Seeking Advice on Minivan

I've been looking for a minivan too. I am back and forth between a Honda Odyssey and a Toyota Sienna. They both are rated number one and number 2 for safety, reliability, gas mileage and more. The only thing is they are a bit pricey. But I guess that is because of the fact that they don't break down and run forever. Good luck.

I leased a Town & Country and I LOVE it! I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee before with two kids and it was so hard to get them in and out of it. The minivan is awesome. Super roomy and I don't have to climb in and out to get my kids into their car seats. I can literally just lift them right in because its lower to the ground than the truck was. I am very pleased with it and I didn't even get the model with all the bells and whistles on it.

H.,

We have a Dodge Grand Caravan and as soon as the transmission hit 140,000 miles it died. It cost us around $2500 to replace the transmission and later learned that this is a major problem with most Dodge and Chrysler mini-vans made before 2003 or so, they both have the same engine.

Check out this website: http://www.cartalk.com/menus/info.html

Tom and Ray (aka: Click and Clack the Tappard Brothers) from NPR Radio have a great website that is dedicated to all things cars. On the above site you will find links to resources you will need to find a great car that will work for you. The second link down is the Auto Advisor and I highly recommend anyone searching for a car take the time to go through this program. Enter your likes, dislikes, and budget and it spits out a number of different makes and models of cars.

Also, a little farther down the page you will find the Model Reports, this link gives you the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly details on the car models you are thinking of purchasing.

I wish you luck in your search!

-C.

I strongly do NOT recommend Dodge Caravan. Ours has had problem after problem, and we have had friends with the Dodge and Chrysler version that has the same problems (same company/make really just different aesthetics)... I actually suggest you go look at several different ones then go to the library and look at the consumer reports for the ones you like the look/feel of. Remember certain things cost a lot more to repair- a/c, (which has gone wrong on both our dodge/chrysler vehicles 2001 dodge caravan, 04 PtCruiser, with over $2000 in repair bills on each) electrical, etc.

Definitely go check out Consumer Reports for the pros/cons of the different ones in they year you are looking for.

I do like the convenience of the mini-van and I found it drives really easily myself.

The Ford Windstar is awesome!!

I actually just turned in my minivan (T&C) and got a Jeep Commander about a month ago. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Commander and I DESPISED the minivan. I've driven two different T&C's for the last 5 years or so and I hated them both. While they were convienient, especially with 3 kids, (all 5 years and under), they were mechanically both junk and they handled terribly in snow. The manager of the repair shop at the Chrysler dealership we use even said he would never buy one because they are disposable junk.

The Commander is a bit more work getting everyone loaded, especially with the 3rd row, but the older boys are just in the boosters now and our 2year olds seat fits great so I don't have any issues and I'm so happy with my choice.

Just beware if you have to drive in snow with a minivan. Not good. I have heard this more than just T&C vans but only have had personal experience with the T&C.

I really like the Chrysler Town and Country. Everything's automatic!

Do not get a Pontiac Montana. We've had ours for 3 1/2 years and everything has slowly fallen off that thing. The same issues happened with two other people I know with the same vehicle! LOL

I'm glad you posted your question because now we're in the market for a new USED minivan too! :)

Good luck!

We purchased a used Kia Sedona a year ago and just love it! Plenty of room, handles well, nice trunk space and fold down back seat.

I have the Town and Country and like it. It is so easy for me to get my son in and out. I love the stow and go seats. It is large enough that my husband can put a whole sheet of plywood in it so it acts like a truck at the same time.

My only complaint is not having adjustable pedals - I am only 5 foot and I am way too close to the steering wheel. If your tall it is not a problem.

My parents are on their 6th minivan and love them - always T&C. They don't even have small kids any more but do haul a lot of stuff to their cabin in the U.P.

I really like the automatic doors - they have saved me a bunch of times when my hands are way too full. I did not think I would use them that much, but I use them all the time.

The "trunk" area holds my stroller perfectly and is easy to get in and out of the car. When it is not in there it is a great spot for groceries.

I had a car full of tall men (FIL and BIL's) and they are fit comfortably.

Good luck!

I have really enjoyed my Chrysler Town and Country Mini van with the stow and go seats. Also it has an okay trunk spot..my sister has a Kia.she has ZERO trunk space.

Good luck

2 of my kids and I all have the Chrysler Dodge Grand Caravan and love it.

I don't know too much about minivans my husband and I are looking for one too. But I was curious to know if you where selling the jeep and for how much. My uncles jeep just got into a bad accident and he wants another. Just let meknow if you can thanks.

We love our chevy venture (2003).
Its one of the only ones that has seating for 8.
power sliding doors, handles great, and has built in kid seats. We still use the regular car seats, but we love taht if we need to pick up a friend, we don't have to lug their seat around, cause we already have one built in. Its Awesome. Ours even has the DVD player. There is not as much storage in the back as a Honda, but having room for more people was a better trade off for us. Plus, it was sooooo much cheaper.

We bought a used Dodge Grand Caravan about a year ago and I love it. It is roomy and convenient. The stow and go seats in the back are awesome and even though I would have liked the bucket seats in the back we ended up getting the bench seats, which have the built in car seats with harnesses which is super convenient for my 3 year old. We don't have to move the booster seat back and forth from my husbands car. We've put about 12,000 miles on it so far and have had no problems whatsoever, I've been very happy with it.

Although it has been quite a few years I had two Chrysler mini-vans when my boys were growing up. The first was a Grand Caravan (1986) and the second was a Town & Country (1996). Although the T&C turned out to be a classic mechanical lemon, you couldn't beat it for luxury and comfort on the inside. The GC ran for nearly 200,000 miles and the only complaint with that model was it didn't have headrests in the back seats and there wasn't adequate heating for the rear of the vehicle. As for room, it was very good. We drove the T&C on a cross country trip when our boys were 8 & 10 and were very comfortable even though we often traveled 10 to 12 hours per day. It had captains chairs, adequate heating and cooling and enough storage space for everything. If it weren't for the fact that Chrysler has the worst transmissions in the world I would have held on to it much longer. However, I now drive a Chevy Tahoe and have found it to be the most reliable and roomy vehicle we have EVER owned, bar none. Still going strong over 200K miles.

S.

I had a Dodge Caravan for six years which was a great car, I sold it to my neighbor and they are still driving it, its been three years for them so far. When I sold my Caravan I leased a Commander, I loved that car for just me. But with the three kids their gear, and forget about bringing friend. We are now back in a mini van We have a Chrysler Town and Country. I kind of think we should have gotten the Caravan again. I think it's more sporty. Sad to say but with kids the minivan is the way to go.

I have a Ford freestar, which I love! It's fully loaded (side curtain airbags, dvd player for the kids, heated leather seats...). I have no complaints about this van at all! My MIL has a dodge caravan, and after driving hers, I still admit that I like my Ford better. Funny enough...she says she likes my van better too!

We have a 2006 Chrysler Town & Country and my mom has a 2001 - they are both excellent and we haven't had any problems with them besides the normal wear and tear issues.

We have the stow & go seats and they are so fantastic. We can keep extra clothes, beach toys, a picnic blanket, etc. all right there in the compartments and it's out of the way. And the back seats are so easy to fold down for extra cargo room!

We also have the automatic doors and with an infant in a car carrier it has been a lifesaver. Even with your hands full of groceries, it's much easier to handle closing the doors.

Everyone I know that has owned a T&C loved them and I would definitely own one again!

We have an Edge and really like it. You can get 2008 used, and I believe all models have blind spot mirrors, which are the best thing ever! Good luck shopping.