Third row or mini van?

I have 2 in car seats. Will be for quite awhile since the boys are five months and two years old. We also live with my mil and about once a week or once every two weeks she's in the car with us shoved between the two car seats. My niece is also around two so we do a lot with my sister and her family. It would be nice to not have to take two sep cars everywhere. We are going to Phily this weekend and have to take two cars. I have a double stroller and we use our jeep a lot for moving stuff....bj's trips for the big boxes of diapers in two sizes, yard sale finds, I buy a lot of Craigslist furniture wise to cut costs of getting new stuff, etc so I need an suv or van. We also have a boat, so I need to be able to tow it twice a year to put it in and out of the water at the beginning and end of the season.

I heard that a lot of the third rows aren't true third rows...what does that mean? We have family in Philly we see one a year, would people be able to sit in the back seat for that long?
A van is better on gas, right? Dh works in Westburt, commutes from Amityville and we share a car, sometimes I bring him to work and drive home so I have the car for the day for drs apps, etc. so the more fuel efficient the better bit I understand with larger vehicles that's not always going to happen.

Recommend your van or third row vehicle.

Re: Third row or mini van?

I'd go with the mini-van.

We have three DCs and just went from one backseat (in a truck) to an SUV with three rows of seats. We didn't want the mini-van because we still want to use the truck/SUV for the beach.

The SUV with third row works for us because I put two kids in middle row and oldest DC goes in the third row. But having 1/3 of the backrow used as a seat really eats up the cargo area. My double stroller barely fits so I'm thinking of putting all three DCs in the middle row now.

When needed, we can use the third row for more people, but I gotta say, it's MUCH smaller than a mini-van's backseat...but that might just be the SUV I bought...

Re: Third row or mini van?

Based upon your needs I would also say minivan. Most of the SUV's with third rows don't have much trunk space when the third row is up, so if you plan on taking a trip with people in the third row, there isn't much room for luggage. We took a trip upstate in my mom's pilot with one child in the back seat and the other seat down to accommodate suitcases and the car was packed!

We also have a Mazda CX-9 and the trunk is non existent when the third row is up. Our minivan on the other hand can fit everyone AND everything

Re: Third row or mini van?

def mini van...i can fit my double stroller in my trunk when i have the 3rd row up! this was def a requirement when shopping for a bigger car than my compact car!

we have the honda odyssey and i feel like i have so many choices as to where to put the carseats! it is the only van that you can put car seats in all six seats positions in the 2nd and 3rd row..so i can move them around depending on what other adults we are with...

if my mom comes with us somewhere i put my oldest in the back, and then my mom sits comfortably in the 2nd row with my 8 mo old's and my 3.5 year old's carseats!

we just went to hershey, pa (3.5-4 hrs) with both my parents and 3 car seats and we had enough room for all 7 of us plus our luggage..

i was so..."mini-van was not for me" before..and now I cannot believe I went that long WITHOUT one!

Re: Third row or mini van?

I would also say minivan.

If you need access to the third row in an SUV, you will need to take one of the carseats out to move the 2nd row up to get to the 3rd row. It can be a huge pain in the neck.

Some SUV's offer captains seating in the second row, with a space between the two seats to access the 3rd row. This is an option, but then you only have 2 true seats in the second row. Check out the GMC Acadia to see what I'm referring to.

As for SUV's not having a true 3rd row, I think what people are referring to is the actual size of the seat, leg space and head space. Some 3rd rows have very narrow seats, are hard, with very little leg room. And depending on the shape of the vehicle, the head-room could be lacking, and not ideal for an adult to sit comfortably, especially on long trips. I have heard that the Honda Pilot has a roomy 3rd row and ample storage space when the 3rd row is in use.

I "believe" the only minivan on the market right now with AWD is the Toyota Sienna. That is something to look into if you need AWD in a vehicle.
ETA: The Chrysler Town & Country may also offer AWD. It did, then didn't, then did...not sure if they do now.

Message edited 9/6/2012 10:47:02 AM.

Re: Third row or mini van?

Right now I have a 3rd row SUV. I think it's a true 3rd row, it's pretty roomy back there. The only thing is that it's super high up, and it's hard to get into- not for the kids, but for an adult when you have 2 car seats in the 2nd row. My brothers usually have to jump in through the back. When you're using the 3rd row there is not much storage... You couldn't fit a stroller.

I'm looking at vans now and that seems a lot more practical. It's not high up, it's more roomy, under seat storage is cool too.

Re: Third row or mini van?

Re: Third row or mini van?

You really have to test drive and look at your needs. I am not a mini van person. I just don't like driving one. I have a 7-passenger crossover SUV that suits my needs perfectly. My oldest (8 years old) sits in the 3rd row (the 40% of the 60-40 split 3rd row) and my 6-year old and 6 month old sit in the two Captains chairs in the middle row. I still have plenty of room with part of the 3rd row down, but have had the 3rd row filled with 3 adults and there was still room in the back/trunk for the stroller and our beach gear. 3rd row is plenty big in terms of leg space and head room. Not all are, definitely get in each car/truck to see for yourself!!

As far as the mini van, I've never heard anyone that's gotten one regret it. I just can't get there to make that statement Good Luck!