Anyone else making the switch to the minivan??

sept04brideinMD

Right now we have a 4Runner - which I LOVE, but we're considering the switch. Just wondering if you have - and what you got/getting.  We're thinking the Sienna or Odessey - but not new.  I'm torn - newer with no/less bells and whistles or older and more bells.

CaitlinJ22

we are getting an odyssey. I was reluctant, but my DH thinks the sliding doors will help me a lot with two kids. Also we have family from OOT so it will be nice to have room to pick people up from the airport. Its low enough to the ground where ds could crawl in...so we decided to go for it. 

We are going to look this weekend. We have looked online and are def getting used...but not sure if we are getting one thats a little newer and have the same payment we had for our accord (which we just paid off....) OR get an older one and pay for it outright with money from our accord and some money we have saved....I think I prefer not to have a payment. But we'll see. 

Im not a car person. If someone could make my accord bigger, I would do that. I really just want a reliable, bigger car that makes my life easier. I dont need dvd players etc.

GL! 

agmaso

We went with a Sienna... no bells and whistles but that was due to the fact that we wanted the one with the 8th seat (and that model doesn't come with too many extras)

We looked at the Honda but their 8th seat is a joke... can't put a carseat on it nor can an adult sit on it comfortably. 

 

We love it!

Jen&Len

We just got a used certified odyssey and we already love it.  our other car is a corolla, which is a huge difference in size.  We travel a lot out of state to visit our families and packing for 1 kid would take up the entire car.  It was impossible to change his diaper in the car during rest stops, etc.

shopgirl78

I have an Odyssey.  I luv it!  I love that my short 2.5 yr old can climb into without my help, love all the cup holders (seriously EIGHT just in the front!), love the trunk space (hella bets an SUV), love the sliding door (no more my kids slamming open the door on accident), love that I can climb from the front to the back (removed "magic seat) very helpful esp in rain and I love the DVD player (mine is loaded, sweet!)

eris1995

I really really really want a minivan - coming from the girl who swore she would never ever ever drive a minivan.  Oh how kids change you.

I would LOVE to get one before DC2 arrives but I'm not sure if that's going to happen.  From looking online I want an Odyssey or Sienna.

MeganBrian

We just got an Odyssey last week and I love it! Very roomy, easy to change diapers in and super comfortable. We bought an older fully loaded one, I didn't want to have a monthly payment. 

HarrietNJMommy

We have a fully loaded Odyssey Touring (2009) - LOVE it!!!!! For all the reasons listed above. I really would not have been driving a minivan if we didn't have 3 small kids. I prefer smaller cars.

We looked at the Sienna as well, but it's dated (Toyota doesn't revamp their cars as often), it's very "heavy" to drive, and with all the issues Toyota has right now (they recalled the Sienna I believe), I wouldn't buy a Toyota........JMO.

Honda has a high resale value. It's also a minivan that drives like a car. We really love it!!!!

crittermama

The Odyssey is at the top of my list. We won't be getting it before LO is born, though. I swore up and down that I'd never drive a minivan...oh how things change. When it comes time we'll probably opt for an older model with more bells and whistles.

jgb2000

We got an Odyssey when I was PG with #1 and we LOVE it. We bought ours used/cash and it has leather, DVD player which we've never used, power sliding doors, etc. We're getting a second car and thinking we can't go wrong with another Odyssey.

Minivans are like tall limousines...go for it!

LauraandMatt

I love my Odyssey, we also considered a Sienna, but with all that Toyota is going through right now, I am glad that we went with the Odyssey!  I love it! I was a minivan doubter too and DH really had to be convinced.  He likes it well enough but he is saving up for a manly truck to make up for his minivan

lmcase

Guess I'm the odd one out!  We have a Kia Sedona and I LOVE it!  I didn't even consider a minivan until we had DS and then all I could think of was how nice the extra room and sliding doors would be.  Plus, I love how smooth the ride is compared to an SUV.  We looked at the Sienna and Odyssey, but the ones we could afford were all older model, high mileage and not in great condition.  I was bummed out for a while, but then I read something about how the Sedona had better safety rating then other minivans in the 2-3 years old range (not sure if this is still the case.)  But for less than 20K we got a 2007 Sedona w/ 27K miles, leather, DVD, and power doors (my favorite feature.)  I'm a total minivan convert now!  GL!