tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post2998612282252078002..comments2023-09-27T11:22:05.849-04:00Comments on Cornish Adoption Journey: Some tricks and Our car shopping tripMeredithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07974293935380325338noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-86393920082499577832008-09-23T12:41:00.000-04:002008-09-23T12:41:00.000-04:00We have a e-150 conversion van- but only seats 7 (...We have a e-150 conversion van- but only seats 7 (2,2,3). It takes a little while to get used to driving but it is easy after you learn to relay on your mirrors! It has tons of room compared to mini vans. The big tv is a huge plus! Parking is not that bad but you just have to leave room for the 'barn' style doors to open (if that is what yours will have). I have seen vans with doors on both sides instead of just the one. That would be nice too. Gas for mine is about 15 MPG and the tank holds 35 or so gallons (be prepared for a heart attack when you fill it up!). Another downer is it does not fit in the garage. Ours as the tall top so it's to tall for the garage. If yours is tall then you will also have to be on look out for drive thru and parking garages clearances. It does drive very mice though. Good luck choosing!!JennyHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01016390364789296413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-58460947842197580842008-09-22T10:56:00.000-04:002008-09-22T10:56:00.000-04:00My only experience is the "youth trip" 15 passange...My only experience is the "youth trip" 15 passanger van. I drive a few times a summer. This last year we actually had 4 of them, filled with teenager to go to a weeks long youth camp :) The only thing I had to get used to the first time was parking and backing up. When parking I usually park wayyy out there, so that I dont have to back up. With your handicapped parking permit, that should give you more room! Enjoy van shopping!<BR/>TiffintexasTiffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16200657248961386833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-11190315437025910742008-09-22T09:42:00.000-04:002008-09-22T09:42:00.000-04:00I read the last comment...the Dodge Sprinter is ni...I read the last comment...the Dodge Sprinter is nice! They are expensive though, and hard to find when used. The other problem we thought of is that they are tall (you can stand up inside), so they won't fit in a typical garage.<BR/>You know me...I would love to have a passenger van and I am encouraged that you found some used vans nearby. I say, "Go for it!"Kerry Shealyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04154120894248719209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-89386585011935662552008-09-21T23:45:00.000-04:002008-09-21T23:45:00.000-04:00i dont know much about vans but i have an expediti...i dont know much about vans but i have an expedition and love it!!!Amy Flegehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01237104230554615007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-44920614370625438792008-09-21T23:00:00.000-04:002008-09-21T23:00:00.000-04:00Hi there, Meredith! :)We are currently van shoppin...Hi there, Meredith! :)<BR/><BR/>We are currently van shopping, too, since we plan on having a 6th child in the near future and that means we will be outgrowing our minivan.<BR/><BR/>The only choices out there that fulfill our needs of 8 or more passengers + lots of cargo room and not needing to fold down seats to get to 3rd row seating are as follows:<BR/><BR/>1. Ford E-series<BR/>2. Chevy Express, I think they're now called?<BR/>3. Dodge Sprinter<BR/><BR/>Safety is another big factor for me, and so I was also looking for driver/passenger airbags, lap AND shoulder belts in as many of the seats as possible, low risk of rollovers, increased traction control, and headrests on all seats.<BR/><BR/>What I found out is that 15-passenger vans aren't as safe as 10 or 12-passenger ones b/c the extra length significantly increases the risk of rollovers. I also discovered that Chevy vans have a better overall safety record than Ford, although they may have improved in the most recent models. More recent models are also more likely to have more lap/shoulder belts in the inner bench seats, which is important to me -- lap belts only are really dangerous in an accident, especially for children now old enough to sit without a booster/carseat. :(<BR/><BR/>Ultimately, though, I discovered that the only one of the three vehicles that had all the features I wanted -- airbags, traction control to prevent rollovers, headrests and shoulder/lap belts on all seats, large cargo area in back, handles more like a car than a truck, easier to park and turn around, gets 20 mpg or more (diesel engine), and has a rubber floor that can be hosed off, fabulous idea -- was the Dodge Sprinter.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, it's also by far the most expensive of the van options. :( However, we're looking at used models, which makes it a bit more affordable ($25K versus $45K new). You can see them best on ebay motors; I haven't found that many in our local market, so I went searching for them there.<BR/><BR/>Good luck on the van hunting and I hope you find something that works well for you!<BR/><BR/>Kind regards,<BR/>Kristin (Guinevere on downsyn)Guineverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01704172460843829380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-29041784006371929852008-09-21T21:32:00.000-04:002008-09-21T21:32:00.000-04:00I learned how to drive in a 12 passenger Ford Club...I learned how to drive in a 12 passenger Ford Clubwagon. I'm the oldest of 8 kids. It was red, and we called it "Clifford, the big red van." After learning to drive that thing, I can drive anything!! I don't have any suggestions...car shopping stresses me out! I like it when it's all said and done!Our Story: Continuedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00241222425006577622noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-16336426112891091962008-09-21T21:22:00.000-04:002008-09-21T21:22:00.000-04:00Oh, by the way...you'll get used to driving a big ...Oh, by the way...you'll get used to driving a big van if you choose one. Parking is not as bad as it seems and I can even parallel park mine!Stephanie @ Ralphcrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04583389649340199260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-24663947123276146312008-09-21T21:21:00.000-04:002008-09-21T21:21:00.000-04:00I drive a 15 pass Chevy 3500. It is great! We norm...I drive a 15 pass Chevy 3500. It is great! We normally keep the back seat out so I have room for groceries and the stroller. My favorite thing about the van is being able to store the stroller without folding it up! My least favorite thing is that I have to hop up into the back to put the baby in his carseat - well, at least when my teenagers are not with me! The gas milage is better than I expected, @15 mpg. Also, I have a couple of very noisy children and I can send them to sit in the very back.<BR/><BR/>You should definitely, at least, look at the Chevy model. Best wishes!Stephanie @ Ralphcrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04583389649340199260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-31099501124601809362008-09-21T18:55:00.000-04:002008-09-21T18:55:00.000-04:00my best friend is one of 7 siblings, plus 4 adults...my best friend is one of 7 siblings, plus 4 adults living in the house, so they have a 15-passenger van. larger than what you're looking at, but still, she says that they've had VERY few problems and that it's actually easier to maintain the larger van. they've experimented with different vehicles over the years, and they have the standard Ford van and are very pleased. they can't be replacing cars often with that many people, plus getting a huge house to keep everyone living comfortably in, and this van has been good for them. very easy to drive & maintain and not a lot of repairs. trustworthy, too. so i'm guessing that if you go with a similar Ford van - even it's basically one bench less - it would be the same idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-76257582030174344682008-09-21T18:26:00.000-04:002008-09-21T18:26:00.000-04:00My next-door neighbors have the E350. They have 5 ...My next-door neighbors have the E350. They have 5 kids, one in a wheelchair. (though he's in a seat in the van, and the chair is folded.) Not only do they have 5 kids, but they ALWAYS have extra kids with them from youth group, etc. along with them. I know it was important to them to have the space the needed for their own PLUS a friend or two as their kids got older. Their kids are now 18, 16, 13, 9 (not that long out of the carseat) and 5 (still in the carseat) they LOVE their van, and have PLENTY of room for their entire family to do road trips in it, which they do all the time. (the oldest is on a traveling wheelchair basketball team.)Leah Springhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02326240393099112570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-62521641955567220332008-09-21T17:57:00.000-04:002008-09-21T17:57:00.000-04:00I drive a van similar in size to this for work but...I drive a van similar in size to this for work but it has a hydraulic wheelchair lift on it. You have to learn to use the side mirrors a lot more. The stopping/starting time is obviously more. The other thing you might want to think about for when Emma is older if she continues to need a wheelchair is the Braun Corporation. You can get minivans that have a ramp or lift for loading wheelchairs and then a back row of seats for the other kiddos. There are also companies that will convert a regular minivan to a van with a ramp and tie-downs for a chair. My work does this with three Ford minivans.Lindseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05624718798664527865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-58341658602257582302008-09-21T17:49:00.000-04:002008-09-21T17:49:00.000-04:00I would recommend you also look at Chevy or GMC va...I would recommend you also look at Chevy or GMC vans, too. My husband is a master automotive technician and works on them all. The Ford engines tend to blow head gaskets and have manifold leaks. The GM series of larger vans get better gas mileage, too.Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04554314908015066118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-41398878954374027942008-09-21T17:28:00.000-04:002008-09-21T17:28:00.000-04:00Sorry, no help on the van question. But, I KNEW y...Sorry, no help on the van question. But, I KNEW you had to be doing something yesterday since there weren't any blog updates when I checked. :) I was glad to read it was car shopping and nothing bad.Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04474902291331595191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-89868069988758025252008-09-21T15:26:00.000-04:002008-09-21T15:26:00.000-04:00We had a 15 passenger van awhile back when there w...We had a 15 passenger van awhile back when there were 11 of us home at once. We had 2 wheelchairs plus the rest of us plus plenty of room. They are great! But they are definitely a little more challenging to park. It was easy to drive, though.Louhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01173819975698492553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-5382785503390316542008-09-21T14:10:00.000-04:002008-09-21T14:10:00.000-04:00Meredith,We, ok by we I mean *I*, drive the 15 pas...Meredith,<BR/>We, ok by we I mean *I*, drive the 15 passenger van, but the Chevy! We chose it because we could take out the back seat and make it 11 passenger. Now, we have 5 (waiting on the 6th) s/n kids and 3 with wheelchairs. Or I use strollers, depending on the outing and even a combination!! ;-) It works great having the back seat out. We can get all our stuff in there with no problem. We have 7 (waiting on the 8th) kids at home, so we needed the bigger van. I don't get great gas milage, but, we chose to adopt and wanted a BIG family, so that is just how it is...along with the dreaded grocery bill. LOL My husband has a smaller car, so if I can run errands when he is home, I will do that, too...occasionally.<BR/>I don't think we will go back for a smaller van for a VERY long time! We need the space and the kids are great in it!! They have soooo much room!!! <BR/>Good Luck on your decision ;-)<BR/>Blessings,<BR/>CarlaCarlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16717919198038091662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-59836679846940301632008-09-21T12:49:00.000-04:002008-09-21T12:49:00.000-04:00We have this same van and have had it for years. ...We have this same van and have had it for years. The E-350. It's a monster to drive but once used to it, it's okay. Gas will cost you a fortune so be prepared. Oh, and parking it is not the best. It is tough. You'll have to "shop" around for spots. Good news is inthe hospitals, they have oversized spots so we fit right in. Keep in mind, w/ the Ford Vans(same as we have), they are notarious for alignment problems. Just keep on top of it. We have put very little money into repairs for ours. Good luck. It is a great van for the useage it will get. Good luck.<BR/><BR/>Stephanie--mom to 7 special kiddos!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855066593161369056.post-24948706155882968222008-09-21T12:27:00.000-04:002008-09-21T12:27:00.000-04:00This isn't about the car post, but about the wheel...This isn't about the car post, but about the wheel chair modification. Someone invented large circle things that attach to the outside of the wheel- with a picture on them- like a big smiley face- I think these will help keep E's fingers out of the wheel- and, maybe you can put one on the inside of the wheel closest to her, if she puts her fingers in the wheels from that side as well. I don't know what they are called or where to find them, tho. <BR/>Good luck!<BR/>E.S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com