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Minivans vs SUVs (Vans & SUVs Board)

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

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

#1756 of 1826 Re: Timing chain replacement schedule for 2001 3.3L Caravan?? [bjudge] by autowrite Dec 28, 2008 (8:07 pm)
Replying to: bjudge (Nov 08, 2008 9:11 am) My 1982 Ford Travel van E150 broke a timing chain (350V8) at 278,000 kms, in 1993 and screwed up the piston timing and the cost was too much to bare so dumped it in Ford dealer's lap and used what I gaught ($750) for a 1 year old 1992 Ford Taurus, long-stoke. I currently have a 214,000 kms 2002 Honda Odyssey and replaced the timing belt (V6) and water pump at 154,000 kms. The book ways to replace the belt at 168,000 and inspect the water pump; but since the pump is in the same area it is wise to replace at the same time (no use spending double the money if the pump goes lateer). By-the-way a FWD Minivan makes more sense to me for the great cargo space over any vehcile; exvept a gas-guzzling FULL-SIZE van.   Ontario, Canada Replies to this message: ateixeira (Dec 29, 2008 10:08 am) jayhawk70 (Feb 01, 2009 11:23 pm) mnrep2 (Feb 02, 2009 3:10 am) ateixeira (Feb 02, 2009 12:53 pm)
#1757 of 1826 Re: Timing chain replacement schedule for 2001 3.3L Caravan?? [autowrite] by ateixeira Dec 29, 2008 (10:08 am)
Replying to: autowrite (Dec 28, 2008 8:07 pm) That's still a pretty long interval. Let's see, 278k km is 164k miles. A lot of vehicles don't last that long. Replies to this message: jayhawk70 (Feb 01, 2009 11:23 pm) mnrep2 (Feb 02, 2009 3:10 am) ateixeira (Feb 02, 2009 12:53 pm)
#1758 of 1826 Re: Timing chain replacement schedule for 2001 3.3L Caravan?? [ateixeira] by jayhawk70 Feb 01, 2009 (11:23 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Dec 29, 2008 10:08 am) I know this is a late response, but just want to add that our 96 Grand Caravan has never had the timing belt changed or serviced, and we are at 236,000 miles.   Biggest service expense we've had was a transmission that needed rebuilding at 140,000 miles. That cost $1500, and the transmission has now lasted almost another 100,000 miles since the rebuild and still working fine.   All other problems were sometimes irritating, but relatively inexpensive and easy to fix. Two O2 sensors, 1 Manifold Air Pressure sensor, and a couple of window regulators. (did the window regulators and the MAP sensor myself).   In 45 years of driving all kinds of vehicles, there is nothing like a minivan for all around usefulness. Hauls an amazing amount of stuff and/or people, and in great comfort. Great for long distance trips, or short runs around town. Hauled kids to all their activities as they grew up, then moved their stuff to college, apartments, etc. Hauls lumber, including 4x8 sheets of plywood for home improvement projects, and many other bulky materials.   Cannot see any rational reason for a family getting an SUV unless you need to tow something big or if you live in snow country and cannot find a minivan with AWD. (of course, these days, they call a minivan with AWD a Crossover...)   --jayhawk Replies to this message: mnrep2 (Feb 02, 2009 3:10 am) ateixeira (Feb 02, 2009 12:53 pm)
#1759 of 1826 Re: Timing chain replacement schedule for 2001 3.3L Caravan?? [jayhawk70] by mnrep2 Feb 02, 2009 (3:10 am)
Replying to: jayhawk70 (Feb 01, 2009 11:23 pm) I have to second your sentiments about the "lowly" minivan! We don't have kids but have always owned one because I demonstrate equipment. Except for a full size suburban, there isn't an suv out there that can carry the cargo a mini van can, and still offer low 20's mpg, while offering a car like ride.   I don't carry equipment around as often as I used to but we will still always have one minivan in the fleet.
#1760 of 1826 Re: Timing chain replacement schedule for 2001 3.3L Caravan?? [jayhawk70] by ateixeira Feb 02, 2009 (12:53 pm)
Replying to: jayhawk70 (Feb 01, 2009 11:23 pm) there is nothing like a minivan for all around usefulness   So true...   I just got back from a family reunion in Florida. The amount of people (up to 8 at any given time) and especially luggage that thing carried was incredible. And it handled the payload well, no bottoming out, and nothing had to go on the roof.   Coming back from Florida to DC it carried 6 people and their luggage, and almost all of the luggage in the cargo area (up to the ceiling). Everyone was comfortable so no compromising. We had about a dozen suitcases, 2 of them oversized.   The utility can't be beat.   Oh, and they watched movies coming back. No asking "are we there yet?"   We hauled coming back (dad hit 90 at one point) and had lots of weight, so mileage was just 24 mpg or so. I usually do 27-30 with a lighter load and at more prudent speeds.
#1761 of 1826 looking for a minivan by mlezuke Sep 30, 2009 (8:45 am)
I am currently a mother of two, a one year old and a six year old. However, I will have a new addition to our family in several months. We will have two full size car seats and a booster seat. I will also have two strollers and a pack and play. Therefore, i have come to the dreadful conclusion that at the age of 28, i need a minivan. I am having a hard time deciding which one to choose. We put about 20,000 miles on my car every year. I like the idea of stow and go seating, would like a rear entertainment system, automatic doors, and a few bells and whistles. I have always driven foreign cars (my last two were a VW and a honda) but I am not opposed to domestic (my husband is a ford man). We would like to stay around 20,000 or less whith less than 30,000 miles. Does anyone have a suggestion? Thanks. Replies to this message: ateixeira (Sep 30, 2009 11:41 am) thegraduate (Sep 30, 2009 8:28 pm) ateixeira (Oct 01, 2009 10:30 am)
#1762 of 1826 Re: looking for a minivan [mlezuke] by ateixeira Sep 30, 2009 (11:41 am)
Replying to: mlezuke (Sep 30, 2009 8:45 am) If you want to carry all 3 kids in the 2nd row, your best bet is a Toyota Sienna.   The Ody is the only other van to even offer 8 seats, and there's no way it will be wide enough for an infant seat, a child safety seat, and a booster, all 3 side-by-side.   Better still, in the Sienna you can position the middle seat forward, so you can reach the baby from your seat. The older kids would sit outboard. Plus you would still have 99 cubic feet behind that row, i.e. tons of space.   In any other van you'll need the use the 3rd row for that 6 year old, and he/she will feel cheated.   Tip: get power doors, they're great (LE 8-passenger w/pkg 2 or higher). Replies to this message: thegraduate (Sep 30, 2009 8:28 pm) ateixeira (Oct 01, 2009 10:30 am)
#1763 of 1826 Re: looking for a minivan [ateixeira] by thegraduate Sep 30, 2009 (8:28 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Sep 30, 2009 11:41 am) In any other van you'll need the use the 3rd row for that 6 year old, and he/she will feel cheated.      In my family, my cousins in a similar boat here. The family now has a 2001 Navigator, with a 3 year old, 5 year old, and an 8 year old. Since he could put on his seatbelt, he's LOVED finally being on the third row, being the "big boy: all by himself. All he has to do is walk between the captains chairs, just like in a 7-passenger minivan, except in today's minivans, the rear seat accomodations are MUCH more comfortable than the back of an old Navigator.   Just a thought; it may actually be preferable to have the two captains chairs in the 7-passenger Sienna or the 8-passenger Odyssey with the removeable center 2nd row seat. That way, he/she can get back to the 3rd row without having to move a carseat/booster seat to move the 2nd row chair out of the way for them to get back there   Both the Odyssey and Sienna are nice vans which are aging relatively gracefully (the Odyssey debuted in '05, while the Sienna debuted in '04 and has gotten a new powertrain in the last two years). Putting that many miles on a van, you might also consider the Entourage or Sedona with their 100k warranty. If you're grimacing a lot about checking out a minivan, I'd suggest at least looking at the Chevrolet Traverse/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook/Buick Enclave by General Motors. They are the roomiest crossovers, offer similar economy to the vans (while still not having the amount of room as a minivan), and lots of luxury options.   Ateixeira won't lead you astray; he has an 8-passenger Sienna and loves it. I've put many miles on an '05 Odyssey and love that it handles like a 120% Accord; very carlike and feels smaller than it really is. The Sienna wins in the engine-department, while the Odyssey is simply the better drive of the two.   Happy hunting! Replies to this message: ateixeira (Oct 01, 2009 10:30 am)
#1764 of 1826 Re: looking for a minivan [thegraduate] by ateixeira Oct 01, 2009 (10:30 am)
Replying to: thegraduate (Sep 30, 2009 8:28 pm) Funny thing is besides the Sienna the best 2nd row I've seen was in the Navigator's clone, a plain old Ford Expedition. It also has 3 individual seats for the 2nd row.   When you don't need to put passengers in the 3rd row, you have SOOO much more cargo space.   A friend of mine has 3 kids and traded a Suburban with a 2nd row bench for a Chevy Traverse with captain's chairs. She must always use the 3rd row for one kid, so her cargo space is less than half of what it was before. She's had trouble adjusting to packing so light for trips.   The Ody is a lot bigger than a Traverse, so that may not be a problem, but check it out carefully, take the kids with you, ask them if they are comfortable, make sure you still have enough room for gear.   We chose our Sienna democratically - both kids and even the nanny had a say in our purchase. Everyone voted Yes for the Sienna. Other vehicles got 3 or 4 votes, but nothing else was unanimously liked by all.   I vetoed the Expedition because of horrible gas mileage and because it drives like a truck!
#1765 of 1826 looking for a CARGO van by grumpyoldguy Oct 01, 2009 (3:41 pm)
Looking at the soon-to-be-released Nissan NV2500. This looks like a $45,000 vehicle. I LOVE the size. I was thinking about buying Dodge Sprinter but it's reliability is questionable. Does anyone know is there are plans to make a basic plain-jane cargo version of the NV2500? Hopefully, I could get one for around $30,000. I want to be the NV of the neighborhood! Replies to this message: steve_ (Oct 01, 2009 3:48 pm) ateixeira (Oct 02, 2009 10:47 am)

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