

I think I might be having a mid-life crisis when it comes to my vehicle! LOL!

I just wasn't really "wowed" by the interior of any of the minivans we looked at. I was like, "Eh... it's a minivan." There's a part of me that wants something fun - especially for when I'm by myself running errands around town.

I don't think I'd like a larger SUV due to how hard it would be for me to park one.

So, yeah... we'll end up w/ another minivan, I'm sure.

I would never choose Chrysler over Honda or Toyota.

I get what you're saying. Except we've had fewer problems w/ our 2005 Grand Caravan than my sister has had w/ her newer Odyssey.

 

[Wendy31]

I have a 2016 Sienna and love the interior space. It's not a luxurious as my prior SUV though. But it has significantly more interior space than my friend's 2016 Sequoia. So I can't imagine the Highlander would even come close in spaciousness for family hauling. We bought the Sienna due to the AWD since we drive a ton in the snow. With studded snow tires it has been unstoppable.

Personally, I had SUV's when my kids were younger but the older they get the MORE I need and want the space of a minivan. Kids and their friends get bigger and not smaller.

About the stow and go seats. We rented a T&C once and found the second row seats were soooo much less comfy than the Sienna's seats. For me it was worth giving up stow and go to have much plusher seats. They come in and out of the car pretty easily for Home Depot trips

That's what I'm sadly thinking too regarding a minivan vs. a mid-size SUV. LOL!

I think I'd really end up missing all my space.

I love the Stow-and-Go seats.

This past December, we went to Florida for Christmas, &, had we not had the storage bins of the Stow-and-Go seats, we never would have enough room for all the stuff we brought w/ us on that particular trip - Christmas tree, presents, etc.

It's also nice to be able to stow the seats as needed, &, then, when you get to your destination, you still have all the available seats - instead of one or two left sitting in the garage back at home.

In our Caravan, there were lots of time when one of the 2nd row seats was "stowed" allowing easier access to the 3rd row seat. But, if I suddenly needed that stowed seat, all I had to do was "unstow" it.

But I agree. After riding in the 2nd row of the Toyota Sienna yesterday, the 2nd row seats are much more comfortable than the Stow-and-Go seats.

I went from a minivan to a Toyota Highlander. I have a love hate relationship with my Highlander. I love the way it drives, it looks and its color. I hate how cheap the interior is turning out to be. The space is a huge issue if you need the third seat up, as in there is none. Also, the seating for 7 is very crammed unless you are transporting small children in the middle and third seats. I have a 2013 so it was the model before the 2014 re-design (which I don't like at all), so things I don't like about my 2013 may have changed for the 2014 and newer.
I have been toying with the idea of trading in my Highlander and getting a Honda Pilot.
I did love my minivan, but I drive my cars for 10+ years and since I had 2 teens at the time I just couldn't see myself driving a minivan when the kids were driving their own cars.

So, my advice is go with a Honda Pilot even though that wasn't one of your choices LOL

You're right. And that's what I needed - advice from someone who went from a minivan to a midsize SUV.

 

[Gracie09]

I have the Pacifica and love it. The only thing I don't love is the windshield wipers suck in the snow. So I will replace those with good ones. We looked at the sienna and the Pacifica and before I thought I would go sienna but after driving them both I ended up with Pacifica.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

I had a grand caravan that got 200,000 miles on it. I loved that thing and then I moved onto a pontiac montana and got 260,000 mile on that (we drive a lot of miles lol). For the longest time I wanted another mini-van but my kids were getting older and they were riding in my van less and less. I went to a 4 door car and hated it - I just bought a Subaru Outback - 4 doors/ hatch back. I haven't packed it full of anything but groceries yet but I love it. I sit a bit higher up, there is a lot of space (so far). Keep in mind that your kids are getting older and you may not need all that space in a minivan like you used to so that might open up your options as to what you choose. Good luck!

 

[adisneyaunt]

Never was a minivan type person or family. Just not our style.
We always went an SUV... a Ford Explorer ( very good) to a Honda Pilot ( loved it) down sized to the Honda CRV ( loved it but NOT the paint!) added the Accord to our usage and now added a '17 Acura RDX ... very recently. Like it but not crazy about the navigation (I Loved all the honda navi's)
Good luck deciding...

 

[sam_gordon]

Our 13 Sienna has "stow and go" for the back row. I'm assuming you're looking for it for the middle row. We've had our van for almost two years now and there's been ONE time we've needed the stow and go for the middle row. While I'm sure it can come in handy sometimes, it would depend on what you'd use the minivan for. Usually, we have child in the back seat anyway.

As far as the kids aging out, I don't think age really has anything to do with it. It's more on how many people you want to regularly transport. I'm guessing you've got at least 2, possibly 3 years where you're regularly transporting 5, so I think a minivan is still a valid option.

That being said, I agree with tvguy. Even if you put a new transmission and new brakes in your current van, it should still be WAY cheaper (<$5K?) than a new (even a year old) van ($25K+)? Personally, I'd be very upset if I only got 94K miles out of a vehicle. I'd expect more than 200K on just about anything. I would put $5K into your van now, see if it can last 3+ years, then rethink whether you actually need a van at that point.

Just my opinion.

 

[katie111]

I LOVED my 2007 Sienna. Two years ago we traded it in for an Infiniti QX80. I love the look of my SUV but I totally miss my minivan. We travel a lot & the space in the SUV just can't compare to the Sienna. We often have to put down the third row & then I end up with 3 unhappy kids in the second row.

 

[sdjen]

My parents just traded in their Chrysler town and country van for a new Pacifica. I got to drive it today and must say I really liked it!!! It has a lot of space inside and lots of cool features. My car previous to my current Ford Edge was an older Pacifica - the new ones are completely different! It rides very smoothly and its a very nice vehicle. Good luck in deciding!

 

[rwdavis2]

We traded our 2004 Sienna in 2015 after 185,000 miles. On;y because the AC dies and would have cost $1000+ to fix. Bought a 2015 Higlander Limited. A very nice car, comfy, quiet, drives well and we like the various bells and whistles: blind spot alert, lane drift alert, among other things. We expect to get at least 10 years out of this as well. We buy for reliability and then features. Always. We average about 11 years with the various Toyotas we've owned.

 

[cvjw]

I drive a 2014 Honda Odyssey touring elite. It is a fantastic vehicle. Mine is so easy to drive and has every option that was available in 2014. It is so roomy that my 21 and 17 year old sons say it is like traveling in the comfort of your living room. It has 32,000 miles and has had one recall and one minor repair. It has a huge cargo area and drives like a dream. I find it very luxurious and comfortable on the inside. If you think it looks like a hurse, just don't get a black one

I would not rule it out because of a salesman. Honda can get you what ever color you want. I purchased mine as it drove into the dealership on the delivery truck. In my area, it is hard to purchase an elite model. Not very many of them and the demand is high.

I had a Toyota Sienna before this, and it does not compare to the odyssey. In between the 2 minivans, I had a Nissan Pathfinder. It was awful trying to travel in a suv when you are used to the space of a minivan. We had to purchase a cargo carrier for our luggage when traveling and we are a family of 4 with one black lab.

Good luck on your decision. I would pick the Honda or Toyota over a Chrysler or dodge though. We won't go in that direction ever again.

 

[Lmans77]

I drive a 2010 Toyota Sienna and I have 183,000 miles on it. (We drive quite a bit and lots of road trips to Disney). I LOVE my van. I was hesitant to buy it because of the uncoolness, but I was pregnant at the time and needed a mom car. Now I LOVE it, and don't give 2 craps what anyone thinks. I regularly haul my 2 kids around and my niece and nephew. There have been very few instances where I would have wanted the 2nd row to stow ago. On the flip side, my 2nd row captains chairs are very plush and comfortable. I often have the 3rd row stowed, and I haul all kinds of stuff back there.

As far as reliability goes, I have had hardly any issues. Other than usual maintenance (brakes, battery) the only thing that happened was my battery terminals got bad, so I had to have them fixed. super easy and cheap!
I plan on driving my van until it absolutely dies. (I'm hoping for 300,000+) just to see how much value I can get out of that. After that, I will probably buy another Sienna even though my kids are getting older. (Even though I kinda like the Hondas too).

 

[runwad]

We have an 09 Odyssey with 97k miles. Our kids are 21, 18 & 16 and I wouldn't think of getting rid of our van. I know you don't like the odyssey but I'd still stick with a mini van over an SUV. I can't imagine all 3 of our kids packed into an SUV for vacation. I'm hopefully I'll get another 7 or 8 years out of this van and then I'll get me some little mini suv. I like being up high now. Can't stand getting in and out of a car, plus I'm 5' 11" so I sometimes feel like I'm getting out of a little clown car.ha

 

[usnuzuloose]

We have a 1996 areostar and I love it. When the engine goes we plan to put in a new engine. We can pick up parts for the interior as needed. For us means no car payments. But that is us.