Mini Vans

[Snitgirl]

Hey there... Who out there owns a MiniVan?

I am looking to get one...

Tell me please..

What kind you have?
What Year?
What you like about it?
What you dislike about it?
And if you've had any problems with it..

mucho appreciated... this will help with making a decision..

[bren_03825]

97 olds silhouette, good handling, gas mileage. Love the second set of captains chairs instead of middle bench. has a couple problems now, but its ten years old, what do you expect.
:hammer:Love my 93 suburban (gmc) a million times better though

good luck, heard awesome reports from friends about the honda oddesey (I know i didn't spell it right, ooops)
:cheers:

[rep]

Hey there... Who out there owns a MiniVan?

I am looking to get one...

Tell me please..

What kind you have?
What Year?
What you like about it?
What you dislike about it?
And if you've had any problems with it..

mucho appreciated... this will help with making a decision..

Best buy for long term durability was a Nissan Quest - Purchased one in 2001 and put 240k before some fool pulled out in front of me and totaled it in 2005. It would probably still be running today. Only problem was a timing belt and wiring harness that had a short in it they could not find. It was annoying but

2006 purchased a Toyota Sienna - Great Van - Larger actually than a mini-van, and a less gas mileage - 23 on the road vs the Quest 28, But a much more comfortable ride and solid as a rock.

Purchased the quest used for $17,000 at Car Max. Purchased the Sienna new at a dealership for $32,000. Post Katrina I was concerned about the thousands of used cars with "unknown" flood damage. I expect to get 200-300k out of the Sienna.

Drive them both before you buy. I wouldn't touch anything other than a Nissan or Toyota. I have been burned too many time with American automotive models sorry Detroit you live and learn.

If you are a road warrior - these are the one's to look at.

Rep

[For-Life]

If I had to look at a van it would be Toyota or Honda. Quality, quality, quality.

[Fezz]

The Misses has a Honda Odyssey. She LOVES it. We have one child(16), so we didn't buy it for that. We joke, the damn thing has a DVD system for the back that is broken, and we don't have a need for it...except for the dog! She is a high school Chior Director. We bought it because she often loads musical instruments, band equipment, chior gowns, water coolers, church music sheet boxes, candy etc. It is a really nice vehicle. I don't like driving it. I drive a big pick-up truck, so anything smaller gives me the creeps. The only problem we had was a fried transmission. This is really rare for Honda. We bought it used, so maybe the first soccer mom beat the tranny. Oh, and the radio/ DVD system fried out. It is going to run about $1200 to put a new radio in. I suggest trying a bunch of them. See which "fits" you best. Good luck!


:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

[chip anderson]

Fezz: You can get a super duper radio for a lot less and almost any of the electronic stores, they or a good teenager (late teens) can install for you, for a whole lot less. Like around $250.00. Dealers stick you on everything. I recently had a Chevrolet dealer service and replace fluids in my automatic transmission (I have a standard transmisssion). I also had a Ford Dealer charge $200.00 to replace a gas cap (of course they like the $1200 eye exam, had to run computer tests even though 90% of the time, as I later learned, when the check engine light is on with Fords, its the gas cap)
Seriously even if you have an honest dealer, everything is vastly overpriced at dealerships.
In fact my father (who was an excellent mechanic and machinest) used to always say: "Never buy a used car from a dealer that sells that brand." Just because it will be a lot higher.

Chip:cheers:

[Fezz]

Chip-

You make some very valid points. We have looked into the electronic stores, radio huts, etc. We will go with one of them. We rarely get anything done at the dealer. We brought it there on the reccomendation of one of those electronic joints that said the dealer may have an easier fix such as blown internal fuse, factory recall or something. They didn't!


So, it looks like a super duper radio install is on our future!


Thanks for the words of wisdom!


:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

[optirep]

I got a 2005 Sienna

Love it!

It's great for the kids!

I got the Xle 4wdr and its great in the snow but eats gas. I get about 17 average

DON'T lose the remote for the DVD. They chare $250 for a new one and you can only use the Toyota remote

[cocoisland58]

If I had to look at a van it would be Toyota or Honda. Quality, quality, quality.

I second that. Have owned Civics and Camrys (they go forever). Now have Honda CRV and Lexus 330. Honda handles better but Lexus is quieter. They both hold their value for resale later.

[specs4you]

Don't get a Plymouth Voyager. I had an older one from the beginning and talk about a Lemon......engine failure from mile 4,000 and downhill from that point. I have heard the same about Dodge caravans because basically the guts are the same.

Save yourself and get something else, do they even make them anymore.

I used to beg people to steal it......nuk nuk.
Mini vans are great to haul junk around, not that kids are junk but you know what I am getting to.

SUV's don't have the big box room. They are not a dude magnet once the divorce kicks in, so then you must rid yourself of them.

[Johns]

They are not a dude magnet ...

Well, THAT'S reassuring!:D

I only drive minivans.

I bought an A6 Audi Wagon last summer, and drove it for 2 weeks before I turned around and sold it. I hated sitting so close to the ground, and the seats killed my back.

Right now I own Ford Windstars ('99, '01, & '03). The '99 has 149K on it. It has a hitch and I haul stuff all over the country with it. The paint flakes off in big pieces (I tell people it's because the thing goes so fast.), and there are rust holes in the side doors. I don't keep seats in it, so I can haul more. It's my work "truck".

The '03 (97k miles) is my wife's and it's in great shape. We use that on weekends. The '01 (67k miles) is my "going to town" car. I bought it on e-bay for $7k last year, and it has every option except the drop down dvd player. I really like it, and am trying to take care of it since they don't make them anymore.

I love mini vans because of the storage space. Last night I picked up 3 bunk beds, w/ mattresses, and fit them all in the back. It was raining, and a pick-up truck would have been a nightmare. I have 3 enclosed trailers, but you can't beat the convenience of pulling the seats out of hte van and just taking off. The mileage is much better than any truck as well.

Sexy? I'll leave that to someone else. I know that people aren't attracted to me because of what I drive, it's because of the way I drive.(45 mph in the fast lane!)

[DragonLensmanWV]

Well, THAT'S reassuring!:D

I only drive minivans.

I bought an A6 Audi Wagon last summer, and drove it for 2 weeks before I turned around and sold it. I hated sitting so close to the ground, and the seats killed my back.

Right now I own Ford Windstars ('99, '01, & '03). The '99 has 149K on it. It has a hitch and I haul stuff all over the country with it. The paint flakes off in big pieces (I tell people it's because the thing goes so fast.), and there are rust holes in the side doors. I don't keep seats in it, so I can haul more. It's my work "truck".

The '03 (97k miles) is my wife's and it's in great shape. We use that on weekends. The '01 (67k miles) is my "going to town" car. I bought it on e-bay for $7k last year, and it has every option except the drop down dvd player. I really like it, and am trying to take care of it since they don't make them anymore.

I love mini vans because of the storage space. Last night I picked up 3 bunk beds, w/ mattresses, and fit them all in the back. It was raining, and a pick-up truck would have been a nightmare. I have 3 enclosed trailers, but you can't beat the convenience of pulling the seats out of hte van and just taking off. The mileage is much better than any truck as well.

Sexy? I'll leave that to someone else. I know that people aren't attracted to me because of what I drive, it's because of the way I drive.(45 mph in the fast lane!)


Sounds like they're attracted to your rear bumper!:bbg::D:bbg::D
Or maybe that's attached, not attracted.

[Chris Ryser]

Hey there... Who out there owns a MiniVan?


I own a several cars but................never had a minivan.

Three years ago in Naples Fl, I walked my dog, black lab, around the golf course section and see the for sale sign on a white Olds Silhoutte standing on a driveway.

I looked at it, and it really was like new, no scratch, no rust and no blemish. The owner comes out and shows me the interior which also is without any blemish, from seats to carpets. Motor is as clean as purchased a week ago.

The man says, "its perfect with one exception, it has 138,000 miles and its a 1995................ make me an offer" The for sale sign said $ 2500. So I offer $ 1500 and the guy grasps and says............"oh no I can not do that, but make it $ 2000.00 and you can have it".

I never had had a van and for $ 2000 I thought I can give it a try, the man had it purchased new and kept it clean as a whistle. We closed the deal with a check for the amount-Over the first 2 month I spent about $1500 on small repairs and headed back north. Some visiting friends drove the car back we had taken south in fall.

Going north on I-95, 17 miles south of Fredericks burg VA my wife says that it is getting very warm below her feet.......then looked out the window and says there is a big black cloud behind our car, all at 80 miles an hour.

We got towed to the hotel 17 miles further north and next morning the AA picked up the car and got it to the local GM dealer who gave me the bad news that the engine had taken its last breath on I-95 because the water pump has given up.

A new motor was installed in 1 1/2 days and my $ 2000 special had become a $ 9000 special that looks like new and now also acts like new while it also has a book value of $ 3900.

I just love this buggy now and would not even think of switching for another one and the odometer says 160,00 miles, but I only did about 20 on the new motor.

:D..................:hammer:...............:D