What is a Good 8+ Passenger Vehicle?

[weezix]

I'm pregnant with my 6th child. We currently have a Suburban that is on it's last legs and will have to get another vehicle probably within the next year.

What vehicles out there would be best? It needs to fit SIX carseats.
1 rear facing, 3 regular carseats and 2 boosters.

[gothnurse3]

I don't know if they make them anymore but a few years back I wanted a Dodge Sprinter. It is a commercial vehicle but you can get it with windows in the back. If I recall correctly it had a Mercedes engine and was built on a truck frame for more strength. It was really simple (less stuff to break in my eyes) and I loved that it was "different". Seems to me that you have outgrown a minivan.
Take a look and good luck.

[neetling]

you might try asking on the family safety board, There are a lot of carseat techs on there.

[weezix]

Originally Posted by neetling

you might try asking on the family safety board, There are a lot of carseat techs on there.

the family safety board??? what's that?

[Poddi]

I think they meant this MDC sub-forum: http://mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=422

[nova22]

We're in the same situation and are interested in the Ford E-350. It's come highly recommended by other big family moms.

[2ID_Wife]

I love my gmc 3500 15 passenger. We looked at all the 12+ vans. It was the only one that made our final list.
The doge was new whenw e were looking(2005) and to be honest I didn't like the way it drove at all.
All full size vans have a truck frame.

[weezix]

Originally Posted by nova22

We're in the same situation and are interested in the Ford E-350. It's come highly recommended by other big family moms.

I was wondering about this one. Because it's SO big, I'm wondering what money-wise would be better...this or a big SUV? I only NEED to seat 8. More is always nice. But 75% of the time I'll only have 4 kids with me at a time. So this might be overkill?

Same with the Sprinters I guess. Nice vehicles cosmetically anyway. I've driven IN one but never driven one. They are so tall I wouldn't be able to park underground. BUT I can get it in a diesel. Hmmm...

Yeh I still have no idea what I want. I think the options are Econoline, Sprinter, Suburban, Excursion....is there anything else?

[StormySar]

We have a 12 passenger E-350xl super duty. I love it.

It drives like a truck. It is just a bit worse on gas than our minivan was (which surprised us, I figured it would be horrible on gas and this is a v8). However it's roomy, my husband has used it the same way he would if he had a truck (takes the seats out), it'll tow just about anything (we put a hitch on it for our boat) and it has the LATCH system in the first two rows of seats (though just one per seat I think, the others are locked in with seatbelts). We are pregnant with #5 and currently have our four still in carseats/boosters and can comfortably fit 2/row. We might be able to squeeze 3 in each row but I haven't bothered, there just hasn't been a need. It's easy to strap everyone in thanks to the side aisle and tall roof - one thing I had a hard time with was buckling everyone in our minivan because it was so compact!

It did take me a while to get comfortable driving it. We don't fit in most parking garages, so valet or flat lots are our only options in places that park in garages.

[mbhf]

Originally Posted by weezix

Yeh I still have no idea what I want. I think the options are Econoline, Sprinter, Suburban, Excursion....is there anything else?

You can add the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna to your list, they both seat 8 with more seating room than a Suburban and easier accessibility. Better gas mileage, too. Obviously these just seat 8, but if that's all you need I would consider them options. I would pick the Odyssey over the Sienna, they are roomier and the new (2011) Sienna's can not hold 6 carseats, though the older (2004-2010) models can. It wouldn't be my first choice if I had 6 kids, but it would be doable and at least as easy as a Suburban with significantly more third row room. Odyssey's get good gas mileage too, I average 22-24mpg and get 28mpg on interstate-only trips.

[weezix]

Originally Posted by mbhf

You can add the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna to your list, they both seat 8 with more seating room than a Suburban and easier accessibility. Better gas mileage, too. Obviously these just seat 8, but if that's all you need I would consider them options. I would pick the Odyssey over the Sienna, they are roomier and the new (2011) Sienna's can not hold 6 carseats, though the older (2004-2010) models can. It wouldn't be my first choice if I had 6 kids, but it would be doable and at least as easy as a Suburban with significantly more third row room. Odyssey's get good gas mileage too, I average 22-24mpg and get 28mpg on interstate-only trips.

My concerns with the minivans is actually getting 3 carseats safetly across a bench and also its so cramped for doing up seat belts for those in boosters, that actually use the seat belt.

I had a Chevy Venture (Pontiac Montana) which seats 8, but the seats were too tight and it was just too squishy and I didn't feel like my carseats were latched safely enough.

Although...if maybe sticking it out until we have the 5 older kids in boosters maybe it wouldn't be that bad. The kids are all very heavy but not sure if they will hit the height soon enough. If I only have to put up with it for 2 years I could probably handle it, but if I have another 4 years of scraping my knuckles everytime I buckle a kid up...i'm done with vans

[weezix]

Originally Posted by StormySar

We have a 12 passenger E-350xl super duty. I love it.

I do like that you mentioned this can pretty much be used as a truck (as we always seem to need one)...also a vehicle that tows is nearly a must have.

however, I'm still worried that the Econoline is overkill because I'll only have all 6 kids every other Fri-Sun and possibly a few other times during the month as well. we will ALWAYS have 4 kids with us though at least.

I wonder if i were to get an old beat up Econoline for super cheap and only drive it on the weekends and find a smaller vehicle for all other times?

Or maybe I should just suck it up and deal with the squishyness of an 8 pass van?

[brittneyscott]

I have a Dodge Durango with the 3rd row seating and LOVE it! Mine only seats 7 though but they have some that seat up to 9. It probably would be a little cramped though with all the carseats. I think it's pretty much personal opinion here. Personally if I didn't have more than 4 kids I would stick with my Durango but if we went over that then I'd probably have to look at other options. If you have to get a new vehicle anyways though then I'd probablly go ahead and look for something bigger just in case you ever decided to have more you'd be ready without needing a new vehicle again!

[weezix]

Originally Posted by brittneyscott

I have a Dodge Durango with the 3rd row seating and LOVE it! Mine only seats 7 though but they have some that seat up to 9. It probably would be a little cramped though with all the carseats. I think it's pretty much personal opinion here. Personally if I didn't have more than 4 kids I would stick with my Durango but if we went over that then I'd probably have to look at other options. If you have to get a new vehicle anyways though then I'd probablly go ahead and look for something bigger just in case you ever decided to have more you'd be ready without needing a new vehicle again!

my sister had a durango....WAY too small for being able to get in to buckle up carseats. i wish they are nice vehicles.

[mbhf]

Originally Posted by weezix

My concerns with the minivans is actually getting 3 carseats safetly across a bench and also its so cramped for doing up seat belts for those in boosters, that actually use the seat belt.

I had a Chevy Venture (Pontiac Montana) which seats 8, but the seats were too tight and it was just too squishy and I didn't feel like my carseats were latched safely enough.

Although...if maybe sticking it out until we have the 5 older kids in boosters maybe it wouldn't be that bad. The kids are all very heavy but not sure if they will hit the height soon enough. If I only have to put up with it for 2 years I could probably handle it, but if I have another 4 years of scraping my knuckles everytime I buckle a kid up...i'm done with vans

The third row of a minivan will actually give you more room than the third row of a Suburban. The middle row isn't quite as roomy but certainly wide enough to get three seats across. You'll also get an additional tether anchor, at least in an Odyssey. The 2006-2010 Odyssey's have five top tether anchors, which gives you more seating flexibility than a Suburban. How old are your kids? What seats are they currently in?

[weezix]

Originally Posted by mbhf

The third row of a minivan will actually give you more room than the third row of a Suburban. The middle row isn't quite as roomy but certainly wide enough to get three seats across. You'll also get an additional tether anchor, at least in an Odyssey. The 2006-2010 Odyssey's have five top tether anchors, which gives you more seating flexibility than a Suburban. How old are your kids? What seats are they currently in?

Actually this doesn't seem to be true for us at all. I didn't have an Odyssey but I did have an 8 passenger van and I currently have a Suburban and I actually had to buy NEW carseats when I had the van because my old carseats wouldn't fit. I could get them in, but actually getting my hand in there to latch them was near impossible. We have MUCH more space in the Suburban but when it comes down to having to buy a new vehicle I dont know if I want to spend the $$$ on a newer one.

I'm in Canada so the prices of vehicles here is absolutely ridiculous but I imagine and Odyssey is going to run pretty high too but I I guess I'll look into it. I think my friend has one so I can go over and look at it.