I am about to purchase my first minivan this spring. I was looking at the Sienna because I love my 4-runner but need a people hauler, as we will be likely adding to our family of five and will need the extra room. What kinds of experiences have you actually had with your Sienna? Is it a good value or should I look at another model?

Are you buying new or used? That can make a difference. I like the Sienna, but for a larger family you might want to look at one that has the extended van option. It'll seat 11 which is great if anybody in the family ever wants to bring a friend along!

I didn't even think of that. My wife doesn't drive, but I am used to driving just about everything. How does it handle? I haven't decided on new or used yet. My wife says used because the bugs are all figured out by then, but I would like to have a new vehicle.

Used is the way to go. You get more car for your value. I haven't had a chance to drive the extended vans. I was guessing it would feel alot like driving a suburban - so that when you make a turn it feels like your back end will never catch up.

This is another vote for buying used. You don't have to buy a really old model, but will get more bang for your buck with a 1 or 2 year old model. My best friend has a 2006 Sienna, and I love it. I am 5'10", and am still very comfortable in the front row of seats. It is easy to maneuver around the interior and is very family friendly!

You can get a warranty if you are buying used, especially if you only go one or two years back. We have several used dealerships around here that actually offer a 3 year warranty for an extra $1500. But I always just ask for a year or so as part of the sale.

That's a great idea. I was planning on making my purchase this month, but it's going to have to be delayed due to some lifestyle changes.