Mini-van advice

[JG Nothing]

Family circumstances are such that I need to buy a mini-van or something to hold three adults and three small children. I am thinking about getting a used vehicle (2004/70K miles range). Do you folks have any advice or recommendations? I know nothing about mini-vans. Will the fold down back bench hold booster or baby car seats? Any help would be appreciated!

[moonpie23]

wife just bought one like this.....and loves it..


http://www.carmax.com/enUS/view-car/default.html?AVi=0&id=5718952&D=40&ASTc=2005%20nissan%20pathfinder&zip=27603&No=0&Ep=homepage:landing:make:nissan&Rp=R&PP=20&sV=List&Q=3eb36bb2-75e7-491c-8e02-e7a4755e1e5b

[riverside6]

My wife hates mini-vans, wouldn't drive one if it was given to us. Despite my opinion that they are practically mini-vans, we bought a Chrysler Pacifica. It drives great, the 2004 model has 3rd row seating and it is really great for our familiy.

[aimo]

I think everyone I know who drives a minivan drives a Honda Odyssey. And they love them.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

Family circumstances are such that I need to buy a mini-van or something to hold three adults and three small children. I am thinking about getting a used vehicle (2004/70K miles range). Do you folks have any advice or recommendations? I know nothing about mini-vans. Will the fold down back bench hold booster or baby car seats? Any help would be appreciated!
If you want reviews about various used min vans, go to edmunds.com (http://www.edmunds.com/) or take a look at the reviews done by Consumers Reports. On the Edmunds site you can learn about the options or features for each model what's a reasonable price for various models.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I think everyone I know who drives a minivan drives a Honda Odyssey. And they love them.
We had a 2000 Odyssey but I wanted to downsize (the payment) back in 2003 and got the Pontiac Aztek I talked about here back in 2006 when we finally traded it (when the electrical system died) on a Chrysler Town and Country minivan (smaller size - I wanted the Sto 'n Go seats in the larger one but she wanted the extra 1 mpg, and since she drives it, I yielded; every time we go somewhere and I have to take out the damn seats, I wish I'd stood my ground). We've had several of these over the years, and have generally been satisfied with the ride and quality. In fact, my sister in law still has the 1998 Grand Caravan she bought from us when we got the 2000 Odyssey - it's got well over 200,000 miles on it, but it needs some serious electrical work at this point they don't want to do and they will drive it into the ground. And I'll say this: this is the last Chrysler (or Dodge) minivan I'll buy, whether Chrysler survives or not. We've got 63000 miles on it and the water pump had to be replaced a year ago, and recently the EGR valve had to be replaced (the Service Engine light came on and the thing was running very rough). They (and I trust this service writer at the dealership) also told me that the power steering fluid is leaking and that the gear/mechanism needs to be replaced (for about $800+, and it ain't gonna happen.) I've seen no sign of leaking fluid, and if I do, I'll put a can of stop leak into it and be done with it. Right now, my $21,000 van is worth only about $4500 on trade, $7000 retail (according to KBB) ane we own more than $10K, so I've got to nurse this thing for another two years.

If you want a minivan, and unkike most people I've always been a fan of the comfort, performance and utility of them, get either an Odyssey or a Toyota Sienna.

[alteran]

If you want a minivan, and unkike most people I've always been a fan of the comfort, performance and utility of them, get either an Odyssey or a Toyota Sienna.

Yet another Odyssey vote, although I've never heard anyone complain about their Sienna.

[alteran]

As far as commenting on amenities, I think the key is: how old are the children? Will travel be a significant factor? Etc.

[bjornolf]

We have an '05 Honda Odyssey. I was dead set against a minivan, but my wife, as always, won out. We had two kids at the time, and we were worried that a third one would be too much for anything but the BIGGEST of SUVs. I have to admit that while it hurts the pride a tiny bit, it's a joy to drive. It gets decent mpg for a minivan. It has plenty of room (we took my wife's parents on a trip last year with our kids...we got all seven people with all the luggage and stuff for the kids for a four day trip in that thing. It was insane.). It's got GREAT pickup for a minivan. You punch it and that piggy MOVES. It's also got good safety features. We've loved it.

We got the LX, which is the nicest model under the TOURING model. It doesn't have leather or a built-in DVD player, but it cost $3500 less. The nice thing is that we bought a portable DVD player for about $100. The kids can take it into places like doctor's offices by wearing headphones, and we can take it out when we're not on a long trip. We have lots of friends with the built-in ones, and the parents HATE it cause the kids end up wanting to watch it EVERY time they get in the care, even for the shortest trip to the store. Plus, everybody has to watch the same thing. For $400, you can get three of them and all the kids can watch their own thing on a long trip.

Anyway, enjoy. Just my $0.02.

[killerleft]

When I researched them several months ago, the Mazda 5 was an easy choice for me. Circumstances have postponed my purchase, though.

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=MZ5&providertag=MazdaSEM&servicetag=NationalMazda5&sem=1&s_kwcid=mazda%205|1084232323&bhcp=1

[JG Nothing]

As far as commenting on amenities, I think the key is: how old are the children? Will travel be a significant factor? Etc.

Currently, my family includes me, my wife, a 92 year old grandma, a four year-old, and one year-old. However, we are looking down the road in a couple years at having one more kid and the the way grandma is going she will probably be around for another 10 years. We mostly want to use the van for local travel.
I am most worried about being able to install two baby/booster seats in the back bench. I assume for most mini-vans (like the Odessey or Sienna) that is not a problem. Someone mentioned a Mazda 5, which I think is a compact mini-van. Does anyone know if the Mazda's back bench will hold two baby/booster seats? Thanks!

[captmojo]

All the endorsements here have been good ones. I'm sorry for the bad experience Ozzie had with the Chrysler. They have vastly been improved. Improvements to the point that they are now built and re-labeled for sale as a Volkswagen Routan.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

What's your favorite beer? "The fifth one, I think. That's the one that makes me handsome and fearless."
I love your signature. I hadn't noticed it before!

[rthomas]

If you have long legs, you should test drive several models to make sure the driver has knee room. For example, the Honda Od has more knee room than the Toyota Siena.

To me this is important. We went with Honda - bought it new in 96 (or 97 can't remember) it had problems, like the automatic back doors, had to have a new transmission and several other problems that were mostly under warranty at the time. Baby seats are not a problem.

Now ~150K miles later and my wife hates it.

[captmojo]

I love your signature. I hadn't noticed it before!

Thou must stay alert to receive the proper mojo.


BTW, the eighth beer is labeled "Karaoke".

[Farlan]

We've had a 2000 Toyota Sienna going on 9 years and have had no major problems (it has 170,000 miles). Getting ready to replace the original toyota struts and shocks but our mechanic says we should be able to get to 250,000 miles if we want to hold on to it that long.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

BTW, the eighth beer is labeled "Karaoke".
There isn't enough beer to get me to sing karaoke. Duke fight songs? That's another story! Fight, fight Blue Devils, fight for the blue and white! Fight fight team, there's a victory there for you, Go Devils! We are gonna win tonight, carolina good night! (Beat State!) So turn on the steam team, fight Blue Devils fi-i-ight!

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

There isn't enough beer to get me to sing karaoke. Duke fight songs? That's another story! Fight, fight Blue Devils, fight for the blue and white! Fight fight team, there's a victory there for you, Go Devils! We are gonna win tonight, carolina good night! (Beat State!) So turn on the steam team, fight Blue Devils fi-i-ight!
Let me help you with the words, Oz. That's the fight song written back in 1943. The words of the chorus go like this:

Fight! Fight Blue Devils
Fight for Duke and the Blue and White.
March on thru
To the touchdowns there for you .... to hell with Carolina*
Duke is out to win today
Carolina good night!
So turn on the steam, team!
Fight Blue Devils, Fight!

*added following the 1959 football game which Carolina won 50 - 0.

[captmojo]

Mini-vans were a wonderful creation. :D

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Let me help you with the words, Oz. That's the fight song written back in 1943. The words of the chorus go like this:

Fight! Fight Blue Devils
Fight for Duke and the Blue and White.
March on thru
To the touchdowns there for you .... to hell with Carolina*
Duke is out to win today
Carolina good night!
So turn on the steam, team!
Fight Blue Devils, Fight!

*added following the 1959 football game which Carolina won 50 - 0.
I like my version of the words better.
*To hell with carolina is shouted in Blue and White, not Fight fight Blue Devils



BLUE & WHITE

Duke, we thy anthems raise
For all thy praises untold
We sing for the Blue and White
Whose colors we uphold .....(TO HELL WITH carolina!)
Firm stands our line of blue
For we are loyal through and through
Fighting with the spirit true
For the love of old D. U.

Fight! We’ll fight!
With all our strength and might
Win, we can
So here we give a hand
Hey!
Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah!
D-U-K-E, rah!
D-U-K-E
.

[Exiled_Devil]

Flames or a decal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJXVK9-5VEA)

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

I like my version of the words better.
*To hell with carolina is shouted in Blue and White, not Fight fight Blue Devils



BLUE & WHITE

Duke, we thy anthems raise
For all thy praises untold
We sing for the Blue and White
Whose colors we uphold .....(TO HELL WITH carolina!)
Firm stands our line of blue
For we are loyal through and through
Fighting with the spirit true
For the love of old D. U.

Fight! We’ll fight!
With all our strength and might
Win, we can
So here we give a hand
Hey!
Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah!
D-U-K-E, rah!
D-U-K-E
.
You're right! I had a senior moment .... must have been triggered by all those telephone calls to warn about the foolishness planned by those misguided Maryland fans.

[devilmacdawg]

I have a 2005 Nissan Quest, which is where we went from a Ford Expedition. I do not like it at all. It "drives" bigger than my Expedition, which I think is an issue of minivans in general (I will not get another one).

But, it's some of the issues specific to the Quest that drive me batty - it EATS batteries (I'm on my third battery and we have auto lights, etc.). The gas mileage is NOWHERE approaching the MPG advertised when we bought it (like 4 to 5 miles less, highway). And it constantly has the "check engine" light coming on for no apparent reason (thankfully, my mechanic turns it off for me when I get oil changes).

Oh, and don't get me started on the cup holder solution they devised for the front seats. UGH!

We do a lot of road trips either 3 or 5 hours long (either to my folks' house or to the beach). It's not a horrible ride, but I'd prefer to do the drive in the Jetta any day.

That said, I do love the leather used for the seats. It's more like basketball leather, which is extremely durable, which is necessary when the kids are 11, 4 and 1.

I am not a minivan person - it's too low to the ground for me and the wheel base is too long to drive like I prefer. I will not be getting a new vehicle for several more years, so I have to live with this one for now. But when I do, there is an XUV that has my name all over it, I'm sure.

[TNTDevil]

2001 Toyota Sienna with about 125K miles. Excellent ride (drives like a Camry). Very good gas mileage. Plenty of space for my family and gear (ask anyone who comes to the Duke Tailgates). And very reliable. Never had a *major* problem. Stick with the routine maintenance and you'll never have a problem.

This vehicle replaced our 1992 Toyota 4Runner, which we would probably still have if some a-hole hadn't rear-ended me on Hwy 98 (driving a big Ford Truck and talking on his cellphone). When the insurance totaled the 4Runner, my wife wanted to get another SUV but, I protested because the van would be a better "family" vehicle.

Turns out I was right. My wife doesn't like to drive it (her ego is too attached to her ride) but, even she admits, it's a great vehicle and was the correct choice

[devildeac]

Haven't had a mini-van since a 1996 Previa which followed a 1993 Previa, both of which we liked a lot. The early Odyssey was too small for the 5 of us. Since then, we owned a Tahoe for 3-4 years and an Expedition. Both were bought through patient/business connections and we were well-satified with each. Then, after Katrina, and after gas became $3/gal, we traded the Expedition for a Freestyle and have again been fairly satisfied for almost 3 years. The driver's power window needed replacement and the 30K service found leaks in the tranny and differential, both repaired/replaced under warranty. One of my patients is the parts/service manager so I get REALLY good service/coupons/prices. I am not sure I would buy another Freestyle as I think Ford is discontinuing it. MPG ratings are 19/24 for an AWD vehicle and we average 17-19 city and 23-25 Hwy at several MPH above the posted speeds. It seats 6 and is a bit smaller than the Expedition which was rated at about 13/17 MPG and we rarely attained those figures. Our next vehicle will be smaller as the nest is empty, but we do move our daughter back and forth from Duke a couple times a year. I can rent or get a loaner from my Ford connection for that however:D. I think we'll look at the Escape hybrid or new Fusion hybrid (which just got a great review from one of the auto mags) as our new car next summer, especially if/when gas becomes $3/4/5/gal again.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I think we'll look at the Escape hybrid or new Fusion hybrid (which just got a great review from one of the auto mags) as our new car next summer, especially if/when gas becomes $3/4/5/gal again.
You will get a better deal and find much better availability now with gas under $2/gallon. And you'll help keep an auto dealer, if not a car company, in business :rolleyes:

[Bluedog]

Toyota Sienna just won best minivan of 2009 by Consumer Reports, FWIW. And it won in 2008, with Honda Odyssey coming in second.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/autos/0902/gallery.consumer_reports_top_picks/10.html
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/autos/0802/gallery.2008_cr_best_cars/9.html


Its V6-engine is powerful and fuel-efficient, Consumer Reports says. But the Honda Odyssey is more powerful and fun to drive, the magazine says.

[bjornolf]

Toyota Sienna just won best minivan of 2009 by Consumer Reports, FWIW. And it won in 2008, with Honda Odyssey coming in second.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/autos/0902/gallery.consumer_reports_top_picks/10.html
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/autos/0802/gallery.2008_cr_best_cars/9.html

They always seem to flip-flop. Honda did its redesign in 2005 (when we bought ours) to catch up with the Sienna and surpassed it. In 2007, Sienna did its redesign to catch up with the Honda and surpassed it. Honda will probably do another redesign in 2010 and take back first place again. We chose our Honda because the 2005 redesign added all the safety features, like side airbags, that my wife wanted, which the Sienna didn't have yet. It added those in the 2007 redesign.

[devildeac]

You will get a better deal and find much better availability now with gas under $2/gallon. And you'll help keep an auto dealer, if not a car company, in business :rolleyes:

That is certainly true but we are not in the market now. I do have that connection that we have discussed in the past;). We have 0% financing on the Freestyle and it will be paid for in June. If prices are not good, availability limited and/or rebates and/or financing are not to our liking, we may decide to drive the Freestyle until it falls apart. Good thoughts though.