Can you do this?

libranbutterfly

New member

• Apr 25, 2010

• #1

I have been looking at vans to get a price range, and because I am an obsessive planner Planning on buying with tax returns NEXT year. I was just wondering if it is possible to make a 7 passenger sienna or venture/montana/silhuette into an 8 passenger? I wasnt sure because of the modular seats in the middle. I know it is possible with dodge with the bench seats (at least older models, probably not with stow and go)Even though I only have 2 children, I am frequently presented with the opportunity/need to transport 2-3 other children, so am really wanting to get an 8 passenger.

Thanks

 

libranbutterfly

New member

• Apr 25, 2010

• #2

Also, what year did the above vans start having top tethers factory installed? I am not too worried about latch, because I wont be getting anything new enough for super latch, and do better with seatbelt installs. Thank you!

 

Pixels

New member

• Apr 25, 2010

• #3

Sienna started coming with top tether anchors in 2001. Older models are retrofittable.

Venture/Montata started coming with TAs in 2001. There is a recall on some 2001 MY vehicles because the diameter of the LATCH anchors is too large. Dealer will repair.

Most GM vehicles manufactered in 1989 or later are retrofittable.

 

Qarin

New member

• Apr 25, 2010

• #4

My 1998 Silhouette has "tether anchors" for the middle row outside seats (captains chairs in my van- i don't know if you can put a bench there)- they are the seatbelt anchors on the floor for the third row outboard shouder belts. It is just shy of ridiculous, and there is no retrofit to put tether anchors in for the third row.

 

libranbutterfly

New member

• Apr 25, 2010

• #5

How many tether anchors are in the vans? I have way too much trouble getting tethers retrofitted around here, and am using that excuse to get a newer van Probably looking at a 2001 + montana/venture but want to know about siennas incase I find a great deal.

 

carseatcoach

Carseat Crankypants

• Apr 25, 2010

• #6

I don't know about tethers, but have you checked informedforlife.org about the Venture and its clones? If you don't absolutely NEED eight-passengers seating, I think it might be a good idea to consider other models.

 

Qarin

New member

• Apr 25, 2010

• #7

I try not to think about it much, because we have what we have and we have no other options at this time, but chickabiddy is absolutely right.

 

An Aurora

Senior Community Member

• Apr 25, 2010

• #8

With the Venture & clones, yes you can change out the 2 modular seats in the back for the 3-seater bench. It's a very tight squeeze but you can do 3-across.
ETA: and yes, the Venture is a deathtrap. We are getting rid of ours soon, hopefully within the next month, even though we will end up still owing a little on it.

 

Jeanum

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus

Staff member

• Apr 25, 2010

• #9

The 8-passenger Sienna version first became available for the 2004 model year. However, the 2004-2010 Sienna cannot be converted from a 7-passenger to an 8-passenger model due to differences in the 7- and 8-passenger's floor pans and their respective anchor points for the second row vehicle seats.

 

MANDY1234

New member

• Apr 25, 2010

• #10

That makes me so sad that you cant make a 7 into an 8 seater I was just coming to ask...guess my Sennia will be replaced much sooner than we expected...I wonder if I can find a used 8 passenger??

 

Jeanum

Admin - CPS Technician Emeritus

Staff member

• Apr 26, 2010

• #11

It should be possible to find a used one with 7 model years of availability out there starting with 2004. To help narrow down your used van search a bit, Siennas with the 8-passenger seating option have been available in the CE and LE trim levels, but not available in the more spendy XLE or XLE Limited trim levels which are 7-passenger only.

 

libranbutterfly

New member

• May 6, 2010

• #12

Jeanum said:

It should be possible to find a used one with 7 model years of availability out there starting with 2004. To help narrow down your used van search a bit, Siennas with the 8-passenger seating option have been available in the CE and LE trim levels, but not available in the more spendy XLE or XLE Limited trim levels which are 7-passenger only.

Click to expand...

My "budget" was only going to be around $6000, which is WAY more than any other vehicle we have ever owned. My last van was the most expensive before that, and it was $1000. I will look, but I dont think I will find a sienna in that range. Starting in a couple weeks I will be watching 3-4 children + my 2 everyday, so 8 passenger is important. I also really want to have tether anchors factory installed because dealers around here WONt do retrofits, they want to charge alot.

 

Judi

CPST/Firefighter

• May 7, 2010

• #13

I turned my 2000 Windstar from a 7 to an 8. It even has a tether anchor on the front seat.

 

G

Guest

New member

• May 7, 2010

• #14

I know for sure you can't turn a 7 seater Sienna into an 8. We tried.

 

christineka

New member

• May 7, 2010

• #15

Even when vehicles are retrofitable, it doesn't mean that you can put anchors everywhere. I had a 7 passenger ford aerostar and an extra 3 person bench. Tether anchors were only retrofitable for the passenger seat and three spots for the middle bench.

 

jourdysmom

CPST Instructor

• May 7, 2010

• #16

Do NOT buy a Venture, Montana or other clone!

I own a 2003, and though it has held up well to NUMEROUS deer thinking that I was their best way out of this world, mechanically they are JUNK!!!!!

Lets see... 130k miles....bought used with 36k in May 2004

New wheel bearings (x9), new tie rods, new CV boot something or others, new electrical for the passenger side front window, BOTH sliding doors have quit working properly, AND due to GM crap workmanship all motors were affected and there was a class action lawsuit (that I missed by 3 months) and it cost me $2300 for a new (USED) motor last March at 109k.

Disaster! I would NEVER have kept it, if it weren't for the 8 seats which we need! We really can't do 7, just too hard to reach seat belts and get seats that will puzzle right...

Other than that, I have no other suggestions for you. I do know that my in-laws had the 7 seat version, and we could not swap seats, the tracks were completely different. Even the back row tracks! I have the 50/50 split, they had a full bench.