5 car seats, Minivan or bigger van or Suburban??

[Saramomofmany]

Updated to say that we bought a Windstar. Thanks for the input folks!! Sara

Here I am again. I guess I like to redo this car seat stuff every couple months it seems!! :)

We currently drive a 1995 Ford Econoline Club Wagon van. The van is dying on us. The tranny is having issues, A/C doesn't work(which makes the kids think they are having a heat stroke), etc. So we've been vehicle shopping. Problem? We're poor!! We got our Refund check and so we have only $2,000 to spend. We cannot get a loan for various reasons, so please don't suggest us getting something we can't pay cash for.

We have 5 children. Their stats are as follows:

Girl, age 8. 53-54 pounds, 49 1/2" tall. Regent FF.
Boy, age 6 1/2. 44 pounds, 47" tall. Regent FF.
Boy, age 4. 32-33 pounds, 41" tall. Boulevard FF.
Girl, age 17 months old, about 19 pounds, don't know her height(she's in her high chair, and if I take
her out to measure, she'll not want to go back in and I won't be able to finish typing this). Radian RF.
Boy, age almost 3 months. About 12 pounds. Chicco Key Fit 30 infant seat(RF of course).

Now to the questions. Trying to find something in our price range to fit us all. I wonder if it's safer to be in a minivan(Windstar or Mercury Villager, etc. with the oldest in a booster seat or to be in a bigger vehicle(Astro, Safari, Suburban, Aerostar, etc) with her harnessed?? I know the Astro got horrible crash ratings, but I believe the Venture did also...I'm not sure that we can fit in a minivan....

Some vehicles in our price range in our area(and we've skipped looking at any Crysler/Dodge vans because of the Generation 3 seat belts):

1995, 1996, 1998 Ford Windstar
1997,1998, 2001 Chevy Venture
1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 Mercury Villager
1993, 1995 Nissan Quest
1993 Ford Aerostar
1995, 1997 GMC Safari
1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 Chevy Astro
1997 Ford Conversion Van
1993, 1994, 1995 Suburban
1995, 1999 Tahoe

Any input?? Thanks in advance, Sara

[abacus2]

I would try to narrow down your list by finding out which vehicles have headrests in at least some rear seating positions.

[J-max]

Defiantly not an expert, but I love my suburban. I have had a 98 and now have an 04. I can easily get 5 seats, (all britax) including a regent, and can get 6 if I swap it out for a BLVD. I am know the 98 had headrests in the 2 center outboard positions, but I am not sure about the 3rd seat, it may have. but it had lap belts and no headrests for both center positions. I have 4 kids, and often have my 11 month old niece too and they all fit comfortably.

[jen_nah]

I know the '99 Tahoe has headrests in all outboard positions but lapbelts in the center positions. The Regents & any convertible infant seat will fit in the 2nd row but Regents with a 3rd seat in the 3rd wouldn't work. The Radian with boosters in a Tahoe would. Plus there is only 1 top tether in the 3rd row but 3 in the 2nd row (if you go with a 2nd row bench).

[BW1426]

Check out my thread on the Mercury Villager.

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=47907

[skaterbabscpst]

Try for a '95 Suburban. It will have head support and lap/shoulder belts in all outboard positions, so will last you a VERY long time. (Until your younger two outgrow all available high-weight-harnessed seats, which could be 8 years or more.)

Gas milage is okay, and it shouldn't feel too crowded.

[Jeanum]

Sara posted over the weekend in this thread to say her family bought a '96 Windstar. http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=47592

[Saramomofmany]

Sara posted over the weekend in this thread to say her family bought a '96 Windstar. http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=47592

Jean, thanks for updating my post. For some reason when I tried to find this thread I wasn't able to...I would click on the link but it brought up a different post!!:eek:

Thanks, Sara

[abtowell]

We used to have an 8 passenger 2001 Pontiac Montana which I believe is the same as the Venture you are mentioning. It was a great car. We owned it when we had only 5 all in carseats. It was a great van and the seats fit well. We have upgraded twice since then due to havgin 7 in carseats now but I highly recommend it. I also liked our 04 Toyota Sienna 8 passenger but that may be out of your range. Hope that helps.