Car Ideas for Expanding Family

I LOVE my minivan. I just bought it (used) in February, and the transition has been so wonderful. I honestly don't know why so many people are against them. I'll admit, the image is a little different and the mileage isn't great, but the space! The convenience! I can't get over it!

Take a look at the Jetta Wagon too, or if you want something nicer the Passat Wagon. We had the latter, and loved it, before we finally upgraded to a Sienna (which we love, other than the run-flat tires on the AWD version - blech). We mainly went to the Sienna for towing capacity (dirt bikes). The Passat would probably still be with us otherwise.

for 2 kids and a dog, you might want to look at some of the wagonish smaller suv's like the Honda CRV and the Toyota Rav4

i personally think minivans are not mother friendly if you have young kids. if they are far apart not as big of a deal. we love our subaru forester.

My husband travels a lot and typically has to drive with a load of tools and materials for his jobs. Instead of wearing down one of our cars he typically rents for the same reasons you are looking at as far as space ad gas mileage. He has rented minivans, crossovers, etc. and so far he has favored the minivan option (preferably the Town and Country) and continues to push me to get one.

Here is what he likes about them:
-You can haul a ton of stuff and still have lots of room for people
-You don't have to crawl over seats to get to the back
- You can easily move car seats in and out
- You can seat up to eight people in some of them unlike a crossover
-Your family can easily grow with it
- The gas mileage is fantastic

Now all that being said, I currently drive a Pathfinder that seats 7. I have no problems fitting all my kids in it (pregnant with #4). After driving some of his rentals, I must say the minivan is WAY easier and the gas mileage is unbelievable. I still haven't decided to make the plunge to soccer mom/minivan gal, but it sure has become tempting.

Good luck with #2 and your new car choice.

I may have a bit of a different perspective than some- I have one toddler at home, due with another LO in January and just bought my second mini-van.
I need mine for my job- I deliver flowers- I love the ability to remove the third row for cargo space (and the ability to put the third row seats in the second row position for an extra seat). I also baby-sat another little boy for a time and took him to work with me (as well as my toddler)- our family loves the versitility of the vans (drivers side sliding door has made a huge difference with the new van)
We have the availability for up to 7 pasangers, but the option to remove all but two of the seats (front row)- which I can easily do on my own- for cargo space; I can fit full sheets of plywood in there!
I get better gas milage than either of my friends with wagons (one subaru one toyota) and mini-vans are also the least expensive vehicle to insure.

I love, love, love my Toyota Sienna. I also did not ever want a minivan, but after driving one for a weekend (we had 2 kids at the time) I was in love. The extra space, easy access for kids and motorized door are a few of my favorite things. We have made several road trips (to MN, AZ, CA and camping in UT). While you have 1 (going on 2) little ones right now as they get older you will need room for their friends eventually. My oldest is almost 7 and we are getting to the stage where having the extra space is awesome as she can bring a friend and we still have lots of space! I say take the plunge...you won't regret it1

We bought a minivan when expecting our second. Even though we can technically fit in a car at the moment, that third row of seats is such a blessing at times. I've used it for nursing, changing diapers, storage.... And it's actually possible to have a fifth person ride along with you if necessary (not to mention additional children)! Also, the stow-away seats in back have been great when out yard-saleing, etc. We did a lot of research and got a used Sienna, but also considered the Kia Sedona/Hyundai Entourage. A lot of people also like the Mazda 5, which has sliding doors and three rows of seats like a minivan but is a bit more compact with better mileage.

I have 2 kids
We have a CRV - runs great, good gas mileage, fits a ton of stuff.
We have Civic - love it - we all fit, great gas mileage, big trunk
Mom and Dad have the Highlander - great car, excellent gas mileage, fits a ton of stuff.
We had the Saturn Wagon - loved it!
Mini Vans are great if you intend to keep it - it won't be long before you are carting a bunch of kids everywhere...
YMMV
LBC

We just bought the Toyota Highlander and LOVE it! We had a CRV previously and just didn't feel there was enough extra space for when our family grows.

I can almost stand up in front of my daughter to help put her in her car seat. There is so much space and the trunk is huge when we're not using the 3rd row seating! It also gets really good gas mileage.

My husband calls it our station wagon on steroids :)

They can be expensive when bought new, but we got a perfect 2008 for $25,000 out the door.

Love the saturn vue and the kia sorrento. Congrats on the baby news!

I also wanted to add that I love, love, love the ford flex (even though its a lil funky looking, its super roomy and has all these cool features) but the gas mileage sucks on them).

We were going to get a minivan and I was ALL about the Honda Odyssey. I read lots of reviews and such that placed them as quieter and structurally better (not crash stuff, but things like door rattles, window tightness) than the Sienna. But they are both really cool they were my first choices.

However, we ended up buying a Toyota Sequoia that is a few years older. It is AWESOME. I wouldnt' trade it for anything. But one of the big reasons is that I wanted an SUV with 4-wheel drive because we are snowy 6+ months out of the year and we like to go camping and rafting and stuff, and this can pull the toyhauler.

gl!!

I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old. When our 2nd was expected, we got a new car, too. We went with the Honda Pilot and love it. It has a hidden 3rd row, so even with 2 carseats and you and your husband, you can still take 3 other people along. Lots of trunk room, too (when the 3rd row is down) for double strollers, etc.

My parents and sister both have a Santa Fe and love it. I like it, too, but the Pilot has a lot more room.

We also looked at the Toyota Forerunner, but you get a lot more included for your money with the Pilot.

Good luck!

A station wagon looking car is the Chrysler Pacifica, my friend has it and loves it & has no problem fitting her 3 kids but they don't have a dog. I have a large conversion van which is awesome for winters. Good luck car shopping.

We love our Toyota Sienna. When we were looking it was between that and the Honda van. The Sienna can seat 3 car seats across the back, though, so we went with it since that left the back seat able to go down for lots of cargo room. 3 years and 130,000 miles later, we still love it! I'd buy another one in a heartbeat! GL!

We had a Dodge Magnum. It was great, two kids (when my stepdaughter was with us and two dogs (boxers). Gas mileage was decent, probably not the absolute best but better than most of the station wagons we looked at. Unfortunately someone in a Ford F150 rear ended us going about 55 while we were at a near stop for a light so we no longer have that car. We're looking for another though - as soon as we get the check from the insurance company - because as bad as the accident was my son is absolutely fine, he was strapped into his car seat, and while I have some soft tissue damage nothing tore or broke. The entire back of the car crumpled and absorbed the shock, it looked AWFUL. Honestly had the dogs been riding in the trunk area they probably would have been killed, which means I will be buying them doggy seat belts and strapping them in next to my son from now on.

When expecting our third, we looked at Mazda MPV's. We looked up customer reveiws online, and they all said that they're tiny inside! We definitely need lots of room so we can fill it on camping trips and road trips and yard sales. So we veered away from an MPV and bought a Grand Caravan. It was amazing that we could all go to pick up my parents from the airport in one vehicle. Three car seats and four adults, plus two weeks' worth of luggage (for my two parents, that is)!

Before our van, I drove a Jeep Cherokee with two boys in the back seat. It's not great for infant car seats or leg room with my boys, so I don't give them rave reviews. But it was a whole lot cooler than a minivan!

My sister has two kids and a lab, and has been driving the same Honda Oddesey for like 10 years now. I wish we could afford one of those, especially seeing how long theirs has lasted!