mini van maybe

Member6538

My sienna is totalled. I am hoping that they can unbend frame and not total it. However, I do not think that is possible. Rear ended at 30+mph.

My youngest is 16, out of 6 kids, but I still have older kids to take to college. If the older kids take their friends, they borrow the van. I was thinking about switching to a car in 3 or 4 years. Now the decision is out of my hand. I dont want a van for another 6 years, but I am not ready to give up the room.
I am a large woman, so I want to be comfortable. I also am considering a honda pilot or rav 4, but cannot climb too high into a vehicle.

Any ideas? It will be a used either sienna, odyssey, pilot, rav4, probably need to be under 10k. My old van had 8 seats and I really liked that. I was the original owner, and it was really nice to KNOW my car.

Suggestions for roomy vehicles, with good mileage. I think I would like awd. I havent looked at anything yet. My rental is a nissan Rogue. I do not really care for it. Drivers seat is a tight fit.

thanks
Shermeen

Priorities: Reliability & durability / Driving position & visibility / Safety & braking / Front seat support & comfort / Price or payments

Preferred Bodystyle(s): Minivan / SUV

Car Needs: Daily commuter / Family transporter / Errands about town

Primary Driver(s): Senior driver

Need minimum of 8 seats

Will consider both new and used cars
Maximum mileage: 130000
Maximum age: 8 years

Maximum price: US $ 11000

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I'm not a minivan fan and usually recommend wagons (based on my personal tastes), but as something that's a little between the two, I would suggest you look into a Mazda5. It's probably a bit of a compromise vehicle, not the best of anything, but does fit 6 and has cargo versitility and decent (not great) MPG. For you, a plus would seem to be that it doesn't have high clearance so easier to get in/out. I don't know much about seat comfort.

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If you want a minivan with AWD, the Sienna is your only option. The Sienna is the most reliable minivan, followed by the Odyssey. The Chryslers aren't as roomy or as reliable, but you could buy a much newer one for the same amount of money.

The Mazda5 is an interesting alternative. Probably not enough space inside, but worth a look. Older ones commonly require suspension repairs.

With the crossovers you'll just be paying more for less space.

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If you have a need / desire to seat 8, your options for something not truck based (meaning you don't have to step up into it) are the Sienna and the Odyssey. If you can get away with seating 7, the other minivans and some CUVs are available. However, the 3rd row of the CUVs generally are not comfortable or very usable by adults (and since your kids are older, they are adult size). The GM threesome - Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Chevy Traverse - all have decent 3rd row and are car based.

Really, it depends on what / how many people you need to carry whether or not you stay with Sienna / Odyssey. Frankly, those are the two more practical decisions, economical, and comfortable.

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