My wife (who is now expecting our first) has babysat a 3 and 7 yr. old for the past 8 months or so, which most days involves picking them up across town and bringing them back to our place for the day so the car does see duties comperable to "family running" use. In-law's and a lot of friends own Grand Caravans, the occasional Odyssey, etc., of 2003 or so model-year and up. Having considered some of the same things as you here's my $.02 worth. My opinion of the vehicle that combines all the traits we'd want if adding another to the fleet is a late GMT400 or 800 Tahoe or Suburban, K1500 or maybe a particularly well maintained small block K2500 - however, wifey hates maneuvering a full-size truck or SUV so something smaller (or at least that feels smaller) is in order. I dislike front wheel drive and "mom vans" but crossovers - new Explorer, Equinox, etc. - I heartily object to. Each vehicle of that type I've driven was more intimidating to pilot than anything else I've driven - bulky, strange vantage point on the chassis, drives like a brick wall going down the road (and not in the way my C3500 does), tons of space but to the end of ample comfort for a few passengers rather than respectable comfort for quite a few. In the face of buying something like that (except a Forester - head and shoulders above its competition IMHO) I'd buy a Caravan hands down. Straightforward, effective, pretty utilitarian when configured right, darned tough chassis for what's basically an oversized car, and in contrast to the crossovers it feels confident and natural to drive. I've passed on the 2-lane and driven in the city in the in-law's '09 Caravan and it's just as comfortable as being in any of my other vehicles - making it clear it has mass and some bulk, but not arranged such that it's difficult to command or will get away from you easily. Wifey agrees on that point. "Parent life" is manageable in a sedan, crew-cab mid-size pickup, etc., but I've abandoned my former opinion that people with a minivan need to go all-in and get a Suburban - they already have, just without my penchant for ground clearance, tow capacity, and, err, "gonads".
Are minivans still the best kid vehicles?
- Thread starter Klutch9
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Ford flex is always forgotten. Extra seating and more sedan like handling
Originally Posted By: supton
The older minivans weren't so huge, and were more practical. I mean, kids beat stuff up, so why spend gobs of money?
With 2 kids we decided to skip--3 and we'd have the minivan. Sedan works for us, although we always sweat when they open their doors. Although ours are out of diapers, playpens, strollers, etc--those first couple of years are ridiculous, the amount of stuff that gets toted around.
This is why I recommend USED minivans. Kids beat stuff up. Buying a 40k minivan to allow young kids to destroy it makes no sense. Buying a used 10-15k minivan makes all sorts of sense.
The older minivans weren't so huge, and were more practical. I mean, kids beat stuff up, so why spend gobs of money?
With 2 kids we decided to skip--3 and we'd have the minivan. Sedan works for us, although we always sweat when they open their doors. Although ours are out of diapers, playpens, strollers, etc--those first couple of years are ridiculous, the amount of stuff that gets toted around.
This is why I recommend USED minivans. Kids beat stuff up. Buying a 40k minivan to allow young kids to destroy it makes no sense. Buying a used 10-15k minivan makes all sorts of sense.
Originally Posted By: javacontour
Originally Posted By: supton
The older minivans weren't so huge, and were more practical. I mean, kids beat stuff up, so why spend gobs of money?
With 2 kids we decided to skip--3 and we'd have the minivan. Sedan works for us, although we always sweat when they open their doors. Although ours are out of diapers, playpens, strollers, etc--those first couple of years are ridiculous, the amount of stuff that gets toted around.
This is why I recommend USED minivans. Kids beat stuff up. Buying a 40k minivan to allow young kids to destroy it makes no sense. Buying a used 10-15k minivan makes all sorts of sense.
commercial vans = hosable rubber floor.....
(one can dream)
OP, also there is the mini-minivans market:
-mazda5
-ford transit connect wagon (5-seat or 7-seat)
-and a couple others....
they may be smaller in print/size, but they consume the same as a minivan.....
Originally Posted By: supton
The older minivans weren't so huge, and were more practical. I mean, kids beat stuff up, so why spend gobs of money?
With 2 kids we decided to skip--3 and we'd have the minivan. Sedan works for us, although we always sweat when they open their doors. Although ours are out of diapers, playpens, strollers, etc--those first couple of years are ridiculous, the amount of stuff that gets toted around.
This is why I recommend USED minivans. Kids beat stuff up. Buying a 40k minivan to allow young kids to destroy it makes no sense. Buying a used 10-15k minivan makes all sorts of sense.
commercial vans = hosable rubber floor.....
(one can dream)
OP, also there is the mini-minivans market:
-mazda5
-ford transit connect wagon (5-seat or 7-seat)
-and a couple others....
they may be smaller in print/size, but they consume the same as a minivan.....
minivans are immensely practical and i never minded them. in fact, now that they are sort of going out of style, in my opinion the cool factor is rising. sliding doors are great, flat loading in the back carries a lot of weekend project gear, furniture. They are more economical to operate and usually have better 3rd row seating than the big SUVs. they don't try to be something they're not. Driven correctly, they can tow a pop-up camper with 4 people and dog/2 and gear.
Originally Posted By: javacontour
supton said:
Originally Posted By: pandus13
commercial vans = hosable rubber floor.....
(one can dream)
Actually, the perfect kid vehicle is a limo.
Pull all the luxury stuff out of the back and outfit it like a commercial truck, so you can hose it out.
Privacy glass works both ways. So the parents can ride up front in quiet luxury while the kids literally tear it up in back.
Once you arrive, hose out the back, kids and all....
commercial vans = hosable rubber floor.....
(one can dream)
Actually, the perfect kid vehicle is a limo.
Pull all the luxury stuff out of the back and outfit it like a commercial truck, so you can hose it out.
Privacy glass works both ways. So the parents can ride up front in quiet luxury while the kids literally tear it up in back.
Once you arrive, hose out the back, kids and all....
Kids beat up vehicles, as much or as little, as their parents allow them to.
The one feature you will appreciate on a mini-van is the sliding side doors. With the exception of the Dodge/Chrysler vans which can be problematic. Try putting your car seat in and out, or even wrangling your child into an already mounted child seat. After a few times of banging the vehicle next to you with your car door and paying for repairs and/or dealing with angry car owners, you will appreciate a mini-van. In addition, the extra height of a mini-van will make it easier on your back trying to get your child in and out. We have owned a mini-van for the past fourteen years at least. Great cargo room when throwing extra things like day cribs, strollers, etc... when traveling to visit the family on holidays.
Suvs are back engineered at carrying more then 5 passengers. Minivans design sheet starts with 7 passengers and maximum space.
Minivans Rock! I've always had one in my stable over the last 25 years. Basically since shortly after my first child was born. They are great for vacations, car pooling, soccer trips, hauling plywood/drywall, camping, soccer tournaments, moving dorm room furniture etc. back and forth to college, it's even great for the annual Christmas tree cutting trip(the wrapped tree fits right inside the van). It's amazing how much stuff you can fit in these things. I even know a few tradesman that prefer a beat up old mini-van to a work pick-up truck.
I grew up with a minivan, loved it. I like SUVs and the image, but the practicality of a minivan can't be beat. The same or better gas mileage, while carrying more people and stuff with more comfort. And the sliding doors are a massive help in tight parking lots. Plus I can buy full 4x8 sheets at the hardware store!
I just had a child and my corolla is no problem for around town use..I am considering a venza or highlander down the road as we plan child 2 and maybe 3. Would most likely rent a minivan for longer trips than around town. Car seats arent as big as they used to be so I think you might be exaggerating a bit if you only have one child. Maybe worth considering with your second..but again your fusion should handle two for around town..guess it depends what you do and where you go..etc.
Yes!
Just too bad we don't get the Rondo or Mazda 5 anymore (they're still sold in Canada, and both are available with a manual transmission too!)
Just too bad we don't get the Rondo or Mazda 5 anymore (they're still sold in Canada, and both are available with a manual transmission too!)
We are empty nester and still driving the 1999 van. When we retire it, we will buy another one. Nothing beats the utility and comfort of a minivan on long drives. If MDX (or similar SUV) is filled with 7 passengers, there is zero room for their luggage.
Too bad Chevrolet and Ford don't make mini-vans anymore.
Originally Posted By: otis24
Too bad Chevrolet and Ford don't make mini-vans anymore.
Why? They were never any good.
Too bad Chevrolet and Ford don't make mini-vans anymore.
Why? They were never any good.
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Originally Posted By: otis24
Too bad Chevrolet and Ford don't make mini-vans anymore.
Why? They were never any good.
My dad had an '94 Astro with the 4.3 and he really liked it. Never really had any problems with it.
Originally Posted By: otis24
Too bad Chevrolet and Ford don't make mini-vans anymore.
Why? They were never any good.
My dad had an '94 Astro with the 4.3 and he really liked it. Never really had any problems with it.
Originally Posted By: otis24
Too bad Chevrolet and Ford don't make mini-vans anymore.
Ford makes the Transit Connect
Too bad Chevrolet and Ford don't make mini-vans anymore.
Ford makes the Transit Connect
Originally Posted By: blupupher
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Originally Posted By: otis24
Too bad Chevrolet and Ford don't make mini-vans anymore.
Why? They were never any good.
My dad had an '94 Astro with the 4.3 and he really liked it. Never really had any problems with it.
We had an '87 which wore out its motor at 100k. That said, sometimes I wonder if it's not the "next" vehicle I'd like to have. RWD for towing, and a big box otherwise. Too bad everything under the hood is inside a shoebox and as such near-impossible to work on.
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
Originally Posted By: otis24
Too bad Chevrolet and Ford don't make mini-vans anymore.
Why? They were never any good.
My dad had an '94 Astro with the 4.3 and he really liked it. Never really had any problems with it.
We had an '87 which wore out its motor at 100k. That said, sometimes I wonder if it's not the "next" vehicle I'd like to have. RWD for towing, and a big box otherwise. Too bad everything under the hood is inside a shoebox and as such near-impossible to work on.
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