Hellobee Boards

@autumnlove: haha once our Xterra is paid off we are getting a Minivan. We're leaning towards either a Sienna or Odyssey. My brothers have had both and currently have the Sienna. DH has drove both before multiple times and long distances and they're both awesome on road trips! Gotta love Individual climate zones.

My absolute dream would be the hybrid Lexus which isn't a minivan but has 3 row seating. But yeah....not gonna happen!

We got a used Honda Odyssey, and I love it! Even with just one kid, it's so worth it.

We just got a 2015 Odyssey a few months ago, and love it! DH test drove the Sienna while I watched our almost 2 year old, and he said he thought the steering felt a bit mushy, and didn't care for the seat tracks for the back rows (places where dirt and things can get lost in). But I know both get rave reviews. We also had an awful salesman at Toyota, which probably affected our impression of the Sienna.

Anyway, it has so much room, is so comfy to drive, and I love love love the passenger mirror blind spot camera (I use it all the time, even just normal driving ). I also like that the window seats in the middle row can be bumped out to allow for three car seats (or just seat one carseat and two older kids more comfortably ;)).

@regberadaisy: yes, our model does have the third seat in the second row, although it's narrow. If I were going to do 3 carseats I'd probably do 2 in very back and 1 in second row. But could definitely do 3 across back row.

@autumnlove: it's the Ex-L with rear entertainment. It's super comfortable, first off but my favorite perks are the cool box (we usually keep water in there but on road trips, it's where we keep lunches) and the massive trunk and side pockets. I can fit 8 people (which is important when we have to drive B's friends or my parents around), the double BOB and B's bike! And even with all of that, there's probably still room for a Costco run too

Joined the minivan club on Memorial Day with a 2015 Odyssey EX-L. I am really loving it. So much room! I drove a 2013 Escape previously and although there is sooooo much more room on the inside, when I am driving it doesn't feel much bigger (likely because I thought my Escape was bigger than it really was!).

We looked at the Siennas online and used ones on the dealer lot, but didn't drive it. It really seemed like they were pretty comparable. DH liked the Honda better and that dealership was closer!

I like minivans. My parents only had one child, but my mom drove a minivan until I was in college. The last one she had was a Dodge Caravan.

I don't have any LO's yet, but I will definitely be looking into getting one when I do. The minivans that are out now have a ton of cool features, and I love the sliding doors in parking lots.

We just test drove an Odyssey last night!! way too big for us! I kept saying, if we had a third kid it would be PERFECT. In fact, I would insist on it!!

@regberadaisy: for what it's worth we have an SUV with third row seat and we are switching to minivan because I just can't take it anymore... hauling my 40 lb kids into their carseats, dinging neighboring cars with the opened car doors as I stand and wait... wait... WAIT for the kids to get out of the car. Plus I bonked LMW in the head when opening the car door for her to get into the car the other day. And I'm constantly worried that the kids' hands will get stuck in the hinge of the door because the doors are always slowly closing as they're climbing out of the car, especially if you've got a car next to you and the door cannot open all the way... I can't wait for the sliding doors!! And for the kids to be able to climb into the seats themselves.

We are getting the Mazda 5! mini minivan. Perfect size for us. Not nearly the same amount of bells and whistles but wayyyy cheaper and better gas mileage. Meets our needs (enough, for now) and saves us money! We'll have that for a few years and when our kids are older and bigger we'll switch back to an SUV.

@T-Mom: The camera is really cool. When you turn on your right blinker the screen turns on a camera of the full view down the passenger side. It's pretty great. Wish it was also on the driver's side.

@T-Mom: I often use it to make sure I am well between the lines when parking!

@mrs. wagon: I really like the look of those! I think that's what I'd like to upgrade my Versa to when we have #2.