My kids are older (18,16, and 8). I drive an Explorer. Usually we take two cars when we go on a driving vacation (when we have luggage and dogs), so we only have all five of us in the car when we are going places around town. And anymore, we rarely have all five of us at once anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, 10-12 years to own a car is pretty aggressive... Probably will be more like 7-8.

You be surprised how long folks keep cars. My brother in laws mother is 99 and still has the car she went on first date on with husband 82 years ago and it still runs. Still titled in dead’s husband name and registered. It is a 1931 Ford Model A.

You know this is not common.

I don’t think any car you get new these days that you transport 3 kids in will be working well after 10-12 year. It’s not the old days. Cars have a lot more stuff that can go wrong. Many cars now have CVT transmissions that only last 5 years. Also, Honda reliability is terrible now.

Honda Odyssey. DH has a Toyota Highlander. He borrows my Odyssey when he needs to haul large stuff. The Odyssey has more cargo space with the third row down and second row seats removed than his Highlander with second and third row down. Odyssey seats more people more comfortably than Highlander. Easier for elderly parents to get in and out of Odyssey than SUV.

When our kids were that age, we crammed all three (car seats included) in the back seat of a Mercedes ML350.

AWD Sienna is unstoppable. More legroom AND cargo space than any SUV. Excellent for carpooling, even with tall teen boys.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Siena. My kids are 16, 12 and 9. This is my second minivan. DH drives at Santa Fe. I can fit most of the basketball team and a good number of lacrosse players with bags and long poles. My rule is that they must keep their shoes on.

My sister drives a Suburban. She almost bought a Yukon XL, but found the Suburban first. Her kids play hockey. BIL drives an Audi Q7, i believe.

aren't you at least a bit jealous?

Why would someone be jealous of a car?

(I can see being jealous of having a life that allowed someone to have a more fun car, but if your car meets your needs, why would you want a gas-sucking behemoth?)

Honda Odyssey- had it for 11 years when kids were young. I would only get a minivan with three kids.

Toyota Sienna

Anonymous wrote:Siena. My kids are 16, 12 and 9. This is my second minivan. DH drives at Santa Fe. I can fit most of the basketball team and a good number of lacrosse players with bags and long poles. My rule is that they must keep their shoes on.

My sister drives a Suburban. She almost bought a Yukon XL, but found the Suburban first. Her kids play hockey. BIL drives an Audi Q7, i believe.

aren't you at least a bit jealous?

23:37 here. I meant to add that I traded my Pilot for my first minivan when my youngest was about 4 weeks old. It just couldn't handle the carseats. You absolutely need captain's chairs if you want three carseats in something that isn't a minivan.

Also, when you have three kids of your own, it is REALLY hard to carpool if you don't have a minvan unless you have someone else to watch your younger kids.

Siena. My kids are 16, 12 and 9. This is my second minivan. DH drives at Santa Fe. I can fit most of the basketball team and a good number of lacrosse players with bags and long poles. My rule is that they must keep their shoes on.

My sister drives a Suburban. She almost bought a Yukon XL, but found the Suburban first. Her kids play hockey. BIL drives an Audi Q7, i believe.

I was in your shoes 11 years ago. We bought a used Toyota Sienna. I'm still driving it even though it has over 200,000 miles on it. Your kids have short legs now but they grow quickly. Pick a vehicle that is comfortable for adult length legs or be prepared to switch in 6ish years.

Anonymous wrote:Also, 10-12 years to own a car is pretty aggressive... Probably will be more like 7-8.

You be surprised how long folks keep cars. My brother in laws mother is 99 and still has the car she went on first date on with husband 82 years ago and it still runs. Still titled in dead’s husband name and registered. It is a 1931 Ford Model A.

Honda Pilot. It's been more than adequate.

We're about to have fourth though, so will be getting a minivan. Either Odyssey or Sienna.