What do ya'll drive?

Well, the time has come and we need to buy another vehicle...ugh....our current car fits 2 snug rids and 1 booster seat...with no room to spare...however...once the twins hit the 20 lb mark...they'll need other car seats and the convertible ones are MUCH wider than the infant car seats...I've done a ton of research and the snug rides are 17.5" and the smallest convertible car seat is 19.5" wide...sigh...we need another car...used of course because of the money situation.

We test drove a used 2006 Honda Oddesey today..it was nice, but I'm very unsure about putting my toddler in the 3rd row (seems sooooo far back).

For those with 3 or more children...what do ya'll drive? Anyone with experiences with 3rd rows?

Thanks Momma's!

 

I drive a 2007 Suburban and LOVE it. I have four kids - 5, 2 and 4 month-old-twins. The second row has a bench - I keep the outboard seat flipped forward always. The older two sit in the third row - 2yo in a Britax Marathon, 5yo in a Britax Frontier. Babies are in the second row - middle and driver side positions - in Graco Snugrides.

I initially wanted my bench swapped for captains chairs when I found out we were having twins. A friend advised that it's better to keep the bench (and extra seat) should you need it - just keep the access seat flipped forward. I have not regretted the decision.

I love, love, love my Suburban!

 

Actually if you get the Radian carseats by sunshine kids I believe they are only 17" wide, they can fit three across and are very highly rated. That said I think you sound like you need a sweet new ride We have a minivan and have the toddler in the 2nd row and the two snugrides in the 3rd row. But when the twins can move into their radians (we already bought them as they were on sale a few weeks ago) we might actually put all 3 across the back as our toddler has a radian too so it will make it easier getting in and out. Good luck!

 

Grand Caravan (she says begrudgingly, lol). But truthfully, even tho I traded in my Explorer kicking and screaming, the van IS nice and much safer, since it's really not safe to have 3 seats in one row. SO much easier to juggle all those peeps into their carseats, plus it has SO much more storage!! I'm shocked at how much more room we have, even with adding two people and all of their stuff for weekend trips. We made it back from a 3-day weekend with a 3yo, 7mo twins, all of their gear AND their Christmas presents from both families with room to spare. And those automatically opening side doors? PRICELESS!!!! Gas mileage is reasonable, it's comfy, and it didn't cost a small mortgage to buy and maintain! We checked out the bigger suv's but just couldn't find a way to justify the extra expense one would've cost us when truthfully, the van was a better fit.

Sooo, I checked my minivan-bashing ego at the door and haven't regretted it a bit! ardon:

Eve

 

I am right there with you! I need a bigger car. I bought my car when I thought I was only having one baby :laughing: well found out a month after I bought my car (at 17 weeks) that I was expecting twins! I drive a 2008 Saturn Vue. Our twins are in the Graco Comfortsport convertible car seats now. I can no longer fit Korey's booster seat. He is almost 6....I know it is reccomended up to 8 years of age to sit in a booster but I had no choice but to take it out. Korey sits in the middle and the twins seats on the sides....we are looking to buy a bigger vehicle. I have only had my Vue for a year and a half. Our top contenders are either a Chevy Traverse (my sis-inlaw has one and I love it!) or Saturn Outlook.

 

We have a Chevy Traverse and we could fit all three kids across our older DD prefers to sit in the back. The boys sit in the middle and drivers side. I like it alot - it fits 8 people without too much trouble (we had 3 kids and 5 adults in it without problems) and is reasonable on gas mileage. Wasn't a huge fan of the looks but it grows on you after all....

 

I do think there are seats that are skinnier than the 19" you found... the pp said the Radian, there is also the Complete Air by Safety 1st sold at BRU, here's a blog about it w/stats.

http://carseatblog.com/?p=4038

good luck figuring it all out!

p.s. the Complete Air is 17" wide

 

Minivan
But we only need to worry about 2 carseats and the older kids take the third row.

 

I LOVE my Honda!! It was a huge adjustment at 27 to make the leap to a minivan, but I am rockin it!!

I have the twins in bucket seats in the 2nd row, and my oldest in the 3rd row. We sometimes move to buckets so the walkway is in the middle or on one side. It is so easy to move the seats, I don't even have to take the bases out, they just slide right over. I can't put all 3 across, but not sure if I would anyways. I would be to worried about my oldest throwing toys at his brothers.

 

I drive an older Suburban. It is hard to get used to how big it is but, for the cost it is totally worth it. I needed to be able to tow and fit all 3 of my kids. It is really nice and we can take other people if necessary.

 

Nissan Quest - and I loooooove it. We got ours used - it's kinda tricked out with 5 sunroofs, DVD, leather. Way more than we ever would have bought new. And all of the space is AMAZING! We have the twins in the captain's chairs in the second row and my 5YO in his Graco Nautilus in the 3rd row. You'd be surprised - I actually like riding the 3rd row better than the middle - it's higher up and has a better view, IMO. My 5YO loves it too - he thinks it's awesome to have his own space and he can see his sisters too.

We have one sliding door that's automatic and the other is manual. I sure wish they were both motorized.

We moved to the suburbs and bought the minivan in the same week. It was a bit of an ego blow at first, but it sure makes traveling with 3 kids so much nicer.

 

I had to get rid of my Honda Accord, which is my favorite car ever. Not too keen on driving bigger cars. UGH! With that being said:

I have a Kia Sedona and LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are Honda lovers but just couldn't afford a newer one and really didn't want to get one that had so many miles on it. So we looked around. We just love this minivan and actually think it is better than the Honda.

I have 3 kids, 3 year old and 7 month old twins. I put the twins in the very back and the 3 year old in the middle. I took out one of the middle captain chairs so now I can fully get into the van and close the door. It is great especially since it is SO cold out then I don't have to stand outside while putting the kids into the van. We are all inside while putting them in. One of my twins is too big already for the infant carrier, he is in a convertible seat so I have to strap him in. It isn't always fun having to get into the van to put him in but I figure I can rearrange later.

Don't get me wrong I still miss and LOVE my Honda Accord. The only thing I don't like about the minivan is that it is a big vehicle, I just would rather drive a smaller car but need the space for the family.

 

We have a Toyota Sienna, and I love my van! Josh was only 2 when I had the twins, and him being in the 3rd row was never really an issue.

 

Honda Pilot. I love it! We don't normally use the 3rd row, except for our dog, or extra cargo space.

 

I was one of those people who swore they'd never own a minivan. I traded my Explorer in for a Toyota Sienna and I absolutely love it!

The second row has captains seats. I put one of the twins in one seat, the other is folded forward. In the third row I have the other twin and my 3-year-old. It seemed a little far at first, but we got used to it real fast and I actually like it better!

Also, both side doors are motorized as well as the trunk and I SOOOO love that feature!!! We bought used, otherwise we couldn't afford to have that option.

Good luck with your search!

 

We had a 4-runner but, it became way too small once we had our newest addition so, we upgraded to an Expedition with 3rd row seating and it's wondeful! DH would not break down and get a minivan...but one day I see that in our future!
Good Luck

 

We drive 2010 Toyota Sienna and LOVE it! We got it when I was 30 weeks pg. I was one of those people that hated minivans well not anymore! We looked into Honda Oddyssey even though we liked the exterior better we got better deal from dealership on Toyota and it is couple inches taller which is wonderful since my dh and I are very tall.

 

We did the Toyota Sienna, used 2006 with 30,000 miles. It was that or the Honda Odyssey. We needed to fit the three car seats and the Big Joovy stroller. These two mini vans have the larger trunk compartments. We did the Sienna, because it was less $$.....but that said the Odyssey holds is value longer.....although both have similar ratings with consumer reports. The Chrysler Town and Country was also on our short list, but I just did not like the body. I selected a mini van over a larger SUV due to garage space...and gas mileage. I do have to say though since I have had the mini van I also love the auto sliding doors. I do not have to worry about hitting other cars with my door, while lugging carriers and other baby gear. It seems parking spaces are becoming more narrow.

We also looked at the VW Routan.....loved it, but it was not in our budget.


On the note about moving my toddler to the third row.....well he has his own DVD player for longer trips, and cup/snack holders. He seems to love it. The mini vans have, mirrors that are devoted to looking back at the third row....it works well.

Happy car hunting!
Mishelle

 

We have a Toyota Sienna and love it. When we first bought it my older DD was 2.5 YO. She has always been in the 3rd row without issue. Now they are all big enough to rotate seats. We also change around the seats on occasion. For example, we might take out one of the captains chairs and put 2 car seats in the 3rd row.

 

We bought a Town and Country last year when I was pregnant. With two older kids, it was time to get over my dislike of minivans. I can't say I love driving one, but it does make life so much easier. My older two love sitting in the third row, especially since it lets them see their brothers.

 

When we had the twins, my 4 year old was fine the third row. He loved it and now my 3 year twins sit there and my oldest sits in the middle row so we can have another seat for another passenger.

 

I have always ALWAYS been vehemently anti-minivan... so when I found out I was pregnant with twins, my DH and I had a Hyundai Elantra, and a Chevy Impala. We took one long trip with the twins only to realize all their *stuff* didn't fit. The Impala was almost paid off (and we wouldn't have been upside down in it.. blah.) so off it went.. for a minivan.

I can't even tell you the absolute LOVE I have for my minivan now. The twins sit in the middle bench seats and its just great. It hauls a lot of stuff, it gets great gas mileage and even my hubby doesn't mind driving it.

The ONLY THING that I don't like about my particular van (we bought it used, its an 05 Chevy Venture).. is that the top tethers for forward-facing seats are only in the 3rd row. Now I know they're not mandatory, but they are safer, and I wish they had that feature in the middle seats, too.

 

We bought a brand new Honda Odyssey this year and I love it! The twins right now are in their bucket seats in the 3rd row and my toddler is in a captain's chair. She's two and was rear facing up until a few weeks ago (safer) but when the twins outgrow the buckets we'll have to put the toddler in the back. I wouldn't mind keeping the twins back there but even if they're over a year we'll be keeping them rear facing until at least 2 years old.