User Panel
Posted: 3/2/2022 4:48:49 PM EDT
We recently found out we are expecting twins, and we already have 2 boys, so we need a family vehicle with room for more than 5 people now!
Looking for something fairly fuel efficient, this will replace our beater 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. I've got plenty of pickups if I need something to tow with, just need efficient daily driver family transportation. I have never even considered a minivan in my life. From what I can tell a Toyota Sienna seems to be "the best" but for value in my local market at least a Dodge Grand Caravan is about half price of the Toyotas for same age and miles. |
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My wife and I found ourselves in the same spot. Due in mid August.
We'll be going with an Expedition or Explorer. |
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Woohoo congrats!! Had a Chrysler Pacifica for a couple of years was good in all departments except snow. From my past research Toyota Sienna seems to get best overall reviews. I vote for captains chairs if you can get them.
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Wife had a Honda Odyssey with our 4 little ones.
Great Vehicle & lasted well north of 200K miles with just basic service. Plus it actually didn't drive like a mini-van. I didn't mind driving it. Plenty of room for 6 + bags in it. BIGGER_HAMMER |
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Quoted: Wife had a Honda Odyssey with our 4 little ones. Great Vehicle & lasted well north of 200K miles with just basic service. Plus it actually didn't drive like a mini-van. I didn't mind driving it. Plenty of room for 6 + bags in it. BIGGER_HAMMER View Quote Those were what I looked at first until I started seeing lots of talk of transmissions going out and trouble that's definitely not the norm for Honda's reputation. Still open to them though |
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My little mazda 5 was decent. Actually sat 6 even though it was small. Got 38mph at 80 to 90 mph all the way out to yellowstone.
Prob be too small for you in a few years with 2 kids constantly using the rear seats. congrats. |
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Quoted: Those were what I looked at first until I started seeing lots of talk of transmissions going out and trouble that's definitely not the norm for Honda's reputation. Still open to them though View Quote Honda transmissions have gotten less durable over the years. Not really an issue if the owner has kept up with maintenance but if they're neglected they fail pretty quick. I vote Sienna. They're expensive for a reason. My buddy's Sienna fits more wood/building materials than my Tacoma. Edit: regarding the honda transmissions, that was a while ago (2000's to early 2010's) |
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Quoted: Those were what I looked at first until I started seeing lots of talk of transmissions going out and trouble that's definitely not the norm for Honda's reputation. Still open to them though View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Wife had a Honda Odyssey with our 4 little ones. Great Vehicle & lasted well north of 200K miles with just basic service. Plus it actually didn't drive like a mini-van. I didn't mind driving it. Plenty of room for 6 + bags in it. BIGGER_HAMMER Those were what I looked at first until I started seeing lots of talk of transmissions going out and trouble that's definitely not the norm for Honda's reputation. Still open to them though That was on the early 2000s models. Nothing to report of in the last 10 years or so. |
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Anything made by Toyota or Honda is your best bet. Stay way far away from anything Chrysler.
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We're still beating our 2005 Sienna slowly to death.
It's been a good vehicle, too many fancy options to break though. |
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Kia has a new minivan out called the Carnival. If you are considering new anyway
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Ford Flex.
Look for a Limited with the 3.5EB and AWD. 3rd row, lots of torque, and better handling than a minivan. |
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If you need cheap, first gen Sienna is probably the most bulletproof of them all. It's a camry with a bigger body. Doesn't have a couple of the niceties of newer generations (esp. fold flat back seats). I've had all 3 gens of Sienna, all fantastic cars.
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Caravans have issues with trans modulators. Easy fix. My Caravans rotted out the rockers, which are part of the unibody.
The 3.6 motor will go and go. My old Caravan is still driven daily on a rural mail route with 300K + miles. The easiest way to change the rear plugs is to pull out the complete winshield washer system OK won't have the rust issue |
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Just go ahead and get a transit van. We have twin toddlers and a caravan is already pushing it for us. Remember it’s not just the kids, but all their shit.
Stroller, diaper bag, a cooler, baseball bats, toys. Hockey sticks, etc. And they will have friends that want to come along too. Airport bus. Get ya self one. |
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Another vote for Kia Sedona. I’ve only had mine for 1.5 years but it has been great so far.
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Honda Odyssey. Avoid the blue cars, they peel. If you only have the twins, you and wife, then you can get buy with a smaller wagon. If this is your 2nd twin set or 3rd just get a Suburban or Expedition.
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Toyota or Honda.
Don't let anyone talk you into a SUV. A van is more practical and easier with young kids and older adults as well. If our Odyssey didn't get smoked in an accident we'd still be driving it. |
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Quoted: Toyota or Honda. Don't let anyone talk you into a SUV. A van is more practical and easier with young kids and older adults as well. If our Odyssey didn't get smoked in an accident we'd still be driving it. View Quote 4 kids here We rented a mini-van in Florida one time...Sienna I think... Fucking thing sucked. Got stuck in a wet grass field. No thanks. |
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Quoted: Toyota or Honda. Don't let anyone talk you into a SUV. A van is more practical and easier with young kids and older adults as well. If our Odyssey didn't get smoked in an accident we'd still be driving it. View Quote You are technically correct, which is the best kind of correct, but I still don't think I could do it. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Toyota or Honda. Don't let anyone talk you into a SUV. A van is more practical and easier with young kids and older adults as well. If our Odyssey didn't get smoked in an accident we'd still be driving it. Lower to the ground and it's hard to beat the sliding van doors for kids. I'd still get the SUV but that's my own problem. |
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Quoted: Lower to the ground and it's hard to beat the sliding van doors for kids. I'd still get the SUV but that's my own problem. View Quote I don't want lower to the ground. Lower to the ground = stuck. My kids climb up into the suburban no problem. Honestly, it's the pefect height for kids that can't walk because the car seats are at the height where I don't have to bend over into the vehicle to buckle them in. My aunt that can't barely walk gets in just fine. It's really NOT that tall. Able bodied people just get in...don't need running boards. |
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Minivans are great for families in your situation.
Toyota, Honda or Pacifica. Much better than a SUV imo. If buying used, try to have it checked out if you have a reputable shop. |
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Love our Dodge Caravans.
Yes Dodge sucks, but ours have been excellent. 25mpg at 78mph. I'm driving my wife's 2015 rs. Comfy, roomy. She got a new palisade now that the kids are older. No homo... but I love my van. I wish it was AWD |
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First...CONGRATS!
Full size chevy express with doors on both sides. You can thank me later. Seriously, it is the most versatile vehicle you will own for the type of family you are going to have. We traded an almost new Chrysler Town+Country for our Chevy after we added twins to our other two kids. Our Chevy had a 'light' conversion with a fold down back seat and 4 captains chairs up front. Bought it in '04 and it's still going with >320k on it. |
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Quoted: I don't want lower to the ground. Lower to the ground = stuck. My kids climb up into the suburban no problem. Honestly, it's the pefect height for kids that can't walk because the car seats are at the height where I don't have to bend over into the vehicle to buckle them in. My aunt that can't barely walk gets in just fine. It's really NOT that tall. Able bodied people just get in...don't need running boards. View Quote Some of you may have missed where I said I have multiple 4x4 pickups when needed. We're wanting to replace our Pontiac Grand Prix with a Minivan, it's not gonna change our capabilities much besides interior room |
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Quoted: Wife had a Honda Odyssey with our 4 little ones. Great Vehicle & lasted well north of 200K miles with just basic service. Plus it actually didn't drive like a mini-van. I didn't mind driving it. Plenty of room for 6 + bags in it. BIGGER_HAMMER View Quote This. Our first got rear ended and totaled, got another one without hesitation. |
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Toyota Sienna is what you seek.
Do not buy a Dodge Caravan… our transmission went out at 65,000 miles, and my wife babies cars. Sienna has been solid… nearing 100k miles, and my brothers 2009 has like 130k and going strong |
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Quoted: First...CONGRATS! Full size chevy express with doors on both sides. You can thank me later. Seriously, it is the most versatile vehicle you will own for the type of family you are going to have. We traded an almost new Chrysler Town+Country for our Chevy after we added twins to our other two kids. Our Chevy had a 'light' conversion with a fold down back seat and 4 captains chairs up front. Bought it in '04 and it's still going with >320k on it. View Quote Something like this. We have a Nissan NV3500 it’s great and very practical for hauling kids and lots of other stuff on long trips, I can take it to Home Depot and load it full of stuff too. You can put a new washing machine, 4 kids, and a couple dozen 10’ 2x4s in it. Does not meet your ‘good gas mileage’ criteria though. |
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Quoted: Something like this. We have a Nissan NV3500 it's great and very practical for hauling kids and lots of other stuff on long trips, I can take it to Home Depot and load it full of stuff too. You can put a new washing machine, 4 kids, and a couple dozen 10' 2x4s in it. Does not meet your 'good gas mileage' criteria though. View Quote We're driving a minimum of 25 miles each way for groceries, school, church, doctor, anything really. So yeah I'm trying to stay on the more efficient side. The one downside to our farming life, but so worth it. |
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We have an 2012 AWD Sienna. We've been happy with it. The only issue with the AWD Sienna's is the lack of spare tire and the run-flat tires. We ditched the run-flats when they needed replacing at 16K. I bought a spare tire from Tire Rack and wedge in in the back to keep it from rolling around. Now I just put regular tires on it.
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Well, I would be pretty excited about that. Your wife is cool with you guys introducing a set of twins to the relationship? That's pretty sweet. Is the minivan just so you guys can all get around on date nights and stuff?
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Drove our Odyssey to about $250k and now have a Sienna. The Honda drove a bit more sporty (acceleration, steering, suspension) but both are great. Both are also outrageously priced right now. I kept hearing good things about the Kia’s while I was shopping. Good luck.
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Minivans are better for small kids. Low step height, easy to reach into for the car-seats etc. The slider doors are super functional as well.
I know GD is so ultra-masculine that they must insist on a mega SUV, but minivans are great. |
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Quoted: I don't want lower to the ground. Lower to the ground = stuck. My kids climb up into the suburban no problem. Honestly, it's the pefect height for kids that can't walk because the car seats are at the height where I don't have to bend over into the vehicle to buckle them in. My aunt that can't barely walk gets in just fine. It's really NOT that tall. Able bodied people just get in...don't need running boards. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Lower to the ground and it's hard to beat the sliding van doors for kids. I'd still get the SUV but that's my own problem. I don't want lower to the ground. Lower to the ground = stuck. My kids climb up into the suburban no problem. Honestly, it's the pefect height for kids that can't walk because the car seats are at the height where I don't have to bend over into the vehicle to buckle them in. My aunt that can't barely walk gets in just fine. It's really NOT that tall. Able bodied people just get in...don't need running boards. Minivans are the most convenient for loading and unloading kids. No contest. |
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