[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Minivan recommendations (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 1/3/2016 4:23:29 AM EDT
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So my wife and I are going to have our third kid in June (already have a 5yo and 2yo) and our GMC Terrain isn't capable of accommodating 3 car seats. My budget doesn't allow for a new car or a larger SUV. We're pretty much stuck with the gently used/newerish minivan, which is fine, no big deal.
My GMC Terrain is a 2010 AWD SLT-1 with 80k on the clock. KBB claims I can get about $13k for it on trade in and the wife and I came up with a limit of about $7k from our savings to do a cash deal for the next vehicle worth about $20k otd. We started off looking at the Chrysler Town & Country because you can get a great deal on 2013-2014 with about 30K miles for around $20k(probably lease turn-in). I'm skeptical of the Chrysler's reliability and the more my wife researched it, the more she found out that the Chrysler actually sucks for child seat installation and many people claim the third row is extremely limited in what type of car seat and configuration you can use in it. I want to like the Chrysler because their cheap and have a lot of nice features but it seems like we've started to rule that model out. I've heard a lot of great things about the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna and have started looking at them, but for my $20k limit, I have to settle for a 2012-2013 model with fewer standard feature and more like 50k on the odometer. Anybody have any opinions or advice on this lame minivan topic??? I appreciate the help! |
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We are currently driving our 5th Chrysler mini van.
We love them The resale price is low so you can pick up a used one dirt cheap and we can afford to drive them into the ground, say 150,000 - 165,000 miles. We do a lot of towing with our mini vans. In a typical year we tow our boat to Florida twice, North Carolina once and Maine once. A perfect car for kids- spilled food in the back who cares, puke who cares, Kids wreck stuff. |
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We are currently driving our 5th Chrysler mini van. We love them The resale price is low so you can pick up a used one dirt cheap and we can afford to drive them into the ground, say 150,000 - 165,000 miles. We do a lot of towing with our mini vans. In a typical year we tow our boat to Florida twice, North Carolina once and Maine once. A perfect car for kids- spilled food in the back who cares, puke who cares, Kids wreck stuff. Kids do wreck stuff. "This is why we can't have anything nice" will be this next vehicles moto. Unfortunately unless we go with the Chrysler, we're going to have cloth seats. Not super excited about that. Whatever this next car is, I'd like it to last minimum 7-8 years and 100k miles. I'd feel confident that the Honda and Toyota could get me to that goal. Chrysler not so much, but I could be wrong. |
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We bought a new Odyssey in 2007 and it's still running great. Just one kid, circa 2003, but nice for the grandparents to come along. Odyssey owners seem to really like them. I'm having trouble finding an owner, current or former that has anything bad to say about them. |
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We recently got a 2015 Kia Sedona (LX +package). There are lines that may be close to your target range.
That said I wouldn't get an older Kia due to safety concerns. Check out small offset crash ratings on the iihs website, this is an issue with many vans. Our second choice was the sienna. I just hated the oddesy seats and layout. Best thing is to get in them and drive them. The biggest difference is ergonomics and layout. Same for anyone else who might be driving it. Another option are low profile/small car seats. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Toyota Sienna if you want build quality and longevity.
Honda Odyssey if you wan't better looks ( IMHO ) and more creature comforts. Dodge Town and Country if you're a masochist and like the stow and what ever they call their rear seats that fold down easily. I chose a Sienna. I liked the looks and interior of the Honda, but I keep my cars 10+ years and wasn't willing to gamble with the Honda. Plus, my friend owns a Toyota Dealership. |
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Odyssey owners seem to really like them. I'm having trouble finding an owner, current or former that has anything bad to say about them. Quoted:
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We bought a new Odyssey in 2007 and it's still running great. Just one kid, circa 2003, but nice for the grandparents to come along. Odyssey owners seem to really like them. I'm having trouble finding an owner, current or former that has anything bad to say about them. Really? Google Honda Odyssey transmission problems. Especially on forums. I think the issues have been resolved, but you mentioned buying an older used one. Just do your research. |
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1st let me say I hate minivans but they work perfect for my job.
I've had 6 dodge/chyrslar since 1990 for my work vehicle. Only a couple made it to 150k miles without having a tranny or motor replaced and I drove mostly highway miles. All were maintained on a regular basis. 2 years ago I bought a used 2006 Honda with 65k miles on it. This is my 1st foreign car. The ride is nice, quite and I've put 0 $ into it except for oil changes and a new tires(tires were almost gone when I got it). I have to say I like this minivan but it has very little interior storage compartments, power hookups and the center console sucks. Last year I rented a Kia minivan while on vacation for 2 weeks. That was a really comfortable van. It had a great thought out interior with lots of storage spots, power hookups, cup holders. I would like to know more about the Kia's durability though before buying one |
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Toyota Sienna if you want build quality and longevity. Honda Odyssey if you wan't better looks ( IMHO ) and more creature comforts. Dodge Town and Country if you're a masochist and like the stow and what ever they call their rear seats that fold down easily. I chose a Sienna. I liked the looks and interior of the Honda, but I keep my cars 10+ years and wasn't willing to gamble with the Honda. I chose the Sienna as well. At the time of my buy, Honda was having some minor electrical gremlins I did not want to deal with. No regrets with mine. Max |
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Kids do wreck stuff. "This is why we can't have anything nice" will be this next vehicles moto. Unfortunately unless we go with the Chrysler, we're going to have cloth seats. Not super excited about that. Whatever this next car is, I'd like it to last minimum 7-8 years and 100k miles. I'd feel confident that the Honda and Toyota could get me to that goal. Chrysler not so much, but I could be wrong. Quoted:
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We are currently driving our 5th Chrysler mini van. We love them The resale price is low so you can pick up a used one dirt cheap and we can afford to drive them into the ground, say 150,000 - 165,000 miles. We do a lot of towing with our mini vans. In a typical year we tow our boat to Florida twice, North Carolina once and Maine once. A perfect car for kids- spilled food in the back who cares, puke who cares, Kids wreck stuff. Kids do wreck stuff. "This is why we can't have anything nice" will be this next vehicles moto. Unfortunately unless we go with the Chrysler, we're going to have cloth seats. Not super excited about that. Whatever this next car is, I'd like it to last minimum 7-8 years and 100k miles. I'd feel confident that the Honda and Toyota could get me to that goal. Chrysler not so much, but I could be wrong. I'm on my 2nd T&C (well the wife's really) First one we bought with 98K on the clock in 1999. Drove it until it hit 189K 10 years later. Now we have a 2006 that had 114K on it. Still going strong over 150k. Regular maintenance is your friend. Paid 8K for the first and 6.5k for the second. Can't beat the bang for the buck |
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Odyssey is THE vehicle in the class. There are many reasons it outsells the competition year after year after year after year... We bought 2 Hondas until the kids got older. Toyota is great if you do a lot of highway driving; softer ride. Honda if you drive in town a lot; handles more like a car. Test drove Toyota on the 2nd one but the ride in town was just better. |
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Odyssey owners seem to really like them. I'm having trouble finding an owner, current or former that has anything bad to say about them. Quoted:
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We bought a new Odyssey in 2007 and it's still running great. Just one kid, circa 2003, but nice for the grandparents to come along. Odyssey owners seem to really like them. I'm having trouble finding an owner, current or former that has anything bad to say about them. We love ours. |
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Really? Google Honda Odyssey transmission problems. Especially on forums. I think the issues have been resolved, but you mentioned buying an older used one. Just do your research. Quoted:
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We bought a new Odyssey in 2007 and it's still running great. Just one kid, circa 2003, but nice for the grandparents to come along. Odyssey owners seem to really like them. I'm having trouble finding an owner, current or former that has anything bad to say about them. Really? Google Honda Odyssey transmission problems. Especially on forums. I think the issues have been resolved, but you mentioned buying an older used one. Just do your research. I'm talking about a 2012 or newer odyssey. I think the tranny problems were limited to the early or mid 2000's models. I know several people that had to deal with it after thinking they were getting one of the most reliable minivans on the market. I also know people that replaced multiple transmission on the Chrysler/dodge platform as well. |
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Really? Google Honda Odyssey transmission problems. Especially on forums. I think the issues have been resolved, but you mentioned buying an older used one. Just do your research. Quoted:
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We bought a new Odyssey in 2007 and it's still running great. Just one kid, circa 2003, but nice for the grandparents to come along. Odyssey owners seem to really like them. I'm having trouble finding an owner, current or former that has anything bad to say about them. Really? Google Honda Odyssey transmission problems. Especially on forums. I think the issues have been resolved, but you mentioned buying an older used one. Just do your research. This "problem" is vastly overblown and mostly due in part to dumb fuck soccer moms who ignore the maintenance schedule and don't change the fluid/filter on time. |
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Quoted: Odyssey is THE vehicle in the class. There are many reasons it outsells the competition year after year after year after year... I was fortunate and got 195k out of our 03 Odyssey until the tranny went out. I put a used one in for $2500 and got one year 6000 miles and it started slipping again. Stay away from the town & country. Those vehicles are horrible. |
| We have a 2008 Sienna with ~140k miles that has been trouble free. My wife loves it. It's an XLE, so it has leather, etc. but life has trashed the interior. I'm sure the Hondas are equally reliable, but I'm just not a fan of Honda in general. I wouldn't get a Chrysler unless it was brand new, and even then I'd still get the Toyota. |
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Toyota Sienna in AWD. Nice rides. Absolutely. The spouse prefers the AWD Sienna ove the 4wd truck in snow & ice. IMO Toyota or Honda are a win-wn As i mentioned in ANOTHER thread when the mini-van question was asked. Teh T&C (Chrysler) and Dodge Caravan. Whiel nice vehicles. When you reach 150K have no where the resale value Toyota & Honda have. My sienna has the same transmission & motor the Tacoma does, 3500 GWV/GVW? Tow capacity and LOTS of hideaway storage. The thing we like about a mini-van (other than being able to get in & out of it). They are rarely on LE radar. Especially if you're in (Like us) the over 60 age group. |
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Gonna have to go used I'd go jap if possible.
List of what I'd look for in order. I'd rank both Toyota and Honda same on reliability Toyota for both reliability and value Honda for reliability but upfront high cost Mazda Chrysler The lower on the list the lower mileage would need to be for purchase consideration. If maintained Toyota/Honda should go 250000 with luck no major defects. Mazda Chrysler 100000 to 150000 before defects start. Highway miles is a big deal vs stop and go mileage. Private party with highway miles is what I look for. stay away from dealer if possible for a better value I Worked in the car service biz for years . |
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Do you need something so large? I got Mazda 5 as a loaner it was great. Footprint of a mid sized car and able to seat 6 comfortably (though not much storage if you do that.
I have a love/hate relationship with my Ford Expedition EL. I love it in crap weather and home depot runs, hate it every other time. Most days I think I would prefer the 5. |
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Do you need something so large? I got Mazda 5 as a loaner it was great. Footprint of a mid sized car and able to seat 6 comfortably (though not much storage if you do that. I have a love/hate relationship with my Ford Expedition EL. I love it in crap weather and home depot runs, hate it every other time. Most days I think I would prefer the 5. Mazda 5! Smaller, good on gas, reliable, handles more like a car. We are on our second one. My wife drives in the city a lot and it beats the hell out of trying to navigate one of those land whales on wheels. |
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Three kids here. Just traded the 300c for a low mile 2011 Sienna AWD. The van stickered out at just shy of $20K.
I have to say, it... We made a smart move. It drives nice (for a van), has plenty of traction (AWD), and decent power. The utility is amaizing, and I have to say, the only feature about the can that bugs me is the navi. Let's just say, it could be a lot better. Beyond that, we have only had it for a month or so... Can't really give an honest "long term" review. All of our friends who have one have had pretty good luck, though. |
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I bought a Mazda 5 when I got divorced, needed something economical to move 3 kids around. It rocks for what it is and will seat 6. The 4 banger has plenty of pick-up and you can pick one up for around $10 with low mileage. I got 38 mpg driving out to Yellowstone from south florida.
I just sold it at about 90k miles to get something more suitable for offroad activities but it was solid little car. |
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We are currently driving our 5th Chrysler mini van. We love them The resale price is low so you can pick up a used one dirt cheap and we can afford to drive them into the ground, say 150,000 - 165,000 miles. We do a lot of towing with our mini vans. In a typical year we tow our boat to Florida twice, North Carolina once and Maine once. A perfect car for kids- spilled food in the back who cares, puke who cares, Kids wreck stuff. this dude understands the concept of disposable vehicle 
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Ended up going with a 2013 VW Routan which is basically a Chrysler with different interior and sheet metal. A little more Euro in terms of clean lines. Honda was nice but didn't like the rear seat and the Enterprise bridge dash look they were going for. I think they discontinued the Routan and the 2013 and 2014 model years were fleet vehicles only. Probably kills resale but got it stupid cheap. Buying used is probably a good option for an affordable ride. |
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Odyssey is THE vehicle in the class. There are many reasons it outsells the competition year after year after year after year... I love my Odyssey, and I don't even have kids. We bought it new in 2002, and after 100k miles no issues, none. It is an absolute pleasure to drive. My ten foot long boards fit right down the middle too. Dude! Get a low miles one and dont worry about how old it is. |