Splash
04-23-2006, 05:27 PM
I think I bought a mini van today. I gave them a check for the down payment, but they have to ship it here from north FL (NO ONE in the vicinity had one with side curtain airbags).
We wanted a Kia Sedona. But IIHS recently rated it their gold top pick, so Kia is riding that wave to the shore and will not negotiate at all for anything. I could easily wait (and probably should!) but I want to get this done with.
I looked at the Sienna and liked it, and REALLY liked having the 8 person option.
But I went with a Ford Freestar. It got higher side impact ratings with NHTSA than the Sienna did (though not so on IIHS, which confuses me) and they had $5K cash back incentive, so I went with it.
I guess the deal is done. Once it gets here, if I like it (I am sure I will, as they had one on the lot with the exact same options save the airbags) then I am the owner of a mini van.
I'm trading in a 2005 Saturn Ion. I hate to trade in a car we've only had for a year... I like the car, but I just want something safer.
Anyone have a Freestar? Like it? Hate it? Somewhere in between?
What I did like was the center bench. I didn't really want captain's chairs, and there were NONE available with the side airbags. But the bench is centered. Instead of being off to the driver's side, it is directly center in the vehicle. So, essentially, it gives you two almost center seats, versus 2 outboard (with chairs) or one center/one outboard (with a normal bench). I measured it, and a carseat on each side would be about two feet from the side of the vehicle on the outer side. That with side airbags makes me very happy. There is LATCH in both of those positions, and in the center of the third row (so three LATCH locations).
I imagine we'll but his BV in it and leave the SafeSeat in my aztek (since it is a much better install than the BV). What do you think? It's probably about the same safety wise, so I think the BV will be the best option. IF I can find somewhere to tether it.
We wanted a Kia Sedona. But IIHS recently rated it their gold top pick, so Kia is riding that wave to the shore and will not negotiate at all for anything. I could easily wait (and probably should!) but I want to get this done with.
I looked at the Sienna and liked it, and REALLY liked having the 8 person option.
But I went with a Ford Freestar. It got higher side impact ratings with NHTSA than the Sienna did (though not so on IIHS, which confuses me) and they had $5K cash back incentive, so I went with it.
I guess the deal is done. Once it gets here, if I like it (I am sure I will, as they had one on the lot with the exact same options save the airbags) then I am the owner of a mini van.
I'm trading in a 2005 Saturn Ion. I hate to trade in a car we've only had for a year... I like the car, but I just want something safer.
Anyone have a Freestar? Like it? Hate it? Somewhere in between?
What I did like was the center bench. I didn't really want captain's chairs, and there were NONE available with the side airbags. But the bench is centered. Instead of being off to the driver's side, it is directly center in the vehicle. So, essentially, it gives you two almost center seats, versus 2 outboard (with chairs) or one center/one outboard (with a normal bench). I measured it, and a carseat on each side would be about two feet from the side of the vehicle on the outer side. That with side airbags makes me very happy. There is LATCH in both of those positions, and in the center of the third row (so three LATCH locations).
I imagine we'll but his BV in it and leave the SafeSeat in my aztek (since it is a much better install than the BV). What do you think? It's probably about the same safety wise, so I think the BV will be the best option. IF I can find somewhere to tether it.