Check this out

[ThreeBeans]

My 2003 Santa Fe

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/Joannarachel/100_1873.jpg

The front end damaged I caused in my M***hole episode a month ago

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/Joannarachel/100_1872.jpg

The rear end, aka my political canvas :whistle:

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/Joannarachel/100_1870a.jpg

Crammed in like fat little sardines

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/Joannarachel/100_1864.jpg

See how depressed they are?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/Joannarachel/100_1869.jpg

I don't like this.

I think I'll switch it up a bit.

How bout this?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/Joannarachel/100_1880-1.jpg

And this?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/Joannarachel/100_1878.jpg

Look, all smiles.....

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/Joannarachel/100_1877.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b102/Joannarachel/100_1876.jpg



wuchu think? :whistle:

[CDNTech]

So were you test driving or did you buy? Looks good. :) Or is this the rental while yours gets fixed?
I'd get rid of the license plate picture ;)

[Jewels]

Not so squished! Did you get a new vehicle?

[joolsplus3]

Looks great! All smiles :)

[Holly]

How cool! You need a pic of your baby too though! We all want to see how big he has gotten! So is this a permanent thing? Did you get rid of your radians? I thought you liked them?

[azgirl71]

Very nice. Is it a early Christmas present?

[crunchierthanthou]

Is that the 2005 Freestar you were asking about? It looks much more comfortable. You can still use the SS1 base and I doubt they can kick each other in the head anymore.

[melniemi]

How fun! Is it yours? Did you always have those seats or are they new too?? I love new seats and new vehicles!

[Patriot201]

They are SO cute!

[ThreeBeans]

I still have the Radians, they will go in my husband's Stratus. I've always had the Britaxes, I had to give them up when we had Bean the Third :mad:


Yup, it's ours, bought and signed for and sitting in my garage right now! The ride home was sooooo peaceful...no one was kicking anyone in the face:whistle:

[ThreeBeans]

I have no idea how to get rid of the license plate. LOL.

[Cindy&Connor]

Very nice. My sil has the same van and she loves it. I love my Taurus but it sure is nice to take her van and have the kids not be able to touch each other.

[Patriot201]

Congrats on the new vehicle! :D

[jdchic3]

Looks great! I'm jealous! How about this for the license plate pic?!

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/jdchic3/100_1870blur.jpg

[mommy2env]

w00t! congrats!

The only thing I hate about my van is that since there is more room, there is more of a mess. :thumbsdown:

[CDNTech]

Congratulations! I love vans... kids are spaced out, easy to hide in the van and buckle on cold/rainy/snowy days. :)

[tumblebug]

Looks very spacious!!! Congrats!! Wow that baby has grown! :love:

[ChristyJoelnSosi]

That will be much more comfortable!! And no more kicks in the face!

[arly1983]

YAY, you will love it!!

We love our 05 Freestar!!

[Splash]

AJ has an 06 Monterey (same body, more upgrades in the interior). I hate it with a passion and think it was a huge waste of cash. I wanted a Sienna, she wanted adjustable pedals that she never adjusts. Her car, her choice. It's wickedly hard to put car seats in, but she loves it. The back seat is not meant for adults, though. Adults might *fit* back there, but it would be extremely uncomfortable for them after more than 15 minutes or so. The seat is basically on the ground.

Congrats on the new van! Definitely a must for a three car seat family!

[CRS]

Grrr I am so jealous - I WANT A NEW CAR! lol Everyone here seems to get really new really expensive cars - maybe it's an American thing? I only know a couple of people with BRAND NEW cars, everyone else has really old cars, most pre 2000. I certainly can't afford a post 2000 car any way!

[Patriot201]

Grrr I am so jealous - I WANT A NEW CAR! lol Everyone here seems to get really new really expensive cars - maybe it's an American thing? I only know a couple of people with BRAND NEW cars, everyone else has really old cars, most pre 2000. I certainly can't afford a post 2000 car any way!

I bought my current car as a brand-new car, but it was a big stretch for me (financially). I still don't own a house, though. :p

Cars are much, much, much cheaper than housing, though. The difference in price between my brand-new car and a one-bedroom condo is about $250,000- $300,000. That's a ridiculously huge difference! :p The difference between the price of my car and an averagely-sized single-family house is about $500,000-$600,000. Again, that is a ridiculously huge difference. :p

[CDNTech]

I bought my current car as a brand-new car, but it was a big stretch for me (financially). I still don't own a house, though. :p

Cars are much, much, much cheaper than housing, though. The difference in price between my brand-new car and a one-bedroom condo is about $250,000- $300,000. That's a ridiculously huge difference! :p The difference between the price of my car and an averagely-sized single-family house is about $500,000-$600,000. Again, that is a ridiculously huge difference. :p

You must live in my neighbourhood. :D

[all together ooky]

Congrats on the new wheels! They look happier so you must be happpier too. No feet in the face is a good thing.

[NOAHSMOM]

Congrats on the new car!

My dad has the same van and I had the most difficult time installing my son's FPSVD in the 1st row due to the headrests and the straightness of the seat. I could not accomplish a seatbelt install for the life of me! Is there a trick to it? I'm just not formiliar enough with vans. If you FF a seat in that row can you write about it, it bothers me when I cannot accomplish something (had to use a very up-right latch install).

[ThreeBeans]

Congrats on the new car!

My dad has the same van and I had the most difficult time installing my son's FPSVD in the 1st row due to the headrests and the straightness of the seat. I could not accomplish a seatbelt install for the life of me! Is there a trick to it? I'm just not formiliar enough with vans. If you FF a seat in that row can you write about it, it bothers me when I cannot accomplish something (had to use a very up-right latch install).


I installed DS' Wizard in the first row easy-peasy at the dealership, though I used LATCH. The trick is to take the headrest off ;)

[ThreeBeans]

PS, I just found out I can put a ff radian on either side of DS Wizard :D It is a tight squeeze but the bench is perfectly flat so they fit. Interestingly enough, a RF Radian doesn't puzzle with a ff Wizard in that position :confused:

Doesn't matter...I can fit FIVE HARNESSED KIDS IN MY CAR!

[stayinhomewithmy4]

I still have the Radians, they will go in my husband's Stratus. I've always had the Britaxes, I had to give them up when we had Bean the Third :mad:


Yup, it's ours, bought and signed for and sitting in my garage right now! The ride home was sooooo peaceful...no one was kicking anyone in the face:whistle:

Congrats on the new van! :D I'm green with envy! Our plan is to get a new van in the spring and I absolutely can't wait! Just the thought of having LATCH makes me drool!

I hear ya about kicking in the face. That's always a problem with my 2 DS's. RF E is always kicking FF X in the face!

It is fun being able to fit 5 harnessed kids, isn't it? Even if you don't need to, I still think it's fun to have 5 car seats all puzzled in, you know... just in case. ;)

[andbabiesmake4]

The only thing I hate about my van is that since there is more room, there is more of a mess. :thumbsdown:

LOL oh so true! When we had our van that's what happened.

Congrats on the new ride!!! Is that an '05?? We had an '05 and it had captain chairs.. I didn't know there was a bench in some.
Don't you just LOVE the back row :rolleyes: soo comfortable.. LOL!

I do love vans.. DH doesn't agree haha

[Laurenc0101]

Congrats! It looks nice and roomy!!

[lovinwaves]

:cool: Cool new Ride Threebeans.

[Chameleon]

Awesome!! It looks so comfy in there.

[NOAHSMOM]

I installed DS' Wizard in the first row easy-peasy at the dealership, though I used LATCH. The trick is to take the headrest off ;)


My dad would never had allowed it....he was nervous that I was going to break the seatbelt by installing the carseat tightly! Alas, I'm glad the the seats are installing so well for you.

[ThreeBeans]

He wouldn't have allowed you to take the headrest off :confused:

They're designed to come off...it's not a major operation. LOL.


Guess what I discovered reading the manual last night. The thing DOES have a fourth tether anchor....ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.

Yes. That makes tons of sense. Two in the middle bench, ONE in the third row, and one in the front row. What were they thinking? :rolleyes:

[ZephyrBlue]

Love your new wheels, ThreeBeans! The littles look much happier, too :thumbsup:

[Jeanum]

Well, it could be used for a rear facing top tether anchor point if you ever need one behind the front passenger seat. :thumbsup: Congrats on becoming a minivan owner, it makes life a lot easier with the kiddos. :D If you want the license plate picture taken out of the OP, just say the word and a mod can probably remove it for you (the picture at any rate, I'm not confident in my ability to edit out the plate only, lol).

[BudgieStew]

He wouldn't have allowed you to take the headrest off :confused:

They're designed to come off...it's not a major operation. LOL.


Guess what I discovered reading the manual last night. The thing DOES have a fourth tether anchor....ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.

Yes. That makes tons of sense. Two in the middle bench, ONE in the third row, and one in the front row. What were they thinking? :rolleyes:


Hmmm Must go look at my 07 van and see if ours has one there as well. It did not come with a manual so its not like I can check it. I don't have the spare 100.00 right now to buy one.

eta nope not that I would use it but I wonder if the 04 we had a few years ago had one.The 07 has power adjust seats.

Did that year come with the auto doors/hatch?That is my favorite feature.:love:That and the adjustable pedals since I am so short...honestly if if didn't have that there is no way I could drive the van. our manual cars I've always had to pull myself up to push the clutch and shift at at the same time.

[Jeanum]

The Freestar (and Windstars) have the tether anchor on the front passenger seat if it's a manually adjustable seat, but not if it's a power seat according to the LATCH manual.

[ThreeBeans]

Yup....the driver's seat is power, but the passenger is manual and has the anchor :thumbsup:

So I suppose if I was feeling brave I could put SIX harnessed kids in my car :eek:

Although I don't like the look of the buckle stalks on the front seat, I think they would be very difficult to install a carseat with.


I fixed the license plate picture. See my mad artistic skillz, yo?

[Jeanum]

Nice fake vanity plate, that's much better and safer than the real thing. :thumbsup:

If only Ford had put tether anchors in all of the third row seating positions, it probably wouldn't be such a temptation for anyone CPS savvy to use that front passenger seat for a child restraint installation. In a weird, hypothetical emergency where the only place to install say a Regent for a 50 lb.+ plus kiddo is the front seat, you're maybe good to go, eh? :) Of course anyone who isn't so CPS savvy and eagerly thinks a FF harnessed child should ride up front when there is an available rear seating position isn't probably going to be focusing on using that front top tether anchor, either.

[Morganthe]

Grrr I am so jealous - I WANT A NEW CAR! lol Everyone here seems to get really new really expensive cars - maybe it's an American thing? I only know a couple of people with BRAND NEW cars, everyone else has really old cars, most pre 2000. I certainly can't afford a post 2000 car any way!

I've only bought one new vehicle and I hope to never do that again. 18 months ago, I bought a 7 year old car and was pretty darn happy with that. ;)

I wouldn't be surprised if the difference is in financing options. Many Americans get 4-5 year loans or lease their cars. I've recently seen loan options for 6 years!!! :eek:
I'd rather own an older car than pay interest and higher car insurance. :shrug-shoulders:

[ThreeBeans]

I made the mistake of buying a new car once. I won't do it again. I like to find a happy medium between old-butt car that is going to be in the shop every 12 minutes and so new that you lose 3 thousand in depreciation when you drive off the lot.

[CDNTech]

I like owning new vehicles. I never have to worry about breaking down on the side of the road in -40 weather with 2+ kids. ;)

We get new vehicles about every 4 - 5 years and we never pay more than cost. We also lease or finance at less than 1% and DH gets a big discount on insurance because of his profession. I think it's worth the piece of mind. That's my vehicle though...

OTOH, dh doesn't necessarily agree with me. He just bought his first new car ever and plans on keeping it for the next 15 years. :) His first car was bought at an auction and was around 10 years old. We kept that car until it was 18 years old and was pretty much dead on the side of the road. :D

[Synchro246]

Woot! Congrats!

PS, I just found out I can put a ff radian on either side of DS Wizard :D It is a tight squeeze but the bench is perfectly flat so they fit. Interestingly enough, a RF Radian doesn't puzzle with a ff Wizard in that position :confused:

Doesn't matter...I can fit FIVE HARNESSED KIDS IN MY CAR!
Now I'm curious if the FF radians will puzzle fit with and RF wiz :)


Well, it could be used for a rear facing top tether anchor point if you ever need one behind the front passenger seat. :thumbsup: Congrats on becoming a minivan owner, it makes life a lot easier with the kiddos. :D If you want the license plate picture taken out of the OP, just say the word and a mod can probably remove it for you (the picture at any rate, I'm not confident in my ability to edit out the plate only, lol).
Did Recaro say you could RF tether if there was a dedicated anchor available?

[Jordynsmama]

PS, I just found out I can put a ff radian on either side of DS Wizard :D It is a tight squeeze but the bench is perfectly flat so they fit. Interestingly enough, a RF Radian doesn't puzzle with a ff Wizard in that position :confused:

Doesn't matter...I can fit FIVE HARNESSED KIDS IN MY CAR!
Good now you can start working on # 4. :p

[Jeanum]

Did Recaro say you could RF tether if there was a dedicated anchor available?

There's nothing in the Recaro convertible manuals to indicate any variation of RF tethering is allowed at all. :(

[*HH*]

Congrats with the new car! And may I say that your children are so cute!

[ThreeBeans]

Good now you can start working on # 4. :p

I beg your pardon :eek:

[ThreeBeans]

Congrats with the new car! And may I say that your children are so cute!

Thank you :o

[amyg530]

where did you get your bumper stickers? i want the milk and carseat ones

[safeinthecar]

I made the mistake of buying a new car once. I won't do it again. I like to find a happy medium between old-butt car that is going to be in the shop every 12 minutes and so new that you lose 3 thousand in depreciation when you drive off the lot.

Exactly. When I went out to trade in the Xterra, I was thinking of a new Tahoe. Right up until I found the Armada. 2007 18,000 miles on it, and I only paid 37,000. That's 10,000 less than the 08 Tahoe ( which didn't even have side airbags), and 18,000 less than a brand new Armada. The only thing I lost out on by buying used was a DVD player. But thats not a big deal. I just strap the laptop (computer, not carseat) to the front console and pop in a movie and we're good to go.

[southpawboston]

no more santy? probably a god thing, as those all develop problems after a few years. the ford is much safer, too...

what ever happened with the insurance?

[southpawboston]

I just strap the laptop (computer, not carseat) to the front console and pop in a movie and we're good to go.

off topic, but really? you're not concerned about the projectile hazard? a laptop weighs even more than a DVD player, and has all the same sharp edges.

[safeinthecar]

off topic, but really? you're not concerned about the projectile hazard? a laptop weighs even more than a DVD player, and has all the same sharp edges.

the center console has this deep, IDK what to call it, it looks like the inside of a corningware dish depression on top. My laptop fits into it perfectly. I use cargo tiedowns (not bungie cords, the kind that you use to tie down cargo on a flatbed truck) around the entire console so it is held in. The only way it's going to go flying is if the console comes unbolted from the floor of the vehicle.

[ThreeBeans]

no more santy? probably a god thing, as those all develop problems after a few years. the ford is much safer, too...

what ever happened with the insurance?

Bye bye Santa! I'm not missing you!

We've been for a couple of long (20+ miles) drives in it, and it's just....QUIET. *sighs with pleasure*

As far as maintenance and safety goes though, you don't get much better than a modern Hyundai. Ford has a much worse maintenance record.

I'm assuming I'll be getting a bill for 500 eventually. Until they send it though, I'm not in a hurry to root out the checkbook though ;)

[Jordynsmama]

I beg your pardon :eek:

LOL;) Your kids are SO SO SO cute.