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Minivans - Domestic or Foreign

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

You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum.

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 360 of 381

#3584 of 3798 What to get???....need help by kiams

Feb 05, 2009 (5:06 pm)

I have posted this question elsewhere, but now that I found this thread, I might as well re-post it here.
 
I'm on the verge of becoming a "van-Dad", albeit unwillingly, and I have been fielding different views on which van to get. My initial purchase is $10K, with no desire to do financing...I want outright owneship of the vehile...and with this 10K burning a hole in my pocket, I need to locate a van before too long.
 
What I'm looking for is dual power sliding doors, and possibly power lift gate. I have a toddler who will need a wheelchair, so the less we have to fumble with the doors the better.
  
In another forum (not edmunds), someone recommended Mazda MPV since apparently, their reliability had improved dramatically since 2000 MY redesign. I took a test drive in one this afternoon, and I liked it. A quick survey in Autotrader (within 100 miles of Boston) revealed 2 choices
  
1.) 2004 Mazda MPV LX with 12K miles --> asking $12,500. Has clean carfax, 1-owner and is at a mazda dealership
  
2.) 2004 Mazda MPV LX with 63K miles --> asking $6,900. Has clean carfax, 3-owners and is at a GMC-Pontiac-Buick dealership
  
What to do now??...buy high miles half price and save the moolah, or buy low miles and add 3K to the budget....aaarrgh! I am getting a headache
  
Drum roll now is on 2004 Sienna (high miles) v.s. 2004 MPV (high miles for $7K) v.s. 2004 MPV (low miles for $12.5K)

#3585 of 3798 Re: What to get???....need help [kiams] by jchan2

Feb 05, 2009 (7:24 pm)

Replying to: kiams (Feb 05, 2009 5:06 pm)
Get the low miles MPV LX, try to negotiate it down to $11,000 flat.
 
3 owners for any car with only 70K miles is trouble; try to get as few owners as possible on a used car.

#3586 of 3798 Re: What to get???....need help [kiams] by thegraduate

Feb 05, 2009 (8:51 pm)

Replying to: kiams (Feb 05, 2009 5:06 pm)
I'd stick with my budget and go from there.

#3587 of 3798 Re: What to get???....need help [kiams] by yatesjo

Feb 05, 2009 (10:55 pm)

Replying to: kiams (Feb 05, 2009 5:06 pm)
I'm with jchan. Avoid the one that's been through 3 owners already.
If the MPV is enough vehicle for your needs, don't bother with the Sienna.
Go for the MPV with low miles and knock the price down a bit. If they're smart they'll give up on the ridiculous $12.5k asking price and let you have it at your $10k budget. If not, keep looking.

#3588 of 3798 Re: What to get???....need help [kiams] by ateixeira

Feb 06, 2009 (11:06 am)

Replying to: kiams (Feb 05, 2009 5:06 pm)
I like the MPV and considered it my favorite van for a long time before I bought my Sienna. My friends kept telling me it might not be big enough for my needs.
 
I'm glad they told me that because at times I've used every bit of space in our Sienna, and today the MPV seems small to me. With a wheelchair you may want to consider how much cargo room you'll have since the chair itself already takes up some space.
 
I think the side-by-slide seats in the 2nd row are an industry-best, though.

#3589 of 3798 Re: What to get???....need help [kiams] by hause7

Feb 06, 2009 (3:33 pm)

Replying to: kiams (Feb 05, 2009 5:06 pm)
I don't want to sound Bias. I only say stay away from the MPV because of a close family friend's personal experience. I mean they are cool looking minivans, our friend drives an 04 LX with the sport package in that Dark Green color. BUT they are on there 3rd transmission at 72,000 miles! 2 of them replaced under warranty. I don't know if it's reliability dropped because it's basically a Ford drivetrain or what, but they are looking to get rid of theirs.
 
Go with a used Sienna or Odyssey. You can find them for that price, probably more Sienna's because the Odyssey's tend to be more pricey used.
 
good luck.

#3590 of 3798 85% chance it' gonna be Oddy by kiams

Feb 07, 2009 (9:19 am)

I had a chance to drive an 2005 Oddy EX-L and I have to admit,...me likey likey...
 
I just layed 10 separate Bank of America envelopes with ten $100 bills inside on the table at a Toyota dealership after the test drive and the used car manager threw a hissy fit...
 
He goes, "I got that car for more 11K, I have put $1000 work into it, here's the invoices...I'm not gonna let that car go for less than $12,900"
 
I just picked up my envelopes, smiled and asked him to call me when the van is there on day 59....BTW the van was at their sister Honda dealership for more than 75 days...and it's been at the Toyota dealeship for 25 days so far...
 
Oh and by the way, I got introduced to a friend who has a dealer license and says he can get me a 2005 Honda Odyssey EX-L with less than 60K from the auction for 10K plus $350 service fee and $350 auction fees and $750 warranty (5yrs/100K) coverage...total $11,500...does this sound feasible?

#3591 of 3798 Re: Used or new [hause7] by eandlcubed

Feb 07, 2009 (9:27 am)

Replying to: hause7 (Jan 11, 2009 11:28 pm)
for hause7. your email is marked 'private' so i can't send you mail. if you are the same hause on sienna club, i want to ask if you knew the site is down? i tried and it directed me to the same url but more like a search engine. thanks -ecandlcubed

#3592 of 3798 Re: Used or new [eandlcubed] by hause7

Feb 07, 2009 (2:57 pm)

Replying to: eandlcubed (Feb 07, 2009 9:27 am)
Hey Yeah I been trying to get on since Thursday. It has been pissing me off . This blonde girl pops up and shows RELATED SEARCHES. I hope it's not down for good.
Man I hope they fix it.

#3593 of 3798 Re: 85% chance it' gonna be Oddy [kiams] by jchan2

Feb 07, 2009 (10:39 pm)

Replying to: kiams (Feb 07, 2009 9:19 am)
I don't know about the '05 Odyssey; it still a somewhat flimsy transmission design that fails at a higher rate than the newer ones; it could be a roll of the dice. Odysseys have had some serious transmission issues in the 1999-2004 design, and some of those bugs could have rolled over into the '05s. The transmission was strengthened in 2007 with a newer design.
 
Although at $11,500 it seems like a decent price. With the 5 years, 100K warranty, I'd probably give it a shot.

Messages Page 360 of 381

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