Mini-van Driving

Once again this is an old post ... when will it stop? : )

We bought a Toyota Sienna mini-van 3 months ago (so it really is February 2013, not October)! We LOVE it! Maybe that's why we haven't posted about it yet, been too busy enjoying life with a mini-van.

It was quite a process, especially convincing Jai to agree to get it. I guess I finally wore him down! : ) We researched a few different options, trying to consider the most economical choices with consumer reports. Our top choices were the well loved & more expensive Honda Odyssey & Toyota Sienna.  However, they seemed out of our price range even though we both have driven Hondas & Toyotas for most of our adult driving lives.

We looked primarily at Grand Caravans, but weren't finding the right one (year, mileage, details). We searched different used car sites, mainly on-line, including Car Max (actually looked last summer, but we weren't ready) & got Jai's car (green Corolla) evaluated there for trade-in value. Then 1 day we looked on Car Max's website & saw a Toyota Sienna for a decent price, more than we wanted to pay, but good considering the value for a Toyota or Honda.

So we arranged for Uncles Mike & Chad to watch the girls & headed there to check out the van. When we arrived, it was crowded & there was no one available to assist us. Annoying as Jacqueline had been asleep so I hadn't been able to feed her before we left M&C's house (1:00pm) ... I really was in quite a time predicament. We walked outside & checked out the vans on the lot, seeing a few we liked. We walked back & finally someone was available (2:00pm). We explained we wanted to test drive 2 vans & started the process with Jai giving his license to be verified ... discovered that it had expired 6 weeks ago on his birthday! Therefore I had to drive the vans which was fine, I enjoyed that, but really wanted Jai to drive it since he would be the primary driver.  We drove both, not liking the Kia, but thoroughly liked the Sienna, so spacious, great pick up with the V6 engine, in great condition (interior & exterior), only 82K miles, 8 passengers!

We returned to office cubicle to start purchase part of process (2:30p) & we discovered 2 issues as they checked credit.
1. Jai forgot to bring title to his car - 95% sure he knew where it was in house
2. There were 2 liens on his car ... odd since Jai said he had the title in his possession, but long story about why it didn't get transferred from bank name to his
He said "how did you know to do that?" I don't know, I just did. I'm sure someone told me.
After way too long talking about options, initially the manager saying we could have the van & bring back the title and I'm about to burst with engorgement & we should have just left with the plan to return with required documents, we finally leave, having to put car seats BACK in Jai's car (3:00pm)!

We drive back to M&C's place, hoping everyone is OK because they're not answering their phones, I'm driving of course, and discover that the E light turns on for the gas gauge. Are you kidding me?

First the license, then the title, now almost out of gas! Someone does not want us to get this van. Unbelievable!

We arrive safely at friends' house, Jacqueline only awaken recently, Julia happily watching a movie. I gratefully feed baby while Jai goes to get gas. After thanking M&C for everything, we load everyone into the car & head home to find the title (4:00pm). Jai goes inside & fairly quickly returns with the located document! Eureka! Then I need to go to the bathroom & so does Julia so inside we go while Jai watches Jacqueline. Thankfully she stayed in the car, the only 1! : ) We all get buckled back in the car & head back to Car Max (4:45pm).

This isn't how we wanted to complete the transaction with 2 young children in tow, but you do what you have to do. It really didn't take too long, but there was a TON of paperwork to complete & sign our names a zillion times. It reminded us of buying a house.

In the dark, we finally left Car Max (6:30pm) in our glorious van, all the i's dotted & t's crossed, extremely comfortable, happy & excited. It's nice! : )