mini van question

[nyc_mom]

Hi all,

Trying to decide on a mini-van and want to know how important the dual power sliding doors are. On the Sienna, only the more expensive model comes with the dual sliding doors and we're looking to save a little money. The model that we can better affourd has only one power sliding door. I guess I know I'd love the dual doors but would one door be convenient enough or are they really worth the extra money. I have a 6 wk old and a 21 month old, if that makes a difference. (BTW, we chose the Sienna over the Odyessey b/c we wanted the AWD). Thanks!

nyc_mom

[o_mom]

I LOVE the dual power sliders on my Odyssey. Being able to open or close a door from the driver's seat or from outside is great. In the summer heat, I like to leave both doors open as I strap the kids in and then I can close them once I get in. I also feel they are safer than the non-power doors as they are less likely to be slammed shut on small kids/fingers. We had the non-power ones growing up and it took alot of force to get it started, then there was no stopping it until it was closed. Also, on a hill, you don't have to worry that it will let go and slam shut.

As they get older and you do school/practice drop-offs, it is great to be able to open and close the door without getting out. I have driven nieces and nephews enough to appreciate that.


HTH!

[crAbbymom]

My '01 Sienna has just the one and I have to honestly say that I have wished MANY times that both were power. 2 really aren't necessary, we do OK with the one, but the manual door handle broke off several months ago. Planning to get it repaired soon, but with parts and labor it's nearly $200!! MAJOR pain in the behind to open, so both girls (4 and nearly 6) usually go in through the power door side.

Hope that isn't too confusing, I tend to ramble...

Overall: 2 would be totally wonderful, but 1 is definately better than no power door at all.

Milcah

PS: My girls were about that age difference...what I would do is open the power door, put in one of them, then go to the other side and open the manual door,(since I now had a free hand) It's doable...

[Momof3Labs]

ITA with all of this. The dual power doors (esp with two kids) is my all-time favorite feature of DH's minivan!

[MarisaSF]

I have a '96 van with dual doors, but neither are power. Is that still an option? Is it an option to get one power and one not? (Sorry, I couldn't discern from your post.) I highly recommend the dual sliders, but have to say that it doesn't bother me in the least that mine don't open automatically. In fact, to me, automatic things are just another feature that could break.

[ribbit1019]

We rented a minivan for a long driving trip this past weekend and I have to say that it would have been so nice to have two power doors. Neither door was power and it was almost too difficult for my mom and I to open the door from the inside. DH or my dad had to get out every time to open the door for us.

Christy
My Waterbabies
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[jasabo]

We have an Odyssey and I LOOOOOVE the dual power sliding doors. I'm able to open them both using the remote, both boys hop up themselves and climb into their car seats as I'm throwing my stuff into the front seat, then I just buckle them in. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but when you're running errands, dragging two kids in and out of the car a few times a day, it REALLY helps.

Also, it's nice to be able to close them using the button on the dashboard.

I highly recommend them :)

[RwnMayfair]

We have just the one power door on our Sienna, and while two would probably be nice, I don't think it's absolutely necessary. Elowen is on the side with the power door, and Taran is on the non-power side. When she was a newborn (and even now) it was really nice because I could open her door with the touch of a button and pop her in. Taran was 21 months when she was born as well.

Even if there was a power door on Taran's side, he still wouldn't be able to climb into his carseat by himself, it's just ultimately too high for him to do it. And I don't find it hard to open the manual door on his side either.

We've honestly been doing just fine with the one power door. :)

-Melissa

Taran, November 20
Elowen, August 20

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[skygoddess]

Absolutely, positively gotta have the dual sliders, IMO. I couldn't live without them. We chose the 2004 Ody over the Sienna for that feature alone (we couldn't afford the Sienna model that had the dual sliders).

Hope that helps.

Nancy

[nyc_mom]

THank you for all the great advice. We ended up having to compromise because of price and got the Sienna with the one power door. I figure I could live with it for now since my girls are so young and then when our lease is up, and we're in a different financial situation (hopefully better!) then maybe we could upgrade.

nyc_mom