Used car, 5 seats.

[careynj]

If you had to buy a used vehicle to fit 5 kids. 5 (in Cosco booster), 4 (Cosco booster), 3 (scenera or something like it FF), 1 (RF in scenera or something like it) unborn baby, I think it's a Graco seat. Low budget, like well under 10,000 what would you get? Both parents are about 6 feet tall, kids a all average size. And I don't think the would be willing to reharness. Thanks
Edited: I'd actually love to know how a three across in a safari/astro goes.

 

[jjordan]

Maybe a Kia Sedona, 2006 or newer? Should be able to find one of those for $10k or under. Well, in the US, anyway. I see you are in Canada; not sure if the car is for a Canadian family, or what car prices are like there.

I'm not 100% sure that you can get 3 across in the back with a combination of the seats listed, but I expect it is do-able.

Maybe a Dodge Caravan? Not sure how good those are for 3 across in the back.

 

[careynj]

Yep, in Canada as are they They currently have an older 8 seater Montana that is on its way out. I have a feeling they would like an 8 seater since it's entirely possible this isn't their last. Looks to me like it's a Sienna or astro/safari. Is there something I'm missing?

 

[oddduck]

I'd get an 8 passenger minivan and do 3 across in the middle. A lot easier then trying to find seats to fit in the 49" or so in the 3rd row of a minivan.

Eg, not sure on their budget, but something like this would work.

http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/c-cars-v...ontana-8-PASSENGER-Minivan-W0QQAdIdZ375087230

 

[jjordan]

There's the "trick" of getting a caravan and finding an additional third row to put in where the second row belongs (which turns it into an 8 passenger vehicle).

Another option, although perhaps out of their price range, is an Odyssey with the "plus one" seat. It's not as useful as the 8th seat in the 2004-2010 Siennas, but it is generally easier to find (IME).

 

[careynj]

Oddduck. That's pretty much what they have right now! lol there's is I think a 2002 but it's pretty shot. No heat, no air and just general issues. I had heard the old odyssey's had transmission issues. Were there only certain years that were an issue?

 

[sahmlaura]

We had a 2004 odyssey that we bought used and it had pretty major transmission issues. we traded it in for a mazda 5 last year, but now that we have #3 on the way and moved to a bigger city where the driving is more dangerous, I don't want to put my oldest in the rear row, so we're looking at getting something else (possibly another van) again. I won't buy another used odyssey just because of that, though.

 

[careynj]

I had heard there were issues with the Odyssey...

 

[Nimommyof2]

If they are in Canada is the 4yr old even big enough legally for a booster? I'd try to find a Sienna I think. I would think an astro or safari would work as well but not sure on tethers and headrests.

 

[careynj]

He's a pretty solid kid, I would think he's just over 40. Probably just over, but I wouldn't think she would go again the rules like that, she takes this stuff pretty seriously.