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Minivans - Domestic or Foreign

3643 messages,  Last post on May 20, 2009 at 6:32 AM

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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

#3634 of 3643 Re: Torque Curves [ateixeira] by lavrishevo May 15, 2009 (3:34 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (May 15, 2009 11:30 am) Isn't big screens in the back fantastic!   Now let me ask you something... are you quoting your model or the current model? Correct me if I am wrong but don't you have an 06 from the previous design? Maybe I am wrong but I thought I remember you mentioning this.   I hear ya on the lateral grip, and 0 - 60 times. But I can pass on that for saving over 8 grand and getting all the options I wanted. ESC, ABS, TPMS, 8 airbags, and setting the standard for safety for the first van with 5 star in every category. Not to mention 10 / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty standard and 6 / 60,000 bumper - bumper.   and I quote... . Insurance Institute for Highway Safety As of Jan. 2009 Top Safety Picks 2009 by Editors of IIHS.gov 4 stars Credibility Rating{?} Our Assessment   The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash-tests cars and trucks, mimicking front, side and rear-end collisions. Cars are rated based on how well they withstand each crash. In order to merit… recognition as a top safety pick, a car must earn the highest rating of "good" in all three crash tests, plus offer electronic stability control. The Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona and Honda Odyssey are awarded the Top Safety Pick rating for the second straight year.    National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Not Dated 5-Star Safety Ratings by Editors of SaferCar.gov 4 stars Credibility Rating{?} Our Assessment   NHTSA crash-test ratings for most 2009 vans and minivans are included here in a simple chart format. Vehicles are assigned a rating of one to five stars based on performance in front-impact, side-impact and… rollover tests. Of the minivans featured in our report, only two -- the Toyota Sienna and Mazda5 -- do not achieve five-star impact and four-star rollover ratings, although their ratings are almost that high. Replies to this message: ateixeira (May 18, 2009 12:17 pm) lavrishevo (May 19, 2009 4:20 pm) ateixeira (May 20, 2009 6:32 am)
#3635 of 3643 Re: Torque Curves [lavrishevo] by thegraduate May 15, 2009 (3:48 pm)
Replying to: lavrishevo (May 15, 2009 5:20 am) I own a Sedona not a Entourage by the way. So I guess that makes me a Kia guy...   It's a case of 6 of one, a half dozen of the other. The vans are as different as the Town & Country and Grand Caravan (read: not very).
#3637 of 3643 Is Dodge that bad? by voiceofstl May 16, 2009 (6:58 am)
I am still pretty new here. But I am shocked by how few posters here own Dodges/Chryslers, I know that Dodge had their problems with the infamous 4 speed tranny back in the 80's and early 90's but I believe that Hondas had great problems with thier trannys also.   I'm not a super buy American man but I say if its close buy American. Especcially in these times when our fellow Americans can use our help. I still say dollar for dollar the Dodge is the best buy. Replies to this message: lavrishevo (May 16, 2009 9:44 am) ateixeira (May 18, 2009 12:20 pm)
#3638 of 3643 Re: Is Dodge that bad? [voiceofstl] by lavrishevo May 16, 2009 (9:44 am)
Replying to: voiceofstl (May 16, 2009 6:58 am) In all honesty Dodge was the first van I looked stand if any van felt underpowered, this is in 06, and lacked many of the standard features offered by others it was the Dodge. I think they are decent vans and their engines / tranny's are good but the just are not exciting in any way to drive. Plus their safety is way under par compared to the Koreans. I agree and I wish to support the American economy but not at the expense of my family.
#3639 of 3643 Domestic or foreign by petaka May 16, 2009 (10:45 am)
Problems with my ten year old Quest have me going over this tread but it seems that somehow the domestic folks have put themselves out of business. Take my Quest/Villager (built by Ford and Nissan). It has a decent size and power and it is extremely comfortable. So why couldn't Ford keep building something similar? Both Ford and Nissan replaced it with their own tuna boats and the Ford version was so unappealing that it has been discontinued. Kia, Chrysler, Mazda and Toyota used to have smaller vans but the alluring thing was to build tuna boats. I would like to help the domestics but so far the only one that comes close to my old Quest is the Sienna.
#3640 of 3643 Re: Torque Curves [lavrishevo] by ateixeira May 18, 2009 (12:17 pm)
Replying to: lavrishevo (May 15, 2009 3:34 pm) I waited for the 2007 model Sienna, because I REALLY wanted that 3.5l chain-driven V6. Lots more power, no more fuel, no belt to change.   Like I said, if I had seen $8 grand savings I'd be driving a Korean van now.   NHTSA and IIHS have not tested a 2007+ Sienna, and I think they should because it's a totally different engine block from the 2004-2006 3.3l V6, plus there were changes to the firewall and to the front door pillars.   Even so, you can watch videos here:   http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/safety-recalls/carcrashtest/crashtestvid- eo.htm   Sienna earned a Good score from IIHS in frontal offset and in the side impact tests, and that's the best score possible. Replies to this message: lavrishevo (May 19, 2009 4:20 pm) ateixeira (May 20, 2009 6:32 am)
#3641 of 3643 Re: Is Dodge that bad? [voiceofstl] by ateixeira May 18, 2009 (12:20 pm)
Replying to: voiceofstl (May 16, 2009 6:58 am) FWIW, when I was minivan shopping the latest Dodge van was not out yet. The old one didn't even have 2nd row windows that open, and my kids really wanted that.   I have seen the new one since and I don't feel like I missed out on anything. Features are clever but execution could be a lot better. Maybe Fiat will get it right.
#3642 of 3643 Re: Torque Curves [ateixeira] by lavrishevo May 19, 2009 (4:20 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (May 18, 2009 12:17 pm) I have really spent all my life in the U.S. and purchased 4 cars from various parts of the country. I became the dealers archenemy... hehe I was ruthless when it came to negotiating a deal.   In the states the price difference would be closer to 4 - 6 thousand as you mentioned but here in PR it is a different story, especially factoring the excise tax. Can you imagine paying 31 - 32 grand minimum for a Ody? what a joke! Life in the Caribbean... But then again PR makes Florida look like the beaches in Jersey...   I also test drover the older version Dodge, hated it. I had a 08 Caravan for a rental, hated it as well and it had nothing to do with it being a rental. It just felt so blah to drive, sight lines are terrible, engine noise, uncomfortable seats, poorly designed interior, and ugly to boot. I am so, so happy I did not wait for the new Dodge back at the end of 06. Again, this is just my personal experience and I am sure there are people who will swear by the new Caravan but I was not impressed in the least. As I wrote in a post while back, while my van was having the bumper painted and replaced in the body shop I was driving the caravan and could not wait to get the Sedona back. Not to mention the Dodge only had I think a little over 8,000 miles on it. Replies to this message: ateixeira (May 20, 2009 6:32 am)
#3643 of 3643 Re: Torque Curves [lavrishevo] by ateixeira May 20, 2009 (6:32 am)
Replying to: lavrishevo (May 19, 2009 4:20 pm) No, I can't imagine paying more than $30 grand for a vehicle my family needs, but I really don't "want". A van is something you have to buy, and then when you do, you like it. To spend more than $30 grand I'd hope to feel passionate about it, so no thanks.   I drove my van down to Florida in January, and my brother rented a Dodge van. I drove it from the hotel to a store around the corner, so it was a quick hop, but I wasn't really impressed, the interior materials were awful. To be fair the rental ones are usually mid-level models without anything fancy, but then again so is my Sienna.   My van was also much quicker and I was getting much better mileage than my brother got on the same drives, though he has one more kid and may have had a bit more weight in his van.

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