Minivan Mamas....

NurseMamaB · April 2016

So, with baby #3 on the way we've decied it's time for an third row vehicle. I want something that will do well in the snow, because we live Colorado. So, my husband and I were looking at SUV/Crossovers. The problem we found was the 3rd rows were extremely cramped, unless we go for a full size SUV like a suburban, which are nice but pricey. So, then I started looking at minivans...the Honda Odysessy is nice, but then we found the Toyota Sienna which has AWD, which is a HUGE plus for us with all the snow we get. Also the SE models are actually kinda cool looking, for a minivan. Anyways, just wondering what other moms love or hate about their minivans?

TheLovingWife · April 2016

We have a Honda Pilot and love it, with #4 coming, I plan to move the two oldest to the third row and flip the split seat in the middle to that it is easy for them to get to their seats. We seriously thought about the sienna because awd was really important to us living in the midwest, but we found a better deal on the pilot.

NurseMamaB · April 2016

We haven't checked out the pilot yet! That's an other we'll have to check out. They look nice too!

KRMcD · April 2016

I love my Odyssey. We just got it a month ago. I liked it better than the Sienna, but if 4wd is important, I can see why you'd go with that. I did also like the Highlander and I know it comes in 4wd. Were the back seats too cramped in it? I can't remember. I wasn't a huge fan of the Pilot.

Overall, very glad I ended up with an Odyssey.

DunkinDecaf · April 2016

So I don't have a mini-van anymore but my first car was the family Toyota Sienna and it was a really great car. It wasn't exactly my dream vehicle when I was 16, but it was in the family over 15 years and it was great in the snow. It was pretty old by the time I was driving it and I still never had a single issue with it. They're great vans.

atcwag · April 2016

Honda Pilots are pretty much the creme de la creme for ease of car seat use, enough top tethers & headrests, etc.

mqm418 · April 2016

I just got an Awd Sienna. Although I do not want to be driving a mini van ... Once we sat it in we loved it. (Debating tinting my front windows) but it's perfect for what we need.

okashimochi · April 2016

I had always said I was never ever going to drive a mini-van unless we had more than 2 kids. Now we have a 3rd on the way. We checked out a few SUV's but didn't like the 3rd row in the back in any of them. And my oldest will be only 3 so climbing in an out will be a bit much. We ended up getting a Toyota Sienna and it's great. Makes it a lot easier if one of you needed to move to the back.

shevaCC · April 2016

I drive an Odyssey and love it. We also started looking at SUVs when car shopping but quickly realized we'd have to compromise on space, cost, or gas mileage as compared to a minivan. Plus the automatic doors and lift gate are so nice, there's cupholders everywhere, etc. It's like it's been perfectly designed for families with young kids (lol).

I preferred the Odyssey to the Sienna but we don't often get snow. After driving my van to skiing in the snow several times this winter I could see why you'd want AWD. It managed ok but slid around a bit (they also don't salt here).

I did hear a rumor there might be an AWD Odyssey coming out next year. Might be worth waiting a few months to see if it's true if you're not in a hurry?

jstinkz · April 2016

We have a pilot as well and love it. However, I'm only pregnant with #2 so haven't gotten a lot of use out of the third row yet to give it a fair review.

rtpizarro · April 2016

With our fifth kid on the way we didn't have a choice but to get a third row vehicle. We found a 2010 Grand Caravan for $5000 on Craigslist. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this van and I absolutely love everything about it. The automatic doors are wonderful. Even the four year old can get in and out without help and putting groceries in the back end is so easy. The only down side is that it is only two wheel drive but I really do love this van.

TheBorg7of9 · April 2016

We love our odyssey because it is the most car seat friendly. Some cars (like the town and country) turn out to be disasters for car seats. For forward facing carseats, a top tether is required, so you'll want to have as many seats with the top tether as possible. Here is a great article which covers all minivans and SUVs and how car seat compatible they are...

https://thecarseatlady.com/latch3rowvehicle/

muybueno · April 2016

We test drove all the vans (great times) and I liked the Odyssey more than the rest. Do I love driving a minivan? No. But if I must, the Odyssey meets our needs. We spent a little more and go the DVD player that flips down from the ceiling with the wireless headphones so the sound doesn't have to broadcast to the whole car. Our kids don't get much screen time, but the DVD player has been a lifesaver on road trips when we need to keep our preschooler quiet so our younger one can nap.

fiscally3 · April 2016

We have a Ford Flex with our 3 kids and I love it. I'm not a minivan person, but Flex has a comfortable fit our stuff & kids so far. We can easily fit two car seats on the 3rd row, and each row has a surprisingly good amount of leg room(my mom has a Cadillac SRX and likes our Flex better, even though they're a similar design.) Before the Flex we had a 5 seater Kia Rondo, and it was great, no issues with 3 car seats across which make road trips very easy. So don't feel that you have to get a bigger car because of baby #3.

mamabear0813 · April 2016

I have an old Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan and I love the thing! I was never all *ehh* about minivans. I guess I'm just not that into being "cool" or whatever! LOL Cars are tools to get me from one place to another, it doesn't matter if it makes me look like some thing or another to someone else, ya know? And our mini-van is an AMAZING tool! It has the space for everyone and everything that we need! With two kids and a dog, we have been able to go absolutely anywhere we want. There is space for all the junk we could want or need. Right now it's out of commission while hubbs is fixing the engine, and I'm definitely missing it. I love my small car, and I will be sad to give it up, but I will be SO happy to have all the space in my van when it's fixed!

jstinkz · April 2016

@TheBorg7of9 thanks for that article. Lots of great info.

NurseMamaB · April 2016

Glad to hear all the good things about minivans! We've been shopping around, and decided since baby isn't due until November we will wait until Sept or Oct to buy one. We're hoping there will be better deals on 2016 models since the new 2017 models roll out in the fall. So, guess we have some time to find the perfect 3rd row vehicle for us.

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