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

[LvsTnk]

Some say the Flex was modelled after a retro vacuum cleaner.
http://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/made-in-canada-maxi-crossover/

Haha now that's funny my Mom had a vacuum like what they are talking about it was grey too like my car, but we call our car Eva because she has so many gadgets.

 

[xlxo]

The image thing doesn't bother me when I get 50 to 60 mpg on the Prius V (it gets better in congested traffic)! Plus I still have hauling capacity. Great for short errands throughout the day.

 

[Turn the Page]

We just bought a Flex and absolutely love it. I'm a grandma and wish this car had been around when my kids were small. My husband laughs at how much I love it after saying I just couldn't get over how it looked at first.

I was talking with my boss this summer and she said her sister is now an empty nester and is looking forward to being able to ditch the mini van in favor of a smaller sedan. I kind of laughed and told her to tell her sister to enjoy it while it lasts. My mom did the same thing and now she has 4 granddaughters that live locally and she just doesn't have room in her car to take all 4 kids anywhere. I said I was pretty sure when it came time to trade in her car she was seriously going to consider a van or at least a larger vehicle. My mom said she wouldn't as they cost more and use more gas but when she saw the Flex when I got it she seemed to like it really well. DH, my dad, and my brother took it downstate to a hockey game last night and I think my dad was really impressed.

 

[Turn the Page]

Some say the Flex was modelled after a retro vacuum cleaner.
http://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/made-in-canada-maxi-crossover/

Yeah the looks turned me off initially but then I sat in one and discovered I couldn't tell what it looked like when I was driving it and the seats sure were comfy.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I was talking with my boss this summer and she said her sister is now an empty nester and is looking forward to being able to ditch the mini van in favor of a smaller sedan. I kind of laughed and told her to tell her sister to enjoy it while it lasts. My mom did the same thing and now she has 4 granddaughters that live locally and she just doesn't have room in her car to take all 4 kids anywhere. I said I was pretty sure when it came time to trade in her car she was seriously going to consider a van or at least a larger vehicle. My mom said she wouldn't as they cost more and use more gas but when she saw the Flex when I got it she seemed to like it really well. DH, my dad, and my brother took it downstate to a hockey game last night and I think my dad was really impressed.

Yup, my parents never owned a van until they had grandkids

 

[LvsTnk]

I was talking with my boss this summer and she said her sister is now an empty nester and is looking forward to being able to ditch the mini van in favor of a smaller sedan. I kind of laughed and told her to tell her sister to enjoy it while it lasts. My mom did the same thing and now she has 4 granddaughters that live locally and she just doesn't have room in her car to take all 4 kids anywhere. I said I was pretty sure when it came time to trade in her car she was seriously going to consider a van or at least a larger vehicle. My mom said she wouldn't as they cost more and use more gas but when she saw the Flex when I got it she seemed to like it really well. DH, my dad, and my brother took it downstate to a hockey game last night and I think my dad was really impressed.

That's exactly what we did sold our Tahoe for a smaller SUV thinking the kids were grown. Well DD never moved back from college and flies in all the time and we are grandparents and my youngest has special needs so I sit in the back seat a lot. That Flex has unbelievable room in the second and third row. We went with a bench in the 2nd row so I can tote everyone around. Honestly I couldn't wait to get rid of that in between car my knees and hips from sitting in the back were killing me.

Isn't it great when your dad thinks you did good?!? My Dad always used to like it when my car was clean. He worked so hard to get his I think he just wanted me to have pride in mine.

 

[jen7233]

I've been looking on and off for a replacement car for the last year. I have over 100,000 on my Acadia I bought in 2009. Prior to that, I briefly owned a Dodge Caravan but did not love it, mostly due to being very generic and the body style, and traded it in for the Acadia. I hope the Acadia I have should go to 150 or 200 without problems. But, I want to be ready in the event I feel like a replacement vehicle would outweigh repair costs or peace of mind.

A few months ago, I looked at and test drove the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, 4Runner, Chevy Traverse, and Ford Explorer. I felt that the Pilot had the most bang for it's buck with accessories or standards that come along with the vehicle, best interior feeling space, but didn't like the steering wheel feel and too many gadgets I'd have to relearn! The Highlander was a good ride, but I didn't like the interior materials (seemed cheaply made to me), or the space in the third row. The 4Runner was great, more of my style, except that I don't like the way the windshield seems so close to me, due to the boxiness of the cabin. Chevy Traverse, great interior space but the particular car I test drove felt like it had too much play in the steering wheel. I would be willing to take a look at another one. The Ford Explorer, great interior space, but more costly in my opinion for what I could get standard with a Pilot, and for some reason the one we test drove we all, even the kids, felt like we could really feel the road under us.

Anyway, with no car I felt 100% great about, I'm going to keep driving my Acadia. I personally don't like how much space the new 2017 Acadia has lost, so I won't get a new Acadia down the road. I feel like as the boys are growing older, and taller, I will still want the interior space. My next look will be in a year, at the Pilot again, and the apparently newly designed Traverse and Odyssey. I prefer an SUV, but I feel like taking a look at minivans now. Just the Odyssey and Sienna. Out of the minivan looks, I most like the body style of the Sienna.

 

[manning]

My "one bad experience" just so happened to be while driving my wife who was 39weeks pregnant to the hospital, our son was born the next day. So a screaming pregnant wife swearing at me that she will not own another Honda sunk in.

Wouldn't you know it Murphy had to pick on you that day.

 

[RangerPooh]

We have a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country and love it. Previously we had a 2010 and equally liked it. We have 4 kids ages 5-11 so it provides plenty of space for us on road trips. In the past we have had a Dodge Durango and Ford Expedition, but I didn't care for those as much. Their third row seating had no leg room. The plus to the SUV was 4 wheel drive as we lived in a snowy and icy location at the time. DH and I were not sold on mini vans for the longest time, then he rented one on a work trip and loved it! He raved about the stow and go seats and all the details. Two weeks later we had one. We have been fortunate to have good luck with our vans. Growing up our dodge caravan always had problems, and I was anticipating this with ours. Nope. I like that our model has the automatic opening doors and rear hatch. I just wish that it had a vacuum, lol. We did look into the Toyota Sienna briefly but kept returning to the T&C.

Something to keep in mind when considering whether or not you need the space is will you be bringing friends along? As I said we have 4 kids, so this necessitates the third row seat. We also are active with Boy and Girl Scouts so we cart kids along on field trips and need the space to cart around cookies, lol.

Good luck car shopping.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I have a Caravan. The Stow N Go seating is great. I like the way you can open the back and sliding doors with the remote control thing. I like that it is comfortable and you can haul a lot of people or junk. If you ever move and you have one, it's like OMG this is the best thing ever. To me, those are the biggest benefits.

The downside seems to be that it is kind of cumbersome trying to park and stuff. Yes I am terrible at parking anyway, but it seems much, much worse in the van.

 

[xlxo]

The downside seems to be that it is kind of cumbersome trying to park and stuff. Yes I am terrible at parking anyway, but it seems much, much worse in the van.

A backup camera makes a huge difference. I love Thrifty's for having minivan's with backup cameras.

 

[skuttle]

We have a 2015 Toyota Sienna and LOVE it! We went from a Chevy Traverse to the mini van and I wish we would have made the switch sooner. We have three kids, so the mini van is much easier for our kids to get in and out. Plus there is so much more storage room in the back. Mine has lots of bells and whistles. I had a ton of extras on my Traverse and got spoiled...back up camera, blind spot alert on mirrors, heated seats, navigation system, blue tooth, power doors, power lift gate, DVD player, sunroof, leather seats, power seats, etc. I absolutely love it!

Friends of our bought a Highlander around the same time we bought our van. They have three kids but my friend is anti minivan. WOW, that thing seems SO much smaller than my van! Much less leg room and definitely less rear storage.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

A backup camera makes a huge difference. I love Thrifty's for having minivan's with backup cameras.

Yes a backup camera would be great!

Mine has the parking assist, but that just beeps when I am about to hit something lol. If it wasn't for the parking assist, my insurance rates would be A LOT higher. Usually I will either go way out to a spot that allows me nobody on either side and back in or just pull all the way through parking places. There is that small percentage of time you gotta pull in head first and I hate it because I know it is going to be difficult to ever get out.

 

[mmouse37]

We always had mini vans when our kids were little. We had a Chrysler that was maroon with the wood panel on the side & Ford Windstars...a green one and then my favorite was my bright red Ford Windstar (that was called my Mickey Mobile). Loved that van!!! After the kids were grown I got a Toyota Camry and now have a Honda Accord. I really, really, miss my minivan!! We now have two grandchildren under the age of 2 and as a family we are always traveling around town with our adult kids who visit all the time. I am tired of having to take 2 cars places so I really want a mini van again. We always rent one on vacation and always seem to have plenty of room.

I really want the stow and go seating. The Pacifica looks good but I have not test driven any yet so a lot to compare. I am loving this thread to get different opinions and perspectives. Thanks!!

MJ

 

[goodeats]

I had a 2006 Acura TL and the transmission went, since I wanted more of a mommy car we replaced it. We ended up getting a CPO Buick Enclave with captains chairs in the 2nd row. OP if you don't need seats for more than 7, I would look at the Chevy Traverse/GMC Acadia/Buick Enclave. They all have the same body and engines but with different trims.

We also looked at the following:
Highlander - too small
Pilot- too expensive
Pathfinder - too small
Flex - this one my DH lobbied hard for since it was 5K cheaper, but I hated driving it. I'm fairly petite and I could not get comfortable in the seats. They felt like I was sitting in a coffin! If you are tall this may be the car for you!

 

[LvsTnk]

I had a 2006 Acura TL and the transmission went, since I wanted more of a mommy car we replaced it. We ended up getting a CPO Buick Enclave with captains chairs in the 2nd row. OP if you don't need seats for more than 7, I would look at the Chevy Traverse/GMC Acadia/Buick Enclave. They all have the same body and engines but with different trims.

We also looked at the following:
Highlander - too small
Pilot- too expensive
Pathfinder - too small
Flex - this one my DH lobbied hard for since it was 5K cheaper, but I hated driving it. I'm fairly petite and I could not get comfortable in the seats. They felt like I was sitting in a coffin! If you are tall this may be the car for you!

The Flex has adjustable petals if needed and lumbar support, but also depends on what model you buy. I got them on my SEL. Love the back up camera.

 

[mjkacmom]

I was talking with my boss this summer and she said her sister is now an empty nester and is looking forward to being able to ditch the mini van in favor of a smaller sedan. I kind of laughed and told her to tell her sister to enjoy it while it lasts. My mom did the same thing and now she has 4 granddaughters that live locally and she just doesn't have room in her car to take all 4 kids anywhere. I said I was pretty sure when it came time to trade in her car she was seriously going to consider a van or at least a larger vehicle. My mom said she wouldn't as they cost more and use more gas but when she saw the Flex when I got it she seemed to like it really well. DH, my dad, and my brother took it downstate to a hockey game last night and I think my dad was really impressed.

Both of my parents purchased minivans after the the grandkids came, drove a lot of carpools.

 

[Minsc]

We put 180,000 miles on our 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan without a single non-maintenance repair save for a heater hose y-pipe that cracked and started dripping. I fixed it for $18 worth of parts at the hardware store. We now have a 2014 Chrysler Town & Country, and the wife loves it even more. My wife test drove a lot of other vans, but we just couldn't find anything that gave us all of the same features for the price. We just passed 60k miles on this one, and not a single issue.

I agree with many of the other posters about keeping your current van for a while longer. I think you will be surprised how well it will hold up with proper preventive maintenance.

 

[manning]

That's exactly what we did sold our Tahoe for a smaller SUV thinking the kids were grown. Well DD never moved back from college and flies in all the time and we are grandparents and my youngest has special needs so I sit in the back seat a lot. That Flex has unbelievable room in the second and third row. We went with a bench in the 2nd row so I can tote everyone around. Honestly I couldn't wait to get rid of that in between car my knees and hips from sitting in the back were killing me.

Isn't it great when your dad thinks you did good?!? My Dad always used to like it when my car was clean. He worked so hard to get his I think he just wanted me to have pride in mine.

Functionality is the important thing. To me heck with how it looks.

Years ago a friend had a grand marquis and another a Lincoln. They both got together and looked under the hood. The Lincoln owner said "heck they're basically the same car. The other said "the big difference is the price"

 

[Klayfish]

Functionality is the important thing. To me heck with how it looks.

Years ago a friend had a grand marquis and another a Lincoln. They both got together and looked under the hood. The Lincoln owner said "heck they're basically the same car. The other said "the big difference is the price"

The Lincoln Towncar, Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis were siblings...same DNA, just a few cosmetic differences. Very common, called "platform sharing". A majority of vehicles on the market today platform share. Many minivans and SUVs do it too, especially the compact SUVs. For example, Honda's new HR-V "crossover" is essentially a Honda Fit on stilts.