Mini-van drivers.. sell it to me...

bridgeybride

My DH wants an Odyssey or Sienna... I want the Pilot or the Highlander.

What about the mini-van makes it so great?

monkeyqueen

Economical to drive; power sliding doors = the coolest thing ever; power end-gate = the most coolest thing ever; easy access to all children in the vehicle (I can get right in to buckle them up, which is super nice in the winter); TONS of trunk space and other storage space if you get a stow n' go; third row folds down and in ours half can fold down, thus giving even MORE storage space and with the double stroller permanently in there, we need the space.

We have the Dodge Grand Caravan (2010) and we LOVE it.    btw:   I cried when we bought it, but now I'm laughing. 

mayowife

The doors don't open out and that's super helpful in a parking lot. You don't have to juggle your children while trying to make sure you don't ding the car parked next to you. Plus you can just push your stroller/cart right next to the door to load and unload. Add automatic doors and it's a really beautiful thing because all of that happens at the touch of a button.

You can easily get in the middle or back row as needed. In the winter you can buckle the kids from inside the van. While in the passenger seat you can easily walk to the middle or back row if you have a fussy baby.

Your gas mileage will be better. Have you seen the gas prices lately?

You'll have enough "trunk" space to easily fit a double stroller and your other stuff.

It's easy to access the third row- no climbing over seats or folding seats down like in an SUV.

AwBeth

I don't have one (yet) but a friend of mine puts it this way: when you have small children, if you could get a car where you push a button and the door OPENS by itself, why would you not get that car???

Pretty compelling. 

CaitlinJ22

mayowife:

The doors don't open out and that's super helpful in a parking lot. You don't have to juggle your children while trying to make sure you don't ding the car parked next to you. Plus you can just push your stroller/cart right next to the door to load and unload. Add automatic doors and it's a really beautiful thing because all of that happens at the touch of a button.

You can easily get in the middle or back row as needed. In the winter you can buckle the kids from inside the van. While in the passenger seat you can easily walk to the middle or back row if you have a fussy baby.

Your gas mileage will be better. Have you seen the gas prices lately?

You'll have enough "trunk" space to easily fit a double stroller and your other stuff.

It's easy to access the third row- no climbing over seats or folding seats down like in an SUV.

all of this, and for road trips its great to have an accessible 3rd row to sit in and entertain the Rear facing child. The sliding doors are awesome for many reasons, I open them from a far to let the heat escape in the summer. I love the fact that DS can climb in on his own now and I just have to buckle him.

I did NOT want one. I am SO glad DH convinced me.  

g8orell

I had a Lexus SUV and we were gonna trade in for the Highlander. My dad has a 2011 Highlander and I LOVE it. We went to the dealership, signed all the papers, test drove, etc. Then my parents and the sales woman MADE me drive the Sienna. Literally, made me. I hated every minute walking over to the minivan section. But I did it....and boy did it change my mind! We are now the proud owners of a 2011 Toyota Sienna! Honestly, we took my parents' highlander to Disney with just DD (I was still pregnant with DS at the time)...just to test it out with all the baby stuff. There was no way we could have done 2u2 with it. To even fit our single stroller, the 3rd row bench had to be folded in flat...so what's the point of it? Plus, if you have somone to sit in the 3rd row, you'd either have to take a car seat out to fold the seat down so they could climb back, or they'd literally have to JUMP OVER the 2nd row to get back into the 3rd row. Very inconvenient.

With the Sienna, we have the 8 seater one where the 2nd row is 2 captains chairs (whihc the car seats feel so much mroe secure to me)...and then the middle seat snaps in and out. I leave it in right now b/c sometimes I have to climb back there and sit with DS. It's very comfortable. When that seat isn't in place, there is a little "aisle" to walk back to the 3rd row. I have the Britax B-Ready, with bassinet, 2 seats, and car seat adapter and my clip on high chair all in the trunk with the 3rd row in normal position!!

 Having the sliding doors is awesome!! When picking up the kids from daycare, I'm holding DS and 2 bags, and holding DD's hand. From inside the building, I open DS's side with keyless entry, we walk to the cars, DD climbs in from DS's side...walks to her seat and climbs in, while I'm strapping in DS. Then I go around the car and strap in DD. I don't know how I would do it with my Lexus (or Highlander). I would have to jungle holding DS while trying to get DD in the car because if I put in DS first, she'd be running all around the parking lot!

The Sienna is very family friendly. It has a mirror in the front so I can see the kids in the back. It has window shades on all 4 rear windows that retract when not in use. We did get the DVD package which I love. Back up camera, etc.

It was VERY hard to go from a Lexus to a minivan, but I'm so glad we did! I have a friend on my local board, who had Highlanders for the past 8 years and just got the Sienna a few days ago and was wondering why she hadn't done it sooner (her boys are 2 and 10 month)

PhilsWife07

In a word, everything. Sliding (power) doors, lower to the ground so it's easier to get kids in and out, spacious and easily accessible third row, better fuel economy, tons of kid-friendly options and features available.

TonyaCody06

great post! i'm struggling with making the minivan jump as well. I'm liking all these responses. 

bridgeybride

THANK YOU ALL for your great responses!!!

Wow.. okay.. you've all sold me on it! I'm almost feeling excited about getting one now!!!!  Just today, I had my hands full of bags from the babysitter and as I was putting them in the car/ opening the door...my DD ran across the front lawn, down a concrete path with a step and into the neighbor's driveway.. all while laughing at me telling her to stop.  She thought I was playing...so I can totally see the benefit of being able to open the doors and have her climb right in on her own.  I'll soon be carrying an infant carseat, as well... and no way can be running after her.

agmaso

Everyone has given you great points but I'll mention that we got the Sienna model that comes with 8 seats and I couldn't imagine having only 7. Also, we test drove the Oddesey but the 8th seat in the middle is a joke. You can't put a carseat on it nor a an adult comfortably. 

 

I love that I'll be able to put 3 carseats in the middle row without worrying they won't fit. Then I can still use the entire back for other stuff like bike trailers, double stroller and our dog.

It was also super convenient when the girls were little and needed someone to sit in between them on longer drives

BFab11

I love, love, LOVE my Sienna. Power side doors and rear hatch make life so much easier, we've had it packed to the brim for a road trip with everyone comfy, and it's just plain awesome.