skipspin
New member
*Update* at end.
We're still looking, but don't have to replace until May-ish, but probably could sooner. We're looking at the $6000 range, but maybe up to $8000. We will have cash.
Judging from what we have seen we could get a 05 or 06 Grand Caravan with under 80k miles or probably an 07 Mazda5, not sure on the mileage- but not super low, probably average. We're okay with some minor fixable problems because my DH used to do bodywork and car mechanics, so he can fix about anything for the price of parts. We could get it painted cheap by a great painter too since he works for DH.
Right now we have the 3 kids- and DD can be in a booster when we get the van/5. We should have any more kids for at least 3 years, and even then we aren't sure. Maybe one more. Maybe. I like my Radians, but they don't have a long time left and I can easily replace seats when we get a new vehicle. (DH has been warned. LOL)
DH and I love the 5. We rented one for a road trip for a week in May and liked it even more. I can deal with the storage, or lack thereof. I'm most concerned that we'll only have 1 extra seat and I might regret that. Also, no rear air in Florida. Are the kids going to roast? There is a chance my granparents (out west) might be getting an Expedition to keep out here and if that's the case we can just take that if we need extra seats a few times a year. They visit maybe 2 months out of the year a few weeks at a time. We also have DH's huge truck if we need to haul stuff or go on a trip with more space. It's an 05 HD crew cab.
The caravan is the other option. The stowngo is neat, but I sort of like the bench too since it would be better for 2 rfing seats and the stowngo seems like it could break. The seats aren't the comfy either with stowngo, IMO. We'd have plenty of room. DH knows he can fix any issues and the engine we would get gets 200k plus miles with no big issues all the time. Can I realistically get 7 in it anyway with 3 in seats?
Safety-wise I'm having a hard time seeing that one is just a ton better than the others.
We're still looking, but don't have to replace until May-ish, but probably could sooner. We're looking at the $6000 range, but maybe up to $8000. We will have cash.
Judging from what we have seen we could get a 05 or 06 Grand Caravan with under 80k miles or probably an 07 Mazda5, not sure on the mileage- but not super low, probably average. We're okay with some minor fixable problems because my DH used to do bodywork and car mechanics, so he can fix about anything for the price of parts. We could get it painted cheap by a great painter too since he works for DH.
Right now we have the 3 kids- and DD can be in a booster when we get the van/5. We should have any more kids for at least 3 years, and even then we aren't sure. Maybe one more. Maybe. I like my Radians, but they don't have a long time left and I can easily replace seats when we get a new vehicle. (DH has been warned. LOL)
DH and I love the 5. We rented one for a road trip for a week in May and liked it even more. I can deal with the storage, or lack thereof. I'm most concerned that we'll only have 1 extra seat and I might regret that. Also, no rear air in Florida. Are the kids going to roast? There is a chance my granparents (out west) might be getting an Expedition to keep out here and if that's the case we can just take that if we need extra seats a few times a year. They visit maybe 2 months out of the year a few weeks at a time. We also have DH's huge truck if we need to haul stuff or go on a trip with more space. It's an 05 HD crew cab.
The caravan is the other option. The stowngo is neat, but I sort of like the bench too since it would be better for 2 rfing seats and the stowngo seems like it could break. The seats aren't the comfy either with stowngo, IMO. We'd have plenty of room. DH knows he can fix any issues and the engine we would get gets 200k plus miles with no big issues all the time. Can I realistically get 7 in it anyway with 3 in seats?
Safety-wise I'm having a hard time seeing that one is just a ton better than the others.
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