Thank you for all these helpful comments Garth and Dick,

Thanks Garth for the info about the back seat of a 1995 Windstar not
fitting into the second row - very helpful. This is probably the same
with all Windstars I would guess. Also, that is very interesting you
suggested the Kia Sedona. I didn't consider it at first because I had
always thought Kia only made small-sized vehicles. I just checked the
Kia website and yes, the Sedona is one of the largest sized minivan.
Perfect, however it also only seats 2 in the middle row - as you
mentioned. For anyone interested here are the size specs on a 2005 Kia
Sedona (which I wouldn't be surprised if they were the same for all the
models from 2002)

1995 Kia Sedona
194.1 inches long x 74.6 inches wide x 69.3 inches tall

Garth thanks for the info about the Freestar and the small space for the
back seat occupants. Therefore I don't think I will consider a Freestar
- I would rather buy a Honda Odessey if I was looking in that price
range. In any case, I don't think the minivan with the features I am
looking for (one that seats 3 in the middle and has good crash test
ratings) exists unfortunately - unless I buy a 1995 Dodge Caravan or
pre-1995 Dodge Caravan model. The 1995 and earlier Dodge Caravans had
interchangeable bench seats and a 4 star rating for safety - a minvan
design success IMHO. But the Windstar has the best safety rating (5
stars) during this era (mid 1990s). Today (2004) most minivans have 5
star safety ratings.

Thanks Dick for your advice on how to check if the seats are
interchangeable by looking at the connections on the floor - good idea -
I'll check this out.

But you did mention that most minivans have interchangeable seats -
that, I believe is not very accurate. Most minivans, especially after
1995, do not have interchangeable bench seats and therefore most
minivans cannot accomodate 3 people in the middle row. In fact, I only
know of one minivan that is still made today that can accomodate 3
people in the middle row: the Chevy Montana. Unfortunately, the Montana
has poor crash-test ratings and so I have eliminated it as a
possibility. The GMC Safari also can seat 3 in the middle row but it
also has poor crash-test ratings. The Safari was one of my favourite
minivans until I researched crash-test sites and found it to be rated
low for safety. (from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

I am coming to the conclusion that after 1995, minivan manufacturers
have given up on attempting to design a minivan that seats 3 people in
the middle row. 99% of them always only seat 2 passengers in the middle
row. The only minivan that can accomodate 3 passengers in the middle row
is the Chevy Montana - which has one of the lower ratings for safety
considering its poor crash test ratings by the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety.

Maybe in 2006 this all might change. But for now I suppose we must
consider 2 people in the middle row as being some kind of standard for
minivans. I am not sure why. One reason I would guess could be that
there are not many families with 3 or more children.

I bet that if one of the minivan manufacturers such as Dodge, Ford,
Chevy, Honda, Kia or Toyota built a wider minivan (76 inches wide or
more) with attention to safety to achieve a 5 star status, that can seat
3 in the middle row - there would be a market for this for people with
larger families (3 or more children):

Here is my dream minivan:
slightly wider: (76 inches wide or more to fit 3 people comfortably
across and to also allow for someone to slip past the middle row to
access the back row.)
at least 190 inches long. maybe 195 inches long.
at least 67 inches tall - maybe 70? (But not overheight for underground
shopping mall parking lots)
seats 8 comfortably:  2 in the front, 3 in the middle row and 3 in the back
all back seats (and middle row too ideally) tuck under the floor (like
Dodge's "stow-and-go seat design")
lots of cargo space equal to or larger than the cargo space in the back
of a 2005 Honda Oddysey.
5 star crash test rating from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Good crash test rating from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
This would be the ultimate minivan for families of 3 or more children.

It would almost be like a full sized van but not quite - great for
larger families.

For now this year I will be most likely looking for a Ford Windstar
(first choice) or a 1995 Dodge Grand Caravan (second choice). After a
few years I will consider buying a used 1999 Honda Oddessy or a
2002-2005 Kia Sedona or a Toyota Sienna. And then hopefully after 2005
there will be some more choices (such as a minivan that seats 3 in the
middle row) in the market for minivans for larger families.

Mike