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Post by sweetc129 on May 24, 2017 10:46:26 GMT -6
Looks like I'm in the market for a new car, and I "want" a minivan. We are TTC#3, so I'd like a minivan or reasonably priced SUV w/ real 3rd row seating (my current car has 3rd row seating, but it's a joke and not really usable seats for car seats and easy accessibility). This will be our primary car.
What do you drive? Like it? No? What do you wish it did or didn't have?
I'm looking at the Kia Sedona, Chrysler Pacifica and Toyota Sienna (it would have to be a couple years old or super base model since it's more pricey), but am open to pretty much any quality minivan.
Thanks
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Post by thelittleredm on May 24, 2017 10:53:19 GMT -6
If you're going for minivan, the Honda Odyssey, hands down. We almost got one except that H doesn't want to be seen driving a minivan so we opted for the Chevy Traverse. Adults can fit in the 3rd row (we made my parents sit in all the third rows while test driving) and I was able to get three car seats in that row. Granted, it was a tight squeeze but I did it. And one seat was a Diono so it was skinny. I just wish it had a more clear backup camera (it gets dirty easily) but it'd be fine if I wasn't spoiled by my Lexus loaners.
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Post by bunnyfungo on May 24, 2017 10:55:22 GMT -6
I love my Odyssey. Our main requirement was that we needed an 8th seat. Our family is 7 people, so we wanted the option to be able to take at least one more person (a kid's friend or whoever) with us. We take out the extra seat, but it's there when we need it. I love love love it.
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Sundae
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Post by Sundae on May 24, 2017 10:56:16 GMT -6
Odyssey all the way.
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Post by mrsweasley on May 24, 2017 10:58:56 GMT -6
Love my Sienna LE. It's a 2012 that we got in 2014. It was a prior lease with 6000 miles. We dealt with the internet sales guy through email and got a great deal.
The ONLY thing I wish it had but doesn't is automatic headlights. The daytime running lights turn off when you turn the car off and the headlights will turn off after about 10 minutes if you forget to turn them off, but my previous car had automatic headlights and it was definitely an adjustment to remember to turn them on.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2017 11:12:15 GMT -6
I love my Traverse. We have bucket seats in the middle and I actually store one in the floor and make a huge aisle. DD2 is in the other bucket seat, and the two older kids in the back. It gives us more space for groceries, suitcases etc. And if we need to take another person with us, It just pops out of the floor!
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Post by sweetc129 on May 24, 2017 11:12:39 GMT -6
I think Odyssey might be out of our price range. I'll have to look.
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ohreally
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Post by ohreally on May 24, 2017 11:15:48 GMT -6
Another Odyssey owner. Among other reasons, the 8th seat was a major selling point. We have three kids so it's nice to be able to put them all in the second row and have the third row and trunk for hauling. The main selling point of a minivan over SUV to me was the sliding doors so you're good there with any one you pick.
I don't know much about those models you listed. I do know my ILs have the Sedona and it's served them well for 7 years and many cross country road trips.
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Post by sexychairdontcare on May 24, 2017 11:19:53 GMT -6
I have a 2013 Nissan Quest and I lurve it! I have 3 kids and everyone fits comfortably with room to spare. The automatic doors have saved my life, I can click a button before I reach my car and the doors magically open for the children to pile inside. I am also able to buckle my oldest in the very back row without stepping over any other children or having to climb all the way inside! The seats all fold down if we need room to transport something large too.
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Post by Cupcakemama on May 24, 2017 11:22:09 GMT -6
We have and love our Dodge grand caravan. I know its not on your list but it might be worth a look. I love the stow and go feature.
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Post by misspeansmama on May 24, 2017 11:23:40 GMT -6
We have a Dodge Caravan...which they don't make anymore. We love it, especially the fold-in-floor seats. It comes in handy when you need some extra space for packing stuff for trips. It also has a 110 plug in the middle row which is small feature, but one that I love having. I believe that since Chrysler Pacifica replaced it, that probably has some of the same features.
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Sundae
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Post by Sundae on May 24, 2017 11:29:19 GMT -6
I think Odyssey might be out of our price range. I'll have to look. We were quite pleased with how much they worked with us. We have the EX-L (no DVD or nav) and got it for under 30K. Then we leased, so it was like 306 a month with no money down. We're on our second lease now of the same vehicle, and actually got more for it than the predicted residual, again with another awesome deal, and are now at 285 a month. Honda leases are really friendly and easy, IME. |
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Sundae
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Post by Sundae on May 24, 2017 11:39:39 GMT -6
We were quite pleased with how much they worked with us. We have the EX-L (no DVD or nav) and got it for under 30K. Then we leased, so it was like 306 a month with no money down. We're on our second lease now of the same vehicle, and actually got more for it than the predicted residual, again with another awesome deal, and are now at 285 a month. Honda leases are really friendly and easy, IME. Do you worry about leasing with messy kids who think the proper response to not wanting to finish their meal is to throw it on the floorboard? Nope. We just went to a car wash pre turn in that cleaned the interior. If you want to go fancy you could get it an 80 dollar detail with shampooed carpets first. |
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wakemom
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Post by wakemom on May 24, 2017 11:45:24 GMT -6
I drive a Sienna and it is a fantastic car. Reliable and in my opinion NOT UGLY(as far as minivans go), which is a requirement for me.
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Post by sweetc129 on May 24, 2017 11:50:01 GMT -6
I drive a Sienna and it is a fantastic car. Reliable and in my opinion NOT UGLY(as far as minivans go), which is a requirement for me. I also like they are AWD, and we live up north and heard many minivans are shit in the snow. |
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Post by thelittleredm on May 24, 2017 11:56:04 GMT -6
I drive a Sienna and it is a fantastic car. Reliable and in my opinion NOT UGLY(as far as minivans go), which is a requirement for me. I also like they are AWD, and we live up north and heard many minivans are shit in the snow. I think this may depend on the minivan. My parents had zero issues with their Odyssey up in the snows of Montana and Wyoming. |
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Post by crazycornball on May 24, 2017 11:58:05 GMT -6
I want an Odyssey but my H doesn't. I still shop them out on a regular basis, though.
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Sundae
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Post by Sundae on May 24, 2017 12:05:56 GMT -6
Plus, if you think the odyssey is $$$, you should check out the AWD Siena price.
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Sundae
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Post by Sundae on May 24, 2017 12:06:43 GMT -6
I only say that because I, too, was interested in switching to the AWD and we priced it out. No thanks. We live in the Chicago area and are fine in the van in snow.
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Post by CurlieWhirlie on May 24, 2017 12:06:45 GMT -6
We got a certified pre-owned Odyssey with only 1200 miles on it (that was just crazy luck, it clearly had barely been driven) for a really good price. We've had it for almost four years now, have put 63,000 miles on it, and we get about 20 miles to the gallon. I know that isn't a lot in the world of hybrid and electric cars, but for a gas-guzzling monster minivan, that's pretty good.
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Post by zoubie on May 24, 2017 12:11:21 GMT -6
I'm in the odyssey crowd. I love my van but we were only able to get it at a reasonable price because it had been in an accident and because it was from the states it had no manufacturers warranty on it anymore. However our mechanic has said you can even tell there was any work done it. When we were looking for van though it was either the sienna or odyssey simply because of the quality of the make. Ours is a 2013 and we've had zero issues with it.
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wakemom
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Post by wakemom on May 24, 2017 12:23:09 GMT -6
I drive a Sienna and it is a fantastic car. Reliable and in my opinion NOT UGLY(as far as minivans go), which is a requirement for me. I also like they are AWD, and we live up north and heard many minivans are shit in the snow. I'm not sure what the price of the AWD drive might be used, but I would definitely go that route if snow is an issue. |
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wakemom
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Post by wakemom on May 24, 2017 12:27:50 GMT -6
I'm partial to Toyotas, but both Toyota and Honda are known for their longevity and just to one up Toyota, they hold their value longer than other vehicles. I just traded in my 4Runner because we'd outgrown it and am so happy in my mini van.
Good luck!!
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Post by sweetdee on May 24, 2017 12:31:23 GMT -6
Vote #46 for Odyssey. Love ours. Never had any major problems so far, knock on wood (2011).
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Post by sweetdee on May 24, 2017 12:36:14 GMT -6
Oh and whichever you pick, one of the best add ons for us were the rubber (?) floor mats. They're so easy to take out and spray and save the floor from all manner of shite that falls and smooshes in.
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Post by sweetc129 on May 24, 2017 12:40:24 GMT -6
Plus, if you think the odyssey is $$$, you should check out the AWD Siena price. This is strange, because we are finding many more cheaper AWD Sienna's than Odyssey. ::Shrug:: ETA: I mean it isn't like it's crazy cheaper, just cheaper. It's all so expensive  |
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Post by elsiemae on May 24, 2017 12:47:28 GMT -6
We currently have an older style Dodge Grand Caravan. But I'm kind of hoping that our next purchase will be a Pacifica.
What can I say? Jim Gaffigan has really sold me on them!
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Post by sluttybigb00bz on May 24, 2017 12:49:54 GMT -6
Where do you live? Sienna was a no brainer for us because of the AWD.
I've had it for just over a year and am very happy with it. We got a 2013 certified pre-owned.
We have 2 rear facing seats in the middle row and there's plenty of room for my tall husband.
I can't fit my double bob in the back unless both rear seats are down.
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Post by sluttybigb00bz on May 24, 2017 12:51:46 GMT -6
I drive a Sienna and it is a fantastic car. Reliable and in my opinion NOT UGLY(as far as minivans go), which is a requirement for me. I also like they are AWD, and we live up north and heard many minivans are shit in the snow. My husband says the sienna is the best thing he's ever driven in the snow and he's had way more vehicles than your average person in the last 20 years. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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jess213
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Post by jess213 on May 24, 2017 13:08:16 GMT -6
Not a minivan but I love our Pathfinder. It has a 3rd row and plenty of cargo space for 3 kids
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