minivan question - Page 3

tooge · 01-14-2008, 10:55 AM

Ok, I have driven nothing but 4x4 trucks since i was 15 (26 years ago) with the exception fo one SUV. Now, I am wrestling with the reality of 2 young kids and $3 gallon gas. My F150 gets about 16 mpg average between city and highway so I think I am gonna sell the F150, buy a used minivan, and buy a beater truck for my property and huntin. What are your experiences good and bad with the different models available? I am looking at a Toyota Sienna (2003) and it gets about 22mpg average. Any info on this or other models? thanks

suds79 · 01-14-2008, 12:32 PM

Well would it at least be a sport, turbo-charged minivan?

No?

Alright. Here's what you're gunna do. Take that baby out and paint some flames on it or get a cool decal. Maybe a number 18 on the side or something? Yeah. You're feeling me.

smittysbar · 01-14-2008, 12:35 PM

We have a car lot, and from experiance with many differant ones, Crystler/Dodge, Never hold up and become a money pit

RustShack · 01-14-2008, 12:36 PM

I would stick with the truck, and your wife can trade in her car for a van.

Frosty · 01-14-2008, 12:43 PM

I mentioned this in Lzen's thread but two years ago, we traded in our minivan (Mazda MPV) for a 2006 Honda CR-V. I have two boys, 10 and 13 (and the 13 year old is getting pretty big) and we have plenty of room. They actually have way more leg room than they did in the van. We also have a ton of luggage room. We took a week long, 2000 mile driving trip the summer before last and never felt short of space.

The best part is the gas mileage. We get 28-30 in mixed driving (best tank was 33 mpg). It is also easier to drive and park than the van was for my wife.

We only needed the third row in the van once or twice a year, at most, and it just wasn't worth living with it the rest of the time. I figure we can just take two cars (or rent something) for those times.

wutamess · 01-14-2008, 12:51 PM

I must've been the only guy in college history with a minivan... (85 dodge caravan) (graduated in 99)

December '05, bought my wife one ('05 Ford Freestar for Xmas) when we had 3 kids. Now we have 4 and she still loves it.

She was one of those, "I don't want a soccer mom car"
But I offered to get her the new magnum's or whatever and she declined because she loves the MV.

At first she wanted something like my Yukon XL. I told her I'd happily switch as long as she fills it up (she drives to work approx 60miles roundtrip daily, I work from home). After seeing that it costs $80/visit to the gas station she quickly declined.

She didn't even want to test it out for a week.

Truthfully, we find ourselves using it to go most places unless we just need the extra room because the 12mpg Yukon just isn't worth it.

just my .02
Love it.

**Bugeater** · 01-14-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smittysbar

We have a car lot, and from experiance with many differant ones, Crystler/Dodge, Never hold up and become a money pit

I've found the opposite to be true, I have a '92 Caravan cargo van with over 200K on it that will never die, although I did have to replace the tranny at 190K. I also have a '94 that I bought 3 yrs ago, and the only things I've done to it since are brakes, tires and a new battery. Hell I don't even take that good of care of them, but yet they both are extremely reliable vehicles.

smittysbar · 01-14-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoBo

I've found the opposite to be true, I have a '92 Caravan cargo van with over 200K on it that will never die, although I did have to replace the tranny at 190K. I also have a '94 that I bought 3 yrs ago, and the only things I've done to it since are brakes, tires and a new battery. Hell I don't even take that good of care of them, but yet they both are extremely reliable vehicles.

I'll say you got lucky. I also have a best friend that runs a mechanic shop, and they keep him busy. The tranny problems seem to be in most all of them, though your seemed to hold up for quite some time compared to others.

tooge · 01-14-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepp

How about a "My kid can beat up your honor student" sticker?

sickers? I dont need no stinking stickers

**Bugeater** · 01-14-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smittysbar

I'll say you got lucky. I also have a best friend that runs a mechanic shop, and they keep him busy. The tranny problems seem to be in most all of them, though your seemed to hold up for quite some time compared to others.

Strange that I got that lucky twice, perhaps the reason he keeps busy with them is because there are around six bazillion of them on the road.

And yes, the trannys are the weak point in them, and from what I've heard Chrysler hasn't done a lot to improve them over the years. You definitely don't want to tow anything with them, that's how I tore up the one I had to replace. It's also possible that it had been rebuilt sometime in the past as I bought that particular one when it was already 8 yrs old. I also had to replace the the fuel pump on the older one once, that sucker was around $200 just for the part, and was a PIA to replace. Other than that though, they've both been pretty solid, they haven't nickled and dimed me like other beaters I've had.

01-14-2008, 10:55 AM
tooge MVP Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Liberty, MO Casino cash: $664112	minivan question Ok, I have driven nothing but 4x4 trucks since i was 15 (26 years ago) with the exception fo one SUV. Now, I am wrestling with the reality of 2 young kids and $3 gallon gas. My F150 gets about 16 mpg average between city and highway so I think I am gonna sell the F150, buy a used minivan, and buy a beater truck for my property and huntin. What are your experiences good and bad with the different models available? I am looking at a Toyota Sienna (2003) and it gets about 22mpg average. Any info on this or other models? thanks
Posts: 17,182

01-14-2008, 12:32 PM	#31
suds79 MVP Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $10005036	Well would it at least be a sport, turbo-charged minivan? No? Alright. Here's what you're gunna do. Take that baby out and paint some flames on it or get a cool decal. Maybe a number 18 on the side or something? Yeah. You're feeling me.
Posts: 5,747

01-14-2008, 12:35 PM	#32
smittysbar Right in the Lumberyard Danny Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: LaPlata, MO Casino cash: $10004942	We have a car lot, and from experiance with many differant ones, Crystler/Dodge, Never hold up and become a money pit __________________
Posts: 6,646

01-14-2008, 12:36 PM	#33
RustShack **** That Noise Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Jack Trice Casino cash: $3046954	I would stick with the truck, and your wife can trade in her car for a van. __________________
Posts: 15,125

01-14-2008, 12:43 PM	#34
Frosty Go Beavers! Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Washington Casino cash: $3388243	I mentioned this in Lzen's thread but two years ago, we traded in our minivan (Mazda MPV) for a 2006 Honda CR-V. I have two boys, 10 and 13 (and the 13 year old is getting pretty big) and we have plenty of room. They actually have way more leg room than they did in the van. We also have a ton of luggage room. We took a week long, 2000 mile driving trip the summer before last and never felt short of space. The best part is the gas mileage. We get 28-30 in mixed driving (best tank was 33 mpg). It is also easier to drive and park than the van was for my wife. We only needed the third row in the van once or twice a year, at most, and it just wasn't worth living with it the rest of the time. I figure we can just take two cars (or rent something) for those times.
Posts: 14,539

01-14-2008, 12:51 PM	#35
wutamess MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lee's Summit Casino cash: $4711637	I must've been the only guy in college history with a minivan... (85 dodge caravan) (graduated in 99) December '05, bought my wife one ('05 Ford Freestar for Xmas) when we had 3 kids. Now we have 4 and she still loves it. She was one of those, "I don't want a soccer mom car" But I offered to get her the new magnum's or whatever and she declined because she loves the MV. At first she wanted something like my Yukon XL. I told her I'd happily switch as long as she fills it up (she drives to work approx 60miles roundtrip daily, I work from home). After seeing that it costs $80/visit to the gas station she quickly declined. She didn't even want to test it out for a week. Truthfully, we find ourselves using it to go most places unless we just need the extra room because the 12mpg Yukon just isn't worth it. just my .02 Love it. Last edited by wutamess; 01-14-2008 at 01:01 PM..
Posts: 8,290