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SUV vs Minivans

1874 messages,  Last post on Jan 26, 2012 at 8:39 AM

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 184 of 188

#1825 of 1874 Re: confusion [steve_] by ateixeira

Nov 26, 2009 (11:22 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Nov 26, 2009 9:24 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 1874 MDX vs Ody by scottinky

Nov 29, 2009 (1:33 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!

#1827 of 1874 Advice Needed MV or SUV by cschafer

Jan 19, 2010 (1:05 pm)

Hello - I am a mother of 4 looking for my next vehicle. I currently drive an 03' Chrysler TC MV. I have four kids ages 7 and under and all are in car seats. I am packed to the gills. I am looking at both new MVs and SUVs. Any thoughts or suggestions out there. My biggest complaint in the MV is that there is no room to take a guest and not enough cargo room for week long travel. We have to pack the aisles and add a car top carrier. I hate to be crowded. I would really like some cargo room and the ability to bring a friend or sitter along comfortably. Gas mileage and reliability are important. I live in Indiana so snow is not a real issue. No towing or off-roading. I am NOT concerned with status - I want functionality and space. Any suggestions?

#1828 of 1874 Re: Advice Needed MV or SUV [cschafer] by ateixeira

Jan 19, 2010 (1:22 pm)

Replying to: cschafer (Jan 19, 2010 1:05 pm)
If you don't want to put cargo in the aisles, the primary thing is to avoid captain's chairs.
 
I suggest the van I chose - an 8 passenger Sienna. Get a 2010 model, because you get 3 adult-sized chairs. The middle one is a full 20" wide.
 
That lets you put 3 kids there, and just one in the back row. You can split fold the back row and get a big, L-shaped cargo area, for a lot of cargo.
 
You can also seat 6 children.
 
Here is a huge image:
 
http://www.toyota.com/img/vehicles/2010/sienna/gallery/full/2009-Sienna-14.jpg
 
Imagine you fold the 60 portion of the 3rd row, you'd have plenty of cargo space. The only catch is the 4th child would sit alone and next to cargo, so make sure it's secured to the tie-downs that are supplied.

#1829 of 1874 Re: Advice Needed MV or SUV [ateixeira] by cschafer

Jan 19, 2010 (1:48 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 19, 2010 1:22 pm)
OK - so I love the layout however in looking at the model online I discovered a few more things that I would like to have......leather, heated seats, camera, dvd, etc. The 8-passenger Toyota is not available in any configuration that includes leather. Any other thoughts - I really do like the layout of the 8 seater. Thx.

#1830 of 1874 Re: Advice Needed MV or SUV [cschafer] by ateixeira

Jan 19, 2010 (2:09 pm)

Replying to: cschafer (Jan 19, 2010 1:48 pm)
Yes, good point, 8 passenger only comes with the CE and LE models. You could add aftermarket Katskins leather if you really had to, but other equipment would still be missing..
 
The Odyssey offers an 8 seat model, but the seat is more narrow, it's really just a bridge between the 2 others seats. I'm not sure if 3 child seats across would even fit, as the seats tend to be fairly wide.
 
Ody and Sienna are the only 2 minivans to offer 8 seats, IIRC.
 
Here's a pic of that van's interior:
 
http://automobiles.honda.com/images/2009/odyssey/interior/interior-header.jpg
 
I would test-fit your car seats first, to make sure they fit. It has fewer tether anchors, too, I've heard.
 
Toyota will launch a new Sienna soon, but the middle row looks more like the Ody's, with a narrow mother-in-law seat in the middle. Can't find a pic with the 8th seat, but it would go between these chairs:
 
http://image.automobilemag.com/f/31553694+w750+st0/2011-toyota-sienna-interior-s- econd-row-seats.jpg

#1831 of 1874 About to find out... by occupant1

May 17, 2010 (4:25 am)

Whether 'tis nobler to weather the slings and arrows of being a minivan owner, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by driving an SUV, end them...
 
My wife has given the go-ahead to try and sell our 2000 Durango (199K, 2WD, 318, 6-passenger) to attempt to purchase a same generation Chrysler minivan (I found a well-kept '98 T&C with 184K locally, the guy is willing to trade even up).
 
Our Durango has been an interesting purchase. We bought it from a dealer in Oklahoma on eBay, knowing three things: a) it was a good looking truck inside and out, b) the engine was known to be bad, and c) it was a bank repossession with 172K on it. For $1700 in February 2009, it was a good deal. I went to a junkyard and purchased a 124K mile engine for $600 and paid $550 for my local mechanic to install it. We had a running driving truck with cold AC for the next year. Two problems got fixed, one, the torque converter bolts backed out and our mechanic fixed this for free, and two, the radiator and water pump failed. We had those fixed for about $230 each and it's been great. Now the A/C has a leak at the port where you fill it, and it's a $120 part. So we're looking into the minivan thing, because finding a third row seat to match the interior is driving my wife and I crazy. They're either the wrong color, or the wrong fabric, or the junkyard wants $400+ for the setup.
 
If nothing else, it will be a learning experience. The last Chrysler van I drove was a taxi in Dallas, a 1999 Grand Voyager with the 3.3L. It was very comfortable to drive and I look forward to that experience with the Chrysler. I'll update here as needed. I know my wife will miss her truck, but I also know she would love to take our kids to see my grandmother for the first time before she passes, and with the 6-passenger Durango, one of us would have to stay home.

#1832 of 1874 Re: About to find out... [occupant1] by ateixeira

May 17, 2010 (11:39 am)

Replying to: occupant1 (May 17, 2010 4:25 am)
You must have some funny junk-yard stories to tell.
 
Good luck with the swap.

#1833 of 1874 Re: About to find out... [occupant1] by steve_ HOST

May 18, 2010 (4:36 pm)

Replying to: occupant1 (May 17, 2010 4:25 am)
I just did a quickie road trip and saw one car broken down on the side of the road in 3 days. It was an old Caravan/Voyager - it was a short wheel base one like my old '89. It was probably pushing 250,000 miles.
 
I had a rental Grand Caravan a couple of years back and it drove well. I was happy with the free upgrade.
 
Oh, I need tires on my current van so we took the Outback. It'll hold everything we need, but the van sure is easier to pack. More comfy too.

#1834 of 1874 press request by kirstie_h HOST

Jun 03, 2010 (12:42 pm)

A reporter wants to talk with recent buyers of a 6+ seat vehicle. Please respond to predmunds.com by Friday, June 4, 2010 and be sure to include your phone number and the vehicle model you own.
Thanks,
Jeannine Fallon
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com

Messages Page 184 of 188

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