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anyone got a Venture/Montana? minivan recommendations?

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My parents just looked at basically all of the choices you just listed and ended up with the Odyssey. They liked the size and comfort of it, I think is what they said. I haven't seen it myself, though, so I can't tell you first-hand.
 
Check out the GM minivans and Quest/Villager's Insurance Institute of Highway Safety's crash test. GM was far the worst minivan.

Thanks for the link. The pictures are pretty scary!

Check out this link though NHTSA ratings
I guess this is where the brochure got the 5* rating from...

Funny that a government agency's ratings would be so different. Are they being lobbied by GM or something? :Q
 
NHTSA is the government agency. It's not sponserd by any corporate. IIHS is the sponsered by the Insurance. I tend to like the IIHS's crash result better because they buy their cars off the dealer's lot, but I use NHTSA for historical and trend data. NHTSA is the one that issues recalls and TSBs if there's a issue with automobiles. If you watch NBC's Dateline, you'll catch live IIHS crash tests every week.
 
I purchased a Ford Windstar SEL back in august. So far I haven't had any problems. I got that TV thingy on it, which is almost a requirement if you have little ones. To tell you the truth, I am more wary of this vehicle than the other two Fords I have. I got a 94 Ranger and a 98 Taurus. Both of these vehicles have been fault free. I hope I'm not jinxing myself. There is one thing I am worried about on the windstar though, when I first crank it up, there is like a grinding sound that come from what sounds like the tranny. It doesn't last any longer than a second, it only seems to happen if it has been setting for around 10+ hours. I love the interior of it. All leather, easy to wipe up mishaps. I've heard of problems on previous model with the head gasket blowing. That's probably why I'm more wary of this vehicle. I guess time will tell if it was decent purchase.

KK
 
KK

i have that same grinding sound w/ my Windstar. I thought it was the compressor from the AC, so i make sure it is turned off everytime i shut the windstar down. try that. 🙂
 
Cut & paste job from consumer reports:

The Honda Odyssey again earned the top position in our Ratings, although the Toyota Sienna's score was very close behind. The Odyssey is larger, handles more crisply, and has a more versatile interior with a more comfortable third-row seat. Its acceleration and fuel economy are also slightly better.

The Sienna is quieter and more polished, has a nicer ride, and has proved to be more reliable. It accelerates well, and both the Odyssey and Sienna boast excellent fit and finish and top crash-test scores. Either one would be a good choice.

With some new features, improved interior flexibility, and other incremental improvements, the Dodge Grand Caravan is still a good choice. It's comfortable, has good cargo capacity, is quiet inside, and handles securely. The 50/50 split third seat is an improvement, but still is not as convenient as the Odyssey's system. Acceleration is the slowest of the group, and fuel economy is also unimpressive. This model is too new to have reliability data, although the record was average for last year's model.

The Chevrolet Venture has several good points, but they're overshadowed by the van's negatives. The interior is flexible, especially with the optional flat-folding third seat. It feels quick, but the engine sounds coarse. Handling is average and the ride is only so-so. It has had a troublesome reliability record and dismal crash-test results.

The Ford Windstar is showing its age. It's a roomy vehicle with a fairly comfortable ride, and its crash-test scores are tops. But the engine sounds raucous and the transmission lacks polish. Handling is ponderous. Interior flexibility is second-rate, particularly if equipped with the optional one-piece second-row-seat and console, and fit and finish was disappointing. Overall, the Windstar feels outdated and unrefined. Reliability has always been below average.


I'd go with the Chrysler, Honda, then Toyota (IMHO)
 
But you gotta think about the depreciation. Honda is the BEST at holding up its value. Better than Toyota, as a matter of fact. Of course you might think that you'll be keeping your van for 10-15 years and resale value isn't a big issue, but I'll say this. I paid $4500 for my 1988 Accord DX in summer of 1993, pretty darn cheap at that time. Got into an accident in summer of 2000 that the insurance marked it as a total. Luckily I had comprehensive insurance and they were going to cut me a check of the value of my car. A week later, I got a check for $3200. $3200 for a 12 year old car! If I was driving a Chevy Celebrity, I would be extremely lucky to get half of that. Just something to think about to help ease your thoughts of the higher price.
 
You should check out the 2002 VW MiniBus too 😎 You might be quite pleasantly surprised. Better handling than any other minivan in US and are quite reasonably priced now.


-j

 
My family has a 2000 Montana back at home. It's a great van, never had any problems, drives smooth (also has a little kick to it...we have the 200HP version), nice features. It also comes with what I'd say is the best base sound system I've ever heard in a car.
Not sure what we paid cause my mom's company paid for the car (we get a new one every 3 years, before this it was a Pontiac Trans-port which, IMO, sucked in comparison).
 
Just bought the wife a Montana this past summer. She absolutely loves that van. I have yet to find something disappointing about it. Some people say it is under powered compared to say an odyssey. That is somewhat misleading though. The odyssy weighs considerably more than a Montana as i recall. Also the poor showing in the crash test is a bit misleading as well. What it really showed was the Montana bring up the rear in a very tightly packed field. Top to bottom not a lot separates the minivan class in crash tests. Yea we don't have that nifty disappearing third row seating well actually we do but our third row disappears into the basement as does the second row. I found it to have good handling characteristics and was satisfied with the ride. I thought the base equipment was pretty good myself. I think it looks good as well. I thought the odyssey was butt ugly personally.
 


<< You should check out the 2002 VW MiniBus too 😎 You might be quite pleasantly surprised. Better handling than any other minivan in US and are quite reasonably priced now.


-j >>



are you talking about the "EuroVan" ? If so its pretty nice. Think Different! 🙂
 
no NesuD, it is not the bottom of a tightly packed field. It is a death box comparativly, and I'm sorry for all who have bought these. Here in Europe, the Vauxhall version of this van was not allowed to be sold, it did so miserably on the Euro test. GM changed a few things to allow the van to be sold, but it is still the worst performer by far. GM Minivans = veritable death boxes. Fact.
 


<< KK

i have that same grinding sound w/ my Windstar. I thought it was the compressor from the AC, so i make sure it is turned off everytime i shut the windstar down. try that. 🙂 >>



Thanks PG, I'll have to try that. I did notice one time when I went to turn the A/C on it grinded. I didn't think much of that at the time.

KK
 


<< no NesuD, it is not the bottom of a tightly packed field. It is a death box comparativly, >>

Really? funny the IIHS gives the 2001 montana 4 stars out of 5 for frontal driver crash test ratings the low spot was 3 stars which improved to 4 stars in 2002 for frontal passenger crash tests and it got 5 stars for both front and rear seat side impact crashes. oddysey scored 5 stars i all categorys. dodge caravan scored 4-4-4-5 stars respectively. windstar scored 5-5-4-4 stars respectively. Sienna scored 5-5-4-5. I hardly think that qualifies it as a death box. Europeon safety requirements are far more reaching than us requirements and include all sorts of things right down to the shape of the guides that the seat headrests slide into. I expect if it initially did badly in europeon tests it was more likely just bad preparation on gm's part rather than some inherent design flaws. lets see by the star ratings we have a field ranging from 20 stars for the odyssy to 17 stars for the montana and the caravan. hmm thats a 3 star out of twenty spread. Looks pretty tightly packed to me. One other thing to consider and this may have no meaning for you but if it is true and it does look legitimate than i have more reasons to avoid the imports. nhtsa 2002 minivan crash test ratings Link

> >> CNN Headline News did a short news listing regarding Ford and GM's
> >> contributions to the relief and recovery efforts in New York and
> >> Washington.
> >> The findings are as follows......
> >>
> >> 1. Ford- $1 million to American Red Cross matching employee
> >> contributions of the same number plus 10 Excursions to NY Fire Dept.
The
> >> company also offered ER response team services
> >> and office space to displaced government employees.
> >>
> >> 2. GM- $1 million to American Red Cross matching
> >> employee contributions of the same number and a fleet of vans,
> >> suv's, and trucks.
> >>
> >> 3. Daimler Chrysler- $10 million to support of the children and
> >> victims of the Sept. 11 attack.
> >>
> >> 4. Harley Davidson motorcycles- $1 million and 30 new motorcycles to
> >> the New York Police Dept.
> >>
> >> 5. Volkswagen- Employees and management created a Sept 11
> >> Foundation, funded initial with $2 million, for the assistance of the
> >> children and victims of the WTC.
> >>
> >> 6. Hyundai- $300,000 to the American Red Cross.
> >>
> >> 7. Audi- Nothing.
> >>
> >> 8. BMW- Nothing.
> >>
> >> 9. Daewoo- Nothing.
> >>
> >> 10. Fiat- Nothing.
> >>
> >> 11. Honda- Nothing despite boasting of second best sales month ever
> >> in August 2001
> >>
> >> 12. Isuzu- Nothing.
> >>
> >> 13. Mitsubishi- Nothing.
> >>
> >> 14. Nissan- Nothing.
> >>
> >> 15. Porsche- Nothing. Press release with condolences via the Porsche
> >> website.
> >>
> >> 16. Subaru- Nothing.
> >>
> >> 17. Suzuki- Nothing.
> >>
> >> 18. Toyota- Nothing despite claims of high sales in July and August
> >> 2001. Condolences posted on the website
> >>
> >> Whenever the time may be for you to purchase or lease a new vehicle,
> >> keep this information in mind. You might want to give more
consideration
> >> to
> >> a car manufactured by an American-owned and / or American based
company.
> >> Apart from Hyundai and Volkswagen, the foreign car companies
> >> contributed nothing at all to the citizens of the United States. It's
OK
> >> for
> >> these companies to take money out of this country, but it is
> >> apparently not acceptable to return some in a time of crisis. I believe
> we
> >> should not forget things like this. Say thank you in a way that gets
> their Attention
>
 
<<14. Nissan- Nothing.>>

i guess CNN is mistaken about the contributions of Nissan. Although I haven't done the research yet, I assume the other import makes have contributed also.
From NissanDriven.com:

Nissan Financial and Employee Support

On behalf of Nissan employees, affiliates and retailers around the world, Nissan has donated over $1 million to the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. and the Twin Towers Fund. In addition to this donation, Nissan has matched employee contributions to these funds. To date, Nissan has contributed an additional $337,000 in direct and matching contributions from Nissan employees.


? A $125,000 contribution was made to the United Service Organizations (USO) on behalf of NNA and Vince Gill, country music star, for the 2001 USO Holiday Tour. This gift was made possible by Vince Gill, whose appearance at a Nissan event was cancelled in the wake of September 11.


Additional Efforts on Behalf of Nissan and its Employees:


? For Nissan employees, Nissan has established a Supplemental Military Pay Program in support of Nissan employees called to duty.


? Nissan's Northeast Region donated a 2002 Nissan Sentra in support of a fundraiser at Koeppel Nissan in Queens, NY. The fundraiser will benefit the Fireman's Widow and Children's Fund.


? Nissan Employees throughout the US have donated blood as a part of a company-wide initiative.


? Contributed $5,000 to the Fireman's Widows and Children's Fund on behalf of Koeppel Nissan and Cox Nissan.

More Information

Nissan Motor Acceptance Support

Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation (NMAC), including its Infiniti Financial Services (IFS) division, is the automotive financial services arm of Nissan North America, Inc. NMAC instituted a NMAC/IFS Consumer Support Program immediately following the September 11 tragedy. This program is designed to provided direct relief to those impacted by the tragedy or its aftermath by the following:


? Providing payment extensions to assist retail and lease customers in geographic areas designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as disaster areas following the terrorist attacks.


? Providing vehicle valuation information to consumers considering vehicle surrender due to family tragedies.


? Providing payment deferral and other relief to active military personnel pursuant to the 1940 Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act.
 
As i stated i couldn't be sure of the current accuracy of that but i am pretty sure that was pretty accurate at one time. If Nissan has helped then good for them and they should be proud of their effort as should all the others who contributed.
 


<< Not only are the imports creating lot's of jobs here in America, they're contributing lot's of $$$ to the local community. >>

Ah but thats where you are mistaken. While thay be creating many jobs here they haven't come anywhere near creating enough jobs to replace what have gone overseas through their importation of their non domestically assembled vehicle.
 
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