OT: Assuming you own a mini van, what kind?

[luvmy3jewels]

Another Ody owner here and I love my van!! I don't know how I would survive without the sliding doors!

We are actually on our second Ody. Because of the "uncool" factor, I stupidly traded my first Ody in on a Pilot. While I loved driving the Pilot when it was just me in the car, it was a PAIN to get my three kids (all in carseats) in and out of it!! After a year with the Pilot, I lost any since of my uncoolness and went back with another Ody. My one regret is that I traded my first one in, since it would be paid for now

If you have more than two kids, a minivan is a must!

 

[jensen]

I drive an '08 Chrysler T&C and love it! This is my third T&C and I always buy new and trade every three years when the warranty expires, so I cannot speak to repair aspects. But, from an options perspective, I can say that I would die without my power doors and power liftgate. This new one also has a really great traction control system that helps me get around great in the snowy, icy conditions. The dual DVD system, leather seats and remote start are just bonuses... all for thousands cheaper than a Honda or Toyota.

DH is always trying to talk me into getting an SUV and I tell him maybe when the kids get older and I don't need the power sliding doors anymore... they are the reason I have a minivan.

 

[hopefor4]

I also have a 2008 Town and Country Limited. I had a Windstar before, but had to get a Town and Country when Ford stopped making mini vans! AND am I ever glad I did! It is by far the best vehicle I have had! It is AMAZING in the snow, and I don't have snow tires on it. We live in Canada, so trust me, I know snow and ice

It has great options, the dual DVD is perfect because the older boys watch what they want with headphones, and the younger two watch something more suited for them! Or they can play video games. The navigation is GREAT, and I love all the features the systems has (handsfree, address book, memo, hard drive to store songs, SAT)

I will get another one when we replace this one! PLUS I love the colour, clearwater blue!

 

[eag119]

I have a 2008 Town and Country touring. I love it. LOVE IT. LOVE IT.
There is NOTHING cool about me in it, however... my minivan rocks.

I traded my youth for powersliding doors my friends and I'm so glad I did!

 

[PGHDisneyfan]

We just traded my wifes SHO Taurus in on an 05 Mazda MPV and totally love it! They are hard to find since Dodge, Toyota, Honda, Chevy, and Ford really out sell them but its perfect. They are a little smaller than some- about the size of a Windstar sport or Caravan Sport. But, if you get the ES they come loaded with things like traction control, auto doors, 17" tires, leather, 6 disc changer and so on. The MPV not only drives like a car (as do the Hondas) but it gets very resonable gas mileage about 18 city 26 highway. We did days and days of research looking at vans and this was our top choice for reliablility, comfort/styling, and price. I dont think it would be so hot with 3 grown teens but if you have little ones and keep cars about 5 years like we do its well worth a look!

 

[summermac]

PGH, where did you buy? I assume PGH = Pittsburgh and well I'm only about an hour away from there. One of the Siennas I found is in Washington at Sisson.

 

[pixiewings71]

I have an 05 Dodge Grand Caravan and love it. I was one who said I'd never have a minivan but man, am I glad I was wrong! LOL My first one was a 97 Plymouth Grand Voyager, we traded in 06. I hate my car payment but I LOVE my car!!! I've got dual climate control, controls in the back for the climate, stow n go seats and power slide doors. I love my power doors, I just wish ours had the power lift rear gate, but no, I gotta open it by hand. Oh well, it's not that big a deal. We also had a DVD player installed after market, love that thing too!! DBF has an 02 Dodge Neon, the Neon is fun to drive but when we have the kids we take the van.

 

[KristiMc]

I have a 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan and love it. It gets pretty good gas mileage on trips (took it to WDW in October) and it does pretty good in the snow of Northeast Ohio.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I am driving my third Toyota Sienna - they have all been great! Sliding power doors are totally worth the cost.

About the AWD - the AWD Siennas come with run flat tires and no spare. Seemed like a good idea when I had an AWD Sienna, until we hit something in the road on the way to WDW and discovered the tires can't be fixed, only replaced. Run flats were not common in Orlando, so we bought a regular tire and bought another run flat when we got home. Run flats are $200+ per tire, and I bought 8 of them in the first 36,000 miles that I had my car. They do not last very long, even with very regular tire rotation. I always had to order them and wait a few days for them to come in, but that is because there is no need for AWD around here. If you really need AWD, go for it - it is a great system. Just be prepared for the tire cost. You can buy regular tires and either drive without a spare or put your spare tire in the back. There is no room for a spare underneath (at least not in the 2004 AWD Siennas, and I don't think that has changed).

 

[DisneyKT]

I have a Honda Odyssey and I have no complaints. Runs well in the snow.I do miss my Jeep Cherokee. We almost traded it in for another Jeep a couple weeks ago but you cant fit as many people in it as a Van. They really are just so convenient.

 

[summermac]

Oh yikes - no spare at all? That's not good.
Hmmmm...

 

[jcc0621]

We just got a 2007 Town & Country Touring Edition in August (It had 16,000 miles when we got it). I love it! I traded in my 1996 Neon for it and got a GREAT deal due to the economy, etc. It has the power doors which I will definitely never be without again. It came loaded with the navigation system, DVD player, CD/AM/FM, and satelitte radio. Where we live is ALOT of hills and the T &C handles them great. We haven't had a ton of snow yet this year, but the little we have had, I had no problems!

 

[Totally Tink]

PGH, where did you buy? I assume PGH = Pittsburgh and well I'm only about an hour away from there. One of the Siennas I found is in Washington at Sisson.

I bet I'm pretty close to you! I'm in the northern panhandle of WV. Have you tried Washington Toyota or Robinson in Wheeling?

 

[3boymthr]

I "graduated" from my mini-van .

I had a 1997 Dodge Grand caravan and it was very nice at the time it had all the bells and whistles that you could get except the DVD player. It got to the point that we were going to have to put over $5,000 into it to fix it for a number of small and medium repairs that it HAD to have. We went car shopping. I couldn't find a mini-van for what I wanted to pay - I was afraid I was going to have to fix my mini-van. Then enlightenment happened....

We now have a 2007 Ford Freestyle. It's AWESOME. It doesn't have sliders because it's a "station wagon". Actually they call it a cross-over, thus it escapes the uncoolness factor. Mine has FWD but it 4WD is available. I bought it new for $22K. It was a minimum of $6,000 less expensive than any of the mini-vans on the market. It seats 6, but the doors move out like a regular car, it has more room in the trunk area than a mini van, and mine has all the bells and whistles, including a back up alarm, 4 zone heat/AC, fancy dancy stereo, it tells me my how long until I need an oil change, it's got fold down rear seats so I can put as much stuff in the back as in an Explorer (I've put a picnic table in the back, simply by folding down the seats.) The only thing it doesn't have (again) is the DVD player. Chrysler makes a similar car - it's called the Pacifica, also very very nice, but this has a slightly smaller trunk area.

If you're DH is against the mini-van because of the "uncool" check these out. He might like them.

 

[summermac]

Robinson has one but it's a little pricy. Almost $20K for a used. I might end up there though anyway. I didn't even think of Washington Toyota. Duh.

Northern panhandle as in....closer to Pgh or closer to Wheeling? I live about 1/2 hour from Ohio County.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Oh yikes - no spare at all? That's not good.
Hmmmm...

Nope, no spare at all on the AWDs. If you keep the run flats on, you can get to safety if something happens to your tire. But it is a pain (and expensive) to keep replacing the run flats, and there was no way I was going to drive around on regular tires with two kids and no spare.

We bought the AWD when we lived in WV, and we regularly traveled smaller roads that didn't get plowed until long after a storm was over. If you travel main roads that are reasonably plowed, the FWD works great. My friend in upstate NY drives a Sienna and opted not to get AWD. Her thought was that the roads get plowed regularly, and if they haven't been plowed, she doesn't need to be out. If you live on a fair amount of land with a long driveway and need to get out before it's cleared (or in a neighborhood that gets cleared late but the kids still have to get to school), the AWD is wonderful. It's also very useful if you intentionally drive where it is snowing (like trying to get to a ski resort in a storm). It just depends how much you need to be out before the roads are clear.

 

[sparty7798]

We have a 2007 honda odyssey, the lx version and we love it. My husband is the one that actually drives it everyday because I commute 45 minutes to work and he only commutes 20 so we do that to save on gas. He enjoys driving it and we love it when we need to go on trips!

Good Luck!

 

[playswithstars]

I'm pseudo in the market. I need to get past the "uncool" factor.

I currently drive a Toyota Matrix that sucks in the snow. I'm heavily leaning towards a Toyota Sienna b/c it has AWD as an option. I'll only buy used b/c I think new cars are a big fat ripoff. I found a decent deal but still not sure.

And do you think power sliding doors are worth $3K more? I have found two Siennas and I don't think the one with that's cheaper has the sliders.

So tell me about your mini van!

My parents have a Honda Odyssey with power sliding doors.

 

[srwarden1928]

I have a 2002 Honda Odyssey. DW has a 1997 Honda Odyssey. They are particularly suited for driving on trips to WDW.

 

[seeking pixie dust]

I have an Odyssey and LOVE it. Having two power doors is a lifesaver. There are so many good deals to be had out there now - take advantage and get what you want.