You aren't alone there. A minivan isn't sexy at all, but they sure are practical. We had two Odysseys for a total of 4 years while the kids were 7 and 9 to 11 and 13. Mrs. went from an Odyssey to an ES330 to MDX to ES350 We didn't use the third row in the Odysseys or the MDX nearly as much as we thought we would.

 

With 3rd kid and inlaws (every month) or my parents every other month, having a third row is almost a necessity.


The only vehicle I have seen 3 kids+ inlaws +everything fit inside easily is a suburban. Friend of ours has a Caddy version of it (ESV), and that think swallows up luggage like nobodys business. However, theirs just rolled over 90K miles in our last Mexico trip, and the interior trims are falling apart. GM interior quality isn't much to write home about, especially after 3 kids get done with it.


I have a 4 and 2, and will be 5,3, and new born, so the necessity of the dual stroller (even though we have the City Mini), plus constant guests makes something a bigger a necessity.


I haven't eliminated the Ody/Sien, but I want to go through the other options if we can make it work. Plus at almost 44K for a solid Odyssey at my local dealer, I am not really seeing them as much of a value proposition. Practical, yes.

 

Ford Flex?
Likely what we'll be getting, hopefully in a few months. I'm 6'0" & fit comfortably (in the parking lot) in the 3rd row. Decent storage space behind 3rd row with seats up. Rides well (wife drove during the test drive). SEL had sufficient power, EcoBoost probably more-so.

 

New Pilot is ugly. No room at all. Looked at one on Monday.

Even though it looks like a minivan.

I pissed the salesguy off at Honda when he asked me if I needed help. I replied, no, just looking at this Van Honda produced. He said, that's a Pilot. My reply was I know.

 

Yes, 3rd child makes a difference not to mention you have to shift from man to man defense to zone And we didn't have either set of Grandparents around often enough to use the 3rd row. The Odyssey and Sienna prices are boosted as they have somewhat of a captive market as you are finding.
My brother in law has had two Suburbans and neither one has held up well at all.

Don't know a lot about the Flex but is an interesting suggestion. Personally not crazy about the looks, but that's me.

 

Even though I don't like the Ford Flex, (not a fan of the looks) the white with black roof CAN grow on me though) you can store a shit ton of stuff in it. My sis in law bought a 2010 when her car started giving her issues and she didn't want to have her son in it anymore. They're doing home renovations and the Flex has came in handy for 15 boxes of tile and a toilet and some 6 foot tables...

Wagon I have the City Select too expensive ass stroller. $800 bucks. but it's super light weight and does not take up a ton of room.

A minivan is practical, but I just couldn't do it. It's so convenient being able to just hit the button and watch the rear doors slide instead of open. Makes parking in the garage less of a pain. IF I ended up getting a van it would have been a Sienna SE.

 

Thanks for the info guys. Yeah don't get me started on stroller costs (6 car seats in 3 cars now now) and more to come. SIGH.


I haven't looked at the FLex or Transit Connect or things like that, as I want to make sure all 3 car seats fit in a row. That gives me most spcace for guests etc.


We don't need to make the purchase just yet. I would like to make the purchase next June/July.


It is a shame about the Suburban interior quality not holding up, as that is the only one that has all the right dimensions.


After reading this Odyssey review the other night
The Only Honda Odyssey Review You?ll Ever Need to Read.


I am for sure going Sienna SE, if minivan it will be.


However, will see if I can avoid it till then.

 

car seats and strollers.

2 Recaros

The City Select

Then car seats for my car

I've probably spent $2,000.....

Yes, Sienna SE is the only van.

There is a modded one in my area.... Airdout license plate.

 

Just curious what are some of the issues with the Suburbans? I was thinking about getting a tahoe / suburban in the near future like 04-10 model.

 

Car seat and stroller costs along with vehicles to haul all that stuff around in is peanuts compared to college tuition. I'm essentially buying one of those new minivans every semester with both of the aforementioned youngsters in college

 

Yup I have been maxing out my Utah 529c vanguard as much as possible

Could have aventador if we didn't have kids
Sigh

 

I am no expert on suburbans

I have been in two of them

My friends caddi esv (it is a luxo suburban) and a regular suburban over the years

One is a 2010 and one is a 2012/2013 not sure

Mechanically I have heard of 0 issues. Both of these owners are not car people but they out 15-20k miles per year

However the interior on both are horrible. If you compare to a acura or Toyota of that vintage you can see how much wear and tear there has been

Fake wood coming off, door panel glue coming off, dash looks nasty, seats all look horribly worn leather

 

I think you'd likely be disappointed with pretty much any 3 row SUVs. That third row seems more like an emergency seat, rather than a necessary seat.

Personally, I think there is nothing more badass than an optioned out Oddyssey. Especially if you do some mods do it.

If I had kids, my dream family whip would be a loaded Oddyssey, on bags and supercharged

 

I know this is the older gen, but still, so gangster.




Or this, newer gen. Although it's much too modified, but you get the idea

 

I have no doubt you are right about the van. Going through the suv could just be a psychological move for me. I have always wanted a Land Cruiser and this is the only chance I can get one and live with the very terrible feel economy but for necessity of the family. However as you said the van probably makes the most sense. I just haven't come to grips with the fact that I need to get the van for my life. And hang up the man card.

When I was younger I remember rj de vera and his moms sick odyssey.

If my suv (I don't care about third row leg room as I do post third row luggage room), search is fruitless, I was going to 100% go odyssey

However after reading the horrible quality odyssey review from a car guy (that I linked above) I am leaning towards sienna se

I still haven't given up hope of finding a sequoia or whatever else to make it work

Maybe I need to get the orange tundra I lust over and put the Inlaws in the bed like messicans do

Thanks for listening to the rant going from car guy to non car guy

Never even owned a stock car before and these days instead of buying wheels and coilovers (which would be ordered before a new car even get home) I have to think about 529 and 401ks and Costco diaper prices

Growing up sucks

 

hahaha.. yup. and growing up sneaks up on a guy, whether he likes it, or not.

I really don't think you have to hang up the man card with a van. I personally see no difference between that and half of the SUVs out there, driven by soccer moms, like the Ford Escape, etc. It's all in what you do with it.

But I'm sure you're at a point in your life where dropping several thousands on wheels and bags isn't even close to being a priority. And I can't blame you. But it would be cool.

 

Yup just not a priority anymore ....

Will keep us guys posted what we end up getting. I got about another 8 months in wagon will enjoy it as much as I can

 

Yup. Then you buy an SUV and think "This will sound nice with an exhaust and some wheels."

If I had the money I would have bought a JGC SRT. Now since Jeep announced the hellcat edition is coming out the JGC is and will always be on my list.

 

Let's see: Blown transmission, issue with headlights, leaking rear door, power lock actuators and interior that looks 10 years older than it is.

Exactly -

 

Sienna vs Odyssey

I thought the Sienna has captain seats in the second role?

I would like all three in a row. For me, it would be a 3rd gen MDX or Odyssey; setting my budget at $25k. I would love to spare my 3rd gen TL or recently purchased Vagon - although it may not be sensible financially. In all, while searching for a first home...

I need to hit the LOTTERY!

 

I guess I can't be surprised about Suburban but I thought the Escalade was a totally different ballpark with higher quality materials.

 

You need a loaded odyssey like this:

 

You can get bench in sienna

 

we picked up a 2014 odyssey this year as we had our third and it's a great car. We have the middle row jumper seat taken out for easy access to the 3rd. We keep our oldest in the back with the other 3rd row folded. There's tons of room. The middle row seats also slide towards the doors to give more room to walk to the back.
I looked hard at 3 row SUVs and they're just not practical for 3 kids, plus most eat gas. The odyssey has the cylinder deactivation and gets better mileage than our old 4cyl Rav4. Since it's really the wife's car, and I still have my fun car, I feel I deserve to keep my man card.

 

Slammed vans look terrible, I get the practically of a van but please, no rims.

 

^ Toyally agree. Just doesn't work.

 

Ody is the only van I'd drive. The Sienna SE is nice and looks great but the Honda just drives so much better overall. Basically the same difference as Camry vs Accord.

My parent's have had an Ody for nearly 9 years now and it has worked flawlessly to do everything asked of it including moving 3 kids to and from college over 6 years, home improvement projects, moving around a family of 5 plus grand parents, long road trips, etc...

When it comes to moving people and their crap, nothing is better than a minivan unless heavy towing is required.

 

I would buy accord sport manual over Camry every day and twice on Sunday

Thus oddy would be my go to for van

However if you read the link I posted that is very very recent with picture proof of how low quality oddy is it is concerning

Additionally the glass transmission of oddy isn't very confidence inspiring

That said we change cars very often

However given our age of kids we would like to keep it 10-12 years at the very least , which is the reason the land cruiser is being such a consideration

We tow two Jet ski and an Elise few times a year

 

Would you buy just a CVT Accord sport over a Camry?

 

I have enough dreams of my own, don't need earth dreams


Thus I specifically said "Accord Sport Manual"