If you have a van...

MrsEllis10

Tell me about your van. Why you do or don't like it.

DD1 is in a diono rear facing and DD2 will be also in a few months. So I want the seats to be far enough behind the front seats. I currently drive a Kia sorentto and DH and I are so uncomfortable and in the dash. I'm 5 10 and he is 6 3.

We plan on trying for another in a year so I will need good access to the back seat.

Thanks!

diana.filipi

I have a Honda Odyssey and we love it.  Currently DS is rear facing.  DD faces forward.  There is still plenty of room with DS rear facing for the driver to not be impacted at all no matter if it's me (5'9") or my DH (6'1").  I have also set all the way in the back, so me behind DS and DH in front of him and it's been just fine.

I love all the normal things about a van: sliding side doors, tons of space, etc

Ours is an older model.  We have a 2010 and plan to trade it in for a newer model after this next kiddo is about 2 or 3 years old.  I am very sorry I didn't stick to my guns on getting a 2011 or newer.  The 2011 and newer have the new body style that includes expanding seats in the first row.  The center seat moves forward 5" and the two side seats scoot over toward the doors 1.5" each.  All 3 seats are latch as well as 2 seats in the 3rd row.  In my old model there are only 3 latch seats altogether :-/

ETA: I'll add that we don't have a center seat in our 1st row and that makes getting to the 3rd row much easier.  If you have car seats in both side seats AND have the center seat in you cannot get into the 3rd row except through the back door!  That's something you don't think of 'till you really think about it ;-)

MrsKatieW

I also have the Odyssey but the 2012. We love it. For all the reasons PP mentione, being able to open the sliding doors with my keys or from the drivers side is very helpful. I'm not sure if its part of the upgrade we got the tour elite because we do a lot of road trips, but I also love the window shades on all four back windows.
We also have the DVD player which on the 2012 model you can add a second player and spilt the screen for two different movies. That's not something we have done but might be nice in the future.
Another selling feature for us was how comfortable all the seats were. My FIL broke his back a few years ago and is still in daily pain, he said that he was almost as comfortable in the van as he is in his BMW, only difference he said was the van doesn't have massaging seats.
I got the seats covers because my sister who has the 2010 warned me that carseats leave marks on the leather. I took one of the covers off the other day to wash it, the seat still looked brand new.
When LO three is born our plan is to move both of the older kids to the back row, that way any guests we have don't have to climb through carseats.

Sunshine4480

We have a 2012 Toyota Sienna with AWD and I love it! We also have a Nissan Murano which is a decent size SUV and we were cramped. Have a 3, 14 month old and one on the way and there is still plenty of room for more! Trunk is also huge and easily fits our double carriage with room for more. Love the sliding doors and def wouldn't get the 8th seat unless absolutely necessary hope this helps!

Sunshine4480

We have a 2012 Toyota Sienna with AWD and I love it! We also have a Nissan Murano which is a decent size SUV and we were cramped. Have a 3, 14 month old and one on the way and there is still plenty of room for more! Trunk is also huge and easily fits our double carriage with room for more. Love the sliding doors and def wouldn't get the 8th seat unless absolutely necessary hope this helps!

PaisleyRuth

Love our 2010 Honda Odyssey.  Even my 6'7" DH can drive comfortably with a car seat behind him.  I leave the back row of seats down (stowed away) and keep the double BOB and Snap 'n Go in there at all times, so they're always there when I need them.  I'm especially partial to the heated seats (which obviously are not specific to vans, but we definitely don't have them in our 1999 Civic!).  Remote side doors & back hatch are great.  Vans are low enough for a toddler to climb in & out by himself.  It drives so smoothly and is just so convenient for a mom, it really doesn't compare to any SUV or other car.

charleydawg

You sound a lot like us!  I'm 5'11 and my husband is 6'4; we traded in our Sorento a few weeks ago for a 2012 Chrysler Town & Country.  We liked that we could get all the upgrades we wanted (leather, back up cam, DVD system), along with low mileage (ours is used), for much less than the Sienna or Odyssey.  Plus, we just liked the styling better.  It may not drive as long as a foreign car, but I'm hoping that in 5-6 years, I won't need a minivan anyway!  I was really resistant to the van, but being 7 months pregnant with a 16 month old and 4 year old, it is amazing!!!