NOHOME wrote: Actually, in the short term I would keep the Mazda. Putting car seats in a van is not so easy since there is more lift and reach involved.
Having a seat base in both our Mazda 5 and Ford Focus, It is easier to get the infant seat in the van by far. The door opening is much larger and taller. If the seat were strapped into the middle rear seat of the focus it would be a flat out pain in the ass.
I support the Caravan movement. Buy a 2012+ model to get the improved engine while avoiding early model glitches. Used, they're dirt cheap and with 283 horsepower, haul more than just kids.
In reply to G_Body_Man:
can confirm 120mph+ at Sebring. Don't let anyting open the sliders at speed though, things get interesting in the handling department in a Grand Caravan with 5 people in it going triple digit speeds with both rear sliders open
captdownshift wrote: In reply to G_Body_Man: can confirm 120mph+ at Sebring. Don't let anyting open the sliders at speed though, things get interesting in the handling department in a Grand Caravan with 5 people in it going triple digit speeds with both rear sliders open
How has no one suggested two Miatas. It is the obvious answer.
We're nearing the end of our 'mini'van phase, but having something that big has been very helpful for all the aforementioned reasons.
Tell the wife that minivan moms are sexier 
Also, this should help cover most bases:
Two good reasons for power sliding doors:
-rapidly jettisoning kids at soccer/football/psr or wherever.
-lack of damage to neighboring vehicles, your garage, your own doors, etc.
cdowd wrote: How has no one suggested two Miatas. It is the obvious answer.
With twins though, shouldn't that be a FRS and a BRZ? 
My wife hated the idea of a minivan when kid #2 was on the way, so we got a Sorento. But now that we have kid #3 on the way she insists that our 7 passenger SUV isn't going to work out and she wants a Sedona. Buy the right thing the first time: sliding doors & a huge/deep trunk FTW.
XLR99 wrote: Two good reasons for power sliding doors: -lack of damage to neighboring vehicles, your garage, your own doors, etc.
How does a power sliding door change that? Power doors is something I still don't understand. Seems like one of those areas of unnecessary added complexity.
In reply to ProDarwin:
When you are walking up with both hand full of baby stuff, bags, and the baby, hitting a button on the fob in your hand is a blessing. It helps your kids who are big enough to buckle themselves in to be able to close those doors. Finally, if one of the bundles of joy forget to close the door, and they will, you can get it from the front seat/inside the house.
Not a NEED.... But once you've had them, you don't want to go back.
ProDarwin, I'm with you. I don't see them as a big deal, I just see them as something else to break. Neither of our Sedonas have had them, and it really hasn't been an issue. Would I like them if we had them? 'prolly, but I've done alright without.
On that note, we have gone with the base model Sedona both times. They come fairly well equipped even in it's most basic form. With three young and active kids, we knew we'd be beating the puppy snot out of it. So we didn't want to destroy a $30k van full of leather and other fancy gadgets.
something with a sliding door. trust me on this..
You guys are the best. My nieces response was "OMG they all said mini van" She and her husband are going to check out some vans.
Thanks B
ProDarwin wrote:XLR99 wrote: Two good reasons for power sliding doors: -lack of damage to neighboring vehicles, your garage, your own doors, etc.How does a power sliding door change that? Power doors is something I still don't understand. Seems like one of those areas of unnecessary added complexity.
I guess to be accurate I should amend that part to be just 'sliding door' for damage.
The big issue with the 2010 Ody without power doors that we had, was that they're heavy and hard for small kids to operate, and would tend to free-fall closed if not opened all the way on a hill. So when dropping off, you had to either crawl across, get out and walk around, or bring a handler along for door duty.
Other brands may do better, and I don't know if the 2012+ Ody manual door is improved (or if they even make one without power now). My wife insisted after that 2010 that we spend more for the EX for the next van, and she was always worried about our daughter and friends with the doors.
One more on the dog pile.
Mini-van.
It's the proper tool for the job.
I know I already said it but just in case the answer is still minivan
I don't have kids and I know the answer here is minivan. Just go somewhere with a friend (or friends) and a couple of little ones in their minivan and she will be convinced.
You'll need to log in to post.
