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Do not laugh....time to buy a minivan!

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:44 pm
by Audiophiliac
We need something larger than the '05 sonata. Looking for a used minivan in the $6000-$8000 range. Who can cite personal experiences with certain models, good or bad? I would love to pick up an odyssey with a fresh tranny.....but I am thinking there are better options for the price. My vote is a full size conversion van but I got overruled since I will not be driving it regularly. :)

Re: Do not laugh....time to buy a minivan!

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:50 pm
by finbar
The Chevy Astro AKA GMC Safari AWD . Good for snow and towing toys. :D

Re: Do not laugh....time to buy a minivan!

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 5:20 am
by PhuckinGood
Audiophiliac wrote:We need something larger than the '05 sonata. Looking for a used minivan in the $6000-$8000 range. Who can cite personal experiences with certain models, good or bad? I would love to pick up an odyssey with a fresh tranny.....but I am thinking there are better options for the price. My vote is a full size conversion van but I got overruled since I will not be driving it regularly. :)
hmmm... anything you want to get of your chest :mrgreen:

Re: Do not laugh....time to buy a minivan!

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 7:09 am
by stipud
You don't need a minivan... get an estate car! I bet you could get a Volvo V70R for that money ;). 300hp turbo, AWD, AND more space than most minivans.

Image

Re: Do not laugh....time to buy a minivan!

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 11:26 am
by PhuckinGood
What about a nice Ford :shock: this looks p.p.p.p.perfect
Image

Re: Do not laugh....time to buy a minivan!

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 2:52 pm
by Lux
I am a pro. mechanic, stay away from any Chrysler and dodge products. Chrysler makes some very poor products. The other mini vans seem to be decent, as far as mechanical.

Re: Do not laugh....time to buy a minivan!

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:45 pm
by Audiophiliac
I like the Ford PG posted better than any minivan we are considering! But it will not win the WAF award. I was interested in this badass molestor van myself: Image, but my wife will not drive it. hahaha

Stipud, I would love to get an estate. I always have liked them over their saloon counterparts. But we want the van for its vertical space as well. Being able to move about the van on the road is a big plus when you have 2 small children.

What will happen is my wife gets the van, and I drive the sonata until her dad buys it back from us. Then I can get whatever I want. The van will be my wife's. I will drive it occasionally. So I want something comfortable for me....6'4" 250#. I guess we just need to go look at some and try them out.

The Mazda MPV is on my short list right now. VW Eurovans are spendy unless you get an old one with the 5 cyl. The VR6 models are holding their value like crazy. I would love to have one though. I like the Hondas but the transmission problems are scary. There have been a few on craigslist with advertised new transmissions with warranty and paperwork. So all is not lost on the Odyssey. Other than that, they are probably a solid contender.

Re: Do not laugh....time to buy a minivan!

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:25 am
by ZTwenty8SSR
Audiophiliac wrote:I like the Ford PG posted better than any minivan we are considering! But it will not win the WAF award. I was interested in this badass molestor van myself: Image, but my wife will not drive it. hahaha

Stipud, I would love to get an estate. I always have liked them over their saloon counterparts. But we want the van for its vertical space as well. Being able to move about the van on the road is a big plus when you have 2 small children.

What will happen is my wife gets the van, and I drive the sonata until her dad buys it back from us. Then I can get whatever I want. The van will be my wife's. I will drive it occasionally. So I want something comfortable for me....6'4" 250#. I guess we just need to go look at some and try them out.

The Mazda MPV is on my short list right now. VW Eurovans are spendy unless you get an old one with the 5 cyl. The VR6 models are holding their value like crazy. I would love to have one though. I like the Hondas but the transmission problems are scary. There have been a few on craigslist with advertised new transmissions with warranty and paperwork. So all is not lost on the Odyssey. Other than that, they are probably a solid contender.
My dad had a 1990 chevy van 20 he bought it new and sold it 2 years ago it had a 350 that was good on gas for a a vehicle with the aerodynamics of a brick.
Just be sure to go with the chevy van 20 it is a 3/4 ton over over the chevy van 10 1/2 ton .

Re: Do not laugh....time to buy a minivan!

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:34 am
by ttocs
if you want to save some dignity when talking about it, refer to it as the man-van like you do your den the man-cave. The first buddy I knew to get one called it that and if it were not for the fact we took out the seats and packed that sucker full to the top with gear to go camping a couple of times he would have got alot more hell for it.

Re: Do not laugh....time to buy a minivan!

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 4:57 pm
by LowandLoud
OOh, ooh, I vote for the V70R.

Seriously, stay away from the GM minis (Montana, Silhouette). They are notorious for coolant system problems like upper and lower intake leaks. The bodies rot like no tomorrow as well. You are on the right track by thinking import. Any import will be miles ahead of the Dodge/GM offerings. The Sienna (Toyota) is a real nice van.

You would never catch me buying a minivan though, too "soccer mom-ish". Just bustin your balls, lol

LL

Re: Do not laugh....time to buy a minivan!

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 5:08 pm
by Audiophiliac
Hell, it's not for me to drive! But I get final say in what we get. :)