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SUV vs Minivans

1876 messages,  Last post on Jun 10, 2013 at 2:35 PM

You are in the SUVs Forum.

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

Messages Page 120 of 189

#1184 of 1876 Re: FROM A Minivan TO an SUV [love2driveinct] by gf2020

Nov 30, 2005 (12:28 pm)

Replying to: love2driveinct (Nov 18, 2005 2:26 pm)
Personally I agree that owning a Pilot and an MDX would be kind of silly, but I know families that own 2 of the SAME car so it's not that far fetched.
 
My wife drove a 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan for 4 years and 90,000 miles and then switched to a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT V8 with the 3d row seat. We loved the room of the Dodge minivan and it was a great vehicle, we paid $0 in unscheduled maintenance or repairs.
 
My wife liked the look of the redesigned Explorer for '02 and she wanted to get 4 wheel drive after facing a few situations where her minivan bordered on being stuck in the snow, so we became SUV owners.
 
Now after 37 months and 75,000 miles with the Explorer we are itching to get rid of it. It rides well and has enough room for our family of 4 plus the occasional 3rd row passenger. It even gets decent mileage for a V8 SUV, about 19 or 20 MPG on the highway. However, it's been in the shop numerous times for repairs, including 21 days this past May when the 4.6 liter V8 engine was rebuilt. Our extended warranty (thank heavens I purchased that!) just ran out so we are looking to dump this lemon. It's too bad because I know lots of people who have had good reliability out of their Ford Explorers, and Expeditions too, but not this one.
 
We are considering going back to a minivan, maybe another Grand Caravan or the Sienna or Odyssey this time. The redesigned Nissan Pathfinder is a strong possibility too. I have a new Nissan Titan crew cab that has been a trouble free delight for the first 7 months and 11,000 miles.

#1185 of 1876 Looks like the new Sedona will be big winner for kia by stockey1

Nov 30, 2005 (12:41 pm)

Check out this very positive review.
http://car-reviews.automobile.com/Kia/review/2006-kia-sedona-ex-road-test/1563/

#1186 of 1876 Re: Looks like the new Sedona will be big winner for kia [stockey1] by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Nov 30, 2005 (12:48 pm)

Replying to: stockey1 (Nov 30, 2005 12:41 pm)
The rap on the Sedona is that it is heavy and gets (got?) mediocre gas mileage. I didn't see the reviewer commenting on the mpg. As I recall, the early ones got around 16 in town; it'd be nice to see that bumped up 2 or 3 mph.
 
Steve, Host

#1187 of 1876 Re: Endless Debate and Hard Decision [sherb2000] by littlez

Nov 30, 2005 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: sherb2000 (Nov 18, 2005 5:13 pm)
Why are you into japanese models? There are a lot of very good American choices out there if you give them a chance. The Ford Freestyle for example gets great gas mileage and has room for 7 passengers. The new redesigned Ford Explorer also has room for 7 passengers with it's fold flat third row seat and tons of features. To help with the vehicles you've listed, the Sienna is rated as one of the worst minivans in rear crash tests. (I wouldn't put my children in it.) The Armada has the worst gas mileage of all full-size SUVs and its quality is below average. The Pilot has been recalled along with the Odyssey several times for a variety of problems, as has the Murano. You would be very unhappy with a Sequoia. Korean manufacturer quality is at the bottom of every quality study. They just don't make cars and trucks that last. I wish you and other car buyers would at least look at American products again. They have improved over the years while foreign quality has declined. This is a fact.

#1188 of 1876 Re: Endless Debate and Hard Decision [littlez] by ctalk

Nov 30, 2005 (2:22 pm)

Replying to: littlez (Nov 30, 2005 2:06 pm)
To help with the vehicles you've listed, the Sienna is rated as one of the worst minivans in rear crash tests.
 
And yet it is one of the top rated vans on IIHS.
http://www.hwysafety.org/ratings/summary.aspx?class=80
 

#1189 of 1876 Re: Looks like the new Sedona will be big winner for kia [steve_] by jipster

Nov 30, 2005 (5:26 pm)

Replying to: Stever@Edmunds (Nov 30, 2005 12:48 pm)
"I didn't see the reviewer commenting on the mpg"
 
Actually the reviewer did comment on mpg Steve. Stating "the Sedonas all new 4 valve per cylinder powerplant delivers 50 more ponies than last years v6 and gains a 9% increase in city fuel economy and 12% on highway."
 
So, somebody break out a calculator. Looks about 1.7 mpg more city and 2.4 mpg more highway. The 2006 Sedona shed a few pounds and is suppose to be much lighter than the previous model.

#1190 of 1876 Re: Looks like the new Sedona will be big winner for kia [jipster] by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Nov 30, 2005 (6:17 pm)

Replying to: jipster (Nov 30, 2005 5:26 pm)
lol, no wonder I missed it - math was involved.
 
Thanks Jipster.
 
Someone else pointed out to me today that the new and larger V6 RAV4 was going to get 20 to 27 mpg on the highway, depending on configuration. That's minivan territory too. Not to mention that the four-cylinder would top out at 31 mpg. (link)
 
Steve, Host

#1191 of 1876 suv vs suv by allison5

Nov 30, 2005 (7:05 pm)

I am still dragging my feet with the car thing, now have another question. Is their any difference as far as space goes between the Honda Pilot and Acura MDX in the 3rd row? I know the space in both cars in the 3rd row is pretty limited but just want to know, I have 3 kids the oldest 11 1/2 years old. He is average height for his age and obviously will just get taller. I should be making a car decision by the end of year, it is between Odyessy, Sequoia or Acura MDX. I just had a friend come up to me and say just go by the big suburban I would if I had 3 kids and a dog. It does make sense but gas wise OH GOLLY!!!

#1192 of 1876 Re: FROM a Minivan TO an SUV [love2driveinct] by bandemommy

Nov 30, 2005 (7:43 pm)

Replying to: love2driveinct (Nov 25, 2005 2:36 pm)
Hi, we went from a 2004 Sienna (fantastic) to a 2005 Pilot (also fantastic). We wanted/needed the Pilot to be able to drive out on the beach as well as for New England winters (although, this is my first car with AWD, I rarely missed it). The Pilot is great, but I miss the minivan each and everytime I need to put more than 2 kids in the car. I carpool a lot and the 3rd seat in the Pilot just can't compare with the ease of the van. We probably replace my husbands aging Jetta with a minivan sometime in the next 6 months or so.
 
The windows in the Pilot/MDX do not open in the 3rd row. Good luck with your decision!

#1193 of 1876 Re: Endless Debate and Hard Decision [littlez] by sherb2000

Nov 30, 2005 (8:31 pm)

Replying to: littlez (Nov 30, 2005 2:06 pm)
I will try a Tahoe, but still not convinced on American products. Just from my own ownership exp. No probs with my japanese models. BIG probs with the old Americans. It is always 50-50 with friends who own American makes, esp. Ford. Some love them and have no problems others have big problems. Can't say the same about the japanese car owners. Almost all (who bought new) are very happy. But, to each his/her own. Currently we have an odyssey (four door model) and a corolla. Very little maintaince on either. Both late 90's models. My husband wasn't convinced, until we got the odyssey. He was a big American car guy Ford, Caddy, etc. But now...I think he has converted.
 
Lastly, many cars have had recalls and other probs. not just foreign makes. The real question is still SUV or a Mini. I hope to pick up something in the next 14 days.

Messages Page 120 of 189

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