[otay]

Originally Posted by Danguy426

I am in this boat.... and i wish my wife was anti-mini van

i will say though, the minivan is so convenient by leaps and bounds over any 3 row SUV. Not the most fun to drive, but when hauling two kids on a road trip with luggage, function beats form. We have a 2011 odyssey and it does come in handy. I try to avoid driving it, but when i do i realize how much more convenient it is. plus the dvd player keeps them quiet on long trips.

Funny, we also have a 2011 Honda Odyssey. We went thru this same thing back then, but it's just so damn convenient to have the low entry power sliding doors with little ones. Also, we have 2 dogs that can fairly easily jump up in the back when needed. We beat the hell out of this thing and it just keeps going (~88k miles). Only thing I regret on this was not getting the Touring version. The EX-L we have is kinda noisy on the highway, but the Touring has better glass and other insulation.

Also funny that wife and I really liked the Dodge Durango. It does not drive as big as it is. But we were also scared off with the questionable reliability. Back then, there were issues with the keyless ignition (intermittent no start), and since this was primarily her vehicle, did not want to take the risk.

[440xiGCMsport]

the new xc90 won't do if you have 3 kids. it is really small inside.

[goj]

You're destined for a Toyota Sienna. RIP

[DC X3M40i]

Originally Posted by 440xiGCMsport

the new xc90 won't do if you have 3 kids. it is really small inside.

my best friend owns an MB GL450 and the thing is huge... from the outside
you can probably get three car seats into the second row, but i was surprised at how little storage space you physically get in the car.

our 2011 odyssey touring elite we have taken on road trips. most recently we drove from NYC down to myrtle beach SC. 4 kids, 3 adults, and enough room for a weeks worth of luggage, electronics, and snacks for the car ride. everyone was comfortable and zero complaints

I have done the 7 passenger suv thing and it just didnt work (2008 nissan pathfinder)

you can't beat that functionality of a minivan.. if only they can find a way to make them cool

[440xiGCMsport]

Originally Posted by Danguy426

my best friend owns an MB GL450 and the thing is huge... from the outside
you can probably get three car seats into the second row, but i was surprised at how little storage space you physically get in the car.

our 2011 odyssey touring elite we have taken on road trips. most recently we drove from NYC down to myrtle beach SC. 4 kids, 3 adults, and enough room for a weeks worth of luggage, electronics, and snacks for the car ride. everyone was comfortable and zero complaints

I have done the 7 passenger suv thing and it just didnt work (2008 nissan pathfinder)

you can't beat that functionality of a minivan.. if only they can find a way to make them cool

I was in Hong Kong last year and my friend had a luxury minivan the price of an S class in North America and the thing was as luxurious as you can get on 4 wheels. The exterior was transformer like but damn the interior was awesome.

[OneLastBMW]

If you have 3 giant multi-color child seats completely taking over the back of your "sporty" car, it kinda ain't a sporty car any more. I say get the vehicle that makes sense for where you are in life at the moment. There will be more cars in your life. My child is in his 30's so I may be out of touch but why fight getting kids stuffed through little doors to a car seat perched on the center hump of a low headroom sedan when there are so many decent crossovers, wagons and even SUV's out there.

[BrianUNC]

Check out the new Honda Pilot Elite. We were in the same boat recently and liked it better than all the others on the list.

[440xiGCMsport]

Originally Posted by BrianUNC

Check out the new Honda Pilot Elite. We were in the same boat recently and liked it better than all the others on the list.

+1
less floaty than the American SUV'S and lots of space but still can't match Odyssey or Sienna.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by OneLastBMW

If you have 3 giant multi-color child seats completely taking over the back of your "sporty" car, it kinda ain't a sporty car any more. I say get the vehicle that makes sense for where you are in life at the moment. There will be more cars in your life.

As much as it hurts to admit if you're the guy with 3 kids, this is the right advice in my opinion.

[otay]

Tried to convince the wife to do this, but she thought 1000hp was a bit too much.

[ouengineer]

You can fit 3 car seats in a 3 series sedan.

http://www.thecarcrashdetective.com/...3-series.html/

There's no point in owning two SUV's.

[Sphinx15]

Originally Posted by OneLastBMW

If you have 3 giant multi-color child seats completely taking over the back of your "sporty" car, it kinda ain't a sporty car any more. I say get the vehicle that makes sense for where you are in life at the moment. There will be more cars in your life. My child is in his 30's so I may be out of touch but why fight getting kids stuffed through little doors to a car seat perched on the center hump of a low headroom sedan when there are so many decent crossovers, wagons and even SUV's out there.

Originally Posted by Bbb34

As much as it hurts to admit if you're the guy with 3 kids, this is the right advice in my opinion.

Agreed - that's the thinking on my side too - would love to get to a point of having a 3rd car down the line, but there are just too many kid activities now and in the future.

Originally Posted by ouengineer

You can fit 3 car seats in a 3 series sedan.

http://www.thecarcrashdetective.com/...3-series.html/

There's no point in owning two SUV's.

The problem is the age/weight/height difference, 3 car seats across is doable, however based on our experience even in our e70, a car seat, an infant seat, and a booster seat is not.

For all those saying minivan, I hear you, I'm not so opposed to it, but the wife is and I don't think it's going to happen. As unpractical as 2 SUVs may seem, I'm pretty sure it's the direction we're headed for now.


Another Update for those who are interested, I went and looked at the LR4 and I really liked it, that's a top contender and hopefully with the disco5 coming out prices are going to fall a bit between now and summer on a slightly used one. The 3 individual seats across the 2nd row are great, and the 3rd row is certainly usable...

[CalCarNut]

Originally Posted by otay

Tried to convince the wife to do this, but she thought 1000hp was a bit too much.

Doubting 1000hp...pretty creative engineering..but it didnt move out like it was all that powerful...and it's still a minivan

[Sphinx15]

Final update - so long Gran Coupe - by far the best car I've owned to date. I'll say most of you guys were right, and a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica now sits in the garage next to the X5. After dragging the wife to the check out the minivan there is just no denying its practicality. Put 1,800 miles on it in a single trip and handled the 3 kids and luggage perfectly, I have to say, the more we use it the more I like it.

Some 4 series items coming for sale (winter wheels/tires, JB+, spacers) - and the planning begins for the next one (M car)

[DC X3M40i]

Originally Posted by Sphinx15

Final update - so long Gran Coupe - by far the best car I've owned to date. I'll say most of you guys were right, and a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica now sits in the garage next to the X5. After dragging the wife to the check out the minivan there is just no denying its practicality. Put 1,800 miles on it in a single trip and handled the 3 kids and luggage perfectly, I have to say, the more we use it the more I like it.

Some 4 series items coming for sale (winter wheels/tires, JB+, spacers) - and the planning begins for the next one (M car)

like i've said.. function beats form in this case. I dont have 3 kids (2 for me) but it will save you the trouble of having them sit on top of each other and annoying the living heck out of each other.

Did you look into the Ody / Sienna as well? or strictly the pacifica (heard great things about it)

[Sphinx15]

Originally Posted by DC F15

like i've said.. function beats form in this case. I dont have 3 kids (2 for me) but it will save you the trouble of having them sit on top of each other and annoying the living heck out of each other.

Did you look into the Ody / Sienna as well? or strictly the pacifica (heard great things about it)

We looked at Ody/Sienna, we really liked the fold-into-floor seats in the Pacifica, I liked the look of the Pacifica compared to the kinked 3rd window on the Ody, and honestly the deals at the end of July were hard to beat at Chrysler and locally the Chrysler dealers here had tons (over 60 each) on the lot compared to Honda/Toyota - MSRP was $41,xxx and we were out the door at $31,xxx

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by Sphinx15

Final update - so long Gran Coupe - by far the best car I've owned to date. I'll say most of you guys were right, and a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica now sits in the garage next to the X5. After dragging the wife to the check out the minivan there is just no denying its practicality. Put 1,800 miles on it in a single trip and handled the 3 kids and luggage perfectly, I have to say, the more we use it the more I like it.

Some 4 series items coming for sale (winter wheels/tires, JB+, spacers) - and the planning begins for the next one (M car)

Congrats! I know it's a bummer having to get one, but everyone I know who had to get a minivan turned around and said they would never let it go and it would have to be pried from their cold, dead hands. When you have a nail, you get a hammer, right?

[Eternal]

I was in the same boat at one point, wondering what I would drive once I had a bunch of kids. I now have 3 (9,7 and 4). I have realized that once you have 3, I could drive an Atom Ariel for all it matters. We always take the wifes Armada when we go anywhere. I had an E90, 3 seats did not fit. Doors would not close. Owned it two years and not once did my wife ever sit in it. At most I would take a kid with me to the store or to a car meet or whatever. Then I had a WRX, wife rode in it one time when we did a date. Other than that, never had all 5 of us in it. Now I have a 4 series coupe. It makes no difference that it only seats 4, all 5 of us have no need to be in it. Its just so much easier to load into the vehicle with the car seats in it, the Armada.

Have fun, life isnt over, buy a car you want!

[wilbur_the_goose]

Remember too - those 3 kids need education. Money spent on a German luxury vehicle means less funds for college. Or food, for that matter

[Sphinx15]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Congrats! I know it's a bummer having to get one, but everyone I know who had to get a minivan turned around and said they would never let it go and it would have to be pried from their cold, dead hands. When you have a nail, you get a hammer, right?

Thanks - and I can see this being a vehicle we keep even after living with it for just 6 short weeks, it also makes the idea of a third car that much more realistic since we'd never have to compromise...