Need a 'Family' Car

[Arkaign]

Putting 3 kids in car seats in the back of a car is going to get old very very fast. Especially getting to the middle seat. Everybody dreads it, but it's time to get a minivan.

this.

 

[manimal]

Putting 3 kids in car seats in the back of a car is going to get old very very fast. Especially getting to the middle seat. Everybody dreads it, but it's time to get a minivan.

Wait, at the same time? Three across? I never knew you could fit three car seats across (except maybe in a car with a really huge interior like a Crown Vic).

If that is possible, then I suppose OP could go for a 2-row vehicle. I haven't driven a Mazda5 but my understanding is that it has 3 rows but very little cargo space behind the third row; on the other hand, a lot of the larger 2-row cars like the Venza and others have tons of cargo room behind the seats.

Then again, even if you can fit three car seats across, I'm not sure if you'd want to.

While doable wrestling my kids in and out of my g35 was awful. Lots of cars can do three abreast. You can get away with it for a short time but you will hate it.

 

[Howard]

Just get the minivan.

 

[rpanic]

Was in same boat 3 years ago, now have 3 kids five and under. Give up and get the mini van.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

Nothing beats the practicality of a minivan for a growing family. Imagine a family of 5 in a 500 sq. ft. bachelor pad, that's what it'll feel like lol. I like the looks of SUVs but in reality I know it's not really practical for my growing needs down the road.

 

[vi edit]

In case no one else said it...you should just bite the bullet now and get the minivan.



Ease yourself into it with a Mazda5, then when that is too small for your family go ahead and upsize to a Sienna/Oddy/T&C.

 

[Turin39789]

Spent a long time trying out sedans and got the wife to fall for the Ford Taurus. Was getting ready to start talking numbers and had the bright idea of picking up the car seats we expected to need and trying to install all 3 in the back seat of our Grand Marquis.

No go for her.

So she bit the bullet on an SUV or minivan. Explored the CX-9, and MAZDA5 but just didnt have the cargo room if you were using the extra seats, and so she finally accepted the minivan. After several test drives she was leaning towards the Odyssey. Pretty much every minivan on the market got a hefty remodel in 2011 and the used were going for more than new. Picked up a nice van under invoice and 0.9 financing.

 

[satyajitmenon]

Spent a long time trying out sedans and got the wife to fall for the Ford Taurus. Was getting ready to start talking numbers and had the bright idea of picking up the car seats we expected to need and trying to install all 3 in the back seat of our Grand Marquis.

No go for her.

So she bit the bullet on an SUV or minivan. Explored the CX-9, and MAZDA5 but just didnt have the cargo room if you were using the extra seats, and so she finally accepted the minivan. After several test drives she was leaning towards the Odyssey. Pretty much every minivan on the market got a hefty remodel in 2011 and the used were going for more than new. Picked up a nice van under invoice and 0.9 financing.

Nice. Now kit out that swagger wagon with some 22s.

 

[Bignate603]

Spent a long time trying out sedans and got the wife to fall for the Ford Taurus. Was getting ready to start talking numbers and had the bright idea of picking up the car seats we expected to need and trying to install all 3 in the back seat of our Grand Marquis.

No go for her.

So she bit the bullet on an SUV or minivan. Explored the CX-9, and MAZDA5 but just didnt have the cargo room if you were using the extra seats, and so she finally accepted the minivan. After several test drives she was leaning towards the Odyssey. Pretty much every minivan on the market got a hefty remodel in 2011 and the used were going for more than new. Picked up a nice van under invoice and 0.9 financing.

Does it have the seats that collapse down into the floor? A relative has an Odyssey with that and it's a great feature. Trying to get seats in and out of a minivan can be a PAIN.

 

[Turin39789]

Does it have the seats that collapse down into the floor? A relative has an Odyssey with that and it's a great feature. Trying to get seats in and out of a minivan can be a PAIN.

3rd row goes into the floor. Dodge/Chrysler all seats fold into the floor, but optioned out how she wanted(leather, dvd) they came out to not much less than the Odyssey and the Honda felt much nicer inside, and the styling in our opinions was also nicer.

Edmunds emails out to the dealers got us one who gave it to us pretty much for cost, which helped sweeten the deal. Only downside was I put out feelers in 3 markets and got a lot of phone calls and emails, but definetly would recommend. Tried to give the local guy where we test drove a chance to meet the price or to even get close and he wound up turning into a douche, so we drove an hour and picked it up.

 

[Sid59]

minivan!