AW your Minivan

[gidgetgirl08]

Since this is going to be DC #3 DH and I are considering upgrading to a minivan but we have Zero experience with them. I have been looking online at reviews and such and I am leaning towards the Honda Odyssey (that hurts to say - I am from the suburbs of Detroit and have several family members employed by the Big 3 - I have never owned a non-American made car) ...but I would like some opinions from you ladies.

Do you like your van? How long have you had it? Is it dependable? Must have features? Could have done with out features? Other things I should consider? Would an SUV with a 3rd row be better?

TIA.

[thewop]

I don't own a mini van, but everyone I know who owns an Odyssey LOVES it hard core.

I personally would rather have an SUV only for the 4/AWD (I live in W. MI with lake effect snow). I currently have a smaller SUV with 4WD and I will never go back. Mini vans are nice with all their cool family features (some days I really wish I had doors that would slide at the touch of a button), but being able to drive down a snow covered road with confidence is worth SO much to me. If I didn't live in snow land 3-6 months out of the year my opinion may be different. If I were to look for a mini van, Honda is right where I'd start. The Odyssey is on the "approved" car list from my H (he works HEAVILY in the auto industry).

[econmarie]

Toyota Sienna is the only minivan with Awd. I'm from Wisconsin, and I'm lusting after one.

[pmcd886]

Do you like your van? We have a Toyota Sienna and LOVE it!

How long have you had it? We just got it in August.

Is it dependable? Extremely, but it is also brand new =D.

Must have features? Both sides should have automatic sliding doors, removable seat in the middle of the second row, storage space when the third row is up, rear heating/cooling, and we also love the sliding shades(they just slide down into the door when you don't want to have them up).

Could have done with out features? We could do without the shades, but those suction cup ones never stay so they are very convenient.

Other things I should consider? It gets pretty great gas mileage. You can get it in AWD if you live in a snowy area. It is the only minivan that comes in AWD.

Would an SUV with a 3rd row be better? Nope. Unless you go with a gas sucking Suburban, there is hardly any storage if the 3rd row is up in SUVs. SUVs don't have sliding doors which are a must have.

thewop The Toyota Sienna comes in AWD.

[telos]

I'll be following this thread. This is #3 for us also, so we're looking to buy a larger car. DH and I are back and forth between the Honda Pilot and the Odyssey. We're thinking of making a trip over to the dealership sometime soon and checking both of them out. Depending on which we like more (SUV or MV), and based on some other research, we'll sort of branch out from there.

FWIW, I know a lot of people who are very loyal to the Odyssey. Sliding doors is also one feature that would be nice to have with kids (compared to SUV). I've also been happy with my Accord (drives great, great safety features).

[gidgetgirl08]

Thanks for your responses! I'm not in the snow so AWD isn't a huge deal for me. The sliding doors definitely have me leaning towards the minivan over an SUV I just never thought I would be a minivan mom! (But I didn't take into consideration having 3 kids in car seats at the time either.)

[thewop]

Jan 19, 2015 16:28:37 GMT -5 econmarie said:

Toyota Sienna is the only minivan with Awd. I'm from Wisconsin, and I'm lusting after one.

 Mind blown.  Where have I BEEN?  Granted I have not shopped for a vehicle in a few years.  I know Honda made (makes?) an AWD one but it is $$$$ and very rare. 

[econmarie]

Jan 19, 2015 16:39:57 GMT -5 thewop said:

Jan 19, 2015 16:28:37 GMT -5 econmarie said:

Toyota Sienna is the only minivan with Awd. I'm from Wisconsin, and I'm lusting after one.

 Mind blown.  Where have I BEEN?  Granted I have not shopped for a vehicle in a few years.  I know Honda made (makes?) an AWD one but it is $$$$ and very rare. 

It is more money, but it is a huge safety issue for where we live. I don't want snow to stop me from getting around.

[ajetter]

I refuse to drive a van. Just can't do it. We have a GMC Acadia and are very happy with it.

[oopsiedaisies]

I recently got a Dodge Grand Caravan. My big features were power sliding doors and power liftgate. The stow and go is very nice too! All the different options for seating configuration is awesome.

[lawndog1216]

Jan 19, 2015 16:39:23 GMT -5 telos said:

I'll be following this thread. This is #3 for us also, so we're looking to buy a larger car. DH and I are back and forth between the Honda Pilot and the Odyssey. We're thinking of making a trip over to the dealership sometime soon and checking both of them out. Depending on which we like more (SUV or MV), and based on some other research, we'll sort of branch out from there.

FWIW, I know a lot of people who are very loyal to the Odyssey. Sliding doors is also one feature that would be nice to have with kids (compared to SUV). I've also been happy with my Accord (drives great, great safety features).

We bought a Pilot when I was pregnant with DD (I had a Volvo c30 that I was adamant about keeping - "we can get a car seat back there!!!" And then I couldn't get my prego butt in and out of it...).  I LOVE it- but:

We had a Chicco KeyFit 30 and when you look at the Pilot you're like, "shit, that's a ton of room" -- but note that with rear facing car seats, they can't touch the seat in front, but in the Pilot it did. I had to keep the front passenger seat pulled all the way to front (i.e., ride with knees in ears), which meant I rode in the back until DD outgrew the Key Fit. We have a First Years now, and while it's rear facing, as long as I remove the headrest from the front seat (not super safe, I know) I can have the seat almost all the way back.

I need to do some serious research on car seats this time.

[telos]

Jan 20, 2015 8:37:40 GMT -5 lawndog1216 said:

Jan 19, 2015 16:39:23 GMT -5 telos said:

I'll be following this thread. This is #3 for us also, so we're looking to buy a larger car. DH and I are back and forth between the Honda Pilot and the Odyssey. We're thinking of making a trip over to the dealership sometime soon and checking both of them out. Depending on which we like more (SUV or MV), and based on some other research, we'll sort of branch out from there.

FWIW, I know a lot of people who are very loyal to the Odyssey. Sliding doors is also one feature that would be nice to have with kids (compared to SUV). I've also been happy with my Accord (drives great, great safety features).

We bought a Pilot when I was pregnant with DD (I had a Volvo c30 that I was adamant about keeping - "we can get a car seat back there!!!" And then I couldn't get my prego butt in and out of it...).  I LOVE it- but:

We had a Chicco KeyFit 30 and when you look at the Pilot you're like, "shit, that's a ton of room" -- but note that with rear facing car seats, they can't touch the seat in front, but in the Pilot it did. I had to keep the front passenger seat pulled all the way to front (i.e., ride with knees in ears), which meant I rode in the back until DD outgrew the Key Fit. We have a First Years now, and while it's rear facing, as long as I remove the headrest from the front seat (not super safe, I know) I can have the seat almost all the way back.

I need to do some serious research on car seats this time.

That's really good to know.  DH is 6'4, and we ERF, so it doesn't sound like a pilot would work.

[lawndog1216]

Jan 20, 2015 9:32:20 GMT -5 telos said:

Jan 20, 2015 8:37:40 GMT -5 lawndog1216 said:

We bought a Pilot when I was pregnant with DD (I had a Volvo c30 that I was adamant about keeping - "we can get a car seat back there!!!" And then I couldn't get my prego butt in and out of it...).  I LOVE it- but:

We had a Chicco KeyFit 30 and when you look at the Pilot you're like, "shit, that's a ton of room" -- but note that with rear facing car seats, they can't touch the seat in front, but in the Pilot it did. I had to keep the front passenger seat pulled all the way to front (i.e., ride with knees in ears), which meant I rode in the back until DD outgrew the Key Fit. We have a First Years now, and while it's rear facing, as long as I remove the headrest from the front seat (not super safe, I know) I can have the seat almost all the way back.

I need to do some serious research on car seats this time.

That's really good to know.  DH is 6'4, and we ERF, so it doesn't sound like a pilot would work.

Oh! That's another  thing -- MH is also 6'4", and we had to forgo any package that included a sunroof, otherwise he'd have to drive with his head tilted slightly. They actually lower the roof in vehicles to make room for the sun roof mechanism, so tall = no sun roof. 

I really don't want to turn DD when she's 2 - but if we keep this car, we'll have to because she'll have to be behind DH and he needs the seat all the way back. I'm REALLY not interested in a new car...

[shannonabigail]

The company I work for/with goes through A LOT of minivans and my absolute favorite is the Toyota Sienna. I can't vouch for it over a long period of time but it is definitely the nicest, smoothest minivan I have driven. It even has 12 cup-holders throughout! It's got the get up and go of a small car as well as fold down back seats, sliding doors with buttons on key fob, on the inside of the door, and able to be controlled from the drivers seat as well. Thinking back now, all of the seats fold down into the floor so if you need to move big items you can do that to. It's basically my dream car (because I know I'll be ending up with a minivan soon anyway).

With all the being said I just drove the new Dodge Durango over Christmas break (rental) and looks more like a minivan than your regular SUV. It was so nice it hurt to give it back when my time was up! The only drawback to that over the Sienna is the 3rd row of seats is a bit harder to access if you have carseats and older kids.

[karnelac]

Ohhhhhh I love my Honda Odyssey. We looked at a lot of different options of SUVs before we made the jump. Unless you go suburban, you don't have much trunk space with the third row up. And getting an infant car seat into a mini van along with a preschooler is so freaking easy. I slide open our doors with my key fob and tell DD1 to get in her seat and then just plop the car seat in. There is no worry about how close you are to another car and if you can open all the way. My oldest can get in her seat all by herself because she can reach. I also love the many different configurations you can have with the seats. We currently do captions chairs in 2nd row and leave the 3rd row up. Since we have a van, I can participate in carpools for preschool which really comes in handy at pickup time which is usually DD2s nap time. We actually chose not to get the 4wd option (the touring model is the only Odyssey with it) because if it's that's bad out, I'm not going anywhere. I run my own business and just don't go to work if it's snowy, and my clients don't want to bring their kids out in bad weather anyway. I have a pearl white with tan leather. I Don't ever feel frumpy in it. It's freaking love.

[blathnat]

I love my Odyssey. It's roomy, does well in crummy weather, super easy to fit multiple car seats, and the back seats are actually comfortable for an adult.

Heated seats are such a nice luxury right now. The backup camera is really helpful. I also have the nav system.

[sissykate21]

Honda Odyssey, hands down.
My husband is one of those guys who researches everything and then only gets the best. The safety rating and gas mileage were the high points for him.
We leased our Odyssey and the dealership wanted it back early because they they were going to sell it used for the same price as it was advertised new! (I guess they got really popular there for a while.) We wanted to lower our car payment anyway so we took the early lease trade-in offer. My DH will now say, "I really miss our van."
Never thought I'd hear that!