Minivans!

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AnyMal

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
15,780
0
76
Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
I'm a single dude and have a old dodge caravan. I also have a 2 seater sports car so the minivan comes in handy when I need to drive in the winter, haul something, or the rare time I actually need to take more then 1 person somewhere. My friend has an explorer but anytime one of us needs to haul something of decent size it goes in my minivan. You can't fit squat in the back of most SUVs. If you're worried about being seen in a minivan you won't be seen. Minivans come with stealth capability standard. Nobody pays attention to the minivan especially cops.

QFMFT! Tested and re-tested many times! :D
 
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
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Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
I'm a single dude and have a old dodge caravan. I also have a 2 seater sports car so the minivan comes in handy when I need to drive in the winter, haul something, or the rare time I actually need to take more then 1 person somewhere. My friend has an explorer but anytime one of us needs to haul something of decent size it goes in my minivan. You can't fit squat in the back of most SUVs. If you're worried about being seen in a minivan you won't be seen. Minivans come with stealth capability standard. Nobody pays attention to the minivan especially cops.

Bolded for truth and hilarity. You pretty much have to do a standing burnout in front of them in order for them to notice. And they'll still blame a nearby ricer first. :D

- M4H
 
Jan 31, 2002
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Originally posted by: AnyMal
QFMFT! Tested and re-tested many times! :D

My brotha!

Did you also enjoy doing noisy burnouts in parking lots, then playing "Park amongst the ricers" and watch them inspect everyone but you? :D

- M4H
 

deerslayer

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
10,153
0
76
Originally posted by: MichaelD
OMG...you said the "SUV" word! :Q Shhh!! The birkenstock-wearing-alternative-fuel-vehicle-driving-vegan-no-meat-eating-guns-
ill-people-alternative-life-style-adopting-children-fur-is-murder majority here at AT will freakin' FLAY the flesh from your bones! :Q

LOL
 

Aikouka

Lifer
Nov 27, 2001
30,383
912
126
Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Yeah, the one thing (other than price) I was concerned was that a full-sized minivan is almost too-much vehicle for a family of 4 (not growing - snip/snip.)

That's what I was thinking... when I was growing up, we had a minivan, because we had a family of 6, and that's a definitely mini-van size. To me, you just need a big car or something to that sort. Heck, my Altima holds 5 fine (4 is still preferred in my opinion) and has tons of trunk space for presents ;).
 

Tommouse

Senior member
Feb 29, 2004
986
0
0
Originally posted by: AnyMal
Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
I'm a single dude and have a old dodge caravan. I also have a 2 seater sports car so the minivan comes in handy when I need to drive in the winter, haul something, or the rare time I actually need to take more then 1 person somewhere. My friend has an explorer but anytime one of us needs to haul something of decent size it goes in my minivan. You can't fit squat in the back of most SUVs. If you're worried about being seen in a minivan you won't be seen. Minivans come with stealth capability standard. Nobody pays attention to the minivan especially cops.

QFMFT! Tested and re-tested many times! :D
That reminds me of a commercial a while back comparing the work world with school, and all the employees running out as it was summer vacation. There was of course someone doing a burnout in a minivan :laugh:

OT: Legacy? A nice midsized sedan/station wagon. Also can get a Passat or many Audi's in wagon form.
 

cKGunslinger

Lifer
Nov 29, 1999
16,408
57
91
Let's change the thrust of the thread slightly. How to buy a car:

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna finance through my Credit Union, rather than jack around with the dealer's financiers. So what are some tips for getting the car you want? I assume I'll get a limit from my CU, then I go get some prices from dealers, then come back and get a Cashier's Check from the CU, then go and buy it. Right?

I know that when I bought my Protege back in 2000, I was 1 week from graduating college and had my job offer with starting salary in hand, and pretty much handed over to the salesman and bent over. :eek: I like my Protege, but I was actually planning on buying a used Corolla, and not paying double-digit interest rates through Mazda American Credit.

If I do get a Mazda5 or some other new vehicle, what's the best way to get what I want? Order online? Find the closest thing they have on the lots? Order it there have it delivered to the dealer?
 
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
2
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Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Let's change the thrust of the thread slightly. How to buy a car:

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna finance through my Credit Union, rather than jack around with the dealer's financiers. So what are some tips for getting the car you want? I assume I'll get a limit from my CU, then I go get some prices from dealers, then come back and get a Cashier's Check from the CU, then go and buy it. Right?

I know that when I bought my Protege back in 2000, I was 1 week from graduating college and had my job offer with starting salary in hand, and pretty much handed over to the salesman and bent over. :eek: I like my Protege, but I was actually planning on buying a used Corolla, and not paying double-digit interest rates through Mazda American Credit.

If I do get a Mazda5 or some other new vehicle, what's the best way to get what I want? Order online? Find the closest thing they have on the lots? Order it there have it delivered to the dealer?

Regardless of your buying method (dealer finance, dealer lease, 3rd-party finance) negotiate the cash price.

Do your homework in advance and check what the financing rates are first. Mazda's website should be able to tell you, also check your local newspapers/dealership's website for promo deals. However, I don't think your CU will beat Mazda's finance rates.

- M4H
 

randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
2
0
linh.wordpress.com
Originally posted by: vi_edit
If there is anything that's a gutless wonder it's the Mazda 5. Gas milage is as bad as a V6 equipped Minivan. Slow and no real savings in gas, and smaller. Only thing going for it is price.

Yeah, that would be my concern w/ the mazda5. My 3 loaded w/ 4 people is a struggle. I don't care how much they tune the engine, but w/o a turbo, I can't imagine a fully loaded mazda5 going anywhere

 

Superself

Senior member
Jun 7, 2001
688
0
76
Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
I'm a single dude and have a old dodge caravan. I also have a 2 seater sports car so the minivan comes in handy when I need to drive in the winter, haul something, or the rare time I actually need to take more then 1 person somewhere. My friend has an explorer but anytime one of us needs to haul something of decent size it goes in my minivan. You can't fit squat in the back of most SUVs. If you're worried about being seen in a minivan you won't be seen. Minivans come with stealth capability standard. Nobody pays attention to the minivan especially cops.

QFTx1 gazillion!!
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
If you're gonna buy new and have the credit, there's no reason not to shop the manufacturers financing available at the dealer against your credit union. There are still some occasionally hot promotional financing deals available through the manufacturers.

The best way to buy a car is to do everything off the lot (except the test drives). Research online, know what you want in advance and what it should cost, email dealerships and online buying services for price quotes and to check availability, and if you must negoitiate, then negotiate over the phone, never in person and never ever inside the dealers' sales office (where they will have you trapped). Whatever you do, just don't play the dealership game.
As for test drives, schedule those in advance, take the test drive and then quickly and politely leave (do not go back into the building/sales office).
The ideal arrangement is that when you go to the dealership to buy the car, you're just coming to sign for it and pick it up. Everything else -- price, financing, trade-in, etc. -- was all negotiated and agreed upon in advance. If the dealer tries to pull a fast one and change terms at the last minute, you get up and leave, and buy elsewhere.
At all times, you want to be the one in control of the transaction. But remember to be reasonable and unemotional, and FFS don't deny the salesman from getting at least a little bone, he has to eat just like you do, and graciously giving him at least a small piece will make him work harder for you.
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
106
I've always had a soft spot for the RWD, V6-powered "mini"vans from the US makes - the Aerostar, the Safari or Astrovan. I was going to buy my parents Safari from them before they decided to trade it in on my mother's Eclipse, because it had the same V6 that went in the GM Typhoon/Cyclone, and would've probably taken the boost like a duck to water.

Though there is something to be said for the 89-91 Chrysler vans when they're turboed.
 

OutHouse

Lifer
Jun 5, 2000
36,410
616
126
i have a 2000 sienna and we love it. i would love to get a new one but the sienna XLT is 40K but wow is it nice. it even has 3 110volt outlets so a converter is not necessary anymore. i would love to get it becuase of the NAV system, my wife gets lost very easily and that would save me some frustrating phone calls, "im lost how do i get there again"? but alas until my 2000 sienna totally blowsup ill keep it, i have had NO mechanical or any other issues with it.

mini-vans are very nice and practical for families.
 

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
11,631
2
0
We have a 2004 Sienna XLE and love it. I would buy another in a heartbeat.

SUVs have one major flaw for kids, no sliding door.
 

Parrotheader

Diamond Member
Dec 22, 1999
3,434
2
0
Minivans are great for families and fantastic for long trips. I grew up with a full-sized van (bench seats! :)) and since both sets of grandparents lived a couple hours away (and we were constantly visiting them) it was great. It was like having your own couch as you hurtled down the highway.

But if your family lives in town or you don't take a lot of long roadtrips then they don't really offer any major advantages over a midsized car other than a bit more hauling room and sliding doors. And the city mileage for most minivans is just as disappointing as it is for most midsized SUVs. The Mazda5 seems like one of the few that gets decent city mileage (although not any better on the highway - and it obviously won't have as much zip since it's only a 4-banger.) It actually looks kind of decent for what it is though.



 

athithi

Golden Member
Mar 5, 2002
1,717
0
0
Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Let's change the thrust of the thread slightly. How to buy a car:

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna finance through my Credit Union, rather than jack around with the dealer's financiers. So what are some tips for getting the car you want? I assume I'll get a limit from my CU, then I go get some prices from dealers, then come back and get a Cashier's Check from the CU, then go and buy it. Right?

I know that when I bought my Protege back in 2000, I was 1 week from graduating college and had my job offer with starting salary in hand, and pretty much handed over to the salesman and bent over. :eek: I like my Protege, but I was actually planning on buying a used Corolla, and not paying double-digit interest rates through Mazda American Credit.

If I do get a Mazda5 or some other new vehicle, what's the best way to get what I want? Order online? Find the closest thing they have on the lots? Order it there have it delivered to the dealer?

If you are buying used, you may want to look over craigslist first. If you are buying a new car from the dealer, the manufacturer may have a promotional APR that is significant lower than even your CU. I got a 3.9% rate on my Odyssey from American Honda Finance.
 

d3n

Golden Member
Mar 13, 2004
1,597
0
0
I'll just repeat that as a 04 Sienna XLE owner I love my van. I would really look closely at the Hyundai Entourage vans. They are a real bargain for the money. With kids I would do a minivan over an SUV any day, even a cross over. The power doors are a big deal. Also the amount of cargo a van can take compared to an SUV is a big advantage. If your going to tow big stuff then an SUV is the ticket. I tow a popup with the Sienna, its close to 3000lbs and does just fine.


For buying you are best to go and make a drive by offer on something that is already on the lot. Research the exact option packages you want and price them out on Edmunds or Cars direct and itemize them. The TMV pricing is dead on from my experiance, no matter how much the sales guys make you wait, don't waiver on that.

If the pull out the four box thing the I would walk right then. You can avoid all of that if you go through a car buying service like AAA or Carsdirect. A vehicle delivered detailed right to your driveway. Possibly by the same dealership that would have loved to have you playing games in the showroom.
 

cKGunslinger

Lifer
Nov 29, 1999
16,408
57
91
My personal credit would probably be an issue, that's why I'm going with my CU. With a slightly below-average credit score, I just see the salesman trying to use that to his advantage.

They basically reamed me when I didn't have much of a credit history ~6 years ago, with a 13% APR. :(
 

AnyMal

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
15,780
0
76
Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
My personal credit would probably be an issue, that's why I'm going with my CU. With a slightly below-average credit score, I just see the salesman trying to use that to his advantage.

They basically reamed me when I didn't have much of a credit history ~6 years ago, with a 13% APR. :(

Go to your CU and get a firm pre-approval. That way you can negotiate cash prize with the dealer, which should get you the best price.
 

foghorn67

Lifer
Jan 3, 2006
11,883
63
91
Originally posted by: AnyMal
Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
My personal credit would probably be an issue, that's why I'm going with my CU. With a slightly below-average credit score, I just see the salesman trying to use that to his advantage.

They basically reamed me when I didn't have much of a credit history ~6 years ago, with a 13% APR. :(

Go to your CU and get a firm pre-approval. That way you can negotiate cash prize with the dealer, which should get you the best price.

Ya get that. Sometimes they have this certificate looking thing with the approved interests up to xx dollar amount. That should be enough to bargain with.
 

mpitts

Lifer
Jun 9, 2000
14,732
1
81
Originally posted by: Kaido
Originally posted by: Ktulu
Originally posted by: dmcowen674
Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Maybe a decently large SUV with good gas mileage?

Unless it's a hybrid good luck with that :laugh:

GMC Acadia/ Saturn Outlook seats 8 and get 18 city/26 hwy.

Yeah, the Outlook is pretty spacious. It's like an SUVan :D

My wife just got an Outlook and it is awesome. Tons of room for everyone and everything. It doesn't look as big on the outside as it is inside. She loves it.
 

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
18,422
5
81
Originally posted by: Howard
Impreza wagon?

I would think its too small for longer trips. Its basically corolla sized, maybe even smaller.

I would go legacy or outback. Legacy gets better mileage/road manners.

This is the last year for legacy wagons.