Well, we got a 2006 Honda Odyssey van - EX, but I don't recall if it is an EX-L. It has 47,000 kilometers (about 28,000 miles) on it - in great shape except for some carpet staining in the trunk. Not an issue - the dog sits there on a blanket.
Remote power sliding side doors, a sunroof, DVD player, leather seats . . . . all for $27,800 Canadian. We did a lot of research, looked around at different lots and did test drives - read a few used car guides and went through a lot of online information. The end is a van for a price which seems fair to us - we picked up an extended bumper to bumper warranty and put it on the .9% financing. The total bill is less than $30,000 and the carrying charges will be under $500. Pretty good, I think.
The SUV's didn't have the trunk room we wanted for the dog. It came down to needing a people mover with cargo room, and my Lady is happy with our van. The younger kids love the van - they call it "Comfort" and the youngest one says "thankyou" when the sliding door opens and closes for her.
The basket we put on the top brings it to 6' 6" in height - something to think about when entering parking garages.
Here is a picture of the vehicle, and of our Haili sitting happy in her new space.
Thanks everyone for your input in this thread. It really helped to solidify our thinking, and gave us a lot to consider. It made our final decision seem that much more solid and happy-making
