Family Car...Minivan or SUV?

They have all types of minvans and it seems that would best fit you're family because you want it to grow.

Absolutely minivan. #1- fuel economy- you do not want to have to fill up an SUV at today's prices and the minivan has a much better MPG. #2- convenience- those automatic doors are so helpful in getting the little buggers and groceries in the car- especially in the rain. I love my Toyota Sienna. It is so comfy and great for trips. 5 of us road up here from Texas with a dog and 2 fish, and we still had space to move around. The DVD player is worth the extra money.

Like others said, I love the sliding doors on my van. Our garage does not have a lot of extra width and there just is not enough room to open regular doors on a larger vehicle. So the size of your garage is somehting to consider.

I'm such a fan of minivans. We bought our first in 1986, a Ford Aerostar (since discontinued), before we even had children! We were remodeling a house then, and wanted the extra space for hauling building supplies but didn't want a truck. Since then we've had three kids, all their friends, and another minivan. They've come a long way (the kids AND the minivans!) I'm still driving my '98 Windstar, and my kids are now old enough to drive it as well. I pack it full of boy scouts once a month and we go camping. I had a custom Yakima roof rack installed, and we carry kayaks on top, too. My kids say it's the only cool minivan in the world. I'm not sure about that, but it's been dependable and serves us well. In a year or two, I'll move to another vehicle, and I might go smaller since the kids are moving out. But I think a minivan is the way to go. SUVs are too hard to maneuver, and gas just costs too much these days.

Good luck

We have Buick Rendezvous(2002) its spacious but if u talk about performance ..it sucks.
So pls buy anything u like ,minivan or SUV but don't get Buick Rendezvous.
Goodluck
F.

DEFINATELY the minivan! I didn't think I was a "minivan" kinda girl when we got ours but quickly grew to love it! The auto doors are awesome and it's sooo much easier to get the kids in and out of their carseats. Ours was leased and it was recently up so we had to trade it in and got a Chevy Trailblazer, which I like, but it doesn't come close to a minivan. There's not near as much elbow room or move around room inside and no auto doors. Make sure you get a minivan with the seats that flip down underneath so floor is flat when you need it and that the back door is a auto door too. Ours did not have that back auto door and it was much more of a pain. Ours also had a dvd player built in...what a lifesaver that became! Good Luck and hope this helps!

We have a minivan (Ford Freestar) and I love it. It is roomy on the inside and yet not so big that I feel I am trying to maneuver a huge vehicle. I feel it is easier to get in and out of (and get kids in and out of) compared to the suv's we test drove. I really like how our third row seat folds into the floor. The second row seat can be removed if need be.

One thought about the sliding side doors...check them out to make sure they work properly. My brother looked at minivans with the power sliding doors. On one particular make and model (don't remember which one) the doors were supposed to stop if anything got in the way of them closing. To test it my brother let the door hit his leg - only it kept pushing on him. He had to force the door open and ended up with a gash on his leg. He is a husky and strong guy. He felt neither of his daughters (1 1/2 and 3 1/2 at the time) would have been able to avoid being seriously hurt if caught in that door. I'm not saying the power sliding doors are a bad idea, just please make sure they work properly.

hello!! we have a durango and a 2005 gmc envoy..we love the durango because it has a third row seat to fit more people and we have 3 kids so it's easier to get them in and out even though there older now and we are done with carseats except for my 6 yr old who is still in a booster..but the envoy is really sporty and drives really nicely and it has better gas miliage the durango is a v8 so the gas miliage sucks.i hope this helps

S.

i have had a toyota higlander and now have a honda oddessy. the highlander drove nicely (especially in snowy weather) it was great for doing diaper changes in the trunk. the oddessy is wonderful, we have 2 kids now and my 4 year old son has been able to get into his own seat since we got it a year and a half ago (huge bonus when you have more than 1 kid). we can slide the seats so they can sit together if they want and my son entertains my daughter. if i need to, i can get in the seats in the back to entertain my daughter on long car rides. my head doesn't hit the top of the car in those seats like it would in an suv. the automatic doors are awesome. there's enough room by my son's seat that he can sit on the potty which is great in bad weather when you don't want to go in the bathroom in the store. rear temp controls are also wonderful for summer when they are much hotter in their car seats. there are other reasons why we love our oddessy like dual temp controls in the front, heated seats, dvd for the kids, navigation sytem that gives you a back-up camera when you reverse. we use all of these extras all the time! i hope this helped!

B. We just bought a Dodge Grand Caravan and we love it. Its great to drive and has a ton of room. We got power everything which is great with the kids, the automatic doors and tailgate are wonderful. We bought the Dodge because we got a great deal. The only feature I wish it had would be second row windows that go down (Toyota has them and KIA I think) My six year old misses putting her window down. We also opted for the Caravan because it is cheaper to insure than a SUV. Good Luck!

ZI have 3 young chidlren, I wouldn't give up our mini van until our girls are a lot older. We love having room for the kids and other things.

Hello!! I recently bought a Ford Freestyle SUV. I jokingly call it my Sport Utility Van. I have never owed a Mini van, but this vehicle as big as a minivan. It doesn't have the sliding doors. That is the main difference. I prefer the handling of my Freestyle. I have driven minivans in the past and just wasn't thrilled with how they handled. I also know that the more electronic moving parts there are on a vehicle the more they can break. Mainly, my advice is to research a few vehicles online and see what has good safety ratings. I know I was pleased with my Freestyle's safety ratings. The internet is an awesome place to get all the important information you need on several different models and then you won't feel like the salesperson is talking you into something. Also, if you buy a brand new vehicle and they offer a interior treatment (which is the equivilent of scotch guard) get it!! It is a life saver! I have had my vehicle for 7 months and had it in twice to get the interior cleaned from various stains caused by my kids... the interior looks brand new!!! Hope this helped!!

I have minivan. I enjoy it. One thing I would to look at..is the ability to get to the back seat area. I am not sure how how suv are set up for that. Also with gas prices rising look at which one would be better on gas and also repair bills.

Hi B.,

we have both a Minivan (Honda Odyssey) and an SUV (Honda Pilot). As we faced the decision we were told that we are having triplets, and we already had a 10 months old at the time. We got the Minivan because it is so much easier to get the kids in and out, in particular when you have infants and you have to stand in the open door to get your baby out. In an SUV you have to step up and down with your baby in your arm. 6 months after the birth of the triplets we got the SUV because of the 4 wheel drive and I use it in the Winter if I have to get the kids somewhere. When all three rows of seating are used the Minivan gives you much more room in the back for groceries and Stroller. (But that depends highly on the size of SUV you are looking for). The automatic sliding doors have the advantage that the doors are open when you get to the car. My hubby and I did talk about buying a different car but I refused. I like my Minivan and I don't want to trade it for anything in the world. Something else gas mileage is a "big" factor as well - something to think about.

Hi B.~ I had a rodeo and a durango before.. Never wanted a minivan.. But I now have a Honda Odyssey. I love it. I feel save driving it, the value stays on the car longer.. I find it easier to do things and get things in and out in the minivan.. The doors open with a click of a button which is nice carrying my son to the car. I did not feel safe driving the durango about 4 months into owning it(it was bought new). Good luck in your decision. Take your time and look around before settling..

I never in a million years thought I would have a mini-van but I'd never be without it now!

We got a used Dodge Grand Caravan (certified used is the way to go) and we really love it. It doesn't have the automatic doors but it does have the stow and go seats which are great. We've hauled all sorts of things in our van. I've also had a home daycare business and it worked great for the children!

Good luck!

If you haven't already bought a van or suv , I would have to say without a doudt a van is the way to go ! They have automatic sliding doors , dvd players for the crancky child that may need some extra entertaining . Folding down seats and the biggest plus , to be able to move from the front to the back without getting out of your car ! I found this to be great if you need to stop on the side of the road for whatever reason. Not having to worry about getting hit be traffic is a great comfort Most of the time there is a small or no console to move! Hope this helps !

We went from a VW Touareg to a Kia Sedona (minivan). I love both cars, but the minivan is the best with kids. The extra deep well in the trunk leaves plenty of space for strollers and playpens. The kids have more room and we can actually take people with us. The Sedona has the highest safety rating, too! Which was a major factor in our decision..plus the fact that it is loaded and costs less than the Honda and Toyota which are the next 2 in line for safety!!!

My husband and I have been talking about the same thing, i like you also want it because of the little Conveniences, like auto sliding doors, TVs, Folding seats and gas mi.; but my husband says it's not as "cool" as an suv. I told him too bad i'm not that cool any more. My cousins husband refers to his mini van as his 2006 corvet. HAHA! Best of luck
M.