I want a minivan.

[mmret]

How to be cool in a minivan

Zoom Zoom Indeed!

Japanese TV is hard to beat.

[Snowman]

I had a Toyota Highlander for 4 years and will challenge anybody who needs seating for 5 or less on the logic for a minivan.

[G0dspd]

I had a Toyota Highlander for 4 years and will challenge anybody who needs seating for 5 or less on the logic for a minivan.

Ask the guy who was sitting in the middle of the back seat. 

[mdxtasy]

I had a Toyota Highlander for 4 years and will challenge anybody who needs seating for 5 or less on the logic for a minivan.

I have an MDX which is as large if not larger than a Highlander.  The benefits of a minivan with the lower liftover, the larger doors to get in and out of the rear, the extra cargo room, length, height, and width wise is a great advantage. 

[Arthur Dent]

I had a Toyota Highlander for 4 years and will challenge anybody who needs seating for 5 or less on the logic for a minivan.

getting three car seats in the back can be tight in a lot of vehicles. PITA to buckle and unbuckle seat belts.

[Leviathan]

I want a minivan.

Admitting the problem is the first step to recovery  Buy what you like and to hell with what other say 

[initial_D]

I want a minivan.

Admitting the problem is the first step to recovery 

 

Curious if BigSplash can drive a stick shift? 

[Trainman]

OK, as the only poster here who actually seems to have experience with both a mini van (2004 Sienna CE) and a mid size SUV (2002 Pathfinder) I believe I can offer the only true, objective perspective   

The Sienna wins hands down.  It is cheaper to run, rides better, is quieter, has WAY more room and is much more versatile.  There is no comparison.  As much as I like the Pathy, the Sienna gets the nod every time for trips with the family.  And having the extra space allows us the put all our stuff inside the van, including bikes, plus the four of us.

There is no shame to driving a mini van.  As a matter of fact, I get quite smug when I drive along the highway in the Sienna, knowing in real terms what all those SUV's are costing to operate compared to the van.  That is way cool to me     (but I am cheap too    )

[barrie1]

Changing the plugs on a V6 or V8 Mini Van is NO big deal as all you do is pull off the front wheels and push the rubber covers over and there they are. I have done lots of them and they almost as easy as any other vehicle to do unless you have ever worked on some of the engines from the 50's which went 4 and 4 from the bottom end as well as the top. My truck heads are this design actually so I work with them as its NO big deal at all. I know a lot of older folks who have NO kids at home and they drive a mini van as the extra room for comfort is there as well as the luggage room is great as well. Depending on how much you can affords to spend Bigsplash I would start looking at the low end which is the Chrysler MiniVans as well as the GM's and Fords. Personally my choice would be the GM units but its up to you to decide which one your pocket likes the most.  

[Trainman]

Changing the plugs on a V6 or V8 Mini Van ....

Pray tell, what is this beast? 

[prufrock]

Hey, if you want a minivan, fill yer boots.

One request:

Please get the mostly deeply tinted windows known to man in the back.

I believe you just created a new phobia in me about walking by a minivan and accidentally looking inside.

[barrie1]

There is a No. of the Astro Vans in my area where the owner has replaced the V6 with a small block V8. They use them for towing mostly as they do a good job of it. Apparently they haul a boat or small trailor better with the extra  power and actually handle much better with the extra weight as well. The same goes for the smaller GM pickups as well as some of the Ford Rangers also. They use both the 302 and the 350 in the Fords. The GM's run up to a 400cid in them as its all the same basic size for the small block family of engines.   

[Snowman]

I had a Toyota Highlander for 4 years and will challenge anybody who needs seating for 5 or less on the logic for a minivan.

I have an MDX which is as large if not larger than a Highlander.  The benefits of a minivan with the lower liftover, the larger doors to get in and out of the rear, the extra cargo room, length, height, and width wise is a great advantage. 

The minivan has advantages in the areas you mentioned but I never had to use the extra capacity when traveling with 4 or 5 people. A minivan may be easier for entry or egress but a car based SUV like my highlander was not difficult either.

I see many couples panic when they have one or two children and run off to buy a vehicle because they think they need a bus all of a sudden.
When growing up we were a family of 5 and the minivan was not available yet and we traveled well on vacations in sedans and wagons with enough luggage for holidays.

If you want a minivan that’s cool, but needing one is another thing.

[Snowman]

OK, as the only poster here who actually seems to have experience with both a mini van (2004 Sienna CE) and a mid size SUV (2002 Pathfinder) I believe I can offer the only true, objective perspective   

The Sienna wins hands down.  It is cheaper to run, rides better, is quieter, has WAY more room and is much more versatile.  There is no comparison.  As much as I like the Pathy, the Sienna gets the nod every time for trips with the family.  And having the extra space allows us the put all our stuff inside the van, including bikes, plus the four of us.

There is no shame to driving a mini van.  As a matter of fact, I get quite smug when I drive along the highway in the Sienna, knowing in real terms what all those SUV's are costing to operate compared to the van.  That is way cool to me     (but I am cheap too    )

A car-based SUV or X-Over is far more economic to operate than a full-framed SUV like you have. My mother has a Pathy like your and I have convinced he she does not need one to drive to the cottage. She will be looking at X-Overs in the next few months.

[mrthompson]

I see many couples panic when they have one or two children and run off to buy a vehicle because they think they need a bus all of a sudden.
When growing up we were a family of 5 and the minivan was not available yet and we traveled well on vacations in sedans and wagons with enough luggage for holidays.

The sedans and wagons of yore were as long and wide as minivans are today.  They were probably as heavy, if not heavier.  There was lotsa steel in the ol' County Squire.  The wagons, IIRC, sometimes had a rear facing seat for extra passengers.

[Snowman]

I see many couples panic when they have one or two children and run off to buy a vehicle because they think they need a bus all of a sudden.
When growing up we were a family of 5 and the minivan was not available yet and we traveled well on vacations in sedans and wagons with enough luggage for holidays.

The sedans and wagons of yore were as long and wide as minivans are today.  They were probably as heavy, if not heavier.  There was lotsa steel in the ol' County Squire.  The wagons, IIRC, sometimes had a rear facing seat for extra passengers.

VW Dasher….Dad was a VW freak in the mid 1960’s. Imagine trying to heat up a air cooled VW in Northern Quebec at -40C 

[mrthompson]

Hence the 'Snowballs' 'Snowman' moniker.   

[DockMan]

I had a Toyota Highlander for 4 years and will challenge anybody who needs seating for 5 or less on the logic for a minivan.

I have an MDX which is as large if not larger than a Highlander.  The benefits of a minivan with the lower liftover, the larger doors to get in and out of the rear, the extra cargo room, length, height, and width wise is a great advantage. 

The minivan has advantages in the areas you mentioned but I never had to use the extra capacity when traveling with 4 or 5 people. A minivan may be easier for entry or egress but a car based SUV like my highlander was not difficult either.

I see many couples panic when they have one or two children and run off to buy a vehicle because they think they need a bus all of a sudden.
When growing up we were a family of 5 and the minivan was not available yet and we traveled well on vacations in sedans and wagons with enough luggage for holidays.

If you want a minivan that’s cool, but needing one is another thing.

My parents did the trip to Florida in an '87 buick century .......two adults + four kids!!!!

[UmroAyyar]

Changing the plugs on a V6 or V8 Mini Van ....

Pray tell, what is this beast? 

Mercedes R Class?

[Arthur Dent]

Changing the plugs on a V6 or V8 Mini Van ....

Pray tell, what is this beast? 

Mercedes R Class?

Renualt made that neat-o V10 powered minivan years and years ago but I believe it was only a concept.