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Minivans - Domestic or Foreign

3798 messages,  Last post on Mar 31, 2013 at 5:37 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Dodge Caravan, Chevrolet Venture, Mazda MPV, Kia Sedona, Honda Odyssey, Chevrolet Uplander, Nissan Quest, Hyundai Entourage, Van

Messages Page 329 of 381

#3276 of 3798 Re: Help me decide which is best [forgop] by marine2

Sep 29, 2007 (8:32 pm)

Replying to: forgop (Sep 26, 2007 8:03 am)
I had originally set my heart out on a used Odyssey. In the price range I was looking(around $11-12k), it looks like I'd have to settle on around an '02 with over 100k miles on it.
  
I have a co-worker that has asked about my interest in an '05 Grand Caravan with virtually every option out there, including navigation, DVD, etc. It only has 34k miles and has a 100k mile extended warranty. He's asking $18k for it.
  
I'm torn-I know my wife would love the stow and go. I'd certainly love buying something that has more bells and whistles that I wouldn't get buying an Odyssey, but I'll also get a vehicle that only has 1/3 to 1/4 of the miles I'd have to get along with the warranty to boot. Buying an Odyssey of similar mileage/options would cost a LOT more.
  
What would you do?
 
I have a 2005 DGC and it's been trouble free going on three years. I think 18 is a little high, but maybe not if it has leather, navigation, DVD and warranty.
 
Stow-N-Go is a very nice feature. It can hold a whole lot of stuff, including a small television you can plug into one of your outlets. blankets and pillows if you go camping.
 
I keep one passenger middle seat stowed most of the time so the dog has a place to set, or if I want to haul something big and already set up, like a bassinet. The side door is much better to load stuff like that, than using the tailgate.
 
Don't be fooled about those middle seats being uncomfortable. Maybe if your 230 lbs., but not for the average person. I have made two trips from Arizona to Ohio in it and my brother sat in them both times.(2,000 miles one way) He never complained about them. They are firmer and narrower, but far from being uncomfortable.
 
The advantage having to be able to stow those seats and have all that storage room, makes those seats a real bargain. I like the idea that they have arm rests on them too and the seats can lean back. Something you can't get on some bench seats.
 
I think you'd be happy with the Dodge. With the 100,000 warranty, you have little to worry about.

#3277 of 3798 Re: Help me decide which is best [marine2] by bobber1

Sep 29, 2007 (8:38 pm)

Replying to: marine2 (Sep 29, 2007 8:32 pm)
I disagree on the comfort level of the Stow n Go. Those things are the hardest, most uncomfortable seats I've ever sat in. If it's kids riding in them most of the time, however you'll be fine.

#3278 of 3798 Re: Help me decide which is best [bobber1] by marine2

Sep 29, 2007 (8:46 pm)

Replying to: bobber1 (Sep 29, 2007 8:38 pm)
I disagree on the comfort level of the Stow n Go. Those things are the hardest, most uncomfortable seats I've ever sat in. If it's kids riding in them most of the time, however you'll be fine.
 
Well my brother isn't any kid and a 4,000 mile round trip is a long time to sit in them and he hasn't complained. Now if you don't lift the head rest up, you'll complain. I have had others set in them for short trips of less than 60 miles and they never complained either. Maybe you have a more than tender rear end.

#3279 of 3798 Re: Help me decide which is best [marine2] by hypnosis44

Sep 29, 2007 (11:21 pm)

Replying to: marine2 (Sep 29, 2007 8:46 pm)
Several friends and I took an 800 mile trip in an '05 Chrysler van and had no complaints or problems with the seats at all. It should be a good value, especially with the extended warranty. My friend has had no problems with hers except a very hard to locate rattle that the dealer did finally cure. It has about 35K on it.

#3280 of 3798 Re: Help me decide which is best [marine2] by hause7

Sep 29, 2007 (11:56 pm)

Replying to: marine2 (Sep 29, 2007 8:32 pm)
We had those seats in our previous 05 Town&country, they were very uncomfortable, especially when compared to the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna's rear seats. i am 5' 11" and 175 pounds, so i would say the average peron, and they sucked to me and had a cheap feel to them, one of our stow n' go seats got stuck in the well, had to take a trip to the dealer to get it out, it was quite funny explaining to the dealer what was wrong.

#3281 of 3798 Re: Help me decide which is best [hause7] by dennisctc

Sep 30, 2007 (7:43 am)

Replying to: hause7 (Sep 29, 2007 11:56 pm)
I guess different strokes for different folks. People use to complain about German seats being so firm/hard, but they're considered some of the best seats for long hauls and in the industry. A friend of mine works for GM and they marvel at VW's seats because ALL VW/Audis use the same basic seat structure and whether you get a Beetle or an A8, they're design for comfort from day one. GM has DOZENs of seat designs with every division doing their own thing, never sharing knowledge etc...
 
I've been in my Stow N Go seats to Toronto a few times, with no complaints after a 5 hour drive. My elderly parents have been in them for hours and I asked what they thought. They had no issues. You can't beat em for ease of use and flexibility. I love not taking seats in and out for camping trips or big Home Depot runs. It'll be interesting to see when or if others bring out anything like them. It would take a commitment to a specific minivan chassis for Honda for example because the Oddy, Ridge, Pilot and MDX all share same architecture. Will they come up with a better mousetrap, compromise "comfort" or stick with what they have?

#3282 of 3798 Re: Help me decide which is best [marine2] by bobber1

Sep 30, 2007 (8:44 am)

Replying to: marine2 (Sep 29, 2007 8:46 pm)
Marine2 I'm 6'1" and weigh about 200 pounds. I've been known to ride a horse all day, so my butt's fairly tough. Actually it was probably the back support which lacked more than anything.
 
Hey I think the rest of the minivan is a good value and the stow N go's are handy. They had to make some sacrifices is eat comfort to make the seats work. If you sat a Chrysler next to all it's major competitors and sat in the second row seats, you'd note the difference. That's what I did when I was shopping.

#3283 of 3798 Re: Help me decide which is best [bobber1] by strawboss1

Sep 30, 2007 (8:56 am)

Replying to: bobber1 (Sep 30, 2007 8:44 am)
We take our '06 T&C Limited on long trips, 4 generous sized adults, so someone has to sit in the stow n go seat at least for a little while. Husband is 6', 250, so it's not his favorite seat, but if we stick a DVD in the player, he forgets all about it. He doesn't complain, but he would rather sit up front, of course! To me, the stow n go convenience outweighs the neglible difference in seats. No van is perfect, you just have to put your top wants and deal breakers on a piece of paper, and go from there. I drove the Honda, with him in the backseat, and it was nice, but any seat over the long haul is going to tire butts, no matter how ample or flat. My dogs couldn't lay flat up near us, so that was our deal breaker on the other vans. Everyone is different, but I think all the vans offer good, different things. It's just what you want out of your van.

#3284 of 3798 Re: Help me decide which is best [hause7] by marine2

Sep 30, 2007 (10:02 am)

Replying to: hause7 (Sep 29, 2007 11:56 pm)
We had those seats in our previous 05 Town&country, they were very uncomfortable, especially when compared to the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna's rear seats. i am 5' 11" and 175 pounds, so i would say the average peron, and they sucked to me and had a cheap feel to them, one of our stow n' go seats got stuck in the well, had to take a trip to the dealer to get it out, it was quite funny explaining to the dealer what was wrong.
 
If your going to compare the middle stow-n-go seats to the Ody or Sienna for softness, of course the stow-n-go will come in last. That's a given. They are firmer, but they are far from being uncomfortable. But those of us that bought the Chrysler/Dodge, mainly for the convenience of stowing the seats instead of removing them when we needed the room and loved the large storage bins, did so knowing they wouldn't be as comfortable, but also knowing they had big advantages over the Ody and Sienna for those of us that use our vans for more than people haulers. If all your going to do is haul people and don't need to worry about storage, Chrysler's stow-n-go is not for you. But there are many people like myself that hate having your van or truck messed up with toys, tools, jump cables, blankets, etc. That like the idea of going into a store, buying something, stowing it out of sight in those bins and then leaving it to go to another store. Not worrying someone will look in and see it laying on the floor.
 
I love the idea we can go to some place like park and swap and if I see something I like, I don't have to go home and take out my seats and go back and load it.
 
About a year ago, I went into Sears to get a bassinet for our daughter. They only had the floor model left and I took it. I dropped the middle passenger seat and slid it in the side door, standing up. Did the same thing with an air compressor. I would have had to pick it up to get it in the rear hatch. I only had to bend the handle down and slide it in the side door. No heavy lifting.
 
So yes, you give up a little softness in the middle seats for the convenience of stow-n-go. To me it was a no brainer. I got rid of a truck because of the stow-n-go seats and have never been sorry.
 
I also disagree with them having a cheap feel to them. The seats have a solid steel frame and the cloth is the same as the other seats, the arm rest are firm. There is nothing cheap about them. Even the cover over the bins are steel and solid. I think most people who own one will agree.

#3285 of 3798 Re: Help me decide which is best [marine2] by jipster

Sep 30, 2007 (2:25 pm)

Replying to: marine2 (Sep 29, 2007 8:46 pm)
and he hasn't complained... I have had others sit...
 
Did you ever ask him/them? If I was a guest in someone else's vehicle I sure wouldn't be telling the owner that the seats suck...may find myself walking home.

Messages Page 329 of 381

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