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Mary Chris
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| Posted: May 20 2008 at 8:16am | IP Logged
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I'm thinking about selling both our 1998, 130K cars and buying a new or newish one. Since we only have three children, I am trying to figure out how small of a car we can buy. I would really like to get something like a Honda CR-V or a Toyota Highlander but I think they are too small. I probably need to stick with a van just for my own sanity and fewer bruised elbows in the back seat.
So now I am looking at the Honda Odyssey, Honda Pilot or a Toyota Sienna. If you have one of these cars do you love it? Do they get the awesome gas mileage they claim? If you have a Pilot can you fit your kids and their stuff into it?
I'm sure I'll be back with more questions........Thanks 
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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Maryan
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My mil's Highlander is roomy, but I vote to keep the minivan because in addition to your own elbow room, you have room for a couple friends too.
My folks and my sister have the Odyssey and the Siena respectively and LOVE them. I love riding in them! My sister has the Siena with 6 passenger seats BTW.
I don't know gas mileages though - just that they look nice and are comfortable! I'm so helpful!! 
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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PDyer
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I have a Sienna with five passenger seats. We're a four-person family hoping for just one more (please, God), so we have plenty of room, but the extra space is helpful in serving other families.
I haven't driven the other vans, so I can't speak to them. We have looked at the Pilot quickly, and I have concerns about the legroom in the back as my sure-to-be-tall son approaches puberty.
I haven't counted our mileage, since I do mostly small town driving, short distances and not heavy traffic, and well, it is what it is. I think I fill my tank once a week at the most, if that helps.
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Patty
Mom of ds (7/96) and dd (9/01) and two angels (8/95 and 6/08)
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: May 20 2008 at 9:56am | IP Logged
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I LOVE my Odyssey. It is a 2000, has 115,000 miles on it,I had my dd in it(really) , and it has never been in the shop for a problem. Dh does most of the maintenance so it is well taken acre of.
It gets in the mid to high 20's for gas mileage. It is a great car.
The only things I wish I had:
-the back up camera like in the new ones-it is hard to see when backing up since the rear window is so high.
-the kids want the windows that go down in the second row
It is great on long trips, more room than an airplane seat, comfortable and easy to drive.
That is my 2 cents. Good luck in your quest.
Anne
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: May 20 2008 at 10:59am | IP Logged
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In my research the Odyssey and Sienna get the best gas mileage. I think part of my issue is I am so tired of driving a van  . I learned to drive on a VW Vanagon. Aside from three years of driving a Jeep, a van is all I have every driven.
A car guy I spoke with recently likes the Odyssey but said he thinks the Sienna is a bit better.
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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mom3aut1not
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I figure that one of my adult kids will get her own car sometime..... I want a Prius!
My dh and I are looking forward to downsizing from a mini-van in a year or two. Our mini-vans have been good, but we are moving to a different point in our lives, and we are tired of mini-vans. Three of our four children are adults, and we don't feel the same need to take everyone everywhere. We also don't like how much it costs to fill up! We *do* have to consider that we may have two of our children around for a long, long time. (One of our adult dd's can't drive -- at least not safely imo.) We need to have adequate space for four or five in a pinch. This car will mostly do shortish trips (1-20 miles) so a Prius seems ideal.
Now to afford it! <grin>
In Christ,
Deborah
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sewcrazy
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| Posted: May 24 2008 at 9:44pm | IP Logged
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We used to have a Toyota Sienna. My dh is in the car business, and that is the van he always recommends to families.
LeeAnn
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LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: June 11 2008 at 8:31pm | IP Logged
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I am happy to report, that I bought my new to me car today! This is the first car I have ever bought. Well my dh is paying for it, but I got the loan, did all the leg work and made the decision on which car to buy (thank goodness for all my great friends that have been listening to me talk about this for the past week)
Anyhoo, I picked a 2005 just off lease Toyota Sienna, with all the bells and whistles. I wasn't sure I wanted all the extras, but when I realizied two of my children will be learning to drive in this car, I went for comfort.
Thank you for the input, and a big thank you to all of you who lived this with me! So hey, I'll drive to Chipolte on Friday evening! My car should still be clean.
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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JennGM
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| Posted: June 11 2008 at 8:35pm | IP Logged
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Oh, how fun, Mary Chris! I'm glad you made the decision and you're happy with it. What color is it/
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
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monique
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We are looking for a Toyota Sienna also! It was nice to see this thread with so many nice comments about it. Now we just need to find one! You'll have to let us know how you like your new purchase, Mary Chris!
Monique
Mom to 5 who would need the 8 passenger Sienna
Raising Saints
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KC in TX
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Yes, color?
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KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
Mama to LB ('98)
Michaela ('01)
Emma ('03)
Jordan ('05)
And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
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MacBeth
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| Posted: June 11 2008 at 10:33pm | IP Logged
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I drove a Sienna after we had that elk incident last summer. I still prefer my Pilot (I'm just not a mini-van mom  ), but the Sienna was quite nice.
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God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog 
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Rachel May
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| Posted: June 16 2008 at 3:53pm | IP Logged
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MC, do you mean the car was there at Chipotle, and I didn't get to see it????
What color is it? Blue?
MacBeth, did your car survive the elk or did you have to get another one?
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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Maryan
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| Posted: June 16 2008 at 4:41pm | IP Logged
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Gold... and it's very hi-tech. Ask Mary Chris!
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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MacBeth
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| Posted: June 16 2008 at 10:30pm | IP Logged
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Rachel May wrote:
MacBeth, did your car survive the elk or did you have to get another one? |
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Hey Rachel May!
It was damaged (hitting an elk is like hitting a horse), but the good folks in Jackson WY are experts in animal hit repair (70% of their business). The car is fine, and we were completely uninjured. Goodness, if I had to recommend a car to keep us safe, the Honda Pilot is the one!
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God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
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Rachel May
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MacBeth wrote:
| It was damaged (hitting an elk is like hitting a horse.... |
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I've never hit either so I can't compare.
Once a few kids move out , we'll have to look at the Pilot. I saw the gas mileage listed on a commercial today. 23mpg? 
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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MacBeth
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Rachel May wrote:
| [QUOTE=MacBeth] I saw the gas mileage listed on a commercial today. 23mpg? |
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Ahhh. That's the nice part. I have gotten up to 26 highway on long hauls...it cruises nicely at 70 for optimum mileage. Not with stuff on the roof, though...too much drag.
Glad you have hit neither horse nor elk. I have never hit a horse, but just use if for size comparison, as most folks don't realize how big an elk is. Big. Also, delicious.
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God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
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MacBeth
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| Posted: June 17 2008 at 11:07pm | IP Logged
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I know it's a bit late, Mary Chris, and congrats on your Sienna (lovely vehicle to drive!), but for anyone reading and wondering about the Pilot, I did want to add that we fit everything nicely into it, including a cello behind the third row. It fits perfectly with the little cargo hatch open, acting like a slot custom built for the hard case. At the peak of our musical intensity, we had two cellos, two violins and a viola, plus 4 kids in the car, no sweat.
Also, we have driven across country twice with it. We put the middle row flat, and sit the kids in the last row in what I call "limo mode" (we have only driven with the three younger kids during these trips). This gives them a huge amount of leg room.
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God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
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momwise
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| Posted: June 19 2008 at 7:09pm | IP Logged
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MacBeth wrote:
| Big. Also, delicious. |
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Oh my...do you get to keep an elk that you hit? I don't want to ever hit one but......gosh i love elk meat.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: June 19 2008 at 7:36pm | IP Logged
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MacBeth,
I should have PM'd you. I really wanted to do a Pilot, but chickened out. When Jim gets home we have to get him a car also, I think I want to get a CR-V for him. I think a Pilot is more than he needs.
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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Topic: More car buying talk: Update
