Old 2002 Honda Odyssey just got totaled by tornado.
Requirements:
Easy to get into drivers seat
Easy to load Bass guitars, long-necked banjos and amps in the back (SUV, minivan-sized)
Good resale (not sure how long I’ll need it)
Used and dents and scratches ok (just no bad smells)
Price: any; paying cash. Don’t need entertainment system, sunroof, frills. Safety and reliability the most important for my family. I’ve put a lot of money into music lessons and feeding these kids and I want them protected! Thanks for your suggestions.
A used Odyssey or Toyota Siena would probably be your best choices. Just be prepared for them to have some features that you don’t want.
Stick to minivans. SUVs only have comparable carrying capacity if they are extended full sized, like a Suburban. They will cost a lot more than a minivan too. Sienna and Odyssey are good choices, but the Odyssey has a timing belt. Expect to pay about $1000 for a new timing belt and water pump at around 105,000 miles or seven years. We have a 2019 Odyssey and it will need a timing belt by year’s end. Don’t buy an Odyssey with 100,000 miles unless the owner can show proof of a timing belt replacement. Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan have seats that stow in the floor, and that would be convenient for carrying band equipment.
I’ll second the Toyota Sienna. Lower maintenance than the Honda - no timing belt, a timing chain.
The Sienna will likely outlive you. Examples have been known to go 300,000+ miles with proper maintenance and their transmission is better than the Honda.
Large capacity, fold flat 3rd row seats. 4 or 5 stars in every safety rating from 2010 to date.
2010 to 2020 models have a conventional V6. Are commonly available but very desirable so used examples are a bit pricy.
2021 to date are 4 cylinder hybrids that get MUCH better fuel economy. Stay away from 2021’s they had new model teething pains… But 36 mpg city and highway is significant!
Nobody does hybrids better than Toyota.
I researched this recently because I am in the market for a minivan, too.
Yes, it’s very possible this car will outlive me! Or at least, outlive my driving career (I started driving at 14, and never had an accident…BUT I’m getting older and you know because I just typed that brag, I will crash my next car while pulling out of the car lot).
I just looked at the price of new Siennas and almost had a heart attack. I doubt I’ll drive enough to justify a hybrid…but I like the environment and the next generations so I might suck it up. I keep waiting for solar powered cars…I would buy an electric if I ever move to a big city.
BTW Mustangman…how will you ever make the transition from a Mustang to a minivan? 
I’ve driven “mom cars” all my life (Civics, Accords, Corollas) so I’m used to being “uncool.”
I am keeping the Mustang! I am not going to hot-rod my minivan like one former poster here!
The minivan replaces my 22 year old truck. I have no need to tow anymore but I’d still do projects that require 8 ft 2x4s or sheets of plywood. My wife is an avid gardener so capacity and low liftover height is important. Not to mention they are far easier to climb into than a 4WD truck.
Ha ha ha! Glad to hear you’re keeping the Mustang.
I’m also considering a Subaru Forester or Outback: everyone around here drives them. I’m going to really miss the big, big windows on my Odyssey; the Forester has famously great visibility. Hate those ■■■■ cameras every car needs these days. [EDIT: this forum censors d—m? Gee whiz!]
I have an Outback and I would think with the stuff you need to haul the Outback and Forester will not work.
Once you have the backup camera you won’t want to do with out one. Same for the adaptive cruise control which requires a camera. The rear crossing feature kept me from backing out in front of another vehicle today. So resign from the Ludddite club .
Forester here - I agree, if you’ve been using much of your minivan’s space a Forester won’t be big enough, no matter how great the visibility is.
I have driven cars with cameras and adaptive cruise control and I HATE THEM! Darn it, just make cars with decent-sized windows you can see out! And that cruise control has almost caused an accident more than once [suddenly slowing down in city traffic for NO reason is a great way to be rear-ended].
I don’t use any kind of cruise control in city traffic.
I am on my 2nd Toyota Sienna. I had a 2011 Sienna that I sold to our son. That Sienna now has 250 000 on the odometer with mo major repairs. I currently have a 2017 Toyota Sienna. I transport my musical friends to gigs. I was able to transport trumpet player, a violinist. A flute player, 2 cellists and myself a French horn player, with all our instruments to perform in a concert 55 miles away. I have hauled a set of 4 timpani to a concert venue.
The Sienna serves as my daily driver. I average 17.5- 19 mpg around town and 22.5-26 mpg on the highway.
I am unsure about the Sienna hybrid. I have a friend who.owned one. She had 2 flat tires and the Sienna hybrid minivans do not have a spare tire. She was unhappy about that and traded the Sienna hybrid for a non hybrid Kia suv. Consumer Reports says that the Sienna hybrid has longer than average stopping distances and is somewhat noisy when the gasoline engine kicks in. Fortunately, my Sienna is not a hybrid. It has a spare tire, has good braking, and is quiet. The power sliding doors are handy when I transport friends with disabilities.
She traded in a very-highly rated Toyota, rather than simply buying a spare tire for it? Unless there were factors other than just the spare tire situation involved in her decision, this was poor economics… IMO.