If you have 3+ kids what do you drive?

[Deleted]

Searching for a vehicle that will fit 4 kids in carseats with 2 of them rear facing. It also needs to be able to tow at least 2,500 lbs, which rules out the Mazda5 (which I really like). I've posted on here once before and also have read a lot online, but it's looking like a Honda Odyssey is in our future. I just want to be sure I leave no stone unturned in my search for a minivan alternative, lol. I did learn about the Ford Taurus X (which some call a crossover and some call a wagon) and I like it, but DH thinks its even uglier than a minivan. Not that a minivan is really that ugly. I'm just having a hard time coming to terms with it.

[lanyac]

I don't have one, but I found this. autos.aol.com/car-finder/3rd-row-seating/

[thinkofthesoldiers]

I don't know the specs on it, but we rented a Nissan Quest recently and liked it better than the Honda Odyssey. It drove really nicely, did well on gas, and had excellent power. Check it out in your inevitable switch to a minivan. lol

[kimibrighteyes]

I've heard the Renault Clio can fit 19 kids in it
www.nydailynews.com/news/world/cops-stop-woman-19-kids-tiny-car-article-1.1181928

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2012 21:25:02 GMT -5 kimibrighteyes said:

I've heard the Renault Clio can fit 19 kids in it
www.nydailynews.com/news/world/cops-stop-woman-19-kids-tiny-car-article-1.1181928

Ha ha ha ha! That is seriously cracking me up. I'll just get a mini Cooper then and put a couple kids in the back seat and the rest in the trunk.

[Deleted]

Dupe

[GailGoldie]

i have a dodge grand caravan - i didn't get to shop around with minivans b/c it's a company car- but i have no complaints. Having auto open doors, stow & go seating, all the space = wonderful. I don't care that i drive a minivan anymore... love it.

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2012 21:09:07 GMT -5 lanyac said:

I don't have one, but I found this. autos.aol.com/car-finder/3rd-row-seating/

Thanks! This is helpful!

I'll also look into the Nissan minivan.

[Deleted]

Toyota Sequoia's are awesome.

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2012 21:32:53 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

i have a dodge grand caravan - i didn't get to shop around with minivans b/c it's a company car- but i have no complaints. Having auto open doors, stow & go seating, all the space = wonderful. I don't care that i drive a minivan anymore... love it.

I really like the price of the Dodge compared to the Honda. Consumer Reports rates the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna much higher than the Dodge, but I have a hard time with the price when it's not a car that I'm in love with. Although it seems that many people end up loving their minivan. The Caravan is definitely a possibility.

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2012 21:40:39 GMT -5 @godawgs said:

Oct 16, 2012 21:32:53 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

i have a dodge grand caravan - i didn't get to shop around with minivans b/c it's a company car- but i have no complaints. Having auto open doors, stow & go seating, all the space = wonderful. I don't care that i drive a minivan anymore... love it.

I really like the price of the Dodge compared to the Honda. Consumer Reports rates the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna much higher than the Dodge, but I have a hard time with the price when it's not a car that I'm in love with. Although it seems that many people end up loving their minivan. The Caravan is definitely a possibility.

. I have no advice, I just want to say that I love it when people consult Consumer Reports, it's like my buying bible and has never told me wrong. That is all.

[luvmagoldn]

I drive a (previously owned) Suburban and love it.

::ducking and running for cover::

[h]

Our third kid isn't here yet, but we just bought an Odyssey, and I am embarrassed to admit that I am kind of in love with it. The automatic doors, the fact that my kids can get in and out themselves so easily, all the features. It is just so damn practical.

We also have a Highlander Hybrid with a third row. We love the car, but an SUV with a third row is not nearly as convenient for three kids.

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2012 21:49:14 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Oct 16, 2012 21:40:39 GMT -5 @godawgs said:

I really like the price of the Dodge compared to the Honda. Consumer Reports rates the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna much higher than the Dodge, but I have a hard time with the price when it's not a car that I'm in love with. Although it seems that many people end up loving their minivan. The Caravan is definitely a possibility.

. I have no advice, I just want to say that I love it when people consult Consumer Reports, it's like my buying bible and has never told me wrong. That is all.

I am a CR addict. I pretty much picked my current car (Acura TSX) from the nearly perfect CR review. The idea of making a big purchase and buying something that doesn't get great CR ratings freaks me out, lol.

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2012 22:21:13 GMT -5 h said:

Our third kid isn't here yet, but we just bought an Odyssey, and I am embarrassed to admit that I am kind of in love with it. The automatic doors, the fact that my kids can get in and out themselves so easily, all the features. It is just so damn practical.

We also have a Highlander Hybrid with a third row. We love the car, but an SUV with a third row is not nearly as convenient for three kids.

Yep, this is what everyone tells us, and I don't want to hear it. Really a minivan just makes the most sense for us.

[Deleted]

Oct 16, 2012 21:58:46 GMT -5 luvmagoldn said:

I drive a (previously owned) Suburban and love it.

::ducking and running for cover::

Those things are sooooo expensive, and I think I would have a heart attack each time I filled it up with gas.

[sunny]

I haven't been impressed with the longevity of my nissan minivan. I would probably go for honda or toyota. once you go automatic doors I don't think you go back

[Deleted]

I am logging into CR right now to look up the Nissan Quest.

[GailGoldie]

i have no idea about tethers, etc- but we have 3 FF sunshine radian car seats in the back row of the caravan... and keep the middle 2 seats stowed unless we need them = soooo much space!! And seat belt install is just as safe as latch - it's just not as easy to do.

if you need 3 seats across - in even small vehicles you can get them to fit by using seat belt install. latch tends to pull seats towards the middle, and wastes space... but using belts to install gives more room, and is just as safe. We had 3 across the back of a ford escape, and now a milan sedan.

[jena]

Embrace the minivan. Give in to its siren song!

We looked at a Quest too, but at least in the year we were looking at, it kind of had stadium seating - there were 2 levels to the floor from the 2nd to 3rd row, which was weird. Also, the captain chairs in the 2nd row could only be in the outboard positions, which means if you want to have 2 RFing carseats in the 2nd row, then you have no easy access to the 3rd row.

With a Sienna (definitely) or an Odyssey (I believe), you can move one of the captain's chairs to the middle position, making the little walkway to the 3rd row next to the passenger side door. So you can have 2 RFing carseats in the 2nd row and still let adult sized people into the back.

We have a 7 seat Sienna with no frills and it's amazingly convenient. My only small regret is not getting the 8 seater instead. But that's only because we weren't really planning kid 4 and because my MIL lives with us part time so one extra seat would be nice.

We got the Sienna over the Odyssey because the Honda's hold their value a little too well - the price of a used one was hardly lower than a new one and we couldn't afford it. There weren't a ton of Sienna's on the market in our price/year range, but there were literally zero Odysseys that we could afford (we were looking at used ones under 20k that were less than 2 years old)

[Deleted]

I drive a Nissan Pathfinder now & had 3 carseats across the 2nd row for a good while. I traded in my Britax & bought Radians. Now I'm down to 1 carseat, 1 booster & 1 kid who is old enough to go without. We are looking for a bigger car (DH will take the Pathfinder) for when #4 comes...likely a bigger SUV (for 4WD & towing). But we are in no rush, I'll put the older 2 in the third row if need be.

[h]

I am pretty sure my Odyssey has five latch positions and six top tethers. You can safely transport up to six kids in car seats in it. You can definitely configure it to make an aisle to the third row along the side.

We were all set to buy a very gently used Odyssey, but the two year old ones with 15-20k miles were only a couple thousand cheaper than we could get a new 2012 for since dealers are trying to move the remaining 2012s now. So we bought new. It is so comfortable that I am tempted to go sleep in it in our garage like that mom in the commercial.

[stephm0188]

The 2011 and 2012 Sienna only have three tether spots. Two in the middle, one in the back. Sil

[barefootcontessa]

The Ford Flex is another option to a minivan. I have also had three Radians (now made by Diono) in a single row. We have four carseated children and the reason why we did not get a minivan is because there wasn't enough cargo space. We travel a lot and need the space, so we have a Suburban also. I love it but the gas is killer.

[Deleted]

I have a T&C minivan and a Nissan Quest. Both do the job.

I have a friend looking at the Mercedes Sprinter, but she has a lot more kids than I do.

[Deleted]

Not sure what you're looking to spend, but if you really want an SUV with some of the features of a minivan you might want to check out an Infinity. It has a moveable seat in the second row that allows really easy access to the third row.

A friend of mine has one and I really like it. I think we are going to go with that when my car needs to be replaced. I have a Volvo XC90 and for now it works having three car seats in the second row.

[moolarkey]

We had a suburban when we had kids but we made 2.25 hour one-way trips to our boat every weekend and we needed the space for the kids and the gear. It was fabulous. With gas prices the way they are now, I don't know that I could do it again but it was perfect for us. Road extremely well. Now H has a 3500 Ram extended cab and I don't like the ride near as well but (and I'm not a motorhead at all) H says it's cause it's built to tow and when we're not towing - which we almost never do, boat is 32 feet and has a flybridge so we don't tow it anywhere - it can be a little bit of a stiff ride.

[victorsgal]

We have Nissan Pathfinder with 3rd row seats.

[lemondrop34]

I have 4 children and wanted to add my $0.02. I was like you and did not want a van, at first. Gave in and got a Dodge Caravan. Loved the van. Very roomy and enough space for everyone and every thing. Filling the tank with gas was not a bank breaker. However, I did buy a used Dodge with 35,000 miles. After 3 months, the entire transmission went out. Since it was used, the warranty did not transfer. We replaced the transmission, out of our own pockets. About a month later, the van went dead. Took it to the dealer, had the battery changed. Got it home and had to turn the ignition 20 times before it would crank. We were tapped out from the transmission repair, so I lived with it for about a month. Finally, took back to the dealer. They replaced the wires. Brought it home. Same problem. Took it to a different auto mechanic. Took two weeks to figure out that the whole computer system was bad. Had to replace the whole computer system. After owning the van for 6 months, I got the go ahead to trade in that piece of crap.

Please look into Consumer Reports on Dodge. If I had looked into that particular van, I probably could have saved myself some time and money.

I got a Ford Taurus X. I love my car, crossover, glorified minivan,whatever it is! I will say that if you have to haul strollers and groceries together, that's not gonna work. The trunk is too small. I only have one kid in a carseat now, so we have plenty of room. But we had to buy an umbreller stroller to keep in place of our big bulky stroller. Other than that, it's a great car!

Sorry for the novel, but I honestly would never buy a used Dodge Caravan again! I would hate for someone else to have the same problem.

[Deleted]

Oct 17, 2012 11:50:57 GMT -5 lemondrop34 said:

I have 4 children and wanted to add my $0.02. I was like you and did not want a van, at first. Gave in and got a Dodge Caravan. Loved the van. Very roomy and enough space for everyone and every thing. Filling the tank with gas was not a bank breaker. However, I did buy a used Dodge with 35,000 miles. After 3 months, the entire transmission went out. Since it was used, the warranty did not transfer. We replaced the transmission, out of our own pockets. About a month later, the van went dead. Took it to the dealer, had the battery changed. Got it home and had to turn the ignition 20 times before it would crank. We were tapped out from the transmission repair, so I lived with it for about a month. Finally, took back to the dealer. They replaced the wires. Brought it home. Same problem. Took it to a different auto mechanic. Took two weeks to figure out that the whole computer system was bad. Had to replace the whole computer system. After owning the van for 6 months, I got the go ahead to trade in that piece of crap.

Please look into Consumer Reports on Dodge. If I had looked into that particular van, I probably could have saved myself some time and money.

I got a Ford Taurus X. I love my car, crossover, glorified minivan,whatever it is! I will say that if you have to haul strollers and groceries together, that's not gonna work. The trunk is too small. I only have one kid in a carseat now, so we have plenty of room. But we had to buy an umbreller stroller to keep in place of our big bulky stroller. Other than that, it's a great car!

Sorry for the novel, but I honestly would never buy a used Dodge Caravan again! I would hate for someone else to have the same problem.

This was really helpful. Thanks. I kind of want the Ford Taurus X, but DH thinks it's ugly. I think it looks pretty much like an SUV/Crossover and like the way it looks much better than a minivan. It gets pretty good CR reviews, too. Maybe we should consider getting this for myself and DH driving my current car.