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YACT: Make a non-minivan, minivan suggestion

D

djheater

Lifer
I don't want to pay through the nose for the prestige of owning a mini-van but I'm about to need third row seating. Don't get me wrong I would LOVE a 2004 Sienna, but my budget is under 15,000 with about 5,000 down.

I looked at the chevy Astro but it ooks like it has crappy mileage and it seems to me they aren't that reliable.

Any suggestions appreciated. TIA
 
My dad desperately wanted an under $20k minivan and we wound up with a $21k Mazda MPV. There's just not that much you can get for $15k in the class brand new. Believe me, we tried...
 
I lived my mothers Astrovan. AWD version. With the 4.3, it would so some nasty 4 wheel powerslides when it was wet out.
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Originally posted by: djheater
Originally posted by: NutBucket
How about a station wagon?
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Name a station wagon that seats seven.
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A volvo!
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Doh! I was about to post that. Yes, most volvo wagons have a rear-facing 3rd seat that will accomodate 2 kids.

Pic (missing cover for spare tire)
Click to expand...

the old taurus's could also seat 7. i think for both cars the 3rd seat was a rather expensive option.

to original poster: why not buy used? it's smarter economically and you'll get what you want instead of some crappy astro.
 
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Originally posted by: djheater
Originally posted by: NutBucket
How about a station wagon?
Click to expand...

Name a station wagon that seats seven.
Click to expand...

A volvo!
Click to expand...

Doh! I was about to post that. Yes, most volvo wagons have a rear-facing 3rd seat that will accomodate 2 kids.

Pic (missing cover for spare tire)
Click to expand...

the old taurus's could also seat 7. i think for both cars the 3rd seat was a rather expensive option.

to original poster: why not buy used? it's smarter economically and you'll get what you want instead of some crappy astro.
Click to expand...


In truth, though I hadn't mentioned it in my post, I had NEVER thought of buying new. It's just not worth it, I can't possibly afford to pay that much for it.

Personally I don't think I like the station wagon option. Yes you technically have a third row, but how comfortable is it for a ten hour car ride?

I've been looking at used Mini-vans at carmax and it seems like for a Honda or Toyota you're still paying quite a bit more for anything decent.

WHat I'm really looking for is suggestions along the lines of the Chevy Astro. It's a "mini-van" but it's pretty ugly, nobody wants it, so it's cheap. I have NO PROBLEM with ugly, I just need a safe, dependable, people hauler. I know jack-sh!t about what's available so I'm hoping to get some ideas from people.
 
I don't want to pay through the nose for the prestige of owning a mini-van
Click to expand...
You're thinking about SUVs. A lot of domestic minivans can be had for very cheap. You could actually look at the Kia minivan. Can be had for well under $20k.
Yes you technically have a third row, but how comfortable is it for a ten hour car ride?
Click to expand...
I presume you're carting kids. They'll be fine. My parents used to take our family of 5 on LONG LONG car trips in a cavalier wagon. Three boys sharing a back row is a great instigator of combat between them. A kid weigh less than 100 lbs really doesn't need much room though. Anything with a third row will be perfectly sufficient.
I've been looking at used Mini-vans at carmax and it seems like for a Honda or Toyota you're still paying quite a bit more for anything decent.
Click to expand...
Hondas and toyotas are generally crap purchases buying late model because they maintain their resale so darn well.

The Kia is a good call. Get one a year old and it will be in your price range with a great deal of powertrain warranty left and supposedly they're pretty safe.
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
I don't want to pay through the nose for the prestige of owning a mini-van
Click to expand...
You're thinking about SUVs. A lot of domestic minivans can be had for very cheap. You could actually look at the Kia minivan. Can be had for well under $20k.
Yes you technically have a third row, but how comfortable is it for a ten hour car ride?
Click to expand...
I presume you're carting kids. They'll be fine. My parents used to take our family of 5 on LONG LONG car trips in a cavalier wagon. Three boys sharing a back row is a great instigator of combat between them. A kid weigh less than 100 lbs really doesn't need much room though. Anything with a third row will be perfectly sufficient.
I've been looking at used Mini-vans at carmax and it seems like for a Honda or Toyota you're still paying quite a bit more for anything decent.
Click to expand...
Hondas and toyotas are generally crap purchases buying late model because they maintain their resale so darn well.

The Kia is a good call. Get one a year old and it will be in your price range with a great deal of powertrain warranty left and supposedly they're pretty safe.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm looking at the Sedona and it does seem like a pretty good deal.

Any other suggestions? Is the Sedona going to fall apart?
 
I'd say used Sedona as well. It has some downsides to it (smallish, poor gas mileage) but overall it's a solid value.
You can get a relatively new, low-mileage model for $15K which would be safer and have more convenience features than an older van.

I've never actually been in a Sedona, but all the reviews I've read say it is definitely a competitive product.
Kias don't have a great reliability record, but I believe their warranty is transferrable, and their quality has improved somewhat in recent years (although definitely not as much as Hyundai's).
 
Think of it this way, even a year-old sedona has 9 years left on the warranty.

EDIT: How about a Windstar? After the first models had problems I think they've been ironed out since but they're still not very popular at all.
 
I bought a new 2004 Sedona EX in January. Invoice is around 21k. Ended up paying about 20k for it with factory rebates. The LX model is a little less expensive. In the latest JD Power initial quality rankings, Kia was near the bottom. But it actually ranked higher than Mazda and Nissan. I'm not sure how closely initial quality and long term reliablity correlate. But with the 10yr/100k powertrain and 5yr/60k bumper to bumper warranty, I'm not too worried.

It seems to have about the same amount of room as most of the other minivans. We've got 4 kids and a dog and everyone fits comfortably. Granted, there isn't a lot of storage space, but you could fit a couple suitcases behind the back seats. We got one with the bucket seats in the middle row instead of a bench seat. AFAIK, you have to get an EX to get those. The nice thing about that is that we can take one of them out for extra storage space when we travel, and still have room for 2 adults and 4 kids.

Only negative so far is the gas mileage is lowest of all the minivans. I'm guessing that's due to it also being one of the heaviest minivans. And I'm guessing that is because they use more steel and less aluminum to keep the cost down. But I'm just guessing there.

But I really like ours and for the price and features, nothing else could compare.
It's worth taking a look at.

Oh, the only other negative is that you will be subjected to insults from ATOT for buying a Kia.😀
 
You can pick up an '01 or (if you're lucky) '02 Windstar for around 15k.

We've got an '03 and it's been great.
 
Originally posted by: Shanti
I bought a new 2004 Sedona EX in January. Invoice is around 21k. Ended up paying about 20k for it with factory rebates. The LX model is a little less expensive. In the latest JD Power initial quality rankings, Kia was near the bottom. But it actually ranked higher than Mazda and Nissan. I'm not sure how closely initial quality and long term reliablity correlate. But with the 10yr/100k powertrain and 5yr/60k bumper to bumper warranty, I'm not too worried.

It seems to have about the same amount of room as most of the other minivans. We've got 4 kids and a dog and everyone fits comfortably. Granted, there isn't a lot of storage space, but you could fit a couple suitcases behind the back seats. We got one with the bucket seats in the middle row instead of a bench seat. AFAIK, you have to get an EX to get those. The nice thing about that is that we can take one of them out for extra storage space when we travel, and still have room for 2 adults and 4 kids.

Only negative so far is the gas mileage is lowest of all the minivans. I'm guessing that's due to it also being one of the heaviest minivans. And I'm guessing that is because they use more steel and less aluminum to keep the cost down. But I'm just guessing there.

But I really like ours and for the price and features, nothing else could compare.
It's worth taking a look at.

Oh, the only other negative is that you will be subjected to insults from ATOT for buying a Kia.😀
Click to expand...

HA HA! You bought a Kia!😛😉
 
Originally posted by: bunker
You can pick up an '01 or (if you're lucky) '02 Windstar for around 15k.

We've got an '03 and it's been great.
Click to expand...

I've had nothing but bad luck with the two fords I've owned. Is the Windstar reliable?
 
Originally posted by: djheater
Originally posted by: bunker
You can pick up an '01 or (if you're lucky) '02 Windstar for around 15k.

We've got an '03 and it's been great.
Click to expand...

I've had nothing but bad luck with the two fords I've owned. Is the Windstar reliable?
Click to expand...

The newer ones are pretty decent IIRC. It was the first model of the windstar that sucked.
 
Originally posted by: NutBucket
Originally posted by: djheater
Originally posted by: bunker
You can pick up an '01 or (if you're lucky) '02 Windstar for around 15k.

We've got an '03 and it's been great.
Click to expand...

I've had nothing but bad luck with the two fords I've owned. Is the Windstar reliable?
Click to expand...

The newer ones are pretty decent IIRC. It was the first model of the windstar that sucked.
Click to expand...
I have a 2000 Windstar and it's been very good to us. I recommend any 2000+ Windstar because they are currently under rated due to the problems the early models had.
 
Get one of the newer GM minivans with the 3400. They're very nice for as cheap as you can get them used. Something like the Chevy Venture or Pontiac Montana.
 
Originally posted by: djheater
I don't want to pay through the nose for the prestige of owning a mini-van but I'm about to need third row seating. Don't get me wrong I would LOVE a 2004 Sienna, but my budget is under 15,000 with about 5,000 down.

I looked at the chevy Astro but it ooks like it has crappy mileage and it seems to me they aren't that reliable.

Any suggestions appreciated. TIA
Click to expand...

Chevy Astro is probably one of the worst choices you could make, they are utter crap. Have you thought of looking for a used Toyota, Mazda or Honda minivan?
 
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