minivan - name your must have features

trying to look at minivans to buy one this week...

can you name your must have features?

I know I want backup camera and power sliding door...

but when it comes to extra features such as blind spot camera I am not sure if its worth the price increase to get

considering: honda, chrysler, dodge... should I be looking at toyota?

Re: minivan - name your must have features

Backup camera, power doors,Bluetooth. I had an odyssey for 10 years. It was awesome. Keep in mind if you are interested in 4wheel drive the only one that offers that is the Toyota. Toyota and Honda will hold their value much better than other brands.

Re: minivan - name your must have features

Not a minivan person but my SIL had lots of issues with the Chrysler. Thankfully they just leased it because it was always having electrical problems and breaking down leaving her stranded in random places.

Once it even stopped in the middle of the road.

Traded in and got a Honda and has had no more issues.

minivan - name your must have features

i just read a report that honda has cheaper 5 year cost. starting to lean that way

not sure what the different is in AWD from toyota. the msrp rose to 35,000 min when I priced it.

minivan - name your must have features

If you have more than 2 kids in car seats , I'd avoid the town and country and caravan. They're known to have terrible seatbelt placement in third row which isn't safe for kids or adults and not enough top tethers.

If I were to go with a mini van, I would probably go with an odyssey.

Re: minivan - name your must have features

I have the odyssey touring. It's the top end one. We have the gps and the rear entertainment system (this is the in car DVD player and has headphones if you don't want to hear it, just the kids can) in addition to the features you mentioned. We love it. The only thing we don't have is the in car vacuum cleaner. I really would've liked it but it wasn't worth it (I think it was like an extra 5k) and no one had that one anyway. The dealer said barely anyone buys it so they would have it shipped from Jersey if we wanted it.

Re: minivan - name your must have features

I have the odessey. My must haves- leather seats, just because it's easier to clean with kids, and I love those plastic mats so that I can just hose them down and my cars clean again. I also really like my navigation and cooler, but I wouldn't say they are must haves. I really wanted the vacuum but couldn't find one in stock in the color I wanted, so I ended up finding one that hooks up in the car at tjmax randomly for like $20 lol.

For me I can't live without my back up camera now, but I actually didn't like the blind spot camera, it made the pictures smaller if I remember correctly it was over a year ago when I bought it.

Re: minivan - name your must have features

I have an Odyssey
DVD for sure

But I will say it is NOT good in the snow and ice.

We got stuck 3 x this year (with new tires)

Getting rid of it before this winter

minivan - name your must have features

I have an Odyssey and I wish I would have went with a van where the middle row folded into the floor.

Re: minivan - name your must have features

I hate the built-in DVD players. Huge expense, and you can't tell DC "We didn't bring the DVD player, so use your imaginations..."
We have portable DVD players for longer trips, and with a portable setup, you can take it out of the vehicle.
Also, now that DC are older, they don't want to watch DVDs. They only play with tablets.

We love the stow-and-go seating in our Dodge Grand Caravan. We can either tuck the seats under the floor to carry big things, or use the under-floor storage to carry a lot of gear.

Definitely the remotely controlled door and hatch opening and closing.

Remote start and rear-view camera, but you can always add those on later (I did on my minivan).

Re: minivan - name your must have features

I have a Honda Odyssey. Bluetooth, backup camera, side airbags and power sliding doors are requirements for me.

Also, my Odyssey has the push button for closing the trunk which I love. I have 2 kids that I load into the car while I am unloading the cart at a shopping center. I love leaving the back door open when I am walking to the front so I can hear them and keep an eye on them. I close the door when I sit in the drivers seat.

I truly believe the Odyssey is the best minivan hands down.

Re: minivan - name your must have features

I have the Toyota Sienna. I would say a must is the power sliding doors, extra seat you can put in the middle row, heated seats, backup camera. Have had it about 2-3 years and am very happy with it.Good luck.

Re: minivan - name your must have features

Removable middle seat in 2nd row, blue tooth, automatic starter, back up camera, leather seats and power everything

Re: minivan - name your must have features