Minivan vs 4runner
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Teamoatmealpie
New member
Ooh My Goodness, what would 2 6 YO and a 10 YO do in the back seat of a 4 runner for an hour or two on the way to a camping trip. Ohh the horror they will probably be smashed with so little room, its child abuse I say. Kidding of course.
Daily driving you will be fine there's 5 seat belts and low and behold you have 5 family members a perfect match.
Your only tight spot is enough trunk space for overnight trips.
My vote get the 4Runner, get a rocket box for the roof and the trailer for camping. There's tons ways to add luggage or gear capacity, hitch racks for cooler etc.
You could rent one for a day or 2 to see what it's like to transport the family if you have doubts.
Its clear you want the 4Runner, you want fun, exploration, 4x4, mountains, streams, snow, sand, mud, camping.
Flex/Pacifica = :repuke:
Daily driving you will be fine there's 5 seat belts and low and behold you have 5 family members a perfect match.
Your only tight spot is enough trunk space for overnight trips.
My vote get the 4Runner, get a rocket box for the roof and the trailer for camping. There's tons ways to add luggage or gear capacity, hitch racks for cooler etc.
You could rent one for a day or 2 to see what it's like to transport the family if you have doubts.
Its clear you want the 4Runner, you want fun, exploration, 4x4, mountains, streams, snow, sand, mud, camping.
Flex/Pacifica = :repuke:
honda250xtitan
New member
with 1 kid and 1 dog ours is maxed out. No way would i even consider a 4 runner with more than 2 kids. ford expedition
Having just had my son, his wife and their baby here, I think I can answer this. We only have two 4runners so there were no other options for transportation. It was tight in the back. With the baby seat, two adults and stuff you carry put in the rear, there was no room. I vote sequoia.
I would not go used Ford due to their expensive timing belt changes and I have always had transmission issues with them, four of them.
Edit: I would get a Suburban also.
I would not go used Ford due to their expensive timing belt changes and I have always had transmission issues with them, four of them.
Edit: I would get a Suburban also.
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+1 on the Highlander recommendation from earlier. We're renting one this week for vacation and have had my 5 y/o daughter along with our 14 y/o niece and nephew in the vehicle for a portion of the trip. I've been pleasantly surprised with how much room it has along with how easy it is for everyone to get in and out of the vehicle.
I know this is going to sound terrible on a 4R forum, but have you considered the Kia Telluride or Hyundai Sante Fe XL? It's hard to match their new car warranty, and honestly, these aren't the same quality as the '98 Sportage. My wife and I had a Sante Fe two years ago when we were in AZ. It was great on gas, had tons of space, and actually drove pretty well. We don't have the same needs (only 1 kid), but when my wife's lease was running out, she went and drove the new Sante Fe and loved it. Their lease terms weren't great, so she ended up in another Subaru Forester.
CutthroatSlam
Senior Member
Suburban or Tahoe. Buy used as they depreciate fast. However, they'e a 200K to 300K mile truck. I just rode in a 2011 used by the Westin Hotel in Dallas to transport guests and it had 311K miles on it. I have a '99 K2500 4wd diesel and it has 222K miles on it.
I you're saying they're outdated, then you must be more interested in lame dash electronics and can't help you there.
I you're saying they're outdated, then you must be more interested in lame dash electronics and can't help you there.
kenwilliams0803
New member
My wife has the QX56 - the Infiniti version of the Armada. She won't give it up for anything and it has been painless, plus has a ton of room. Problem is, the newest gen (either 2011 or 2012+) has some major engine issues. We got her the older gen (2010) just to avoid those.
But she is almost 50 and says it's her favorite car that she has had in her entire life. We bought it with about 80k on it, it now has 131k. Only real issue has been a starter which of course they put under the intake manifold so it's a $6-700 job at an independent mechanic. Everything else has been pretty solid. It eats belts and brakes and tires (heavy car, heavy foot), and the windows are slow, other than that its fine for the job.
Jetboy
New member
Just for fun:
Toyota Sienna Lift Kits - Journeys Off Road
Toyota made a concept of just what you need called the "TJ"
Toyota Sienna Lift Kits - Journeys Off Road
Toyota made a concept of just what you need called the "TJ"
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Similar here. 13, 11 and 9 year olds. Smaller than average kids. Larger than average dog that goes in the cargo area. We didn’t want the third row as we wanted it for the dog. With a roof rack and cargo tray, it works fine for us with the occasional squabble. We’re taking it on an 8+ hour trip in a couple of weeks and I have no concerns.
We take it without the dog with the 5 of us and their band gear with no issues, using the roof rack and cargo tray (full drum set, guitar, bass, two amps, PA system, mics, stands, etc).
I didn’t want to go much larger as 5 days a week I park it at the train station that has parking spots designed for smart cars. But we needed 4wd (and preferably a rear locker) for launching a boat and camping. We found it was a good balance.
I’d buy it again, but it may not work for others.
KingTaco
New member
Nailed it. As a father of two teenagers, I will tell you that those kids are going to get adult sized before too long, and the 4Runner will still be cruising along without any mechanical reason for replacement. It's going to get tight in there with backpacks and water bottles and teen angst. My wife put 250k on her Highlander with replacing only brakes and tires aside from a few minor, inexpensive things that lasted way longer than one would reasonably expect. Only replaced it because she wanted something new again. I think we still got $5k for it with a quarter million miles and crash history from when someone slid in to her on an icy highway (it was an 04 that cost $24k new IIRC).
My brother in law and his wife have three kids. They love their recent gen Highlander, and take long trips often with no complaints. He is 6'-7" she is 5'-2" and they both enjoy driving it. I get that it is still minivan-ish, but it's comfortable, quicker than the T4R, gets better mileage, and has the same benefit of low maintenance and high resale. I'm sure some more aggressive tires and an inexpensive suspension tweak could give it some additional off-road cred without looking silly. Kind of like the Crossteks and Outbacks you see at the ski slopes.
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flyrv9
New member
Maybe the way to go is to narrow it down to two or three and then rent each for a short trip to see which you like best. Sure you will spend a few bucks, but it may pay off in the long run. I used to travel a lot with my job and rented many cars & trucks. I was surprised by the difference in what I thought I'd like or dislike about a vehicle; and what I really experienced.
Toffees
Member
Toyota made a concept of just what you need called the "TJ"
Oh? I'm interested
Toffees
Member
We own a Honda Odyssey and a 3rd row 4Runner. I drove the Highlander but ignored it because (1) we already have a van and (2) the car is my daily driver and I'm 40, but not ready to feel dead yet.
The 4R is great for trips, and can be loaded down fairly well. We don't tow with it, but we've put boxes on top and on the hitch (and there are pictures somewhere on the forum) and it drives great, even with 6 or 7 in seat belts (we currently have 7 in our house, and that's a big push). We've done 6 in the vehicle over two days each way on trips and all survived. You can find a way to make that work.
Where the 4R stinks is daily driving with more than 4. It's ok for me taking 3 kids to school, but access to the 3rd row is tight, and the 3rd row itself is small. Our oldest is 12 and he's near being squeezed out in the back (but he can get back there with less fuss than the 3yo, so...). My wife has no trouble driving it, although she's not been out of commission like your spouse.
A highlander is a far better DD than the 4R, but a van even more so. (We're actually looking to upgrade to a Sprinter if we can find a good price, so that's our level of crazy).
Good luck.
*Oh, and the Sequoia and Suburban. The Suburban is out of our price range, and is little more than a mini van. It's good for what it is and a little bigger inside. I've not driven the Sequoia, but it is said to be outdated and (like most Toyota trucks) due for an update. But it's bigger than the 4R and will tow something.
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ScarfaceT4R
New member
We have both. Infact, just threw KO2's on the wife's Grand Caravan. Think we may be one of the only people in the world to do it :naughty: (I refuse to Google it, because I want to believe it's true). America's Tire had a good 'ol time installing them!!
Ps. If there is a lift kit somewhere out there for the Caravan, you better believe that's next!
Ps. If there is a lift kit somewhere out there for the Caravan, you better believe that's next!
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Raoul_Duke
New member
We own a minivan (Toyota Sienna) and a T4R. We have 3 kids (19, 17, and 11). We usually take the van on road trips and everyone is really comfortable when we do. We drove the T4R to Colorado last year, and the kids were rather uncomfortable in the back for the 12-hour drive. I recently did a 3-hour drive with all 5 of us in the 4Runner, and they even complained on that one.
I don't think we'll take the 4Runner on a long road trip with all 5 of us again any time soon. Granted, I don't have a 3rd row seat, but the 4Runner is just not an ideal vehicle for road tripping with 3 kids.
I don't think we'll take the 4Runner on a long road trip with all 5 of us again any time soon. Granted, I don't have a 3rd row seat, but the 4Runner is just not an ideal vehicle for road tripping with 3 kids.
John in NC
Member
Minivan all the way. The 4runner feels surprisingly 'small' inside despite looking pretty big outside.
I have 2 kids aged 3.5 and 7.5 so not big kids by any stretch and we pack the 4runner full even for a long day at the beach. 3-4+ day trip and it's full plus the hitch carrier.
Our friends with 2 kids got a well used 2010 Honda Odyssey and they're in love with the thing, and show us all the room to spread out in it and storage nooks. Pretty sweet ride.
Minivan- better mpg, more legroom, better hvac, more headroom, more cargo room, more cup holders, better rearward visibility, more creature comforts.
Sure it's not as cool as a 4runner.
The 4runner with a large roof carrier is the only way I can see it working with 3 kids. With a big roof carrier and loaded with 3 kids and gear I can see a 4runner dropping to about 17mpg highway.
My wife wants a minivan... I've been eyeballing 'cheap' 100K mile used Siennas and Odysseys.
I want to get her a 1st gen double cab Tacoma 4x4 but she's not feeling it.
I have 2 kids aged 3.5 and 7.5 so not big kids by any stretch and we pack the 4runner full even for a long day at the beach. 3-4+ day trip and it's full plus the hitch carrier.
Our friends with 2 kids got a well used 2010 Honda Odyssey and they're in love with the thing, and show us all the room to spread out in it and storage nooks. Pretty sweet ride.
Minivan- better mpg, more legroom, better hvac, more headroom, more cargo room, more cup holders, better rearward visibility, more creature comforts.
Sure it's not as cool as a 4runner.
The 4runner with a large roof carrier is the only way I can see it working with 3 kids. With a big roof carrier and loaded with 3 kids and gear I can see a 4runner dropping to about 17mpg highway.
My wife wants a minivan... I've been eyeballing 'cheap' 100K mile used Siennas and Odysseys.
I want to get her a 1st gen double cab Tacoma 4x4 but she's not feeling it.
RPS99SHO
New member
We have a 2.5-year-old and a set of twins on the way. Dumped my wife's Sonata and picked up a 19 Sienna. I'm keeping my 4Runner, but it will rarely be the full-family transport. I still need to check on 3-across seating for two infant seats and a front-facer for the older child.
