I saw this at the auto show and do like it but could never unload that much $$$ for a family hauler.

 

Why are you pushing SUV's so much? For people on a budget, minivans make so much more sense. They do everything most SUV's can do (except go off road, but most SUV's can't even do that), and they do the people hauling job better. There's more interior room, and they often handle and drive better. And then there's the big matter of fuel economy, or lack thereof.

Wagons are a good alternative though, if one can afford to lose a row of seats.

 

....you're 100% correct youngTL. Minivans arent the most glamourous vehicles on the road but they're so darn useful in ways that most SUVs cant even come close to. (The wife and I never wanted one but once we got one, we cant imagine life without one.)

I just brought my son to his summer camp job with his luggage and mountain bike inside my 00 Quest. Unless one has a large SUV, an Explorer or Pathfinder's not doing that unless the bike is disassembled or mounted outside (which I would never do). I saw countless wagons and SUVs with bikes and luggage mounted on the outside....with the minivan that's not even a consideration (exceptions: Christmas trees, skis and kayaks )

 

Why a van anyways? Seating, cargo? For seating you can get a 3 rowed Highlander. New it was low $20's but I think some vans are cheaper. The Chevy Uplander/Saturn Relay are in the low-mid $20's, seat 7, have removable chairs, optional 40GB mp3 player, standard DVD player, and tons of space. They don't look like vans neither.

 

Difference here is that adults can sit in the 3rd row of my 00 Quest (a relatively small minivan) without being leg amputees.

 

anything can wax the loud quad 4 engine, it was one of the worst engines they ahve made

 

Chevy and Dodge if he wants the base model

the cheapest ones out there

 

I just read the Car and Driver where they did the best trucks, vans, and SUV's. The top SUV was the new Odyssey. They also nominated the Grand Carvan (or was it the T&C) and the Sienna. They didn't get to review the Uplander/Relay/Montana/Terraza quadruplets.

 

I thought the Pilot was C/D's top SUV.

 

well said. love how people are so anti minivan. Only thing an SUV does better than a minivan is go offroad and with all wheel drive minivans I am sure that is in question unless you get a real truck based SUV.

Minivans are, and will always be the swiss army knife of vehicles. In no other vehicle can you carry that many people, fold down the seats and carry that much stuff, all the while getting decent gas mileage and drive something that handles like a normal car.

I would recommend a slightly used sienna. Hondas are really nice but with how popular they are you can get a new sienna for the same price as a used honda in many areas. Know a few people that bought the toyota and they are very happy with it.

 

Oops. Meant van.

 

You all are right about having a minivan as a utilitarian vehicle. It's a great concept. Having owned an Explorer AND a Town & Country years ago (Explorer was sold due to gas mileage and the Town & Country was totaled), our '94 Town & Country has bested the Explorer in almost all categories. The Town & Country has much more power, the AWD worked just as well as the Explorer (which has never been offroad other than a mudpit or two just for fun), better fuel economy (our T&C could get up to 25mpg before it was totaled at 121k), seats more people comfortably, has less problems than my Explorer, and most important of all, carry much more crap than my Explorer.

So that's why my parents bought another minivan ('05 Odyssey EX-L) instead of a sedan. My dad was leaning toward a TSX but mom told him that practicality is a lot more important. But he said he'd get a TL or an RL in a couple of years so we'll see.

 

My cousin just got '05 Quest for $21,000 in Chicago 'burbs due to his 2nd kid.

And I'm happy with my 4-banger '97 Caravan purchased 2 years ago as a beater for $6000 with only 49K mi (driven by some succer mom) .

This POS is good on gas, looks ok, got some balls (beats Civic ) and most important it carries so much stuff I don't know what I'd do without it. Last year I filled with 6 adults (incl. driver) and bags and went Wisconsin - 3hours trip. Just changed rotors/pad/calipers and charged a/c. I take care of it.
No issues whatsoever and passed smog test this month .

 

If you buy domestic, go for a used grand caravan with a chrysler extended warranty. There actually pretty good vechicles, and the resale value is horrible on them. You can pickup a slightly used for practically half price.

 

Chrysler crap...
I wouldn't buy a Jeep. Most of them are made in Detroit or Toledo. Kowality.

Go Ford Windstar! or if you can swing it, the Mercury Monterey.
"The wife is sure to approve" <= future tagline before Ford cancels the van production

 

you mean ford freestar?


well, i think freestar is pretty aweful compared to other vans.

 

It is. But the Windstar was even worse. Especially if he's looking for a used van. The Chrysler vans will have insanely low resale, so you should be able to get one cheap. They're good bargains for the price compared to a 1G Odyssey or Sienna. The Mazda MPV is a pretty reliable van I've heard. Not sure if there's anything to back that up. The major thing with the Chryslers is the electrical problems and the transmission. But you should be able to feel a clunking transmission on a used van. If it's free of electrical issues and has no tranny probs, then thats the best way to go to save $$$.

 

I like the looks/price(starts at 17k) of the new Mazda 5. Its a size under the current minivans(based off the Mazda 3) but it still looks fairly versatile.

 

That 5 is nice but if the thread starter ever tells us what he wants for the vehicle it's moot.