Minivans

[FSUGrad97]

OK, I am accepting the fact that a minivan is in my future.

I looked at station wagons, and they don't have as much storage and seating. I currently drive an Explorer, but wanted an Expedition. After realizing what a PITA it would be to lift a toddler and infant seat up into an Expedition, I decided that a minivan would be a better choice.

That being said, does anyone have a Toyota Sienna? How do you like it? Another possibility is the Ford Freestar...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[padams]

I didn't want a minivan but I finally gave in when older DS was 5 so that I could fit in a couple of friends into my vehicle along with my 2 DSs. I hate when people make minivan remarks ("I'd never be caught dead in one of those..."- as if I really want to be driving one ). However, it is so practical. I'm on my second one. I had a Honda, and when the lease was up, I switched to a Toyota Sienna because the new version of the Honda wasn't out yet.

It is so easy to get kids in and out of a minivan. I wish I had had one when they were carseat age. It would have been so much easier than the 4 door sedan I drove at that stage. I like the Toyota especially the remote control back hatch door and the fold down 3rd seat. I suggest you look at the Honda too. If a new one is too $$$, consider buying a used one.

 

[Caradana]

Here's the kicker - I'm 25 and I don't have any kids, but minivans are so stinking cheap these days (compared to SUVs) that I'm thinking about replacing my current car with one. I'm sure I'd get some sweet flak from friends, UNTIL they realize that seven people only need one designated driver with the minivan.

 

[ZachnElli]

I have a Toyota Sienna. I got it when the new version came out in 2003 (2004 model year though). I love it. I've had no problems with it whatsoever. I don't see myself getting anything else for a long time to come!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We just bought a Honda Odyssey, which I like a lot. We considered the Sienna, but went with the Odyssey because I could get 8 passenger and still get the navigation system and DVD/TV. It's a wonderful van and we're really enjoying the NAV and the XM radio. It has a rear camera and when it reverse it shows behind the van--meant I did hit the neighbor's mutt that was running in back of our van one day.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

a minivan is in my future.

LOL, I'm sorry.

Seriously, I made the jump from my beloved Jeeps to a Chrysler Town and Country after I had twins and realized that between them and all their equipment, and two German Shepherds and a MIL (as well as me and DH), we needed the space of a minivan. Once your inside, it's pretty cool, loads of space. Be prepared, though, for everyone trying to get in front of you at any cost because they consider you a "rolling roadblock". (DH didn't believe that at first but when he went from driving his F150 to my van, he'd constantly be jamming on the brakes from people cutting us off - he'd get so mad!! ).

Happy to report we're long out of the baby stage, down to one dog, and I get to drive my Jeep again. Good luck!

 

[NCDisneyMom]

I have a '98 Sienna, which I absolutely adore. We have had absolutely no problems with it (that were Toyota's fault). Of course, they can't be held responsible for things like driving over nails, etc.

My parents have a 2000, and theirs has been perfect, also.

My next-door-neighbor just bought a brand new 2006 Sienna. Phew! That thing is NICE!! So many newer, nicer features than mine! But, mine is paid off, and I don't need another payment, so mine stays. But, I will not hesitate to buy another Sienna whenever mine eventually dies.

 

[MzDiz]

When we bought our Caravan, it was rated third behind the Oddessy and the Siena. We could afford the Caravan though. For the record, I'm very happy with it. I'm looking forward to being able to drive itty bitty cars again. You just can't fit three kids and their stuff in a Mini Cooper though!

 

[pattyT]

went kicking and screaming into a Town and Country
and hanging my head in shame - I LOVE IT
IONLY reason I agreed - Stow and GO
DH and I can go to BJ's and buy tires for his truck - or to Home depot for insulation or sheetrock - move the seets to fit what we need and voila!
LOVE IT! (I hate to say)

 

[arminnie]

Here's the kicker - I'm 25 and I don't have any kids, but minivans are so stinking cheap these days (compared to SUVs) that I'm thinking about replacing my current car with one. I'm sure I'd get some sweet flak from friends, UNTIL they realize that seven people only need one designated driver with the minivan.

I bought a minivan ten years ago - also no kids (but a lot older!). I wanted a Honda, and they didn't make an SUV back then. My friends LOVED the fact that we only had to take one car into San Francisco.

I bought a Pontiac Vibe (hatchback) six weeks ago because of the good gas mileage. I think I may have made a mistake. I've put almost 3,000 miles on the Odyssey since I bought the Vibe - and only 400 miles on the Vibe.

I just keep needing the extra space in the Odyssey. I've made two trips to New Orleans and one to Dallas with the Odyssey since I bought the Vibe. I'll make my first trip in the Vibe to New Orleans in a couple of weeks. The Vibe is really fun to drive, but it doesn't hold anything.

 

[Nicolepa]

I have a 2005 Sienna. If I knew how easy driving a minivan would be I'd have gotten one 5 years ago! I love my Sienna.

FWIW the Freestar gos some of the worst cars when it comes to the crash impact testing. I would not put my kids in that car for anything. The Sienna is more money but it is so much safer. Also be sure to get the side impact airbags. The crash institute says that they are a must if you get hit by an SUV.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Go with either the Honda or the Toyota. Fords are JUNK compared with the other two. Pay attention to the little things like the cockpit ergonomics, fit and finish, refinement...that's where you'll see the difference. Like most things, you really DO get what you pay for.

If you really enjoy driving, and appreciate finely engineered things, go with the Honda.

If you just "drive" to get where you're going, go with the Toyota.

The Honda is the "sports car" of the mini-van world.

We went from a 95 Dodge Caravan to a 2003 Honda Ody...what a difference!

There are very few domestic vehicles which Consumer Reports recommends buying...new or used.

www.odyclub.com for Honda Ody info, and message board like this.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Well, I have a brand new Ford FreeStar and love it. And the information from my Consumer report gave it 5 stars on the crash test, and one of the highest ratings for front-impact collisions. Where they rated "average" was in the side impact, but with the added side airbags, they received an improved rating. Not sure where the other op read about terrible crash ratings. It must have been a model without the added side airbags. 5 star crash rating is the highest rating you can get.
On a side note, DH drives an Expedition and I hate it. When the kids were still babies, I practically had to toss them up into the car (I'm only 5 ft tall). Even if I climbed up on the running board, it was always possible for me to tople off with one of the kids in my arms.
I suggest getting a copy of the latest Consumer Reports for Autos. By the way, Sienna's are considered the best minivans around. You can't go wrong there.
Also, here's a link to government crash test ratings. Hope the link works.
http://www.safercar.gov/

 

[Nicolepa]

Go with either the Honda or the Toyota. Fords are JUNK compared with the other two. Pay attention to the little things like the cockpit ergonomics, fit and finish, refinement...that's where you'll see the difference. Like most things, you really DO get what you pay for.

If you really enjoy driving, and appreciate finely engineered things, go with the Honda.

If you just "drive" to get where you're going, go with the Toyota.

The Honda is the "sports car" of the mini-van world.

We went from a 95 Dodge Caravan to a 2003 Honda Ody...what a difference!

There are very few domestic vehicles which Consumer Reports recommends buying...new or used.

www.odyclub.com for Honda Ody info, and message board like this.

This really depends on what features are important to you. Personally the 05 Honda drove slightly better than the 05 Sienna, but it wasn't so much better that I had to have that and only that. And when I was done comparing the pro's and con's the cars IMO were in a dead heat. Honda only has 4 models and you have to take the features on the model you cannot add or subtract. If you are not picky not a big deal. For me I had to have the automatic back hatch, I have a bad arm and could not see myself having to pull that thing closed on my own. On the Honda I had to get the Touring Model for that feature, it was the only feature on the touring model I wanted so it was an extra $10+K. On the Toyota I was able to get that and add a package w/the features I wanted so it ended up costing a lot less.

Also Toyota was a lot more helpful. Honda I had to pick from the colors/models they had coming in. I could not special order one and they would not look around for one. Toyota I told them what I wanted and they put in an order and got exactly what I wanted. They also showed me the inventory in a 4 state radius and said they could get it for me if there was something I wanted.

 

[RitaZ.]

One thing that I found very helpful before I purchased my new vehicle in Nov. was reading Edmunds.com's Forums. If there is a specific minivan/vehicle that you are interested in, just go to Edmunds and check out the Problems and Solutions for the specific model and also compare it to other vehicles in the same class.

Good luck!

 

[cepmom]

I just got a 2005 Sienna last week and I love it! Rides very smooth and has lots of nice features. We traded in our Ford Windstar and I am so glad to be rid of it...I don't think I will ever buy another Ford again.

I really like minivans ~ with 3 kids it is just so much more practical and the ones out now are pretty nice looking too. I did consider a Honda Pilot for a while (seats 8 and not too big like an Expedition etc) but decided on the Sienna for $$$ reasons.

Go for the Sienna over the Ford....you will love it!

 

[zulaya]

I don't have Honda, Toyota or Ford, but had to comment on mine.

Just got an 05 Saturn Relay. Love it. I'd say at least go look at it. This is our 3rd Saturn vehicle (DH still drives an SL2) and we can't be happier.

 

[ntburns22]

I too hung my head in shame when shopping for a van. I ended up really liking the body style of the Chevy Uplander. Not too mini van looking from the front. WHen I even got pulled over the trooper thought he was pulling over an SUV. We just turned 10,000 miles on it and it has been so far so good and with standard DVD we could not pass it up.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I don't have Honda, Toyota or Ford, but had to comment on mine.

Just got an 05 Saturn Relay. Love it. I'd say at least go look at it. This is our 3rd Saturn vehicle (DH still drives an SL2) and we can't be happier.

The Relay looks very nice! Good choice.

 

[stevenpensacola]

I ended up really liking the body style of the Chevy Uplander. Not too mini van looking from the front. WHen I even got pulled over the trooper thought he was pulling over an SUV.

Please tell us you're joking.

This van is nothing more than the old venture with a ugly new nose.