OT- minivan or third row suv

[blondietink]

We have a Hyundai Elantra and LOVE IT! Lots of room and gets good gas mileage on a trip. We routinely got 28 mpg when we went to Florida last summer.

Previously we had a Chrysler Town & Country. While we loved the inside of it, the engine in it really sucked. After the 2nd transmission failed (first one faile at 70,0000 miles) we decided we had enough of it. We test drove new ones before buying the Hyundai, but we felt all of the engines in Dodge and Chrysler behaved the same way as our old Town & Country. Other people I know have had the same problems with the Chrysler mini-vans. Sorry.

 

[PHXscuba]

When I was pregnant with my third I had to start looking bigger cars because the distance between the car seat and booster in my Corolla was about 8 inches! I originally thought I wanted a Tahoe, but I saw a family fighting to get a stroller in the back behind the third row (couldn't even close it unless someone held it from inside) and that was enough to make me look at minivans.
I think you have to go up to a big Suburban-size SUV to get the storage space of a good minivan. Unfortunately, that's usually a lot more $$ and much worse gas mileage. Plus some garages in our neighborhood don't even fit a full-size SUV.
I think as long as you have little kids in carseats, the SUV is difficult because of the access to the back seats. If you get bucket seats for the second row, have a bigger kid in the third row who can buckle independently, and have a split third row to get some trunk space, you might be able to get a small SUV. But I wouldn't want an adult sitting in the back for very long!
For me, a Honda Odyssey was the answer (we're now on our second one). Everyone I know who has one loves it, and I have known several people who have been in serious accidents in an Ody and walked away with no more than bruises.

Good luck in your hunt. Just be sure you're comparing apples to apples (price, storage, safety, ease, cool factor) when you're deciding.

PHXscuba

 

[mrstxcop]

when i was pregnant with our 3rd child i knew we would have to trade in my beloved Honda Accord ---

so I went with the Honda Odyssey and it was very nice and the ride was awesome --- i just could not get over driving a minivan --- i tried, i really did...i kept it for 18months and i tried to love it, i just could not bring myself to love it...every time i climbed in i just didn't feel right...it didn't help that i had alot of people saying things to me like "YOU'RE driving a minivan" or "I just cannot picture YOU in a minivan"...

so needless to say we traded our minivan in for a Honda Pilot --- our kids are 13, 7 & 2.8(will be 3 in june) and it's really easy for our oldest to get in the 3rd row and the 2 younger ones are in the middle --- we only keep the 1 seat in the 3rd row up, and we keep the other 2 folded down at all times, for the extra storage space...i LOVE my Pilot and wouldn't go back to a minivan if someone paid me...

as everyone else said, it all just boils down to what you are most comfortable with --- for some it's an SUV, for some it's a minivan, for others it's a minivan when the never thought it would be a minivan...

good luck with your decision...

 

[emmababy]

Thanks to everyone on their replies! I love our suv (buick rainier) currently, but I hate when my family comes or we want to do something with friends and we always have to take 2 cars!

I think I can get over the uncool factor for a while. But I drove an Ody and honestly didn't like it inside. I want leather and a little more polished interior.

I finally got my car paid off, so I think we will wait until we are for sure preggers before looking. I wish I could merge the new chrysler interior with honda motor, lol!

Oh and thanks to all who shared their stories of having 3 kids! All I hear is the horrors, so it is good to hear positive stories!

For those who live in snowy areas, how are your minis in the snow? I always see my neighbor getting stuck in her driveway!

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

I guess I'm in the minority, but for us, we didn't want a minivan.

We ended up getting a Saturn Outlook--which we absolutely LOVE!! We have 3 kids (DS is 5 and 10 month old twins).

We opted for the version that has a bench seat as the second row (they also come with captains chair in the second row)--I wanted all of my kids within my reach. This is also another reason I didn't get a van, there was only one van that had a 2nd row bench seat and it wasn't even a fullsize seat! (I can't remember if it was the Toyota or the Honda). 3 carseats fit fine across.

We almost always have the third row down, and there is plenty of room for our double stroller and a single plus all of our other gear (even with the seat up our dbl stroller fits behind it, in fact, we have just as much room behind our third row as my mom does in her minivan).

There is plenty of leg room and headroom for all passengers. We got the moonroof and it has the sky window for the second row, which is awesome.

The Outlook drives like a car, it handles so well. We are really happy with the gas mileage too, around 22-24, which is pretty good for such a large/heavy SUV.

If I were you I'd take a look at the Outlook/Acadia/Enclave/Traverse.

Oh, it also gets great safety ratings!

 

[polynor]

Sliding (power) doors -- best reason for the minivan. espcially important if your garage isn't big.

When you look at minivans again, consider the Toyota Sienna. We decided primarily between the Odyssey and the Sienna -- we ruled out the others because what we wanted was 8 seats in the car. When we looked at the Ody. -- it had a lot of features that we liked but the middle row middle seat wasn't a true seat and you can't put a child seat on it.

The sienna 8 seat trim has 3 full size captains in the middle row. We can put the child seat in the middle and two grown adults (read: Grandparents) can still sit in the same row as baby without needing the 3rd row yet. When we were looking you couldn't get all the bells and whistles with the 8 seat options, but I think you can now. With a 2nd one on the way, we can put the baby seat in the middle and the older one can get in his own seat. (and still a grandparent in the same row).

 

[LJRJR]

We have a Toyota Sequoia, which is a large SUV, and after six years of having it I still love it, and I love to drive it. It sits eight. I needed a large vehicle because my children are very close in age and I needed to fit three car seats when they were younger, so a regular car would not do. Most of the time my children all sit together in the middle row, if they need more space, they spread out to the next row. My husband is always moving around a full truck load of "stuff" because of his business (we have a "real" truck parked in our driveway too ) but if he sometimes takes the Sequoia to when he has smaller shipments to move. My sister has the Dodge Caravan and loves it.

 

[moredisneyplease]

havent read the other responses but i just had to mention that i looooooove my Toyota Sienna minivan. I was one of those moms who fought the mini van like no ones' business but i've been a proud owner for nearly 2 years and would never give it up for anything!!!

 

[emmababy]

I guess I'm in the minority, but for us, we didn't want a minivan.

We ended up getting a Saturn Outlook--which we absolutely LOVE!! We have 3 kids (DS is 5 and 10 month old twins).

We opted for the version that has a bench seat as the second row (they also come with captains chair in the second row)--I wanted all of my kids within my reach. This is also another reason I didn't get a van, there was only one van that had a 2nd row bench seat and it wasn't even a fullsize seat! (I can't remember if it was the Toyota or the Honda). 3 carseats fit fine across.

We almost always have the third row down, and there is plenty of room for our double stroller and a single plus all of our other gear (even with the seat up our dbl stroller fits behind it, in fact, we have just as much room behind our third row as my mom does in her minivan).

There is plenty of leg room and headroom for all passengers. We got the moonroof and it has the sky window for the second row, which is awesome.

The Outlook drives like a car, it handles so well. We are really happy with the gas mileage too, around 22-24, which is pretty good for such a large/heavy SUV.

If I were you I'd take a look at the Outlook/Acadia/Enclave/Traverse.

Oh, it also gets great safety ratings!

How is getting your kids in and out of it? Is your oldest in a booster? This is the line of vehicles that I really want. Is the Outlook the only one that offers the bench seat?

 

[princess&her4princes]

We have three little ones (6, 4 and 21 mos.).....we are on our 2nd minivan and not sure what we did without it. I was one of those people that said I would never would drive a minivan and here I am..but with three little ones, it's necessary!! I have a Town & Country and LOVE the automatic doors so my older sons can get in and out while I'm carrying the baby. And love the automatic trunk opening, too. The space is huge too and if travel with your little ones, that's huge....for diaper changing and luggage compared to a SUV while on the road. We are pretty sure with sports equipment, etal in our future, we'll be driving one for a long time now......enjoy three kids.....like a PP said, it will make your head spin but I wouldn't change the craziness for the world!!

 

[scarlet_ibis]

Boy, we just went through this. My girls are 5 and 3, and we just had a little boy in January. We got a Honda Pilot when our first was just a baby because we needed the space for hauling gear (visiting family who live far away). I *loved* my Pilot. Loved, loved, loved it.

But when the third came along, it was completely unworkable. Yes, it seats 8 people, BUT you can't fit three car seats in the second row. (Now, I have heard that there may be room in the '09 model, but we were looking to buy used.) And even if there are three latch positions, once you have a kid in a belt-adjusting booster, there needs to be room to the side of the seat so that the child can buckle the car's seatbelt, and there's just not that space to the side of the seat when you have three seats in the second row.

Our problem is that we are still using two "latch" seats. When you have two latch seats installed in the middle row, you simply cannot fold the second row seat down to make the third row accessible. When our third came along, we moved our oldest's booster seat to the third row and convinced ourselves that she'd be fine crawling in and out of the rear hatch. That lasted precisely three weeks. She didn't mind it, but she needed help... she's heavier than I want to be hefting... she'd get filthy from crawling over the bumper...

We bought an Odyssey, and it has been good. It's nice that she can walk down the center from the front seat to the rear. The only thing that I don't like about having her in the third row is that it is difficult to hear her, and we had that problem in the Pilot as well.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

So I just started a thread on having a third baby, which leads to the fact we would need a diff. vehicle. Right now we have an suv which I love. So, for those who have a minivan or 3rd row suv (Acadia, Enclave- NOT Expedition or Suburban) what do you love or hate about it? Did you look at both a minivan and suv and what tipped the scale for you?

We have a minivan with sto n go...2 children in booster seats. Our friends have an Envoy...2 car seats and one on the way. She picked us up at the airport (just DH and I) and onee of us had to crawl in the back to the 3rd seat cause the 2 carseats were fastened in so the seat couldn't fold down. At least our minivan has the separate seats that a person can walk/crawl between to get to the back seat...or we can put the carseats in the far back seat and fold the 2 individual to make it easier to get to the back. We looked at MANY 7+ seaters before the minivan and all the SUVs just seemed too cramped...couldn't imagine 7 or 8 in them, especially if they were all adults.

 

[nessz79]

We have 2 adults and 2 children, but often travel with 2 aging parents (my in-laws). I never thought I'd be a minivan mom, but here I am with a Honda Odyssey! We couldn't beat the reliability, space, and storage for the price. We got the base model so no power doors for us, but our kids are 4 and 6 so they'll be able to do it themselves soon enough.

The trunk space is unbelievable. The Odyssey also has that dipped trunk where the bottom of the trunk starts under the rest of the floor (I'm bad at describing, you'll have to see), providing lots of space for luggage, etc.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Sorry I just cannot be a minivan mom. It just will never happen.

We had a Chevy Tahoe which I loved and are in the market for another. My neighbor traded her minivan in for a GMC Acadia . She loves it, says its the best thing she ever did.

 

[PEANUT1]

another non mini van mom here I also refuse to be a soccer mom

I have a buick rendezvous. I really like it..its also paid off so I REALLY like it.

If I had it to do over again, I think I would have bought a chrysler pacifica. It has 3 rows like a minivan, but you can walk through to get to the back unlike my suv that I have to fold down one seat in the middle row to get to the third row.....hence I never use my third row..I only have 2 kids, so its not an issue...but if I need the third row to carry someone, its there.

 

[eeyorepixie]

Here is my Dilemma, my Ford Explorer is about 10 years old. I am running it to the ground it is bought and paid for and I have already gone through the toughest years with my kids. The car seat period was brutal for me!!!!

Now, I want to run this to the ground and have over 140,000 miles and more things are broken than naught it seems to me

but, no car payment means trips to Disney!!!

However, I can see I will have to breakdown soon and buy something.

Now I really did not care what kind of vehichle we got last time around. We had no children and I did not forsee having 3

Now I have been daydreaming of having that 3rd row seat, so I can actually have my friends kids in the car too. It so inconvenient to not be able to have no other kids in the car, but my own!

Finally to the point: Me and DH are at odds with each other over a SUV or Mini Van.

Me: I like the "image" of the SUV- but I longingly love the seemingly ease of a mini-van( I am tired people!)

DH: he says there is no way we can have a mini-van because we live in NE and need the 4 wheel drive.( after this winter I kind of agree with him)

So I basically need a Min-Van with 4 wheel drive.

Any thoughts on this????

 

[blondietink]

We live in western New York State .... hello ....100 plus inches of snow per year .... and we have had some version of a mini-van for the last 10 years. We have had no problems driving it in the snow. So, I don't think that should be a consideration in your choice. Actually it is much better in the snow than the truck we once had.

 

[Chereya]

Here is my Dilemma, my Ford Explorer is about 10 years old. I am running it to the ground it is bought and paid for and I have already gone through the toughest years with my kids. The car seat period was brutal for me!!!!

Now, I want to run this to the ground and have over 140,000 miles and more things are broken than naught it seems to me

but, no car payment means trips to Disney!!!

However, I can see I will have to breakdown soon and buy something.

Now I really did not care what kind of vehichle we got last time around. We had no children and I did not forsee having 3

Now I have been daydreaming of having that 3rd row seat, so I can actually have my friends kids in the car too. It so inconvenient to not be able to have no other kids in the car, but my own!

Finally to the point: Me and DH are at odds with each other over a SUV or Mini Van.

Me: I like the "image" of the SUV- but I longingly love the seemingly ease of a mini-van( I am tired people!)

DH: he says there is no way we can have a mini-van because we live in NE and need the 4 wheel drive.( after this winter I kind of agree with him)

So I basically need a Min-Van with 4 wheel drive.

Any thoughts on this????

The Toyota Sienna comes with AWD as an option. We live in Wisconsin so the AWD is definitely a factor for us when looking at cars.

 

[3girls4me05]

Our Kia Sedona has traction control (standard feature) and we live in MA. No problems in the snow or ice.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

How is getting your kids in and out of it? Is your oldest in a booster? This is the line of vehicles that I really want. Is the Outlook the only one that offers the bench seat?

My oldest is in the middle in a Graco Nautilus (not converted to the booster yet). He typically gets in before I put the babies in, if he doesn't he just crawls in (the car is low enough he can get in himself--and, no, no sliding doors, but there is no way I'd buy a minivan just for that, even with twins--my mom had that on hers and they stopped working several times anyway!)...I have the middle seat pushed as far back as I can since we don't use the third row much. I told him I'd put his seat by a door, but he likes being in the middle and it's nice for me that he keeps the little ones occupied. He can pretty much hook himself in but if he can't get it, then sometimes I have to reach in and hook him--no big deal. (If its rainy or snowy, I sometimes just get in my seat in the front and turn around and help him.)

I know the Acadia and the Enclave also have the bench seat available (I'm sure the Chevy does too--that wasn't out when we bought ours.) The bench version is actually a less expensive option, because most people like the captains chairs, so our dealer had to locate one with that option...not sure if they are still more difficult to get (we've had ours exactly one year now!)

You can get all kinds of options for these, the entertainment package and DVD, sky roof, heated seats, AWD, etc. I also LOVE the OnStar and XM radio. We get a lot of compliments on this car!!

Any other questions ask away!!