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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 65 of 380

#640 of 3798 re: stowaway seats [sistereinstein] by karbuff

May 18, 2005 (10:26 pm)

Replying to: sistereinstein (May 17, 2005 3:09 am)
My wife is also wanting a mini van with the stow-away 3rd row seat. I've been looking at the 2004 Ford Freestar, which is a re-styled Windstar. New ones are a bit overpriced, and like a lot of domestic vehicles, they depreciate like a brick. I'm finding a bunch of 04 Freestar SES's hitting the dealers around the northwest area, with 20-30000 miles with an asking range of $14-18K, which is about half of what they sticker for new. To get something less than $14K, you are looking at the Mazda MPV starting in year 2000, and the Honda Odyssey starting in 1999.
 
The Honda's are highly rated, but $13k is going to get you a 5yr old one with 70-80K miles on it. I like the MPV, but they are a bit smaller and were under powered until 2002 when the engine size was increased. Toyota and Nissan didn't have folding 3rd seat til the 2004 model, and don't depreciate enough to reach your target price range.

#641 of 3798 Just bought a 05 odyssey in MD by rrr1

May 22, 2005 (10:31 am)

Just bought a 05 odyssey EX-L with DVD entertainment system (no navigation) for $29,500 + taxes,tags, freight for an out of the door price of 31,080. Wondering if it's a decent deal? I am thinking it's about $650 over invoice...

#642 of 3798 Re: Just bought a 05 odyssey in MD [rrr1] by claires HOST

May 22, 2005 (8:16 pm)

Replying to: rrr1 (May 22, 2005 10:31 am)
Congrats on your new car, rr1! You might also want to post in the Honda Odyssey: Prices Paid and Buying Experience Forum to see what other members think of the deal you got.

#643 of 3798 Quest space behind 3rd row enough for double stroller? by tamu2002

May 23, 2005 (10:18 am)

We're looking to buy a van real soon. we've narrowed down to the Quest and the Grand Caravan. We love the Quest's styling, modern interior and comfortable seats. Funny but the lack of 3rd row split seating has become the biggest sticking point. Having had a GC as a rental for 2 weeks, my wife has grown to really appeciate this feature, particular she plans to carry a double stroller in the van all the time. We have 3 kids, so the 3rd row will always be occupied with one car seat which makes the Quest's fold-into-floor-3rd-row feature practically disappear. If we keep a hugh double stroller in the well, will there be enough room left for groceryies?? Please share your thoughts on this. Thanks!

#644 of 3798 Re: Quest space behind 3rd row enough for double stroller? [tamu2002] by irg

May 23, 2005 (1:40 pm)

Replying to: tamu2002 (May 23, 2005 10:18 am)
Tamu,
This lack of a split folding back seat was one of the main reasons why I never even considered the Quest, that and the poor quality control with the 2004 vans. But it would seem so simple to me, that once they saw that the Sienna and the Odyssey had a split design, they would do the same. But they didn't, and neither did Ford. Also the turning radius is quite poor for some odd reason.
 
Of these two vans, I think the GC is a better value. Picked second too by JD Power for Initial quality with the Sienna #1. I ended up with a Sienna XLE and I love it, and my wife who is the main driver of this, loves it too. We are expecting child #3 soon, so my reasoning was similar to yours - 2 kids in the middle row, one in the back, and what do you do if you can't split the third row? In the Sienna and probably the Quest too, the trunk space with the seats up is huge. One reason why I didn't consider the GM vans, was this complete lack of thought and convenience here. Whether you can get a stroller and groceries in the space is debatable. I just bought a new stroller myself, and haven't even opened it yet. I know though, with the Sienna I could do both so it isn't a question, same with the Odyssey. Any reason why you aren't considering the Sienna or Odyssey? For me I liked the Sienna best (really liked the Ody too) and the icing on the cake was the best van to finance for me was the Sienna - bought it at Fitzmall in MD, even though I Iive in NY. If you have to pick between the Quest and the GC, I would go with the GC. Probably cheaper too. We didn't like the interior, but I didn't care for the Quest's futuristic intererior either. IMO it will look dated very quickly.

#645 of 3798 Government has Chrysler working overtime. by marine2

May 23, 2005 (1:49 pm)

Well Consummer's Report might have rated the Honda as the best mini van but the U.S. government just ordered 24,000 Dodge minivans.

#646 of 3798 Re: Quest space behind 3rd row enough for double stroller? [irg] by tamu2002

May 23, 2005 (1:57 pm)

Replying to: irg (May 23, 2005 1:40 pm)
Thanks for your comments irg! We're almost in the exactly same situation:two kids, 3rd on the way, a new double stroll that hasn't been opened yet I posted some of our thoughts in the DGC board (http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef17c61) message #160 if you're interested. Basically the Odyssey and Sienna are out of our price range--a huge mortgage and a one-car payment are hard to deal with already. So we're trying hard to spend as little as possible on this van. Looks like we're gonna have to forgo some of the neat features on the DGC

#647 of 3798 Re: Quest space behind 3rd row enough for double stroller? [tamu2002] by masterpaul1

May 23, 2005 (2:43 pm)

Replying to: tamu2002 (May 23, 2005 1:57 pm)
How about doing a test drive with your family and the double stroller in all the minivans you are considering to see how everything fits? Going by what you read or hear might not apply to you. At least this way you will know first hand both the pluses and minuses for each since your undecided.

#648 of 3798 Re: Quest space behind 3rd row enough for double stroller? [masterpaul1] by tamu2002

May 23, 2005 (3:43 pm)

Replying to: masterpaul1 (May 23, 2005 2:43 pm)
Just the thought of it makes me tired The dealers are all quite far away, and I'd like to keep the stroller nicely packed in the box because we're moving this weekend. Too many things going on for me to test out the stroller in the van. You guys have been very helpful though!

#649 of 3798 Re: Government has Chrysler working overtime. [marine2] by hansienna

May 23, 2005 (4:17 pm)

Replying to: marine2 (May 23, 2005 1:49 pm)
Was it the US or Canadian Government? If US Govt, we taxpayers hope they are made in Fenton, MO. If Canadian, they should be made in Ontario.

Messages Page 65 of 380

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