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SUV vs Minivans

1826 messages,  Last post on Nov 29, 2009 at 12:33 PM

You are in the SUVs Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Dodge Caravan, Ford Explorer, GMC Envoy, Honda Odyssey, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Sienna, SUV, Van

#1817 of 1826 Re: . [dieselone] by colloquor Nov 23, 2009 (5:30 am)
Replying to: dieselone (Nov 22, 2009 8:26 pm) Minivans are not perceived as "cool," by most, since image seems to be critically important to most people today. However, the minivan remains as the most practical vehicle on the road, as you can't beat a rectangular box for maximum practicality. As for gas mileage: I would say 26 to 27 MPG on a fully loaded minivan on a summer vacation is acceptable (my own experience with our van).   If you go off road or tow, buy an SUV. However, if all you do is take your kids to school, go to the mall, or load everything up for long road trips and vacations, buy a minivan. Otherwise, you're buying a vehicle for image only.   Winter operation: I live in central Illinois, and receive quite a bit of snow during the winter. I've never been stuck, or couldn't drive in the worst of snows, with our FWD minivan. Remember, the driving technique is sometimes more important than the technology available on the vehicle. It's always quite funny to observe which type of vehicle is in the ditch, or in the median on the freeway, when we have our first substantial snow storm -- it's always a 4WD SUV. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Nov 23, 2009 9:48 am)
#1818 of 1826 Re: . [colloquor] by ateixeira Nov 23, 2009 (9:48 am)
Replying to: colloquor (Nov 23, 2009 5:30 am) The only AWD minivan right now is the Sienna, so it's not hard to compare:   [with tongue firmly in cheek]   Vehicle, Cargo Volume in cubic feet, EPA MPG:   Sienna, 148.9, 17/21 Suburban, 137.4, Censored Tahoe, 108.9, Censored Expedition, 108.3, Censored Seqouia, 128.1, Censored Armada, 97.1, Censored   Didn't want to scare people.   To be fair the Suburban does have a longer cargo floor, but it still cannot take a 4'x8' sheet of plywood inside like the Sienna can.   SUV mileage is really only close if you compare trucks with much smaller capacities. Explorer has just 85.8, or a little more than half.   If you don't need to tow or off road, you can't beat a van for sheer space and efficiency.
#1820 of 1826 confusion by inspectoring Nov 25, 2009 (7:42 pm)
I agree that vans are the best - but what about in the snow? I have asked almost 100 people and everyone agrees to two things 1. Vans are the best for efficiency/space/convience 2. Vans will not perform as good as SVUs in the upstate NY/Canada snow/ice/rain Replies to this message: steve_ (Nov 25, 2009 7:53 pm) ateixeira (Nov 26, 2009 7:23 am) steve_ (Nov 26, 2009 8:24 am) and 1 more... jayrider (Nov 26, 2009 9:22 am)
#1821 of 1826 Re: confusion [inspectoring] by steve_ HOST Nov 25, 2009 (7:53 pm)
Replying to: inspectoring (Nov 25, 2009 7:42 pm) Tires help. When I was up north I drove minivans for ~12 years. They did fine with studded tires, but we didn't get lake effect snow either. Seems like studs are banned a lot back in that part of the world. Studs really helped out at the intersections in town, both to stop on the black ice and then to get moving again.   Ground clearance could be an issue if you insist on going out during one of those infamous two foot dumps of snow.   Then there's the AWD Sienna to toss in the mix. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Nov 26, 2009 7:23 am) steve_ (Nov 26, 2009 8:24 am) ateixeira (Nov 26, 2009 10:22 am) jayrider (Nov 26, 2009 9:22 am)
#1822 of 1826 Re: confusion [steve_] by ateixeira Nov 26, 2009 (7:23 am)
Replying to: steve_ (Nov 25, 2009 7:53 pm) And that Sienna has extra ground clearance, too, a lot more than an Odyssey, for instance.   The only catch - you gotta get run-flat tires. Replies to this message: steve_ (Nov 26, 2009 8:24 am) ateixeira (Nov 26, 2009 10:22 am)
#1823 of 1826 Re: confusion [ateixeira] by steve_ HOST Nov 26, 2009 (8:24 am)
Replying to: ateixeira (Nov 26, 2009 7:23 am) Run-flats would just about be a deal killer. Are people able to swap them out? Replies to this message: ateixeira (Nov 26, 2009 10:22 am)
#1824 of 1826 Re: confusion [steve_] by jayrider Nov 26, 2009 (9:22 am)
Replying to: steve_ (Nov 25, 2009 7:53 pm) You are right about the tires, steve, if folks would keep aware of wear and replace before they need replacing -- a front wheel vehicle with great tires will take you through a lot of trouble. A set of 4 snow tires for northern climates can offer additional security. Great tires on a fwd trumps awd on baldies everytime.
#1825 of 1826 Re: confusion [steve_] by ateixeira Nov 26, 2009 (10:22 am)
Replying to: steve_ (Nov 26, 2009 8:24 am) Fortunately, yes. The Sienna's rims will fit standard 17" tires. You may want to get a donut and toss it in the 3rd row well, though.   Ody has odd rims (17.5" IIRC) that will not fit standard tires, but Honda doesn't offer their SH-AWD system on it anyway. Pilot it is, for Honda.
#1826 of 1826 MDX vs Ody by scottinky Nov 29, 2009 (12:33 pm)
have been there myself for the last couple of months, deciding whether or not to ditch my Ody for a cheaper SUV. Almost bought a 2003 MDX yesterday. When it came right down to it, nothing can touch the Odyssey for practicality, comfort and cost to operate. Granted, I dont live in a snow area, but the thought of giving up that much room, the sliding doors for the kids, the better mileage, being able to run on 87, it just wasn't worth saving the money to buy a used car. If I were you, I would be pick up a CPO 2009 Odyssey. You get teh benefit of the powerliftgate. make sure if you do, the transmission judder has been addressed. good luck!

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