Tuesday, January 23, 2007

input, people. I need input.

With the upcoming addition to our family we are going to need some new wheels. Which is good, since we are already about to pop out of our 4-door Elantra. Who knew you could fit three car seats back there? Actually, I'm pretty convinced you can't and that it's a miracle from Heaven. One that will disappear as soon as we have a larger transport system and no longer need to cram the safety seats into one smallish back row. Someday we will try again to smash three kids, ages 5 and under, back into our little car and it won't be possible. Because we won't need it anymore. And that will be that. But back to the original purpose of this post...

So, we're moving on to the minivan stage of life. Except I'm not so superkeen on minivans. I know my mom loves hers. Swears by it. Wants to keep it for life. But I dunno. However I am open. Open to ideas and suggestions, and free perks. Here is where you come in. I'm curious about different vans. Also I am interested in the Honda Pilot and other seven seater mid-size SUV's. What do you like, what haven't you liked? Do you own a car dealership? Do you want to give me an amazing deal? My husband will bake you some chocolate chip cookies, if you do!

Please, please, let me know. I have to do some research myself, but it's always helpful to have to real life people with their real life experience. Alrighty! Isn't this what blogging is all about? I'm waiting for some good advice, people! Don't let me down.

12 comments:

  1. I could probably give you more input than you could ever want. We started looking at vans a couple of years ago and after hours of scouring the Internet and visiting lots and picking all of our friends brains, we finally got a "new" used one last September. We settled on a 2004 Honda Odyssey and we are still greatly in love with it. I never thought I would be one of those mini van moms, but I got to tell you, it doesn't bug me at all anymore!

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  2. I know we talked about this on Sunday. I'm all about the convenience of a mini-van. I know people love their Pilots, but I drove one full of kids and it was a pain. A pain to get kids in an out. A pain to climb over seats. I just love that you can walk around in a minivan. They have much more storage room too, for road trips, trips to the beach or camping, and such. If I could have a mini-van, I'd hesitate for a split second and then I'd love it for life.

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  3. Get a minivan. Don't get an SUV. I think you will be sorry. I borrowed my mom's when we were home over the summer. It was so bad to try to climb in and out with the infant seat and flipping up the seats to get into the third row.

    We ended up buying a wagon--which will work until we have more kids. We've researched Toyota and Honda. I would spend the extra money to get one of those over a domestic minivan. Seriously. You won't regret it.

    I drove an Odyssey when I was a nanny. Honda had just revamped the Odyssey. I loved it. And then Fred drove some neighbors to the airport in their Odyssey and said if we get a van, that's it. Super safe. Super reliable. I like the look of the Toyota's a little more, but Honda is supposed to be the very best all-around. They hold their value, too.

    Good luck. I'm actually looking forward to buying a minivan someday. I never thought I'd say that after driving one all through high school.

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  4. Went through that six years ago and bought a Ford Windstar. Only because it was a good used deal. If I were to buy another minivan my dream car would be an Odyssey, though they're pricey. According to my research Ford and Chevy minivans are overpriced. Big time (mostly to cover exhorbitant benefit and retirement packages for their employees) but the Sienna would be a possibility, it's reasonably priced, has great features and is an overall good deal. I'd look through COnsumer Reports. (Though biggest tip? Buy used. It doesn't have to be a junker, but the minute you drive a new car off the lot it depreciates by 5-8,000. Save a bundle and buy something a couple years old).

    Who'd know I'd have so much to say on such a boring topic? :)

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  5. I LOVE our Pilot. I have 3 car seats along the back, and then we usually do one person (or more) in the 3rd row. I don't think it's a pain to get to the 3rd row at all, but don't have people in it every day (maybe 3 days a week.)I also rarley have all 3 seats in the 3rd row used - so we can do the 2/1 spilt and still have easy access.
    I guess it depends on how much you drive, and how much power you feel you need. If you're just tooling around the local neighborhood, I'm sure a minivan is great. My brother has an Odyssey & loves it. I think you can't go wrong with a Honda.

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  6. Ohhh, that's simple! If you want a minivan I think you should get the honda or toyota hands down. They have such good reliability that their resale is very high. My tip would be to find someone who can get you a deal directly though an auction. Definately shop around, for both used and new.

    We bought a used SUV (Land Rover Discovery) , and it was a few years old, and we got it low miles for only 21K and it has been fantastic to us. It has all the things we wanted, leather, passenger seating for 7, and is a "cool" car to boot. I wasn't ready to graduate to the mom image I guess.. But either way do your homework and you'll get a much better deal!

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  7. Hi Allysha, this is Angela Grange from the ward. I just recently discovered blogging, and stumbled on your link on Laura's site. I had to weigh in on this because I LOVE my Toyota Sienna. I had a Chevy Tahoe before and loved it, and didn't want to switch to the minivan. But it has SO many conveniences for moms, that I couldn't help but love it and had to have it. I tested the Odyssey and my sister has one, but I have to side with the Toyota being better. It has sun shades that are built in the doors you can pull up (no more suction cups!), and you can open the back by pushing a button on the keypad. This is especially great when your hands are full of bags (or kids). The side doors open with the push of a button, and that is great. We got the limited edition and the backup camera and sonair (beeps and shows where you are close to something) are so helpful! The cruise control slows down automatically when you get close to a car, and shuts off if your wipers turn on for rain. All in all, it really is a perfect car with all the things moms need and want.

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  9. I'm going to jump on the Toyota van-wagon. We love our Sienna. The one flaw it had (not enough space in the back) they fixed the year after we bought ours.

    Wow, Angela must have the ultra-super-high-tech version. Ours doesn't do any of those things. It's the basic model. But we haven't had a single problem with the van and that's what counts.

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  10. from one 'i'm never having a minivan" woman to one considering one...it changes your life! we bought ours (toyota sienna) while living in westchester. it still fit in the parking garages/spots and on the BRP without feeling like I was running other off the road.

    we got a super deal at the Bronx Auto Auction...a bit scary but helpful if you/spouse speak spanish. we shopped several dealerships in W and on LI but got jaded pretty quick. the auto auction was honest, fixed anything we asked for and even more things and gave extremely fair prices.

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  11. hey all you people, thanks so much for the info you've given me. it's been helpful! just wanted to say Thanks! And if anyone else has something to add, please do!

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  12. i love my odssey, LOVE the sliding automatic doors, that saves my life. i am always afraid in a car that my kids will open the door and smash the car next to us with a door, not to worry with sliding doors. i love that they can jump in and out all by themselves and walk to the back and not climb over each other to get in. the middle seat can be adjusted to serve as a bench seat or two seats with an aisle. can't say enough good about it.

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