Post by icedcoffee on Oct 15, 2019 13:36:08 GMT -5
I think it’s going to happen for us soon. We have 2 kids and a dog and it’s tight for all 5 of us and luggage in my CRV. We regularly take 4-5 hour trips.
Who has recently shopped for a minivan? I’m looking at Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Kia Sedona and Chrysler Pacifica. 2019 and 2020s.
When looking at trim levels what was on your must have list? I’m thinking power sliding doors and power lift gate. I’m finding the power lift gate throws us into needing one of the more expensive trim levels. Anything else?
Probably leaning toward Honda because I’ve really loved my CRV, but I’m curious what experiences other people have had. They get so pricey as you build them out! I guess ideally I want to stay below $40k.
We just got a used 18 Pacifica touring l with 34k miles. It was only 25k? Leather, backup cam, auto doors and lift gate were on my must have list. I really like it so far. I also test drove the Kia van and didn’t like it as much
We have a 2016 Odyssey and the only feature I don’t have is a power lift gate. I HATE that you have to add so many other features to get that, but I guess that’s how they get you. Love just about everything about it, except that it’s not the best in snow, but we also have an SUV and DH can work from home if the weather is terrible. I am getting new tires soon, so hopefully that’ll help this winter. We had a historically bad winter last year, so that’s still fresh in my mind.
I think about getting an SUV from time to time as DS is getting older and we’re OAD, but I have so many options when it comes to seating and hauling with the van, so we’re keeping it for now.
Post by CrazyLucky on Oct 15, 2019 14:16:09 GMT -5
We have a Sienna. We liked the Odyssey better, but not better enough for the price difference. We have the back up camera and automatic doors, but not the power lift gate. I already told DH if we get another van or something like it, power lift gate is on my list of really really wants. DH really wanted the leather seats, but that was part of a huge upgrade that would have cost a lot more, so we didn't get it. Our kids were newborn and two at the time. And we definitely wish we had either purchased the leather seats or put a better barrier down between the kids and the seats. We really like have the sunshade for both rows in the back, but that's probably standard now. With the next one we get, I want to get USBs in the back so the kids can charge their tablets when we're on long drives. And phones when the time comes. In our car, we have the thing where it remembers two drivers' settings, so you just push the button and it puts the seat where you like it. I really like that feature.
I bought a new 2017 Toyota Sienna a couple years ago. On my must have list was: AWD, tow package, back up camera, navigation screen, power doors, power lift gate, not leather seats, and no sunroof/moonroof. I got everything I wanted except the power lift gate because the AWD tow package sienna at the time could not come with a power lift gate.
I love my minivan. I have 3 kids, a dog, and regularly drive my kids’ friends around (and want to) and it’s awesome. We had a Honda Odyssey before the sienna that was good too, juts older and not AWD. We really wanted AWD because we take the minivan skiing because out Honda Pilot SUV doesn’t fit everyone (we almost always bring my mom too) and everything. Haha.
We thought we were getting a minivan but I was really unimpressed with the Odyssey and Pacifica. I expected to love the Odyssey since we were coming from the CR-V. I preferred the Pacifica to the Odyssey for the stow n go seats, and I didn’t like the visible “track” for the seats in the second row of the Odyssey.
We got an Odyssey that's the EX-L I think. It has leather, backup camera, remote start, remote sliding doors, remote lift. It has a sunroof, which is about the only thing on my 'did not want' list. We didn't do any of the navigation or entertainment system stuff and I don't regret it. We're totes fine with Car Play (and phone navigation) and iPad for kid if need be.
I won’t get another Toyota because I had trouble with mold in my air vents and there is apparently a huge class action suit in process now against Toyota as this affects many models and years. It was horrible and I wouldn’t want to go through it again. My sienna was also horrible in the snow - I barely made it home twice last year, and I live in Baltimore so we are talking like an inch of snow. This is why I now drive a Subaru lol. So I would definitely get the Honda over the Sienna.
Post by swiftlyirun on Oct 15, 2019 15:49:50 GMT -5
We have the Odyssey - touring elite. We got a slightly older model so that we could get the package I wanted and it was 100% worth it. I wanted leather, power doors and lift gate and moon/sunroof. With littles, they regularly spill everything and it’s our travel vehicle too so not having anything spill-able in it wasn’t an option. Power doors/lift gate were a non-negotiable with littles, I was buying a minivan over Tahoe for the convenience.
Post by lostlenore on Oct 15, 2019 15:52:14 GMT -5
We are trading in our 08 Dodge Grand Caravan this week for a 19 or 20 Chrysler Pacifica.
The only thing I really wanted were vents in the back for the kids. Our Dodge is as bare-bones as it gets and I hated that in the summer I had to freeze in order for my kids to be comfortable and in the winter I was sweltering while they still had to be wrapped in blankets. I was shocked that rear vents still aren’t standard on basic trim levels in many vans.
I liked the stow & go seats in the Dodge, so I’m glad the Pacifica has them as well. Pretty sure we’ll end up with power doors, which would be nice that my kids won’t hang on the door handle anymore or have to try 10 times to close the door all the way. And I’m excited for the winter and not having to worry about my sliding doors freezing shut all the time. Can you tell I’m eager to get rid of my POS van?! At this point, most of the bells and whistles seem unnecessary to me, but I’m sure I’ll get used to them quickly if I have them!
I have a 2016 Honda Odyssey EX-L, which has the power lift gate. I love this van.
It was totaled in a hail storm this summer but I still have it until insurance gets their shit together. They're giving me 23k for the car. It has held its value exceptionally well.
My work van is a 2019 Odyssey base model and it's awful. The lift gate is manual and it's so much shorter than my current van, so short that my 5'3" head hits it every time we're trying to get our shit out of it.
I will be replacing the van I have now with a used Odyssey, 2016, touring version.
Post by bookqueen15 on Oct 15, 2019 18:28:34 GMT -5
I am planning to get a mini van in Jan/Feb and narrowed it down to the Chrysler Pacifica, it's the nicest one in our budget. I am planning to get a used 2018 or 2019. We rented one last year and I was surprised at how much I loved it! It had power doors and the liftgate, which I definitely want in the one we buy.
We just got a ‘19 odyssey. Ex-l because i wanted a power lift gate. Love it!! So comfortable to drive.
We happened upon an internet special the weekend we were looking and got over $7,000 off the MSRP. It ended up being cheaper to buy new than a 1 or 2 year old used.
We have the Odyssey - touring elite. We got a slightly older model so that we could get the package I wanted and it was 100% worth it. I wanted leather, power doors and lift gate and moon/sunroof. With littles, they regularly spill everything and it’s our travel vehicle too so not having anything spill-able in it wasn’t an option. Power doors/lift gate were a non-negotiable with littles, I was buying a minivan over Tahoe for the convenience.
This is pretty much the exact same answer I would give.
I drove an odyssey ex-l for 7.5 years and really loved it but it wasnt good in the snow. If I had to go uphill I couldn’t-horrible traction. On major roads that had been cleared it did fine but in my neighborhood not so much.
I just bought a Pilot a few months ago and love it too but am missing the sliding doors!
Post by freshsqueezed on Oct 15, 2019 20:48:46 GMT -5
We bought an Odyssey and a Pacifica last year. Prefer the drive of the Pacifica but prefer the features of the Odyssey, especially the sliding middle row chairs. This is so much easier for someone to go into the 3rd row.
Power doors - I assume that means the auto sliding? I didn’t realize this was an option and not just standard. I would absolutely be sure to have that. That (and my sliding seats) is probably the best thing about a mini so definitely get that!
Post by penguingrrl on Oct 17, 2019 14:33:30 GMT -5
I had a 2014 Toyota Sienna for 18 months and was never able to get comfortable driving it. I’m not sure why, but I just found it like driving a boat. We ended up trading it in for a pilot, which I strongly prefer for functionality in addition to finding it more comfortable to drive.
If you’re looking at American vans, look carefully around car seat forums. When we were buying there was a huge issue with seatbelt design rendering the 3rd row virtually useless from a safety perspective. Hopefully they’ve fixed that, but I know it was a thing. We had a dodge rental while our car was in the shop and the only kid we could safely put in the 3rd row was our RFer. There were inadequate tether hooks for a FFer and the seatbelt path didn’t work in backless or high back booster mode for my then 7 year old, nor did it fit me correctly.
Post by tiptoetulips on Oct 17, 2019 16:33:33 GMT -5
I have a 2019 odyssey e-xl. The 18-19 touring and touring elites have some bad press with the info-taintment system. My e-xl has been great and I agree with pp the Apple car play does the navigating we need and use a tablet for the movie when needed. Leather heated seats, sunroof, power sliding doors and lift gate. I like the easy slide 2nd row to easily configure things for 3rd row access or various passenger needs.
Post by HoneySpider on Oct 18, 2019 11:28:27 GMT -5
We bought a 2014 Honda Odyseey touring earlier this year. We wanted to pay cash so we had to go with an older model to stay in our budget, and we were originally looking at the ex-l but then found a great deal on the one we bought. I love it and it fits our needs well - and since it's older, I don't cringe quite as much at the mess the kids are making in it. We plan to run it into the ground.