Minivans...again

caybeh · April 2014

I know we have talked about this before but we are shopping for a minivan. We will be buying used. So far we see a Chrysler Town and Country that is in our price range. Does anyone have one? Do you like it? The one thing that I'm not sure about and it is petty is that only one of the rear doors is automatic. I know it isn't a big deal. Those with automatic doors, are both or just one? Would just one be ok or would you prefer both?

jf198400 · April 2014

That seems really odd to me. I have automatic doors and it is seriously the best invention ever. I think it would annoy the heck out of me honestly. I do not have the power liftgate though. It would be cool especially when I have a giant bag of dog food to put in, but really it just wasn't worth the thousand+ dollars more to me.
I have a sienna and personally love it. I do think the fold n go feature in the Chrysler is pretty cool though. Whatever you decide to go with, look at where/ how many latch and tether hook positions there are. My Sienna only has 3 and I'm kinda annoyed about it. I didn't know about that back then, I only had one kid and wasn't thinking about it. You can always use a seatbelt to install instead of the lower anchors, but every FF car seat has to have a tether.

sweetie645 · April 2014

We have a dodge grand caravan (pretty much the same thing as a t & c) and I've really liked it. It's an '08 and we've had no major problems with it. I really love how easy the stow & go seats are to change around. We don't have automatic doors, so I can't comment on that feature.

caybeh · April 2014

sweetie645 said:
We have a dodge grand caravan (pretty much the same thing as a t & c) and I've really liked it. It's an '08 and we've had no major problems with it. I really love how easy the stow & go seats are to change around. We don't have automatic doors, so I can't comment on that feature.

Yeah, there is also a Caravan that is 2011 that would be at the upper of our price limit. I like that one too. My sis has a Caravan and loves hers. The Caravan has both automatic doors.

The latch is partly why we are looking at a van. Our car only has two sets latches in the back, which is annoying. I know we will have two kids, but a van would be so much easier to get kids in and out of. I can't wait until we decide and buy one!!!

lexusolsen · April 2014

I have a dodge grand caravan, which is the lower end town and country. I love the stow and go. We keep random things that make life easier in there and I don't have to worry about them being loose in the car if we are ever in an accident.

I have power doors and love it. Is one broken? I would see how much fixing it would cost and see if that still keeps it in your price range. I would not want a used car that already had features breaking.

I don't have a power lift gate (we bought it used from enterprise) but if that was somehow an option it would be nice but not necessary.

caybeh · April 2014

I don't think it's broken. I haven't seen it in person, just online. The features on it just say the right rear door is power sliding. It is at a Chrysler dealer, so maybe a person could ask why only the one door is sliding.

catycate · April 2014

I would deal with 1 but really the only reason I even want a mini van is for the power doors , so I would be really bummed.

jnksmom · April 2014

That would be a deal breaker for me. I love our sliding doors on our van.

-T- · April 2014

I have a '13 Town and Country and I love it. It's in the top 2 best vehicles I've ever owned. (The other being a Toyota Camry which is just plain not big enough.) I don't think only 1 power door would be a deal breaker, but it is kind of odd. By the time you would have all your stuff in the power door, you should have hands to open the other side.

I just really like the room inside and it doesn't really feel like I'm driving a big van. That was my problem with SUV's and minivans, they are just so big! I can't stand parking big vehicles, but I don't have a problem. I usually keep the back seats folded down for more room with the kennel and traveling, but even when we have the seats up, there's a decent amount of storage in the "trunk".

raraavis28 · April 2014

Hav=Fath said:

Guess this should be a FFC but I wouldn't buy an American car. If I was going to get a minivan I'd go Honday, Toyota or Nissan. We have a Nissan Quest that we love.

*gasp* that is flame-able around here!! (metro Detroit) :-P

OP, I love my T&C! Both doors are automatic on mine, and it sure is nice w/ two kids in carseats, but I could probably make do w/ one. It's all what you get used to. It's odd that only one is automatic on that one, though.

sophie206 · April 2014

We have a 2012 T&C and I love having both auto sliding doors (and lift). Of course growing up there was only 1 (non automatic) sliding door on our mini van and we got by just fine. I imagine it wouldn't be as big of an issue with older kids that are able to get in and out independently...

bumpuser8448316 · April 2014

I have a 2013 T&C and I love it. Having only 1 power door would be a deal breaker for me though.

alake · April 2014

T&C and Dodge vans only have three latch sets.
Bucket seats in middle and an off set in the back.
They also only have three top tether.
I have a 1 YO Honda, which I love. It is fully loaded.
I love our power siding doors. It would be a deal breaker.

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Minivans...again

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