Does anyone in here have a minivan?

[SearchMaster]

Definitely check out the Sienna - new for '06 and improved over the '05. We liked the Odyssey better, but not $3K-$5K better. We were looking at just under $25K for a Sienna LX with leather (we don't want/need all the things that push the price up to $30K, the base LX is pretty nicely equipped).

The Odyssey will probably get 2mpg better, if you get the upmarket one (EX?) with the engine that switches back to 4cyl, but we used the Sienna for a weekend, driving around town, and got about 23mpg which is pretty good IMO.

I thought the Sienna and Odyssey were a marked step above the Quest and MPV. We didn't get around to checking out the Hyundai but most of what I've read puts it in between those 5 FWIW, though a better value.

 

[pinoy]

my wife currently owns Grand Caravan '99. Definitely spacious and better gas mileage compared to SUVs. But our kids are older now so she's thinking of getting a 4Runner. I would prolly test drive a Sienna or Odyssey because of reliability.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Odyssey/Sienna > Quest > Sedona > Ford/GM/Chrysler Minivans > Large SUVs > men who need a certain type of vehicle to prove to the world they are a man

 

[AdamK47]

I hope to never ever ever ever own a minivan!

 

[Pikachu]

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser

Odyssey/Sienna > Quest > Sedona > Ford/GM/Chrysler Minivans > Large SUVs > men who need a certain type of vehicle to prove to the world they are a man... Isn't that right, dear?

 

[RU482]

I'm shopping either for the Entourage or the Sedona

 

[BooGiMaN]

you dumbasses talking about giving up your manhood or never buying one, i want to see you try loading your kids and everything needed for a trip to the zoo into a sedan easily and comfortabley....

hahahha young bucks think they know everything....

 

[Pikachu]

Don't need or want no stinkin' minivan! :frown:

 

[BooGiMaN]

Originally posted by: Pikachu
Don't need or want no stinkin' minivan! :frown:

:roll:

and im sure one day when you are yelling at your kids you wont suddenly realize that...'oh my god im turning into my father!!'

 

[Pikachu]

My kids went through their childhood without being yelled at much, if ever.

The wagon's back, sport!

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Yes because I need to transport 6 beautiful women.... and it's got room for more too

 

[Black88GTA]

My mom had a 1996 Chrysler Town & Country, bought new. She now drives an '05 Odyssey. Both were fully loaded. Although you can't really objectively compare a MY1996 to a MY2005, here's my take on both.

The T&C was a great car, except the transmissions generally go out around 65 - 85k miles. Ours did. It's a known defect with those vans (I assume they've fixed that by now?). The engine had to be replaced at around 150k, but that was because a radiator hose blew on the expressway and my dumbass brother kept driving it until the motor seized. :roll: It wasn't using a drop of oil, and had never been serviced (other than the occasional oil change) at that point, and was running great. And my parents sucked at the maintenance - that car probably saw oil changes every 10 - 12k. That van got 3 of us to and from 4 years of college, hauled my brother's drums, hauled the longblock I bought to install in my Trans Am, etc. It was a workhorse. Other than the transmission and some cheap plastic interior pieces breaking, it was awesome. My brother still has it, and it's pushing 170k now.

The Odyssey is nice, plenty of power, instrumentation is awesome, nav system is great...but has too many nanny features for me to like it. I don't like the power doors - they're too slow (IMO), and you can't open them without the car being in park. The T&C handled better although the Honda is much quicker and has better brakes. The nav screen flips to a video image showing you what's behind the car when you put it in reverse, which is cool. We haven't put enough miles on it to have any kind of necessary service / repair history though.

You could save yourself a ton of $$ by getting a nicely equipped T&C. The Honda is nice, but overrated IMO and not really worth the premium over a comparable domestic.