tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post602352120155223530..comments2007-09-22T14:15:29.424-04:00karlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483505184799130550noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-7017501860814007572007-09-22T14:15:00.000-04:002007-09-22T14:15:00.000-04:002007-09-22T14:15:00.000-04:00

I should add we had a small Jeep SUV before the minivan adn the van gets much better gas milage. It get 25+ MPG but the SUV only got 18. The van also holds 26 gallons of gas at one time so I dont have to stop much for gas while traveling.

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17350712468465685905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-5854906723006031552007-09-22T14:13:00.000-04:002007-09-22T14:13:00.000-04:002007-09-22T14:13:00.000-04:00

Whiel it took me a long time to accept I needed a minivan cause of our travels. I broke down and bought one a year and a half ago and I love it. Its a ford (not he most expensive but its new) and the rear seat folds down into the floor to give you plenty of extra travel storage space or folds back up to give you extra people room. It was a difficult switch at first but after several 12 hour

Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17350712468465685905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-39805138603690546682007-09-20T09:43:00.000-04:002007-09-20T09:43:00.000-04:002007-09-20T09:43:00.000-04:00

My vote is totally for a stationwagon and preferably a VW! Set a good, environmentally responsible example for Nate! Plus, you can get one of those gate thingy's to separate the elephant-sized Samson from the kid(s).

Jen & Co.http://www.blogger.com/profile/07163684394272970251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-2207080902435676032007-09-19T21:26:00.000-04:002007-09-19T21:26:00.000-04:002007-09-19T21:26:00.000-04:00

Hey Karla - I realize I'm a little late in replying to this post (being a working Mommy is keeping me busy! lol). Anyway, we just bought a new vehicle at the end of August because I was in denial that a 2 door car was practical! Anyway, with another baby on the way & Rachel already in the bigger carseat, we decided it was time to bite the bullet (I haven't had car payments for years). I know a

Rachel's Mommyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15160810497598597231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-67049622193406258622007-09-19T11:03:00.000-04:002007-09-19T11:03:00.000-04:002007-09-19T11:03:00.000-04:00

Wow, this feedback is totally fabulous. There are a lot of things here we didn't event think about. Thank you so much for all your advice.

karlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05483505184799130550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-80319573140063861532007-09-19T08:43:00.000-04:002007-09-19T08:43:00.000-04:002007-09-19T08:43:00.000-04:00

I recommend the GMC Acadia. It has seating for 7 or 8 depending on the seating you get. The 3rd row seat is spacious enough for my 6 foot tall nephew to sit back there with no problem. It's one of those crossover vehicles. We shopped many SUVs, minivans and crossovers before deciding on this one. I absolutely love this car.

Heddahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10092579992277542694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-86755628507780669632007-09-18T23:59:00.000-04:002007-09-18T23:59:00.000-04:002007-09-18T23:59:00.000-04:00

My favorite car ever was a Chrysler Pacifica that we leased. It's a crossover. Not a minivan, not really an SUV. In response to the Dodge/Chrysler comment above, we still have the very first truck (an 88 Dodge Ram) that my husband bought new, when he was 18. Cars last when you change the oil and maintain them properly. We've never had a blow up, blow out or trans drop in 20 years of Chrysler

MrsGrumpyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10242720787149022301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-18662441609871495652007-09-18T23:28:00.000-04:002007-09-18T23:28:00.000-04:002007-09-18T23:28:00.000-04:00

I've done the SUV thing, and a Ford Focus too. You need a minivan- we're on our 3rd Ford (now called Freestar.) Oh, yeah, they're dumping that in favor of a new one in 2008 called the Flex. That thing looks really cool, but I don't think you can wait that long.Basically, what everyone is saying about van vs SUV is right on the money. The SUV just doesn't have the interior height nor the

Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09099474159974560993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-40925069815799455192007-09-18T23:06:00.000-04:002007-09-18T23:06:00.000-04:002007-09-18T23:06:00.000-04:00

Looks like a lot of opinions...here is one more.We just traded in our small 2 door very gas efficient Honda Civic for a big old Honda Odyssey. We test drove SUVs but you get more space for the money w/ the minivan. The Odyssey handles great and there is so much room.

Blogversaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06649304958420208538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-5890780956424203472007-09-18T22:47:00.000-04:002007-09-18T22:47:00.000-04:002007-09-18T22:47:00.000-04:00

The Honda Odyssey is supposedly the safest minivan out there. The Honda Civic is rated as the safest car. Since we want a car, and not a gas guzzling beast, we are planning on getting a Toyota Prius or a Honda Civic in the near future.

Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-70455797301092448512007-09-18T18:11:00.000-04:002007-09-18T18:11:00.000-04:002007-09-18T18:11:00.000-04:00

We also have an Odyssey (my husband's car) and a Pilot. We love both. Yes, it's not cool to drive a minivan. But, when you have two kids, the sliding doors are cool; when you take long trips, the built in DVD is cool; and when you have 2 kids with various sippy cups the 10,000 cupholders are also cool; also a 2 year old can easily climb into the Odyssey-very cool. I love my Pilot. My only

Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-59944303627687389382007-09-18T15:47:00.000-04:002007-09-18T15:47:00.000-04:002007-09-18T15:47:00.000-04:00

Like several others her, I LOVE our Honda Odyssey! Honda makes a quality vehicle that you can feel safe in, comfortable, and a bit like you're spoiling your children if you go for the leather upgrade (seats clean up nicely even if there has been a carseat in place for a really long time with all sorts of food and drink remnants under it) which also includes the dvd player---excellent for travel!

Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01124179454018585050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-54468879641892687282007-09-18T15:02:00.000-04:002007-09-18T15:02:00.000-04:002007-09-18T15:02:00.000-04:00

We have a GMC Envoy XL Denali...NOT big enough for 2 kids & 2 tall adults (don't think that last parts an issue for you). Looking at getting a minivan but cringe of the thought as well. We NEED the room & LOVE the idea of the sliding side doors so 2 cars can fit in our 2 car garage (I know quite fancy!) I hate that w/ a minvan I'll just scream look at me I'm a mom...of course driving a SUV w/

Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-46883474284546891812007-09-18T13:52:00.000-04:002007-09-18T13:52:00.000-04:002007-09-18T13:52:00.000-04:00

Love my Mazda wagon, so easy to get a stroller in and out of and enough space for car seat. When you are car shopping take your stroller and car seat, take them with you on the test drive, it will give you a better idea of how much space there really is...

Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-20748302457270733912007-09-18T12:57:00.000-04:002007-09-18T12:57:00.000-04:002007-09-18T12:57:00.000-04:00

Third vote here for the Mazda 5. Affordable at $21.6K, NOT a van (despite the sliding door) - I think they are called all-utility-vehicles or something along that line, can fit 6-7 people and so much better on fuel consumption than an SUV or a van.We are currently managing with our '99 VW Golf 4-door with 2 kids but no dog and for extra space, we had a roof rack installed and have borrowed a

Mama Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06990358486104157847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-80429584784730919582007-09-18T09:40:00.000-04:002007-09-18T09:40:00.000-04:002007-09-18T09:40:00.000-04:00

I couldn't bring myself to drive a minivan. Actually I used to drive one in university, a hand me down from my parents, and it was really handy for beer store runs and filling with friends on nights out. But now there's kids around, I had to have an SUV. Too cool for the van. Right.We bought a used Volvo XC90, 7 seats - very handy when people come to visit, or for when we take the dog

emmainlondonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12670643578855808985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-30163757025426992372007-09-18T08:55:00.000-04:002007-09-18T08:55:00.000-04:002007-09-18T08:55:00.000-04:00

We had a Dodge Caravan because we wanted more space. But I hated driving it - it was so big and long and high, and we actually almost never took advantage of the extra space. So then we traded it in for a Saturn VUE. I absolutely love it - perfect size for me to drive, plenty of room for 2 kids and the trunk space is good. We're very glad we downsized from a minivan to a SUV.

My Life As It Ishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708845944327765757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-86123437939907221202007-09-18T08:44:00.000-04:002007-09-18T08:44:00.000-04:002007-09-18T08:44:00.000-04:00

Ha! Funny you mention this, my husband and I were having this arguement lastnight. Jeff says that Caravans are a great vehicle and the most popular van in Canada. Here where we live, they are the cheepest van you can purchase. HE also says the new Hyundai vans are really good, as well as Hondas.I personally love the look of the Honda vans, but on the other hand, I reaaaaaaaaaallly love those new

Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03590791259711362573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-16573052205585718142007-09-18T01:08:00.000-04:002007-09-18T01:08:00.000-04:002007-09-18T01:08:00.000-04:00

We drive a Hyundai Tucson (big enough for two kiddos and a large dog in the back with AMPLE storage room...actually we often put the dog in the "trunk"..you gotta see it to understand...BTW KIA is Hyundai)...we also have a Dodge Durango (I traded my Dodge Grand Caravan in for it when we had our third baby) which I drive and I love it, but it is certainly not something you would use for commuting.

Krishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06372904383979683415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-66204228007964682582007-09-18T00:13:00.000-04:002007-09-18T00:13:00.000-04:002007-09-18T00:13:00.000-04:00

To carry a family with 3 children or less, I would recommend the Honda Pilot. Three carseats (including an infant carrier, a toddler seat and a booster) will all fit nicely in the second row side by side leaving the back with the third row folded down open for the dog. We use to travel this way all the time with our 3 girls and yellow lab. When you have company it actually seats 8 with the

The Rooneyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14950566287513080604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-82846246616439393292007-09-17T23:12:00.000-04:002007-09-17T23:12:00.000-04:002007-09-17T23:12:00.000-04:00

we LOVE our toyota sinnaerika

uumommanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-88259231580203642802007-09-17T23:09:00.000-04:002007-09-17T23:09:00.000-04:002007-09-17T23:09:00.000-04:00

I can't wait to see you guys in your new van!

Christihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05369978641581682398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-64941372412682142412007-09-17T21:02:00.000-04:002007-09-17T21:02:00.000-04:002007-09-17T21:02:00.000-04:00

Ah, a soapbox of mine. Let me forewarn I might ramble here.. Ok, let me just interject that the back of a van CAN be sexy.. wink.. if you know what I mean.. Anywho.. I stand on the rooftops to say NEVER buy a Chrysler vehicle (sorry, that's includes Dodge, too, as they are off the same line). They explode the very next mile past the warranty. Don't laugh, ours did (both the Dodge and Chrysler we

Nicki from North Carolinahttp://www.myspace.com/_nickiblack_noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-55217193877007668452007-09-17T20:41:00.000-04:002007-09-17T20:41:00.000-04:002007-09-17T20:41:00.000-04:00

I recommend a Volvo or Volkswagen station wagon with my whole heart. Way better gas mileage, better for the environment, better engineering, and still hold a ton of crap. Believe me on that. I've had three small kids in the back, or a baby and two dogs and a husband and a parrot and a bunch of luggage, or the entire contents of my college apartment... (I am referring to my beloved Jetta wagon).

Evahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01720065905801369495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12843084.post-22814799496360950952007-09-17T20:31:00.000-04:002007-09-17T20:31:00.000-04:002007-09-17T20:31:00.000-04:00

I thought minivans were totally lame too, but now I am in love. I think I love my minivan more than any other vehicle I have owned.

Christyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00977781470147646616noreply@blogger.com