Do I HAVE to get a mini-van?

[waynerd]

With bambino #2 probably on the way (shhh, don't tell anybody yet, it's still way early), my wife is already buggin' me about trading the Pilot for a mini-van ( Honda Ody or Toyoyo Sienna). She says it'll be way more convienent than the Pilot, and make life so much easier. I don't really see how. Plus I love my Pilot, and I feel like I'm driving a cave in a mini-van. Then, since I'm a stay at home dad, there's the whole "skirt factor" with a mini-van to deal with ("Mom" mobile).

I know several of you have mini-vans, and others have traded the Pilot for a van, or a van for a Pilot. So whadya think, do I HAVE to get a mini-van? What are the pros and cons of a mini-van vs. Pilot?

[fireflock]

I can't see any reason to trade the Pilot with the addition of a 2nd kid. We have 2 kids cruising around in our Pilot and it works great! You could point out that a Pilot will actually seat more people/kids (8) than a mini-van with captains chairs (7).

I really like the quasi-seperated cargo area in the Pilot compared to what is in a mini-van. You can fold down the third seat in the Pilot (ours is almost always down) and still feel like you have a complete vehicle. Folding down the third seat in a mini-van makes things look and feel just not right.

If you want to tow, drive on the beach, head to the mountians in the winter, or for any other reason want AWD (remember those winter ice storms), then the Pilot gets the nod.

Economics are also in the Pilot's favor since you already have one. That's extra money to put towards diapers or college.

-my 2 cents-

[hsubox]

Originally posted by waynerd
...since I'm a stay at home dad, there's the whole "skirt factor" with a mini-van to deal with ("Mom" mobile)....

The real question is how can I be more like you - a stay at home dad?

[BillG]

Originally posted by waynerd
With bambino #2 probably on the way (shhh, don't tell anybody yet, it's still way early), my wife is already buggin' me about trading the Pilot for a mini-van ( Honda Ody or Toyoyo Sienna). She says it'll be way more convienent than the Pilot, and make life so much easier. I don't really see how. Plus I love my Pilot, and I feel like I'm driving a cave in a mini-van. Then, since I'm a stay at home dad, there's the whole "skirt factor" with a mini-van to deal with ("Mom" mobile).

(Congrats... shhhh.)

Just for #2??? C'mon, you don't need a 7-8 seat vehicle for 2 kids.

I know several of you have mini-vans, and others have traded the Pilot for a van, or a van for a Pilot. So whadya think, do I HAVE to get a mini-van? What are the pros and cons of a mini-van vs. Pilot?

Advantages of Odyssey over Pilot:

* Less expensive when you comparee new prices for similarly equipped vehicles
* Better gas mileage (at least according to EPA, YMMV)
* Better handling and maybe less rollover risk, although both vehicles have good safety ratings
* More airbag coverage
* The rear doors slide. Easier to get kids in and out in parking spaces than hinged rear doors.
* Available power doors make it easier to open while dealing with a load of kids, groceries, etc.
* Lower step in height makes it easier for older kids to get in and out
* Third row seating is easily accessible and adults can sit comfortably back there
* Whichever parent is not driving can easily move from the front passenger seat into the back to tend to kids, pick up wayward juice cups, etc.
* Lower load height for cargo
* More flexible interior space. You have more cargo space by removing / stowing all the seats.
* More interior storage places for kids / family stuff
* Dual front a/c zones
* Really nice feature -- the conversation mirror to keep an eye on the kids
* Lower insurance rates (slightly)

Advantages of Pilot over Odyssey:

* BIG POINT -- You already own a Pilot, so no loss on sale / trade-in
* 4 wheel drive
* Higher ground clearance
* Higher towing rating
* Center console provides more driver-oriented storage
* No need to worry if the complex systems will break out of warranty (sliding power doors, power liftgate, VCM engine, etc)
* Lower projected depreciation (slightly)
* Not an uncool "Mom" mobile (Of course, the Pilot isn't exactly a convertible Porsche either. Perhaps the difference between wearing blue or black socks with your sandals at the beach. )

[Sunday Rider]

Wouldn't it be your decision, since you are the one who will be doing most of the work with the kid (s)?

With the Rochester winters, all wheel drive is the way to go.

We went from Windstar and an Explorer to the Pilot and Volvo station wagon. I couldn't wait to get out of the van. We have 2 kids as well but older now. The van was great when we packed up the kids (2), dogs (2), picked up my mom and went to the beach or a cottage. But when I drove it around to work and regular stuff, it was not pleasant, and I found it had many blind spots.

If you want to change because of the extra air bags, and DVD and other features then maybe. But I would wait until the kids are older and get the 2008 Pilot!

[osteome]

The Sienna and the Odyssey have been greatly debated in other forums (www.odyclub.com and www.siennclub.org leap to mind, both of which I have been active on), and to some extent here. We ended up cancelling an order on a Odyssey EX-L RES and NAV and went with a gently used Sienna XLE Limited RES and NAV. The reasons are numerous, but it is my wife's car and she wanted it this way and we are without regret.

We have two children at the present time and felt the need to go with a minivan. They are both in car seats so the load height, size of the door openning, and need to carry lots of gear with four adults were real concerns. Actually if my wife had her way, we would have purchased a minivan instead of the Pilot in 2003, when we only had one child. At the time though the new Sienna had just come out (no connection in the world at the local Toyota dealer would've got me a deal) and the Odyssey was a ways away from the current redesign. So we went with the Pilot and did enjoy the AWD advantange here in New England.

I would have to say that the advantages of the minivan, at least in our personal scenario, made it the right move for us. It is bigger, rides with much less NVH than the Pilot, gets consistently better MPG, has more usable space in that with the third row up and can still carry things needed for a vacation inside the vehicle (providing easy access), really allows me at 6'3" to stretch out as the driver or passenger without invading the car seat sapce in the second row (granted our 03 Pilot did not have a sliding second row bench). The genral quality of the materials in the Toyota, and for that matter the Ody, are just better than the Pilot.

We did lose AWD, but with an upcoming move not as important in the near future, and I lost the "SUV image". In all honesty though, that "image" is fading fast around here as every "soccer mom" is drving an SUV anyway. If anything I see more new SUVs than new body style Siennas or Odys.

Good luck on your decision, you can't really go wron with either van.

[colorider]

Congrats!!!! And no - you do not have to get a minivan.

Here is the answer: Get a RidgeLine!!!!

[Bill Balmer]

No, you don't have to get a minivan. The Pilot is plenty of vehicle for a family of four! I have two kids, and I'm also a stay at home dad (for over 10 years now). I see no reason to trade the Pilot for a van, and being a stay at home dad, you DO need to maintain your sense of masculinity (not that we're insecure about it, mind you)! As others have pointed out, the four wheel drive is what puts it over the top in your climate. This is YOUR car, yes? Stand firm. If your wife wants a minivan, let HER get one.

[hsubox]

I won't say anything if you don't say anything.

One thing to consider is third row seat access in the pilot when carting both adults and toddlers with car seats. Last week-end we needed to put our niece's (x2) car seats in the back to accomodate 3 other adults (the adults are far more confortible in the middle row than the back. Incidentally, it's difficult for the middle row seats to slide forward with car seats installed on them anyway.

It was challenging getting, one, the car seats installed back there and, two, loading-up the kids. Now you most likely won't have this challenge with only your wife and two bambinos, but if when you're in this situation, it would be nice to have better flexibility.

I also contemplated getting the Odessy, but my wife liked the "coolness" factor of an SUV. The wife wanted the SUV - go figure. But, now that my daughter is 10, this situation isn't usually a problem.

Although I would agree that the minivan isn't the babe magnet as an SUV, some may shoot me here for saying this, but you have more flexibility with the minivan for carting kids and adults.

Did I just say that outloud?

Good luck and congrats!

(Admin, what??? no spell check? I apologize in advance if I've offended anyone here for any mispellings).

[jl_ss]

We had a 2004 Sienna minivan before the Pilot with only one child and still miss the space. We would still have the Sienna if it wasn't a lemon. A minivan with 8 passenger seating is the most versatile. With two kids there will be more space to haul everything they need. But you don't know what your missing until you've had it. We did not go with the Ody because it doesn't have an AWD version, but if it gets it then the wife will be first in line at the dealership. The power sliding doors are also extremely convenient, you don't have to juggle packages to open the doors.

[BillG]

Newsflash--- the Pilot isn't a babe magnet either!

If anything, when you drive a 7/8 passenger vehicle, the babes are going to run. They will fear your fertility!

[BillG]

Originally posted by jl_ss
We did not go with the Ody because it doesn't have an AWD version, but if it gets it then the wife will be first in line at the dealership.

Here is a secret... a front wheel drive vehicle with winter tires is at least as good, probably better, than an AWD with all season tires. If you want great winter performance, get yourself some good winter tires.

[jl_ss]

Originally posted by BillG


Here is a secret... a front wheel drive vehicle with winter tires is at least as good, probably better, than an AWD with all season tires. If you want great winter performance, get yourself some good winter tires.

Did that for a number of years but for the hills and roads we have to travel (often the last plowed), AWD has performed much better even with all season tires. I won't buy another vehicle without AWD or 4WD as long as I 'm still in the Northeast.

[colorider]

Originally posted by BillG


Here is a secret... a front wheel drive vehicle with winter tires is at least as good, probably better, than an AWD with all season tires. If you want great winter performance, get yourself some good winter tires.

Really??? Where do you live and what vehicles are you comparing? I had 12 years experience living in the mountains of Colorado and commuting 85 miles a day and NEVER felt that a FWD was anywhere near as good as an AWD.

YMMV

[BillG]

Originally posted by colorider


Really??? Where do you live and what vehicles are you comparing? I had 12 years experience living in the mountains of Colorado and commuting 85 miles a day and NEVER felt that a FWD was anywhere near as good as an AWD.

YMMV

I live in Switzerland.

For example, our former family car was a VW Passat wagon with AWD and we ran all season tires. I didn't buy winter tires and lived to regret it a few times. Unfortunately, the VW was basically a lemon. We got rid of it and bought a FWD Toyota van. When the season rolls around, we swap over to a full set winter tires on the van and it does just fine in the snow.

Even with all season tires, 4WD / AWD is great for getting going. The problem comes with braking. My experience is that winter tires brake and handle much, much better on the road. Off-road is a different story.

Obviously, the combination of AWD with winter tires is better still. If I have to pick only one or the other... give me a full set of winters.