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#11
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Looking for a kid-safe vehicle- recs?
Well, to answer your question, we have an Odyssey and an Explorer =)
Before that, DH was driving an older Explorer (93, 2 door) and I was driving an Accord station wagon (94). When the Explorer hit 200K miles, we sold it and bought the Odyssey, then my DH took my Accord to drive to work. I, too, felt very uncomfortable with *any* of us driving it, as we also live in the Land of Large Vehicles and it was nearly impossible to see around the traffic while driving it. Unfortunately, he did get into an accident (everyone was fine), whcih totalled the Accord, so he bought another (used, 2002) Explorer. Personally, I cannot imagine a better car than my Odyssey. I have only good things to say about it, and it's very safe and easy to drive. My DH loves his Explorer, and I do feel that the safety improvements to his newer Explorer have been significant. Wagons are fine and safe, except for the problem of not being able to see around you in traffic. kellie |
#12
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Looking for a kid-safe vehicle- recs?
According to what I've heard, if you want to find what are truly the safest
vehicles, you have to do much more research than simply stop with generalizations like Volvos are safe or even Odysseys are safe. It truly comes down to the model, year, and trim of each car. For instance, Toyota loves to tout that their Sienna is the safest van on the road but it is the 2004 Sienna XLE that is the safest (which I bought). If you don't get the XLE trim level, there are other vans that are just as safe as the 2004 Sienna LE. That you can buy used. For less. Somewhere in my files, I have the name of a website where you can get lists of the safest cars, incorporating data from all the different tests. While the top ten included the Sienna XLE '04 and Honda Pilot '03 (in top trim level, I believe), it also included many other makes and models in various and specific years. I really love my Sienna. I hated paying so much more than for an Odyssey (which Toyota copied the stow away seats), but the extra features are great (windows that come down in the back, split third row seat). Happy car hunting. Karen PS I also have a Toyota Highlander, another "safest SUV." It gets good gas mileage and handles fabulously in the snow. |
#13
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Looking for a kid-safe vehicle- recs?
Karen,
Are the Highlanders mini-SUV's or are they regular ones? I've looked at them online and can't really tell, although I don't believe they are the super-huge ones like the Yukon and Expedition, etc. Heather "Karen" wrote in message ... According to what I've heard, if you want to find what are truly the safest vehicles, you have to do much more research than simply stop with generalizations like Volvos are safe or even Odysseys are safe. It truly comes down to the model, year, and trim of each car. For instance, Toyota loves to tout that their Sienna is the safest van on the road but it is the 2004 Sienna XLE that is the safest (which I bought). If you don't get the XLE trim level, there are other vans that are just as safe as the 2004 Sienna LE. That you can buy used. For less. Somewhere in my files, I have the name of a website where you can get lists of the safest cars, incorporating data from all the different tests. While the top ten included the Sienna XLE '04 and Honda Pilot '03 (in top trim level, I believe), it also included many other makes and models in various and specific years. I really love my Sienna. I hated paying so much more than for an Odyssey (which Toyota copied the stow away seats), but the extra features are great (windows that come down in the back, split third row seat). Happy car hunting. Karen PS I also have a Toyota Highlander, another "safest SUV." It gets good gas mileage and handles fabulously in the snow. |
#14
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Looking for a kid-safe vehicle- recs?
How about a used Volvo station wagon? While I appreciate your concerns
about driving a car around all the minivans and SUVs, I *hate* that people give in and engage in the "vehicle arms war" instead of resisting. In the long run, you're better off driving a passenger vehicle that stops in less than half the distance of an SUV/minivan and handle better, since you'll have a better chance of avoiding an accident altogether. Plus, you'll get far better gas mileage--remember, the cost of a vehicle isn't just what it costs you to get it out the door of the dealership. And a Volvo is, of course, extremely crash-worthy and safe in the event you *do* have an accident with one of those nasty SUVs. -- Be well, Barbara Mom to Sin (Vernon, 2), Misery (Aurora, 4), and the Rising Son (Julian, 6) Well I have to say in my accident I was glad I was in my van and not a car. I know in a car, or even a more aerodynamic van, my windshield would have gotten it too. However I do hear *very* good things about the Volvo stationwagon. To me the debate between SUV or minivan is weird. To me a normal SUV has no more seating space than a car. Unless you're talking about those huge SUVs with an extra bench. My Chevy Astro seats 8, and it's so handy. I can take the kids, their friends, another adult, gear. If my parents are visiting we can all go out in one vehicle. My husband likes driving it cos it's more truck-like than van-like. |
#15
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Looking for a kid-safe vehicle- recs?
They are midsized. Smaller than the Expedition, larger than a Ford Escape.
Karen "heather m." wrote in message ink.net... Karen, Are the Highlanders mini-SUV's or are they regular ones? I've looked at them online and can't really tell, although I don't believe they are the super-huge ones like the Yukon and Expedition, etc. Heather |
#16
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Looking for a kid-safe vehicle- recs?
Sophie wrote in message
To me the debate between SUV or minivan is weird. And I am *so* tired of hearing/reading about it. All I know, is that I have had two Ford minivans and have been very happy with both of them. With my second Ford, it was rated one of the safest vehicles made during that year. I know that I feel safer in my minivan than I would in a car. When I was a teenager and first learning to drive, I had quite a few accidents. The cars would just crumple to pieces it seems. One accident with the minivan and it hardly dented it. I'm sticking to my minivans, thank you. I really want the new Ford Freestar. ) -- Sue (mom to three girls) |
#17
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Looking for a kid-safe vehicle- recs?
Jill wrote:
My husband and I are looking to trade his truck in for a vehicle better suited for me to drive Rachel and future kids around in. I'm a car person so no info on Minivans and SUV's. Here is an interesting link. Mostly tells us what we know. If you want the safest you have to shell out some serious cash :-0 http://tinyurl.com/2cs2v It has links for full crash-test results from NHTSA and from IIHS. If you go to these links you can see the entire list or punch in a specific year and make of car to see its safety rating. I thought the NHTSA site was easy to use. -- Nikki Mama to Hunter (5) and Luke (3) |
#18
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Looking for a kid-safe vehicle- recs?
"Sue" wrote in message ... Sophie wrote in message To me the debate between SUV or minivan is weird. And I am *so* tired of hearing/reading about it. Lol. Well, for me, my husband wanted an SUV so he can do outdoorsy things and pull a boat or trailer etc, and I hear that minivans are much safer than SUVs and ride more like cars than a clunky tippy SUV. Room isn't as much of an issue since we don't need to haul around more than 3 people most of the time. I do think SUVs tend to ride bumpier and more tippy etc...but it looks like my husband is pushing for a Ford Explorer........ |
#19
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Looking for a kid-safe vehicle- recs?
"Jill" wrote in message om... "Sue" wrote in message ... Sophie wrote in message To me the debate between SUV or minivan is weird. And I am *so* tired of hearing/reading about it. Lol. Well, for me, my husband wanted an SUV so he can do outdoorsy things and pull a boat or trailer etc, and I hear that minivans are much safer than SUVs and ride more like cars than a clunky tippy SUV. Room isn't as much of an issue since we don't need to haul around more than 3 people most of the time. I do think SUVs tend to ride bumpier and more tippy etc...but it looks like my husband is pushing for a Ford Explorer........ You could also try to get one of the smaller SUVs. We have a Honda CR-V and we love it. We aren't mini-van lovers (as of yet:-)) so we opted to get a small SUV since we didn't have enough room for our large dog and a baby too in either of our cars. We also go a Honda because we know that they are quite reliable cars. We have had ours since late 2000 and haven't had to do anything but normal maintenance on it. That's my two cents:-) Kat Mama tO Maggie 11/03/01 and Will 02/10/04 |
#20
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Looking for a kid-safe vehicle- recs?
"Karen" wrote in message
... snippage of good stuff Somewhere in my files, I have the name of a website where you can get lists of the safest cars, incorporating data from all the different tests. While the top ten included the Sienna XLE '04 and Honda Pilot '03 (in top trim level, I believe), it also included many other makes and models in various and specific years. Karen, are you thinking of Consumer Reports? I've always looked to them with big purchases. There is a CR service that you have to pay for on the internet. I declined that and went to the library instead to look up what I wanted in their periodicals. It took a bit more time, but it has always been worth it. |
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