Who has a mini van?

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I sold my Chevy Venture to my in laws. I work on my own vehicles, and I realized I don't want to work on a motor that is hard to get at. I also did not care for driving it, just my personal opinion. I sold it with 87,000 miles.

I prefer a car, or a truck framed SUV. To work on , and to drive.

 

[PJSprog]

I've had 2 mini vans over the years; a Dodge Caravan and a Ford Windstar. Loved the Dodge, but didn't care much for the Ford. My wife had a Kia Sedona when we were dating. Those are very nice vehicles. We both drive Kias now - her Sorento and my Soul. I've been thinking of getting a Sedona to replace the Soul, as I'm no longer driving 120 miles round trip every day. Same as with hauling around show dogs, a mini van is the perfect vehicle for a musician, too.

 

[JPRambo]

My wife also has the '06 Grand Caravan with stow away rear seats. We bought it from a Chrysler dealer who had just taken it back from a 1 year lease. It has not given us any trouble it has around 112,000 miles.

 

[two_bit_score]

Nice dogs is right!

The Honda Odyssey is the best of the ones named above.

We are out of the mini- van business after the 1996 GMC Safari gave out and couldn't find another one as clean and well maintained. Those were great vans. Good mileage. Plenty of room. Easy to remove rear seat. Rear air worked great. Ours was pretty standard and with the seats removed, easy to haul 4x8 stuff but not as utilitarian as a cargo van. Great visibility with all the windows.

 

[Bird]

I was sorry Ford quit making a mini-van. We bought a 2001 Windstar from CarMax the day after Christmas, 2002. It had 27k miles on it when we bought it. And my wife mistakenly thought she'd rather have a sedan again and we traded off that Windstar in January 2009. It only had 101k miles on it, and while mileage varied, as they all do, overall it got 19.555 mpg while we had it, and was still in great condition. I've driven a friend's Honda several times, and if I were going to buy a mini-van again, that's the one I'd want (if I could afford it).

 

[yankeerider]

When my wife said we needed a minivan to haul 3 grandchildren in their car seats, we test drove a Toyota Sienna and then a Ford Flex. Bought the Flex- got a good deal on a certified used model with only 20k miles. It is one of Ford's best kept secrets- the modern day incarnation of the big station wagons of the 60s and 70s. And it has separate controls and A/C registers for the rearmost area.

 

[Garandman]

Someone's gonna tell you to turn in your man card...

Real men drive whatever the **** they want.

We've owned four, currently a 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite. Probably the best driving of the lot. 265hp V6 with 6 speed automatic and fully independent suspension. The rear seat folds into the floor, a feature Honda developed. The center row seats are more comfortable than the Caravans, but have to be removed (which isn't difficult). The newest one has an integral vacuum cleaner, which I suppose would be handy for dogs.

The Toyota Sienna has clean styling but typically numb dynamics. The center row seats can recline and move forward and back, but also have to be removed.

The Caravan and Town & Country are an older platform but have a 4 liter V6 with 283hp and 6 speed auto. Their "Infotainment" systems are very intuitive. But they seem a little behind the times.

The big news in the market is the Chrysler Pacifica, an updated and restyled model that is very good looking while retaining all the strengths of the older models.

Many people trade in minivans regularly for new models or because their kids have grown up. This makes used models really attactive. Our Touring Elite with every option (including tow package, etc) was $48,000 new. We bought it two years old with 20,000 miles for $25,000.

The Chrysler Pacifica is the modern version of the DC vans, handsome and more modern.

 

[Garandman]

You might also look at the Ford Transit Connect. It's available as a van, with seats and windows, but is practical and doesn't cost as much as the bigger models.

And I guess you could throw in the Mercedes Metris, though dealers are sparse.

 

[bucktaker]

I drive a Dodge Grand Caravan for work I get a new one every 100k miles which is approx 2.5 yrs I have had a 1996, 1998 2006, 2009, 2011, 2014 and will get a 2017 soon. other than crappy brakes and rotors and some issue with the rear AC programing on the 2014 they have been good vehicles and they are driven loaded and hard all the time with only regular oil changes.

get the larger engine it will perform better avg 24 mpg

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I have a Honda Odyssey, so far 45,000 miles with no issues. To your specific need of hauling dogs: it has three separate HVAC zones -- driver, front passsenger, and rear passenger. We go almost everywhere with our two dogs, who ride in the back in a plastic kennel. With the third row seats down, the floor is not completely flat, so the kennel rocks. You have to block it with a folded towel or something.

A general observation from my shopping experience: minivans are the most competitive segment of the automotive business. The typical buyer spends a lot of time driving and isn't looking to spend a lot of money, nobody buys a minivan as a midlife crisis car. Once you get over the fact that it's a minivan you'll find they are full of creature comforts and very refined in the design, they're particularly suited for long road trips.

 

[k0ua]

nobody buys a minivan as a midlife crisis car. Once you get over the fact that it's a minivan you'll find they are full of creature comforts and very refined in the design, they're particularly suited for long road trips.

I can agree with that. They aint flashy, but they are pretty darn practical. If you need to move people or in our case a bunch of junk in reasonable comfort and a lot of pretty handy features, they are hard to beat. Ours has the 3 zones of cooling/heating of course too and even has a front and rear DVD which we have never used, and an 115 volt inverter in the back and a bunch of music connections we have never used. We haul "stuff" in the back, and our insurance forms rarely need to watch a DVD. As for your dogs? I don't know, maybe so?

 

[aczlan]

I have had mini vans for 25 years. For me, it's the perfect vehicle.
After spending my entire life in the auto repair business, I have had just about every different vehicle apart, down to the lowest common denominator. Believe me, the $40,000 or $50,000+ most people are willing to spend on a vehicle today, is not in there anywhere.
While they are not in the same league with the Honda, and the Toyota, The only two affordable minivans are the Chrysler, and the Kia.
I would not own a Chrysler product, if you gave it to me. So, that only left me the Kia.

We had a 2003 Caravan. Bought it from my grandfather with ~100k miles on it, put ~30k miles on it. Why did we sell it?
1. It rusted like crazy. Both rocker panels had 3" wide rust patches just about from wheel to wheel. You had to be very careful where you put the jack when you jacked it as well or it would make a hole.
2. There was an occasional skip when shifting and we were fairly certain that the transmission was getting ready to have problems
My sister in law bought my mother in law's 2006 Town & Country (MIL bought it new and sold it to her in 2012). It has the same rust issues (not quite as bad yet), plus issues with the power doors, power seats, DVD changer, BCM and the cooling system.
We replaced the Caravan with a 2005 Yukon XL. Went from 19MPG to 14.5MPG, but its a much nicer vehicle.
I am currently looking to replace my current car ('97 Volvo V90) with something a little newer and looking for similar amounts to space as Eddie is looking for. My short list includes a Volvo XC90, the Ford Taurus X (built on the XC90 platform), the Hyundai Veracruz or Santa Fe (with a 3rd row).
If looking newer, I would add the Ford Flex as it seem interesting, but they are out of my price range unless they have 200k (or more) miles.

If buying new, a Caravan would probbaly be fine as long as you plan to replace it around 100k miles...

Aaron Z

 

[k0ua]

But you live in a rusty car state, he lives in Texas.. Rust here is not bad either, My old company car with 186,000 miles had very little rust. Mostly where the rocks had dinged the front of the hood from all of those highway miles. It was a 2000 model year.

 

[Weedy Fields]

We currently have a 06 honda odyssey. Had a dodge caravan before that. must of been about a 96 model. Both of these have been my wifes vehicles. She won't drive my car. We buy new, keep until they have major issues. the dodge only lasted 10 years. puked the trans around 90-100K. I don't even remember what was the final straw on it. The honda has about 80K miles on it. It is still like new. I'm willing to bet it'll be around for at a min. of 5 more years. No issues on the honda yet, gets about 25mpg on long road trips. The honda is definitely a better vehicle than the dodge was. of course its 10 years newer.

As far as buying a minivan, they are the most efficient useful vehicle out there for the majority. We can fit 4 x 8 sheets in the back of ours. Can't even do that in most 1/2 ton pickups now days without lowering the tailgate. Much more roomy and comfortable than a pick up too. But so many are afraid of their masculinity so they have to have a pick up.

You'll be very happy with a minivan for hauling the dogs. The dogs will than you too.

 

[Garandman]

As far as buying a minivan, they are the most efficient useful vehicle out there for the majority. We can fit 4 x 8 sheets in the back of ours. Can't even do that in most 1/2 ton pickups now days without lowering the tailgate. Much more roomy and comfortable than a pick up too. But so many are afraid of their masculinity so they have to have a pick up.

They aren't fooling anyone.

Just like SUV owners. Who sees a big SUV and doesn't think, "There kids stashed in there someplace." :laughing:

We looked at 3 row crossovers and getting in and out of the third row isn't easy. I think the new Honda Pilot would top my list, though I looked at Ford Flex with Ecoboost. Power!

 

[Tomtint]

Hi Eddie, I have a full size MB Sprinter. It was in for service and I got to drive a new MB Metris ( MB mini van) it had 20 miles on it when I got it and 1300 when I gave it back.. So I got a decent amount of windshield time. .... Nice vehicle.. 25 mpg and very comfortable. .. Downside is minimal dashboard storage options and side mirrors are small compared to what I'm accustomed too.

 

[ray66v]

I can agree with that. They aint flashy, but they are pretty darn practical. If you need to move people or in our case a bunch of junk in reasonable comfort and a lot of pretty handy features, they are hard to beat.

Funny how everyone suddenly likes a minivan when they are moving, and they want you to bring yours to help. Or, there is a road trip?

Going with the "herd" is popular. I prefer to think for myself.

As I have said, I have had all of them apart, the only thing that impresses me, is the ridiculous amounts of money some are willing to pay for them.

 

[Garandman]

//
As I have said, I have had all of them apart, the only thing that impresses me, is the ridiculous amounts of money some are willing to pay for them.

In the days of $60,000 1/2 ton pickups?

I paid $26,000 for a new WRX. Now they're $32,000. The most expensive Subarus are over $40,000 and those are "economy" cars! It's crazy. The cheapest Suburban (which used to be work trucks with seats) starts at $49,915 and the Premier 4WD is $67,730 to start.

As far as full size vans, we paid $20,600 for a 2005 Chevrolet Express. Our 2015 Ford Transit has lots of options like GPS, tow controller, EcoBoost motor etc but was $35,000.

 

[GLyford]

It's not going to work for us because we really have to have AC to the back where the dogs will be. They cannot be too cold. Our friends keep the AC on them at the very coldest they can in the back of their vans and about 15 degrees warmer where they sit. I know that ours will lay out on the porch most of the night where it's a lot colder then inside the house. They have a doggy door and come and go as they want.

No recent experience with the current crop of minivans, grew up with Astros and GM fullsize. I would certainly consider one for my next when my current truck rusts out, the idea of 4x8 sheet goods flat on the floor has a lot of appeal.

Know what you mean about the cold, my old Akita would refuse to come in the house when it was zero degrees out, she was finally comfortable. But about 4 in the morning she'd woof to come in because she was lonely.

Surest way to drive her out of the room was to light a fire in the fireplace.

 

[KubotainNH]

We've had 3 Chrysler vans before we bought our Odyssey. All the Chryslers started to feel like they were falling apart at 100k. Maybe they are better now but our Odyssey keeps on going at 180k and 16 years old. It rides better than many 4 year old cars. The early years had weak trannies, mine was replaced by Honda for free at 85k. Would Chrysler do that without you paying for an extended warranty? Do you need the middle seats gone to fit your dogs? It's amazing how much space there is when the rear seat is down. If you need all the space then get the newest Chrysler you can and realize it won't perform like the Honda but does have the convenience of the stow away seats in the middle.