Ok all you mini van drivers out there: we need advice, opinions and words of wisdom. We currently own a Subaru Forester. We love our car and also know there is no way around the mini van with four kids all in car seats. We bought our car in May of '05 intending to drive it for 7-10 years. We get good gas millage, free oil changes and love the 4 wheel drive. Our Subaru has 71,000 miles, new breaks and newish tires.
I know nothing about mini vans. Can you drive them 200,000-300,000 miles like the Subaru? With 4 car seats is it important to have bucket seats in the middle, or can you crawl around that short bench? Do vans have 4 wheel drive? Are all vans crated equal or do some rise to the top? Do they come with that little soccer ball decal or do you get that later? What do you think?
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6 comments:
Just say no to the mini van!!!!
There are so many options out there I just don't know how you could do this to yourself or your family?!?!?!?! :-) LOL
I"m with Kristi-ugh on the vans.
Even though I loathe vans I do have to admit we have a Ford Aerostar. Its ugly as sin, and I rarely drive it, but its four wheel drive which I did appreciate the past two days :)
Good luck. Seriously, I have hears some good things about the Toyota Sienna
Gail....I say you have to have the bucket seats in the second row with more than 3 kids (we have three at home and Darline on the way). The big kids need to be able to get by to get to the back. We have a suburban (which I like for the storage space in the back behind the last seat). The mini van does not have enough cargo for us.
Volkswagen also has a new van out that looks nice.
So the consesus of the C4C family is no to mini vans. We have a GMC Yukon Denali and I won't trade it for anything. It has full time all wheel drive which is great for the snow and has lots of room for the kids. It is my most loved of vehicles and when this one craps out, hopefully a few more years from now as it is only a few years old, I will get another one in a heartbeat. Plus I like how I look in it!!!!!!
Hi Jean's sister. You don't know me but Jean asked me to talk to you. I have 4 kids and don't have a van its a Buick Rendevous. It has all wheel drive and 3 rows of seats. No storage room so we have thule on top. I don't know what you are looking for. Vans get better gas mileage than suvs and surbabans. I don't know how much money you have to spend. Dave Ramsey says, "buy used!" just kidding. We had a plymouth voyager van (like a dodge caravan) and we had tons of transmission troubles. I did like being able to walk around in it though. There are some vans with some type of 4wheel drive or allwheel. My kids are 8,6,4, and 2. They have to climb over the carseats and seat to get in the back instead of being able to turn down like if a baby seat wasn't there. I love being up high, its so much easier to put kids in their car seats. Also either way bench or bucket you can get back pretty easy. I would go bucket though. Then they won't be able to touch each other. less fights that way. I wouldn't worry about the whole mini van stigma. I lived thru it! They are pretty nice and comfortable. Hope this helps!
Misti
so you know my vote. Chrysler T/C with extra storage. 2 buckets plus a bench. Extended cab for storage and, most likely, for long trips with the thule. (and a trailer) ha
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