We are trading our Honda Accord for a Town and Country. I have looked at the Crash ratings, and see that in a big frontal collision, I might break my legs. I can live with that. (great huh?). But, when I compared it to other models in the same price range, they did just as bad. So, we'll just have to go with it.
I also know about the seat belts. I'll look at how much it is to replace them, but I've also decided to NOT put two car seats next to each other (so they don't rub or bounce on the stalk). I'll also be a stickler about loose objects in the car (minimizing the risk as much as possible).
Hopefully, those things, along with having properly restrained children will help a lot.
The T&C we are getting is a 1997, and we are trading a 1998 Accord with the same amount of miles.
BOTH cars are holding up fine. Our Honda has a wanky lock that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, and right now, after some freak opened a car door on our door handle, it can't be opened from the outside (we can get it fixed, but haven't bothered, in an accident, they can just break the window, or it can be opened from the inside, so it is no different than having it "locked"). The paint on both is fine, the interior on both is fine, and the materials are holding up fine. So, I just assume, as some of you have suggested, that it is model specific. Some are more cheaply made than others (and for a while, the US cars had that reputation, and it is hard for us coasters (west coast), who are used to SO MANY foreign cars on the road to get over that block that "American is bad" (Really, I only know 2 people who drive American where I live, and one of them is a 2006 Suburban, and the other one is a very old Ford Van).
The real question as I see it, that has been rattling around in my brain a lot, is, I am thinking more and more about going all American. I just wonder how much we, as a nation, rely on our "trade partners". I was wondering if it would even be possible to run a household on ONLY American made products. Could I buy an American made toothbrush, where not only was it assembled in the US, but the plastic was manufactured here as well? Even if I made my own clothing, most fabric is made in China. Even the food I eat, has ingredients from China. (Like the Veggie Bootie that just had the outbreak). Could I buy American made baby bottles? What about a crib?
And the big question.... Is there an American made car seat?
I have been tinkering with the idea of only buying American made products for an entire month and seeing what would happen. My mom thinks I'll SAVE a lot of money, because I won't be able to find much to buy, even though the items I buy will be more expensive.
Has anyone done this experiment?
Erika