# Help widowed “Soccer Grandma” choose a car **URL:** \ **Category:** Buying/Selling\ **Created:** [June 24, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896 "2026-06-24T15:45:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Honda2076](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/53a042/32.png) [@Honda2076](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda2076)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/1 "2026-06-24T15:45:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/2 "2026-06-24T15:54:27Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/3 "2026-06-24T16:42:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/4 "2026-06-24T18:01:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/6 "2026-06-24T18:45:32Z")
> [@Honda2076](#): > > how will you ever make the transition from a Mustang to a minivan 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. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/8 "2026-06-24T19:00:14Z")
> [@Honda2076](#): > > I’m also considering a Subaru Forester or Outback 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 . ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/9 "2026-06-24T19:53:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/11 "2026-06-24T20:11:02Z")
I don’t use any kind of cruise control in city traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/12 "2026-06-24T20:13:37Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/13 "2026-06-24T20:20:11Z")
> [@Triedaq](#): > > 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. 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. > **[Fits All 2021-2026 Toyota Sienna Models- Spare Tire And Complete Accessory...](https://modernspare.com/product/2021-2026-toyota-sienna-spare-tire-kit-options/)** > > Spec engineered lightweight alloy spare tire kit for 2021-26 Toyota Sienna. Space-saver, alloy, durable long-range tire. Search Make/Model/.. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/14 "2026-06-24T21:25:21Z")
@VDCdriver I carry 2 spare tires when I travel in my Sienna. One spare tire is under the floor. The other spare tire is around my waist. I am trying to.get rid of the spare tire around my waist, but I will.keep.the spare tire under the floor of the Sienna. I haven’t had to.use a spare tire since 2005 when I had to use the spare tire twice in our 2003 Toyota 4Runner. I had the right rear tire blow out. I pulled off the road to change the tire, but a young motorist pulled in behind me and offered to change the tire. He didn’t want to.be paid, but I gave him.$20. The second time, I had tjhe left front tire go down on the interstate. I didn’t want to change the tire on the traffic side, so I called AAA. I was told that the service provider was eating supper, but would be there in half an hour. He showed up.in 10 minutes. Although AAA took care of the charge, I forced $20 on the serviceman and told him to have a nice supper. I don’t understand my friend who traded her Sienna hybrid after only 2 years because of the spare tire issue. I was only 64 at the time I had the tire problems, but even then if I could get out of work. I would gladly pay someone to change a tire for me. When I was a lot younger, I would stop and help.a motorist by changing a tire. I am too.lazy at 84 to change a tire for myself or anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 12:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/15 "2026-06-25T00:07:54Z")
Fwiw . . . Last year, our fleet JUNKED 🗑all of their model year 2000 Chevy Astros for model year 2025 Toyota Siennas, which are now hybrids I’ve been very impressed with the Siennas They should have tossed those Astros earlier, imo ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 12:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/16 "2026-06-25T00:43:51Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > Last year, our fleet JUNKED 🗑all of their model year 2000 Chevy Astros for model year 2025 Toyota Siennas I predict the Sienna hybrids will be retired before their 25th birthday. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/17 "2026-06-25T01:12:42Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > I predict the Sienna hybrids will be retired before their 25th birthday. maybe so, but I suspect over several years, they’ll be far more reliable and cost much less to operate than the Chevy Astros . . . also much better equipped, imo ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 2:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/18 "2026-06-25T02:08:38Z")
I bought a 2006 Chevrolet Uplander van in 2006 which was a GM program car with15.000.miles the successor to the Astro. I passed it down to my son. He still has the Uplander as well as the 2011 Toyota Sienna I sold to him. The Uplander now has over 200,000 miles with no major repairs. The Uplander was the bottom of the line, but the front seat was the most comfortable seat of any vehicle I have ever owned. I have owned minivans over the years-- a 1990.Ford Aerostar, a 2000 Ford Windstar, a 2006 Chevrolet Uplander, a 2011 Toyota Sienna and now have a 2017 Toyota Sienna. For transporting my musician ftriends and myself with our instruments to gigs, the minivan is the ideal vehicle for me. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 4:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/19 "2026-06-25T04:34:28Z")
Sienna or Odyssey sounds good, as long as it’s from the pre- giant infotainment screen era. Nobody can convince me of any practical use for those tablets on wheels, aside from car makers appeasing Gen-Y or younger drivers who conduct their entire lives on smartphones or tablets ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 7:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/20 "2026-06-25T07:02:48Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > as long as it’s from the pre- giant infotainment screen era. That era started 20 years ago, in 2005 minivans were available with up to 3 DVD screens. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/8/3/83fc096c0897cf870a7914d2ce9509e1d9d67821.jpeg) If you are referring to the display on the dash, that screen has been required since 2018 for the back-up camera display. “Drone” view is an interesting feature. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/3/1/31bd1d529574bb50505c475b85c530716c8b3510.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 7:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/21 "2026-06-25T07:08:18Z")
Yes, I’m referring to the giant tablet sticking up out of the dashboard like a giant wart, as exemplified in your lower photo. There are cars going back to model year 2013 (RAV4 and Santa Fe among others) that have back-up display without using a giant screen like that. My position stands: Those screens were a nod to a generation growing up on smartphones and other mobile touch technology. There are places where touch screens are appropriate, and places where traditional knobs and switches suffice. ---
**Author:** ![Honda2076](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/53a042/32.png) [@Honda2076](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda2076)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/22 "2026-06-25T15:47:07Z")
But how will the government and Big Business spy on us?! ---
**Author:** ![Honda2076](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/53a042/32.png) [@Honda2076](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda2076)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896/23 "2026-06-25T15:48:21Z")
Let’s bring back walkie-talkies, CB Radios and typewriters! 😃 [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/help-widowed-soccer-grandma-choose-a-car/205896.md?page=2)