Christie
New member
We are looking to purchase a new-to-us mini van in the next 6 months. I currently drive a 12 passenger Chevy Express with both side doors (LOVE this!). This is my every-time-I-go-anywhere vehicle as our only other vehicles are 2 Jeep Wranglers. Not very practical when you still have 8 children at home.
Since this will primarily be my vehicle, I get to do a fair amount of the approving.
I need:
8 passenger seating would be fantastic, but not a deal breaker.
DVD/Entertainment
Good to Excellent ventilation (kids complain of not being cool/warm enough)
Cargo space
Navigation would be very, very nice
Adequate access to the back bench
The 4 yr old needs to NOT be sitting near the other 2 car seats, for safety reasons
I'd love to also get:
leather seating
easy seat removal/storage
some of the bells and whistles
automatic doors/hatch would be LOVERLY!!
Car seat situation:
DD 10 months currently RF in a KF30 (has plenty of room), will go into a Boulevard once she needs to move
DS 4 yrs ERF in a Boulevard (he fits per measurements), but will be moved into a Diono XRT to continue to ERF
DD 6 yrs will most likely move into a Frontier, currently FF in a Boulevard
I also have a (VERY tall) 7 yr old (too big for any kind of booster), a 9 yr old, and an almost 11 year old that will be full-time riders in this vehicle. Also have a 15 yr old and a 17 yr old.
I personally am leaning towards the Honda Odyssey. I've had a Grand Caravan before and LOVED it. But in looking at safety ratings, I have a feeling that the Odyssey will be better than the Caravan. Other than the Caravan, I have no real experience with mini vans.
We purchased our Express in '06 as an '05 with just under 20K miles. It currently has just over 122K on it.... and that includes several 1k+ mile trips (each way). We won't really be using the mini van for these kinds of trips since it won't fit the entire family still.
Alright, GO!
Since this will primarily be my vehicle, I get to do a fair amount of the approving.
I need:
8 passenger seating would be fantastic, but not a deal breaker.
DVD/Entertainment
Good to Excellent ventilation (kids complain of not being cool/warm enough)
Cargo space
Navigation would be very, very nice
Adequate access to the back bench
The 4 yr old needs to NOT be sitting near the other 2 car seats, for safety reasons
I'd love to also get:
leather seating
easy seat removal/storage
some of the bells and whistles
automatic doors/hatch would be LOVERLY!!
Car seat situation:
DD 10 months currently RF in a KF30 (has plenty of room), will go into a Boulevard once she needs to move
DS 4 yrs ERF in a Boulevard (he fits per measurements), but will be moved into a Diono XRT to continue to ERF
DD 6 yrs will most likely move into a Frontier, currently FF in a Boulevard
I also have a (VERY tall) 7 yr old (too big for any kind of booster), a 9 yr old, and an almost 11 year old that will be full-time riders in this vehicle. Also have a 15 yr old and a 17 yr old.
I personally am leaning towards the Honda Odyssey. I've had a Grand Caravan before and LOVED it. But in looking at safety ratings, I have a feeling that the Odyssey will be better than the Caravan. Other than the Caravan, I have no real experience with mini vans.
We purchased our Express in '06 as an '05 with just under 20K miles. It currently has just over 122K on it.... and that includes several 1k+ mile trips (each way). We won't really be using the mini van for these kinds of trips since it won't fit the entire family still.
Alright, GO!