unexpected car shopping for 7 passenger - Help!

[iteach7th]

Depending on what the insurance adjuster says tomorrow, there is a very strong possibility that we will be shopping for a 7 passenger vehicle. HELP!!!!!

Thanks to a very young driver going well over the speed limit, who rear ended my 2006 van (which has been paid for for 2 years I might add) - - while I was stopped - it looks like the damage will exceed what insurance will pay to fix. To top it off, it looks like he doesn't have insurance - he told the police he did but he doesn't know what the company is and doesn't seem to have an insurance card. The officer said it looked doubtful.

Of course - what they will pay on the totaled car won't even come close to paying what the car is worth to us right now.
This has come at a very unexpected time because we just bought the 17 year old his car to take to college. Where do I begin shopping??? I LOVED my van and since the kids are getting a little older, they want Mom to drive something they can borrow.
I like the looks of the Hyundai Santa Fe but how roomy is it? Can we get 2 adults, 3 kids and luggage in it for a week long trip? I definitely need the 3rd row seat and want one where the 3rd row seat will "split" and part of it fold down.
I don't even know what is out there to pick from.........

 

[lady9]

The Honda Odyssey will actually seat 8 but the seat behind the front seats will compress to allow easier access to the 3rd seat. This is on their newer models. I don't know if their older ones seat 8 but the definitely seat 7 comfortably with room for luggage. Hopefully the driver who hit you does have insurance but his parents take care of it so he may not really know what he has. I doubt our 17 year old knows who his insurance is through. Good Luck!

 

[atwmommy]

Check out the Nissan Pathfinder. Not sure about the newer models, but ours is perfect for 3 kids, 2 adults and 2 of the kids are bigger than us. Third row is great, splits and plenty of cargo room.

Also the Buick Enclave looks amazing, but it has 2 captains chairs in the middle and 3 seats in the third row.

I personally like three in the middle row for the extra cargo space for my family of five.

 

[DisFam11]

Sorry to hear about your accident, dealing with all this really stinks. Do some of your own research on the value of your van and what it will cost to replace. You do not have to accept what the insurance offers you, you can negotiate it. Good luck!!

 

[4under4]

Transmission on our current minivan [10 years old] started making a clunking noise a few days ago, so we're frantically looking for a 7 passenger as well. I test drove 4 different minivans/small cross-overs, and looked at a few others but didn't test drive.... and the Odyssey is winning hands down. We're sleeping on it tonight, but I expect tomorrow we will finalize. I especially like that the Odyssey can switch between being a 7 and an 8. We probably won't need that 8th seat very often and will keep it in the garage, but when we DO need it, easy to drop it back in.

Good Luck!

 

[amberlynnhawkins]

My husband helps build Odysseys, so I'm a little biased on that end, but if I had to get something for 7 people, that's what I'd get...and I HATE vehicles other than compact cars. They have some amazing bells and whistles, but I'd get it just because I KNOW how picky Honda is about their product -- in a good way for their customers. Honda is also very good when it comes to recalls and getting things taken care of - I have a Fit, and I had an issue with my headlight that was covered by a recall. When I took it in, the dealership was out of a part they needed, and it had to be overnighted...so they loaned me a vehicle free of charge.

Back to the Odyssey, I think the new models are coming with built in vacuum cleaners. I just think that's AWESOME...but then again, I also have a toddler, so I could probably use one enough to wear it out!

 

[GAGirlInVA]

We own two Chrysler Town and Countries.

 

[iteach7th]

Sorry to hear about your accident, dealing with all this really stinks. Do some of your own research on the value of your van and what it will cost to replace. You do not have to accept what the insurance offers you, you can negotiate it. Good luck!!

Thanks - I was wondering if I could negotiate. My van was the older body style of Nissan Quest. The Nissan dealership tries to buy it from me everytime I bring it in for maintenance. A car dealership owner who is a good friend that I can count on to tell me exactly like it is - says that particular van is in high demand and retails for much more than the book value because the body style is so popular. I checked some retail prices on local car dealerships and the retail price is up to $5,000 over what is listed in the Kelley Blue Book under the "sell it yourself" pricing.

I printed out all the listings of what it would cost to replace my van exactly "as it was" from dealerships within 200 miles. Hopefully if they give me a lower amount - I can negotiate with proof of what it would actually cost to replace exactly what I was driving before the wreck.

I do love the Odyssey - my Mom and sister both have one and I love traveling with them. They ride wonderful and have great features. My kids are trying to push the "not another van" button.

 

[momto3pirates]

I have a Chevy Traverse and it seats 8 with all three rows up but the back two can be split for flexibility. It is very easy to drive also.

 

[tigger51276]

I just bought a Chrysler Town and Country and before that had a Dodge Grand Caravan. I love having stow n go as I don't have to worry about taking seats out, they just fold flat into the floors when I don't need them and then when I do I just flip them up!

 

[snoopy5386]

Toyota Highlander! Love it.

 

[HeatherC]

If you are considering another minivan, I would suggest a Nissan Quest. Ours is two years old now and we really like it. We looked at all the crossovers, but for the same price and gas mileage we got double the space.

Dh is 6'5 and DS is 6'1 and still growing and there is plenty of room for them in the third row. They couldn't even climb into the crossovers third rows.

It also has a ton of storage with space behind the seats in the trunk which then lifts up to a huge trunk underneath.

We traded in a Sienna at the time and also drove the Odyssey. This had much nicer amenities inside and we liked the way it drove too.

Mentioning it because it kind of flys under the radar.

Good luck to you! Car shopping is NOT fun.

 

[badiggio]

You just descibed KIA SORRENTO.
Good gas mileage compared to other suv's and comes with bells and whistles that you pay extra for in other makers models.Best value for your dollar,imo.

 

[jpcamaro70]

Thanks - I was wondering if I could negotiate. My van was the older body style of Nissan Quest. The Nissan dealership tries to buy it from me everytime I bring it in for maintenance. A car dealership owner who is a good friend that I can count on to tell me exactly like it is - says that particular van is in high demand and retails for much more than the book value because the body style is so popular. I checked some retail prices on local car dealerships and the retail price is up to $5,000 over what is listed in the Kelley Blue Book under the "sell it yourself" pricing.

I printed out all the listings of what it would cost to replace my van exactly "as it was" from dealerships within 200 miles. Hopefully if they give me a lower amount - I can negotiate with proof of what it would actually cost to replace exactly what I was driving before the wreck.

I do love the Odyssey - my Mom and sister both have one and I love traveling with them. They ride wonderful and have great features. My kids are trying to push the "not another van" button.

You can negotiate with insurance, go to nada.com, that's what the insurance companies use, but certainly show them kbb and others.

The Honda odyssey is by far considered in the industry, the best minivan out there. It's more than most others, but you get what you pay for.

 

[seashoreCM]

You should be claiming retail price. If the insurance company mentions that they go by a well known source like Kelley's Blue Book, that has retail prices in it too that you can simply pick out.

 

[Jedimom]

In addition to negotiating a fair replacement value, ask them to cover your tax and title/transfer fees as well.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Check out the Nissan Pathfinder. Not sure about the newer models, but ours is perfect for 3 kids, 2 adults and 2 of the kids are bigger than us. Third row is great, splits and plenty of cargo room.

Also the Buick Enclave looks amazing, but it has 2 captains chairs in the middle and 3 seats in the third row.

I personally like three in the middle row for the extra cargo space for my family of five.

I would agree that a center bench would be ideal for 5 people. Then you fold the entire third row for trips. It may be an option on the Enclave (it is on Traverse and Acadia).

We love our Acadia (we've had it 5.5 years) but it does not have the sliding doors of a van, nor quite as much space behind the third row. Just FYI.

 

[njcarita]

kia sorento........... got mine 8 months ago and have the 3rd row seat....... LOVE IT

 

[momof3ds]

We have a 2010 Hyundai Veracruz (precursor to the 7 seat Santa Fe). Dealing with a minor windshield wiper issue top right now.

But, you should have no problem seating 5 and luggage for a trip. Anymore people & you will need a cargo carrier though.

 

[sksjasams]

We just bought a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan last month. We absolutely could not beat the price. We got a much newer/lower mile vehicle by going with a Grand Caravan compared to a Sienna or Odyssey. Those were simply not in our budget.

It has Stow n Go seating, rear a/c and heat, dvd player dual power sliding doors and lift back. The 3rd row seat is split 2/3 and 1/3. There is a lot of room behind the 3rd row, and you would have a ton more by folding in part of the 3rd row.

It handles beautifully and we could not be happier with our choice. I'm sure Sienna and Odysseys are wonderful, but you can only get what you can afford.

Good luck!