OT: 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.

 

[DeborahKlein]

Happy New Year!

Looked at Toyota - too expensive. Couldn't pay me enough to even look at a Ford (long story - horrible experiences)...

I LOVE my Mazda MPV. Small, easy to drive. Holds a ton. Great on gas.

Can't say enough good about it - and I NEVER thought I'd drive a minivan.

Deborah

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

For safety information check the Insurance Institute for High safety website.
This is a non-profit, independent, scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries, and property damage.
website address is www.iihs.org.

I personally drive a Dodge Grand Caravan with the fold and go seating. If anyone has ever struggled with the darn bench seats, this is the answer to your prayers. It really is as easy as the commercials make it look. And when you are using the seats, the bin is a storage container for my DH's tools, first aid kit, blankets, etc.

 

[metivier]

We have a Toyota Sienna and a Dodge Grand Caravan. (Yes, two minivans -- both silver, too!) Love both of our minivans. I prefer the way that Dodge handles rear tethers (at the base of the seat) vs. Toyota (into the floor behind the seat). If you are using LATCH seats, ask about exectly which seats are LATCH equipped and exactly which seats have rear tether points -- both of these really vary from one manufacturer to another (and in some cases from model to model).

I have not found the "ideal" minivan yet but I really like both of ours! MUCH easier with the sliding doors to get children in and out of carseats!

Happy shopping!

 

[sara74]

Got the Sienna last September and I love it! I do a ton of driving, with and without the kids (45 minute commute 3 days a week) so I have put quite a bit of mileage on it. We both had Camrys before and DH still has his (almost 10 years old and running great) The reliability was a major factor for us in buying the Sienna. It is so handy to have the remote opening doors, DD can get herself in while I get DS into his seat. It handles well and does well in the snow here in CT and on our trips to NH, even without the all wheel drive. Love the way the seats split and fold flat. We take the 4 of us, an 80 pound dog and all our stuff (incl pack-n-play) away for a week without using the roof rack and I am not a light packer!
Can you tell that I love the minivan? I had no resignation about having one, couldn't wait to get one even. I LOVE the Sienna!

PS the newer Siennas (2004 and after have the rear seat tether in the base of the seat, not on the floor. This may have been a change with the redesign since 2003)

 

[allboyz]

Oh I LOVE my Sienna!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a 2004 Phantom Gray one. Anyway, I have not had any problems with it. I love it now as much as I did the first day we got it (end of '03). I love the way it looks on the inside. I love the way the sets can be folded. I love the size of the trunk space. I love my factory installed dvd player that enables to kids to watch movies or play thier games (wonderful for trips). I love the way it drives. It is my DREAM van. Can't you tell that I'm one happy Sienna owner?

 

[mom2alix]

Happy New Year!

Looked at Toyota - too expensive. Couldn't pay me enough to even look at a Ford (long story - horrible experiences)...

I LOVE my Mazda MPV. Small, easy to drive. Holds a ton. Great on gas.

Can't say enough good about it - and I NEVER thought I'd drive a minivan.

Deborah

Had to laugh when I saw your post because it was exactly what I was going to type! Anyway ditto what DeborahKlein says...I LOVE my Mazda MPV. (and I NEVER thought I'd like driving a minivan either.)

 

[allboyz]

OMG...same thing here!!!! I totally did not want a mini van the first time we got one (in '01). However, once we had one and saw how easy it was to fit the kids in and stuff I have never looked back! lol I can't imagine not having one now. Thank goodness for our van....

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We have a Sienna and absolutely love it. It works great for everything we need and haven't had any problems with it.

 

[Hef4545]

I love driving a minivan.
I did have a Nissan Quest 2001. I loved the conveniences the car had as far as options but I found the ride horrible. Every little bump in the road seemed huge. The noise was horrendous....like I had a can of nails rolling around in the back. Dealer service was terrible. May have just been that dealer so I would not base a decision to buy one on that. They did change this minivan in 2004 so they may have improved things since then.
Traded the Quest in 2004 and took a loss, it was that bad.
The Toyota Sienna would have been my first choice but the price at the time was out of my reach and they were not as flexible with a deal.
I ended up with the Honda Odyssey. This van is wonderful. The ride is incredible and the dealer service is outstanding. We have driven to Disney 2 (1100 miles with 6 passengers, 2 adults and 3 teenagers) and there was no fighting over seats - roomy and comfortable and the DVD player is a BIG plus.
I have 30,00 miles on the van and no problems. Would not hesitate to recommend one to you.
You may want to check out a website...Edmonds.com
There are reviews of vans there, user reviews and consumer type testing of every make and model. They also provide a list of possible options and pricing and allow you to do a side by side comparison. Really good resource.
Good luck to you.

 

[allboyz]

Oh I LOVE the Odysseys too.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

I really fought getting a mini-van before our youngest was born. Now, I cannot imagine how we managed without one. Our Chrysler Town & Country has been wonderful. In fact, everyone in my family has been so impressed with it that both my mother and sister in-law have bought them, as well. We have driven ours to WDW 3 times and the beach twice (all 15+ hour trips) with no difficulty. Storage is fantastic. Dual DVD display screens a big plus! We have captain's chairs in the middle row, and these are just as comfortable as the front seats. (I haven't spent any time in the very back, so I cannot comment on that. There's tons of storage; but, of course, you can never have enough for a family of 5 on a 10-day WDW vacation. Thus, we use a car carrier on longer trips. Our car carrier latches-on very easily.

 

[WDW Donna]

I'll Give You A Mechanics Opinion On What To Buy From What I See Come In The Shop Everyday.if You Plan On Buying A North American Van The Grand Caravan Is The Only Way To Go.don't Let People Scare You About Transmission Troubles With This Vehicle.they Solved That In Early 2000.i Own One And It Is The Best Bang For The Buck.i Wouldn't Even Consider A Ford Or Gm Product Because As Far As I'm Concerned They Are Junk!!if Looking At A Japanese Van The Sienna Or Odessey Is The Only Way To Go.they Are More Money But The Quality Is Second To None.my Parents Own A Sienna And Love It.(my Dads A Mechanic As Well So What Does That Tell You).i Have A Caravan Because It's What We Can Afford But If Money Wasn't An Issue It Would Be A Toyota Or Honda.hope This Helps.p.s(don't Buy A Ford Or Gm If You Don't Have Bottomless Pockets!!!)

 

[LaLa]

Can we join the minivan lovin' club?

We too are looking at a Sienna/Odyssey for our NEXT minivan. We currently have a Dodge Grand Caravan and I really do love it. But as I am typing this, it is in the shop for transmission problems. We bought the extended warranty though, and it is covered under that, so no worries. It's an '02, has close to 70,000 miles on it and this is the first time we have had any probs with it. Well, except for the power doors. Anybody else own a Grand Caravan and have problems with them?

Anyway, my point is we love our minivan, but we get the bug every few years for a new one. Although we LOVE our Grand Caravan, we just want something different.

DH actually suggested going back to a CAR this time around and I looked at him like he had lost his ever lovin' mind. That ended that.

So anyway, how does the Sienna drive? We like the vans that feel more like a car while you are driving them. The GC is one such van. Just wondering if the others are as well.

 

[2minnies]

I drive a 2001 Toyota Sienna with 101,000 miles on it and counting. I bought it new and will drive it until it falls apart....it has been a very reliable car.

DH had a 2006 Ford minivan for a company car this summer - I would never buy one (JMHO)!! The ride was rough, doors felt/sounded like they were going to fall off everytime it was opened or closed, interior finishes were very cheap looking etc.

 

[samkj]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Toyota Sienna!! We have a 2005 with all-wheel drive, and DVD system. I can not say enough about this car, I absolutely love driving it, very smooth and quiet! I also has a HUGE storage area behind the rear seats. My daughters wheelchair can fit back there easily without folding. IMO, you can't go wrong with this car.

 

[ntengwall]

I have a 2004 Sienna and have loved it!! Now that my boys are 3, 6 and 8 we may switch over to a Sequoia, but I have to say that the Sienna served us well I had an SUV before the Sienna and it was horrible trying to hoist my 20 lb 4 month old into the middle seat--that's why we got the van. I will be sooo sad to not have an electric back hatch though--that was a great addition to the van. Good luck!