LimeLED
New member
What?
That is literally what they are called. Go look at Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, Kia, etc. websites... Literally every one calls them Minivans. :crazy:
Minivan vs 4runner
- Thread starter Hogger
- Start date
That is literally what they are called. Go look at Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, Kia, etc. websites... Literally every one calls them Minivans. :crazy:
Toffees
Member
What, if I repeat it three times will I be cursed with Beetlejuice?
(Beetlejuice is actually a good name for a minivan...)
Nothing wrong with it, it's one of the best designs of modern cars... but most people have serious image issues and can't stand driving them. Not that there aren't sometimes better options out there.
For instance, I wouldn't mind converting my wife's Odyssey into something like the beast that Bisi built:
But I've also professed my admiration of the Sprinter, although my wife wants a different build than I want. She wants something like the unshaved and probably unshowered crunchies drive:
KingTaco
New member
Why didn't we think of this before?! How about a LS swapped Westfalia....
Chevy V8 Swapped: 1982 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia | Bring a Trailer
Slap some KO2s on it and you're good to go :thumb:
Chevy V8 Swapped: 1982 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia | Bring a Trailer
Slap some KO2s on it and you're good to go :thumb:
What, if I repeat it three times will I be cursed with Beetlejuice?
(Beetlejuice is actually a good name for a minivan...)
Nothing wrong with it, it's one of the best designs of modern cars... but most people have serious image issues and can't stand driving them. Not that there aren't sometimes better options out there.
For instance, I wouldn't mind converting my wife's Odyssey into something like the beast that Bisi built:
But I've also professed my admiration of the Sprinter, although my wife wants a different build than I want. She wants something like the unshaved and probably unshowered crunchies drive:
We’ve had the van for almost 6 years, long past any image issues lol. I just want to get back to being a bit more free with where we go explore and such.
You guys have given me lots to think about, I appreciate all the advice. One more week until our camping trip, once we’re home, it’s time to car shop!
SR5 Phil
New member
Love my 4Runner, so I'm partial to recommending it. Prior to it I had our twins in rear-facing car seats in a Jetta Sportwagen, so I'm also fine with squeezing a bit in order to drive a vehicle I like. However, even from that perspective the 4R may be a big compromise for daily use for 5 people. The third row is small, once the kids get older it will be an uncomfortable place for the unlucky kid to travel in for long distances. Ditto if all three squeeze into the second row. Not as worried about cargo space, that can be mitigated with a roof box and putting some items in the trailer you're towing, but passenger space is going to run against some hard limits. Others are correct, I'd rent one from the Toyota dealership and take it on a trip to see how it does for your family.
A big question for me is, how badly do you need the offroad capabilities of the 4R? It's capable enough to make my kids and spouse uncomfortable in stock form, so is that level of ability really what you want, or can you dial it back a touch and go with something like a lightly used base Nissan Armada? It'll have more room, more posh, more power, more towing, but it's still a BOF 4x4 with low range and a proven (I think) engine and transmission. It isn't a bigger Pathfinder, it's a truck-based SUV that hearkens back to Nissan's days as a real automaker rather than a purveyor of disposable CVTs and crossovers. The Armada also seems to depreciate quite a bit more than Sequoias and Suburbans, so you might find a low mileage one for the price of a 4R.
I'd stick with the van before I went with a lower-slug Highlander/Flex or any other crossover (I don't see this providing much advantage over what you already have). I would not go lift a CVT Subaru or take a risk on the new Ascent given Subaru's recent quality control issues. Consider the Armada, and update us with your decision!
A big question for me is, how badly do you need the offroad capabilities of the 4R? It's capable enough to make my kids and spouse uncomfortable in stock form, so is that level of ability really what you want, or can you dial it back a touch and go with something like a lightly used base Nissan Armada? It'll have more room, more posh, more power, more towing, but it's still a BOF 4x4 with low range and a proven (I think) engine and transmission. It isn't a bigger Pathfinder, it's a truck-based SUV that hearkens back to Nissan's days as a real automaker rather than a purveyor of disposable CVTs and crossovers. The Armada also seems to depreciate quite a bit more than Sequoias and Suburbans, so you might find a low mileage one for the price of a 4R.
I'd stick with the van before I went with a lower-slug Highlander/Flex or any other crossover (I don't see this providing much advantage over what you already have). I would not go lift a CVT Subaru or take a risk on the new Ascent given Subaru's recent quality control issues. Consider the Armada, and update us with your decision!
I have honestly been looking a bit harder at the armada because it is the BOF suv still, lots of ground clearance, still a proper transfer case etc. It does check off a lot of boxes. Fuel economy is a bit rough on it, but not much worse than a 4runner from what I found.
I think it will come down to just how big it is, if the wife will be ok driving it or not and the price of course.
Luckily I have a Toyota and Nissan dealership right across the street from each other so it will be nice to have a direct comparison
Well I thought I would post an update from today. I managed to get out and test drive both the armada and the 4runner, 4runner isn’t looking too good. While I really did enjoy driving it, love the seating position for the drivers seat, the handling, but the size I think is just too small. I also made the mistake of driving the armada first, which is huge inside, so the 4runner definitely felt cramped in the back in comparison.
I loved the feeling driving the 4runner, like I just wanted to hop the curve and go off road the second you seen dirt. Definitely not a feeling I got in the armada, though it had plenty of ground clearance to do so. We brought the high back booster seats with us to test fit in the 4runner and it was very cramped trying to fit 3 kids in the one row with the two boosters. We looked at a model with the 3rd row and it was pretty tight in the back and left zero trunk space in the rear when they were up. So as much as I enjoyed driving the 4runner for the hour I had it, my kids would definitely not be pleased back there for any lengthy trips.
I do appreciate all the feedback and appreciate those that recommended the armada to me as I had never even thought to look at one before. It really does check off most of my boxes. Full body in frame suv, nearly 400hp v8 for towing, very roomy seats on all rows, great Bose sound system and safety tech and was very smooth to drive. That 7 speed is a very nice transmission, very quick shifting and smooth.
I haven’t made any final decisions yet, I’m still going to look at a couple more options just to make sure and still do one more hard look at a 4runner.
I loved the feeling driving the 4runner, like I just wanted to hop the curve and go off road the second you seen dirt. Definitely not a feeling I got in the armada, though it had plenty of ground clearance to do so. We brought the high back booster seats with us to test fit in the 4runner and it was very cramped trying to fit 3 kids in the one row with the two boosters. We looked at a model with the 3rd row and it was pretty tight in the back and left zero trunk space in the rear when they were up. So as much as I enjoyed driving the 4runner for the hour I had it, my kids would definitely not be pleased back there for any lengthy trips.
I do appreciate all the feedback and appreciate those that recommended the armada to me as I had never even thought to look at one before. It really does check off most of my boxes. Full body in frame suv, nearly 400hp v8 for towing, very roomy seats on all rows, great Bose sound system and safety tech and was very smooth to drive. That 7 speed is a very nice transmission, very quick shifting and smooth.
I haven’t made any final decisions yet, I’m still going to look at a couple more options just to make sure and still do one more hard look at a 4runner.
K-D-Runner
New member
Have you given the Highlander or possibly even an older Land Cruiser a shot? (Seems the Sequoia is out of the question.) Both are a bit bigger then the 4runner, capable, luxurious, and carry the Toyota reliability/ resale value that I'd suspect you're looking for.
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
I'm close to the same position. I had a 2012 Audi A3 which I was using for commuting and fun. We have a 2/4/7 year old currently, and went with a Sienna when the third came along. Previously my wife was driving a Venza.
I recently went with an ORP to replace the A3, which I just sold yesterday (many tears). I spent a bunch of time today trying to figure out how to get all 3 kids in the 2nd row, and finally gave up. Given that they're all in boosters or a convertible, there's just not enough room to get 3 across, at least with 5-point boosters. Even tried getting 2 seats and a Graco booster-only (no high-back) in there, and it just doesn't fit. There may be other configurations that do, but we're using Peg Perego convertibles and Britax Frontier 5-point boosters - they're just too wide. So, until the oldest can get by without a booster, I can't take everyone. :-(
So, all family trips will be in the Sienna for the time being - or we're taking 2 cars, which sucks.
I recently went with an ORP to replace the A3, which I just sold yesterday (many tears). I spent a bunch of time today trying to figure out how to get all 3 kids in the 2nd row, and finally gave up. Given that they're all in boosters or a convertible, there's just not enough room to get 3 across, at least with 5-point boosters. Even tried getting 2 seats and a Graco booster-only (no high-back) in there, and it just doesn't fit. There may be other configurations that do, but we're using Peg Perego convertibles and Britax Frontier 5-point boosters - they're just too wide. So, until the oldest can get by without a booster, I can't take everyone. :-(
So, all family trips will be in the Sienna for the time being - or we're taking 2 cars, which sucks.
Highlander was quite a bit smaller inside, especially the third row. Older land cruiser is out of the cards, looking newer with warranty. Sequoia I looked at today but didn’t drive but the interior fit and finish wasn’t nearly as nice and smaller third row than the armada on top of being more expensive
I still have a soft spot for the 4runner, and still would like to take it out for a longer drive when I have all the kids and see. But obviously it’s never going to match the armada since it’s a full size suv and can tow a lot more
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Cymon
New member
I understand the issue and cost involved in switching car seats. We only have 2 kids and there is no way we could get 3 of the Graco convertibles that we have in the 4runner, but the Diono Radians fit pretty easy. We can actually fit the Graco in with the 2 radians when my niece is visiting. Just an option to look at. We keep the 2 Graco’s in my wife’s Outback and the Radians in the 4runner so when we need a 3rd we just take one out of hers and it fits easily. Also with the Radians there is plenty of room for our dog in her backseat hammock or a grandparent to ride next to the car seats. When we travel with 6 or 7 it does take some yoga moves to get people in the 3rd Row but it is manageable for short trips...ie 3 hours or under like when we travel up to Disney World.
Sorry for the sideways pic but my 4runner also doubles as a rocket.
Attachments
Toffees
Member
Add a 3rd row, see the mod threads here...
Thanks, definitely going to check into these...may be a lifesaver if we can get all 3 in the 2nd row!
No can do. Adding a TruckVault setup back there for firearms and other valuables, so need to make it work with the 2nd row, or not at all, unfortunately...
Cymon
New member
And just as another FYI, if your 2 year old is still rear facing get this with them.
Diono™ Angle Adjuster | buybuy BABY
The Diono’s are so tall since they are convertibles and high back boosters that it won’t fit rear facing unless you’re 5 feet tall. With the angle adjuster the car seats fit well rear facing and super snugged down with the latch system. I could comfortably sit in my regular driving position with it and I’m 5’10” and still had some wiggle room back.
I used to have an Odyssey when my kids were smaller, and it was great. Having owned both, I think you will be happier in the mini-van with small kids. There's more tech and features you will use every day. Sure, the T4R would be great on camping trips, but minivan makes more sense the rest of the time.
After going and driving some suv’s, I’m 90% sure we won’t be going back to minivan lol. 6 long years I’ve waited to get back to the trails and take the family with
Teamoatmealpie
New member
Life is too short not to have fun.
Get the 4Runner with a 3rd row- donÂ’t look back -
2 tracks - mountains - stream crossings-snow - sand - mud- will all be your play ground while still taking the kids to schools
Get the 4Runner with a 3rd row- donÂ’t look back -
2 tracks - mountains - stream crossings-snow - sand - mud- will all be your play ground while still taking the kids to schools
