Minivan shopping!!

[Thirteen]

It's not a minivan, but it's really not an SUV, either.
I love my Outback. I love the AWD. I love the ground clearance. I love that it is fully loaded, and didn't break our bank account.
I love the back up camera, the fact that it handles like a smooth car. That it holds all our stuff.
*drool*


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[spotty_dog]

When we were in the market for a minivan, my research told me that the foreign-made models tend to have better safety records than the domestic models. The Toyota and Honda didn't fit our budget (we were only 1.5 years out of training and had bolstered our retirement savings and emergency savings before starting to save for the car) so we went with a Kia Sedona (2 year old model). It fits our needs just right!

I do miss the AWD and high clearance of the Legacy Outback we traded in, but with two car seats, a dog, a bicycle or two, and enough food and clothes for a week at a time, we were getting a bit cramped for space.

[samssugarmomma]

We have a 2010 Town & Country and love it. We bought ours used about a year ago and *knock on wood* have had no major issues since. I love the stow & go seats and the power doors. I'd will consider buying another one once we drive this one into the ground!

[TigerLily]

Can I just say that I love IMSN? Always with so much great advice. I think we're going to get the Town and Country and use it until we get a little more settled. Then if we aren't loving it we'll trade for the Toyota. But, unless it's giving us major problems I think i'll be loving it.

[v-girl]

Oh, and the stow and go storage in the floor is perfect to carry luggage for road trips! You can easily fit carry-on-sized luggage in those compartments!

[Vanquisher]

Congrats! I hope it serves you well!!

[Chrisada]

I just read that Sarah Jessica Parker and Katie Couric love their minivans! I'm getting pressure, but not ready to crossover to the dark side quite yet! Congrats!

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Ok, so I'm not in the market but I think my car is only going to last another year or two. This past trip to Boston, my rental car happened to be a Town and Country and I FLOVED it. The push buttons for the doors and the hatch were SO helpful when I was lugging DD around and it was so nice to be able to just pile things up in the back with the 3rd row stowed.

We will need a minivan if we have a second baby bc DH is too tall to put a baby seat behind him in all but the largest of vehicles. I wasn't thinking a minivan but now I'm OBSESSED. It was so easy, I loooooooved it!

So, my question is: how old/used can I go and still get these door/hatch features (double click to open and close) and the ability to stow the 3rd row - are these things fairly recent? Or are they expensive additions and hard to find. We'll be looking to buy used and get a great value so clearly I'm not buying a 2011 or 2012...

I know you guys aren't car dealers but just wanted to get a sense on the recentness (that is so not a word) of these features.

[Vanquisher]

My 2005 T&C had all those features. .

However, the electrics went wonky, so one of the doors didn't work with the push button, but they are available.

[spotty_dog]

I love the feature on Edmunds.com where they take a model and tell you exactly when specific improvements were made to the design. http://www.edmunds.com/chrysler/town...y/history.html

"the 2001 models featured...available power operation of the side doors"
"For 2005, the Chrysler Town and Country as well as the Dodge Grand Caravan received minor visual tweaks, a lower base price and the option of "Stow n' Go" second-row seating. The latter was a pair of captain's chairs that, like the third row, folded down into the floor." (It sounds like the folding third row wasn't introduced before this.)

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Awesome, really helpful Alison!

[v-girl]

My T&C is a 2011. It was $20K. Just to give you somewhere to estimate price/year.

[houseelf]

I have 170,000 on my 2004 T & Country and have had two minor problems since we bought it. TBH, we have put it through the ringer. It was in a Tornado with all the glass broken, I drove it through a garage door, and my kids have expended every bodily fluid in it. I am getting to the point where I'm a little scared for major road trips.

I went car shopping last week to narrow it down between the Sienna and a T & C. After seeing them in person, I have to say hands down Town and Country. For price comparison, I saw a basic 2011 for 30K miles for $20K. I'm watching autotrader over the next few months to grab one up.

Yeah, I am so middle aged now. I am on a message board talking about the comparative benefits of various models of minivans. :embarrassed:

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I have 170,000 on my 2004 T & Country and have had two minor problems since we bought it. TBH, we have put it through the ringer. It was in a Tornado with all the glass broken, I drove it through a garage door, and my kids have expended every bodily fluid in it. I am getting to the point where I'm a little scared for major road trips.

I went car shopping last week to narrow it down between the Sienna and a T & C. After seeing them in person, I have to say hands down Town and Country. For price comparison, I saw a basic 2011 for 30K miles for $20K. I'm watching autotrader over the next few months to grab one up.

Yeah, I am so middle aged now. I am on a message board talking about the comparative benefits of various models of minivans. :embarrassed:

I never thought my dream car in my late 20s would be a used minivan...life changes. In a really, really good way...

[ladymoreta]

Oh yeah, I'm definitely loving my dream car/minivan! It's so awesome!!! It's not like you're cool anymore once you become a parent anyway...