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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 381 of 381

#3792 of 3798 Re: Used van [banditboy] by banditboy

Feb 04, 2012 (10:39 am)

Replying to: banditboy (Feb 04, 2012 9:56 am)
One more
2010 LE/w 42k miles. 17,700

#3793 of 3798 Re: Used van [banditboy] by ateixeira

Feb 06, 2012 (12:35 pm)

Replying to: banditboy (Feb 04, 2012 10:39 am)
Well, don't get any car your wife hates, because marriage counseling costs more than any car payment.

#3794 of 3798 Need seating for six, and third row that will fit TALL people by auntierows1

Mar 22, 2013 (12:41 am)

I am so frustrated. We have a 2001 Venuture that we bought new, need to get rid of and get something used. We will not get another Venture, ours has been a piece of junk from the get-go, thankfully we paid $300 for an extended warranty! which paid for itself a few times over five months after the manufacturer's warranty ran out (manifold gasket I think, plus something else) and at least $3500 more in repairs before that ran out. It is wheezing and gasping yet again, this time needing a new CV joint, another valve job, transmission, etc. No more money is going into it. We want to buy used, preferably 2007, vehicle with third row seating. We are on a very limited budget, and after the Venture fiasco insist on buying something that we can purchase a warranty on (hence the 07) but everything seems to small. We will also not even consider the Uplander or Terraza because of the issues they have had.
 
We have two teenagers, one who is 6'4, the other already 6'0 who will be driving, riding in middle row and often riding in the third row. We will also be transporting my parents (who aren't handicapped but can't climb into a third row anymore) on an increasing basis. We thought we had the answer in the Sedona until we put the kids in it. They fit fine in the front, marginally in the middle and the third row was borderline on dangerous. There seems to be tether/anchor clips of some kind on the ceiling right where their heads go. The taller one's head doesn't fit under it, the shorter one's head skims it. If we were to hit even a speed bump they could be injured, and the leg room is inadequate.
 
When I look at specs on line, nothing looks like it is any bigger than the Sedona by enough to fit them. We can't afford a SUV new enough to qualify for a warranty, and a sedan is out due to the need for six comfortably and gear. Does anyone have any suggestions? Don't know what we are going to do when it comes time for road trips or when all six of us need to travel together. Getting desperate, need something before the Venture croaks, which by all indications is going to be sooner than later.
 
Thanks.

#3795 of 3798 Re: Need seating for six, and third row that will fit TALL people [auntierows1] by sebring95

Mar 22, 2013 (5:33 am)

Replying to: auntierows1 (Mar 22, 2013 12:41 am)
Only one I can think of that's adult-comfortable in 3rd row is a Suburban. I have several of them for my biz and we haul around 6-7 adults on a regular basis...many times off-road and so far we haven't had anyone smack their head on the ceiling! They're very expensive though...even well used. Have you looked at Honda Odyssey? We had an '05 and i don't recall the 3rd row being horrible. Most other SUV's are FAR worse than the minivans in 3rd row space.
 
I can understand your desire for a warranty...particularly coming out of the vehicle you had before. But you will NOT find a reputable warranty for anywhere near $300 today....think $1,000-$1,200 minimum for a Honda/Toyota/something inherently reliable. Other brands will be even higher..I believe GM wanted close to $3,000 for an ext warranty on the last suburban I bought (I never buy warranties regardless). I will say that the Suburbans serve us very well. The one I usually drive is a 2010 with almost 90k miles on it and no real problems...and it's in construction/mining sites on a regular basis. We have another with 125k miles that's also not had anything more than a couple minor issues.
 
Your venture was an anomoly in the vehicle world. If all vehicles were that un-reliable the warranty business would not exist...or would be priced so high nobody could afford one. They're in business to make money (and they do) so odds are NOT in your favor by a long shot.

#3796 of 3798 Re: Need seating for six, and third row that will fit TALL people [auntierows1] by kcram HOST

Mar 22, 2013 (7:18 pm)

Replying to: auntierows1 (Mar 22, 2013 12:41 am)
I agree with sebring95's suggestion of a Suburban, but if that's truly not practical (or if your parents can't manage the step-in height), look for a base-length full-size van - Ford E-150 Club Wagon or Chevy Express/GMC Savana 1500 - with three rows of seats and the V6 or smallest available V8.
 
With all the tall people in the family, you have clearly outgrown the minivan class and will have to look to full-size vehicles.
 
kcram - Pickups/Wagons/Vans+Minivans Host

#3797 of 3798 Re: Need seating for six, and third row that will fit TALL people [kcram] by thegraduate

Mar 28, 2013 (8:31 am)

Replying to: kcram (Mar 22, 2013 7:18 pm)
I'm 6'4" and have no problems in the third row of an Odyssey. All it takes is the second row passenger to move their seat up by about 2". If the aging parents aren't overly tall, that may be a better solution (my grandmother sits in front of me at 5'8" and has plenty of room). The vans (Sienna and Odyssey anyway) have sliding captains chairs that make legroom a flexible endeavor.
 
Just a thought from this big 25 year old - the smallest car I can really comfortably drive is full-size.

#3798 of 3798 Re: Need seating for six, and third row that will fit TALL people [auntierows1] by ateixeira

Mar 31, 2013 (5:37 pm)

Replying to: auntierows1 (Mar 22, 2013 12:41 am)
Try a place like CarMax where you can sample many brands. I think it would be worth one visit and they should have all the major brands.

Messages Page 381 of 381

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