Who has a mini van?

[KennyG]

Can't really go wrong with a Toyota Corolla...

Unless you die of boredom. :laughing:

 

[ultrarunner]

I find I drive the Corolla the most as a commute car and leave the Rover, Chevrolet Van, Silverado, BMW and Corvette at home in the garage.

Who needs a electric with 40 mpg Corolla?

 

[EddieWalker]

That's another thing I'm nervous about. Some of the mini vans do not have a spare tire. I know it will be a challenge for her to change a flat, but I do like the option of having one in the vehicle if it needs it. I have no experience with run flat tires

 

[ultrarunner]

Run flats cost more and not stocked everywhere.

The suspension is often slightly modified to work better with stiff sidewalls.

When BMW first introduced them there was much discussion.

My only experience is with the Honda Odyssey Touring... I think the first set of replacement tires in 2009 were about $1350 and had to go to Honda then.

Much of Europe is densely populated... as are the large urban areas here... might be a little different in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Garandman]

That's another thing I'm nervous about. Some of the mini vans do not have a spare tire. I know it will be a challenge for her to change a flat, but I do like the option of having one in the vehicle if it needs it. I have no experience with run flat tires

We were looking at the AWD Sienna. The "regular" Sienna has a spare ("Temporary spare standard on FWD models and runflat tires on AWD models."), as does Odyssey. Pacifica has a spare except the high-end model with a vacuum.

 

[mcfarmall]

2003 Honda Odyssey with 224,000 miles and a compact spare tire. I bought it brand new and it has been the best, most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.

 

[clemsonfor]

NO way I would buy a vehicle without a spare tire!! Even if she does not have the strength ( probably not the know how since I am sure she has watched you or would learn if you taught her.) you can buy the road service where the company comes out and changes your tire or what often happens , a good Samaritan maybe even an officer will find her and change it. I know I have changed a few tire for women in my days . If I did buy one with out a spare I would find one in a junk yard that would fit the model and put a carrier in on the side to hold it or just leave it on that floor!!

I also like Toyota. I drive the wife's handme down Highlander its. An 01 we bought it in 08 it now has 180ish K on it. That was the first model year for them. It uses parts borrowed from other models, the interior in the front is off of a sienna I have heard or similar. To me the seats are comfy but not the most comfortable, now this is a 15 year old vehicle now. And the drive train is off a Camry. I will say I am a Toyota man now and we have an 04 Sequoia as well. I love the reliability but Toyota always lags behind the others as far as MPG. But I am more than willing to give up a mile or 2 per gallon for the long term reliability Toy has become known for. I say all this and say I would look VERY hard and my previous experience with Toyota would be about the only qualifier I would need to make up my decision. And they hold their value. Value is another thing and I would look hard at KIA as well. I know you said she wants to take all her dog friends out to eat after and therefore the last row cant be at home in the shop or whatever. But here is a thought, there "is at least 30 or these town and countrys at the show...or a whole field full of them" or whatever her words were. Just jump in one of the other peoples vans and have them drive her to go out to eat? And you can drive the better quality vehicle that doesn't have flat folding seats. When we were looking for a big SUV Expeditions were at the top of the list because of the fold flat power 3rd row. But I just couldn't get past the engine issues ford had and we decided against it in the end and I am glad we went Toy again. The reason the ford could fold flat was the seats went into the floor because of the independent rear suspension allowed more clearance. The Sequoia had a flat floor and the Tahoe has an elevated platform which makes head room less and makes the third row less comfy that was one ding against the GM. But none of that is important here since were talking minivans. But I do love having a truck platform that can haul my tractor or a car if need be.

 

[rjmack]

Thanks, that's a good reminder why to avoid the first year of a new model.

first and last year, sometimes even the first couple years. last year is definitely left over parts, seconds, etc to get them out the door.

I have run dodge trucks for a long time, primarily for the cummins engine, if you are thinking about relying on a vehicle under chrysler warranty, don't... it's worth about as much pound for pound as toilet paper, but of less utility.

maybe I should have phrased that differently, the warranty is not worth anything to speak of.

 

[EddieWalker]

Couple of good points. My local Dodge/Chrysler dealer was bought out by Auto Nation, and from the reviews on FB, along with talking to my client who owns two new Dodge one ton trucks, and his neighbor who was the service manager there, it doesn't look like a good place to get service.


I'll have to talk to my wife about riding with others in their vans. That might solve a lot of issues!!!!!

 

[EddieWalker]

... I know you said she wants to take all her dog friends out to eat after and therefore the last row cant be at home in the shop or whatever. But here is a thought, there "is at least 30 or these town and countrys at the show...or a whole field full of them" or whatever her words were. Just jump in one of the other peoples vans and have them drive her to go out to eat? And you can drive the better quality vehicle that doesn't have flat folding seats. ...

I mentioned this to her when she got back from the dog show this weekend and all of a sudden, she isn't such a big fan of Chrysler. Seems that the more she talked to the other ladies about their vans, the more issues she is hearing about them. Things failing after a year or two that have never gone out on her Toyota Corolla. She also feels that reliability of the vehicle is a lot more important on these trips then being able to drive friends out to eat dinner after the show.

Chrysler is now off our list and it is now between Honda and Toyota!!!!

There is another show next weekend, and one after that. So it will be anther couple of weeks before we will be able to go out and actually test drive them.

 

[clemsonfor]

I mentioned this to her when she got back from the dog show this weekend and all of a sudden, she isn't such a big fan of Chrysler. Seems that the more she talked to the other ladies about their vans, the more issues she is hearing about them. Things failing after a year or two that have never gone out on her Toyota Corolla. She also feels that reliability of the vehicle is a lot more important on these trips then being able to drive friends out to eat dinner after the show.

Chrysler is now off our list and it is now between Honda and Toyota!!!!

There is another show next weekend, and one after that. So it will be anther couple of weeks before we will be able to go out and actually test drive them.

This sounds good. Glad she picked some real owners that use them for what she wants brains.

Like I said me personally I could budge on the rear seats having to be permanently out for a flat floor or whatever for the reliability of the Toyota which is important if she is driving to the other side of Texas or Oklahoma or wherever to do a show heck even 4 towns over! And you don't want the AC control buttons or doors failing or window motors dieing, or just front end trouble developing that may be a common wear item on them that other brands never have till 300k miles. Like I said I can live with the low MPG thing for the reliability that comes with the Toyotas.

 

[Garandman]

Chrysler is now off our list and it is now between Honda and Toyota!!!!

We were going to buy a new Sienna when a Odyssey Touring Elite popped up on Craigslist for $25,000. The new sticker was close to $48,000. Every bell and whistle imaginable.

 

[ultrarunner]

My Sister In Law is selling her bought new loaded 2006 Odyssey Touring Elite with 130k California miles...

Dealer offered her $5500 trade in and she said it is worth 8k.

The last show I attended had all manor of cars... Chevrolet Tahoe, Ford Transit Vans, Ford Escape and even a Nissan Mini Van...

 

[clemsonfor]

NIssan made the Quest mini van for years and I thought it was a decent vehicle, I guess they stopped at some point?

 

[KubotainNH]

You'll be much happier with a Honda or Toyota. Go drive them both and go with what is comfortable and is easiest to manage with the dogs. They both have their good points but are quite different in ride and comfort. As for Nissan Quest, they still appear to make them but you either like or dislike the look. I've had Nissans in the past, not impressed with them as they get older.

I did find this: "In mid-2014 the Quest was dropped from regular production in Canada due to low sales and the Quest might get discontinued after the 2016 model year in the United States due to slow sales."

2�16 Nissan Quest Minivan | Nissan USA

 

[Garandman]

NIssan made the Quest mini van for years and I thought it was a decent vehicle, I guess they stopped at some point?

They've never sold well. We had a 2005 Quest and it was a good vehicle, but had some odd styling quirks. We sold it to a co-worker and they drove it to 160,000 miles. The engine was terrific, the body integrity OK. The new ones are very strange looking and sell poorly.

Sales figures for 2016 YTD:

Dodge Grand Caravan 102,732.
Toyota Sienna 99,510.
Honda Odyssey 94,835.
Chrysler T&C 57,926
Kia Sedona 37,355
Chrysler Pacifica 35,572
Nissan Quest 10,055

Total Chrysler sales are 196,230 so they still have 45% of the market. Their "infotainment" system is much more intuitive than our Honda system.

 

[clemsonfor]

yea I have seen a few in the last few years only and did look strange...kind of something you would expect to see in a foreign country...guess they designed it for japan?

 

[clemsonfor]

dodge was basically the start of the minivan with that caravan so you would expect them to lead the way in them.

what is the difference in a T & C and the Pacifica? And is the Dodge grand caravan just a rebadged T and C?

 

[KubotainNH]

Wow, that Quest number is low. I also think Chrysler sells many to rental places. I don't ever recall seeing any Honda or Toyota vans for rent.

 

[Garandman]

//what is the difference in a T & C and the Pacifica? And is the Dodge grand caravan just a rebadged T and C?

T&C and Grand Caravan are badge engineering. Pacifica is the new model, and quite handsome. I believe all three have the same drive train: 4.0L V6 with 6 speed automatic.