Second kid on the way in January and looking to buy another vehicle in spring / summe

[gannonrt]

My wife and I both own 3rd Gen 4runners. Hers is a bone stock '97 with 85K miles and mine is a '99 with mods listed below. My wife and I also volunteer with high school students and often have to carry multiple passengers as a result. We have a second kid coming in January and will need to seat two children car seats for at least the next few years. Additionally, we take at least three trips a year with 1000+ round trip. We are looking for something with captains seats in the second row so we can leave child seats in them but still carry passengers in the 3rd row when necessary. My sister is interested in buying my wife's 4Runner from us in the spring so that along with a tax return should give us about $10K to work with next summer. We are looking to buy a used vehicle and avoid as much car payment as possible. We are looking at Toyota Siennas, Honda Oddyseys, Kia Sedonas, Chevy Tahoes and GMC Yukons to get the captains seats and third row behind it. Any one have experience with 2 kids in any of these vehicles? Which did you like and why? Am I missing other vehicles?

 

[Mytoy4]

I have three children (12, 4, 1). I'll tell you right now that the 3rd row seating in the 4runner isn't worth it. At least it's not in the 4th gen. It's fine if it's a child less than 3 years of age. Any older and there isn't room for their legs.
I also have a Sienna. That's our swagger wagon and it works perfect for kids.
SWAGGER WAGON - YouTube

I'm a Toyota nut all the way but for a short time considered the Odyssey but read that there were too many issues with the transmissions. We use the van for long distance weekend travel and I wanted something that I knew was going to be reliable.