Minivans?!

megj2013 · June 2014

Now that baby #2 is on the way, DH and I are talking about getting a minivan! Who here has one? Tell me pros & cons!

Pezi · June 2014

We are getting one too at the end of summer! I really want the Honda Odyssey, I love a lot of the features. Also looking at the Town and Country. I really want easy fold down seats that leave a flat floor or just easy to remove. I love that the maxed out Odyssey has a built in vacuum and that you can move the seats left or right an inch if you need to separate them or push them together.

But since I have never owned one no pros and cons here. Lol. But will love to see the answers:)

plutoisaplanet · June 2014

I am holding out! This pregnancy is kiddo #2, but I see no reason to give up my Camry!

tee18 · June 2014

We actually got our minivan when we had our first. It's a used Honda Odyssey and I'm so glad we got it now! I had a big identity crisis when we got it. I really made a bigger deal out of it than I should have

My husband is mr. practical, so he actually talked me into it. We go on a lot of road trips, so we needed some space, and knowing that we want more than 2 kids, we got it last year since we were in the market to get rid of our SUV that was breaking down all the time.

We test drove some SUV types, and none of them had the space we needed. We needed to be able to use all of the seats and have a lot of storage room too. A minivan is the only car to offer it. SUV trunks with the 3rd row up are just too small (and the 3rd row could be hard to get to).

The sliding doors are way more convenient than I originally thought they would be. I'm not constantly bumped in the butt when trying to get my kiddo in the car. And, since we don't always need the 3rd row, I keep it down and actually roll the stroller into the back without having to fold it! Ha!

Anyway, sorry for the essay. Moral of the story - I'm glad I got one even when we just had our first, even though I felt slightly strange at first. I'm a minivan convert. The new ones with all the bells and whistles would be even better I'm sure!

jovencita1224 · June 2014

I have a town and country. We took our first long trip with it. A.ma.zing.

The fold down seats are so helpful. The sliding doors. The automatic opening of the rear hatch. It's just...amazing. Worth every single penny. I don't care if I don't look cool. Now that we are on #3, I'm so glad to have it!!

megj2013 · June 2014

@theresaw7 - thanks for all of the info about the Odyssey. It's probably our top choice right now, but I want to test drive a few different ones.

Do you have any issues with visibility/blind spots? I'm 4'11"

lauren889 · June 2014

I just bought a 2014 jeep cherokee (nov. 2013) . perfect mommy car right????? Well it better be cuz DH says I wont be getting a new car for awhile! hahaha

mommy5point0 · June 2014

I used to own an expedition and when I had it in the shop for repairs, they loaned me a minivan. Oh. My. God. I was hooked.

No feedback other than DO IT.

Here's a bit of humor for all of us... Lovers and haters alike.

happy hump day, girls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-N3F1FhW4&feature=youtube_gdata

megj2013 · June 2014

Haha that music video is too funny!!!!

suzieq9980 · June 2014

We just bought a 2014 Honda Odyssey! I agree with PP and totally had an identity crisis with it...haha! Then I took a long trip in it and it was AWESOME! Everyone was comfortable, we got the DVD, navi, and vacuum...which are all awesome. It is such a comfy ride and gets great gas mileage.

I had a CRV before the minivan. I had a hard time with the stroller, and other stuff in the trunk. The stroller took up most of the trunk. Also, ask yourself how much you travel? We are travelers, so a CRV was tough to pack up a kid, luggage, and once in awhile a 90lb dog in. Now with kid 2 on the way, there's no way we could bring puppy with us if we used the CRV. The Odyssey is perfect! It is also sort of awesome for the sliding doors in those tight spots when I have to get the infant bucket seat out. Way easier if I don't have to open a door and try to squeeze out. Not to mention that your car insurance drops with a minivan. Apparently they think we are safer drivers if we own one of those. haha!!!

Snickerdoodle24 · June 2014

I have no personal experience, but my retired parents have a Town and Country and they love it! I have never actually driven it, but I love the features and would get one in a heartbeat. Actually, I'm excited to get any kind of minivan, although the Honda Odyssey is definitely high on my list as well.

But take that with a grain of salt. I also love sensible shoes, shuffleboard, golf carts, and going to bed early. DH says I'm a senior citizen trapped in a 30-ish year old body

dreemkin84 · June 2014

A minivan will be our next vehicle most likely. I love all the room. I used to have a voyager but I don't think they make those anymore. The only thing I've heard is that the town and country rust (from the inside out) after time.

jknallen · June 2014

We have a dodge grand caravan. We love it! The seats all fold right flat into the floor and there is under the floor storage bins and tons of room. Great van and it doesn't break the bank!

tee18 · June 2014

megj2013 -

I used to drive a teeny tiny Toyota that had awesome visibility, so it's definitely not like that. I think the visibility is better than an SUV (I don't know why, but the big hoods on SUVs bug me).

I do have to make sure to look pretty far over my shoulder when merging/turning. I'm 5'10" so I can't really speak to how it would be for you

The windshield is huge and I feel like the visibility there is good. My only real advice would be to test drive it.

Check out consumer reports too! They have reliability ratings for different models/years. That was really helpful for us and helped us pick the year that we wanted.

animalcrckr · June 2014

We have a Honda Odyssey and love it! Before we bought it, we test drove that and a few SUVs. At the time, I currently was driving a VW Touareg. The difference between an SUV and a minivan is huge. It is 100x's easier getting kids in and out and the trunk space is so much larger. You will not regret it at all. I was completely opposed to driving a minivan prior to owning one but now I love it (as much as you can love a car) and tell everyone how awesome it is:)

megj2013 · June 2014

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Hopefully I'll be posting an update soon

crash916 · June 2014

We have the Town and Country. I love it and the seats fold all the way into the floor which is great. We got it so we could take all the baby stuff, baby, and our two large pups if needed. It's great to travel in and even my DH who was hesitant loves to take it to the hardware store. It is super easy to load the stroller and the push button lift gate is great when your hands are full. I am glad we got it especially with #2 on the way now and probably having to get a double stroller next summer. Good luck!

bkearns8789 · June 2014

I have a dodge grand caravan! Like most people above the pros are extra room, sliding doors, touch to open trunk, stow and go! Honestly the only con I have is parking lol. I live in a very big city so parking is always a bit of a hassle. But I am in love with my van. Just got it last year after baby #2. And honestly I think they are making them way nicer looking on the outside now. They don't seem so old fashioned anymore! Best of luck! Oh we too looked at a SUV with third row but in order to have any trunk space u wouldn't be able to use the third row much. We road trip to iowa twice a year (17 hours in the car) and we need allllllll the trunk space we can get .

pdxrulz · June 2014

With baby #3 on the way we are in the market for a van too! From my research, I've learned that Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey have the best safety and resale, but are also the most costly. The town and country, Nissan quest and caravan offer most of the same features and people that have them love them.

I found a website, cargurus.com which let's you search for vehicles in your area that are for sale and it tells you where the deals are. Definitely check it out!

Other tips I've heard: 1- you can ask dealer to add leather seats to a base model and its typically cheaper then getting the model that comes with leather. 2- rather then springing 4-5k for a DVD entertainment, spend a couple hundred on a few tablets that the kids can bring with them.

There is no doubt about it- mini vans are perfect for a growing family!! Happy shopping!!

CatLadyTX · June 2014

I am sticking with my Altima for now. I pretty much refuse to be a mini van owner, but we have entertained the possibility of getting a SUV in the future. I am pretty sure that the first time FIL visits and DH sees how much of a pain in the rear end it is to take 2 cars everywhere now what we will have two car seats, we will be making a trip to the car dealer.

jovencita1224 · June 2014

I felt the need to add that I used to drive a jeep grand Cherokee. I thought it would be a good car for a family. With one kid...it was. But with 2, and rear facing car seats, it sucked so much. There was no space. Nobody could really ride with us and there was no storage after the stroller was in the car. I am ride or die with my town and country. Minivan for lyfe!

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