Ask the Car People.SM


2008 Minivans - READ ONLY

1261 messages,  Last post on Feb 27, 2008 at 8:47 AM

You are in the Vans & Minivans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Caravan, Hyundai Entourage, Mazda MAZDA5, Kia Sedona, Car Comparisons, Car Buying, Van

Messages Page 47 of 127

#459 of 1261 Make your choice by artgpo

Oct 18, 2007 (5:17 am)

Here is a list of the latest (last week) of the most (un)reliable minivans from the largest consumer magazine, the one that does not accept advertising. I did not include the scores because I do not want to violate the copyright laws. Only the Sienna and Odyssey had good scores (the Sienna was double that of the Odyssey) all the rest were sub par. The Chrysler models were the best of the worst.
    
  Make and model
 
   
Toyota Sienna
Honda Odyssey
------------------------------
Chrysler Town & Country (2007)
Dodge Grand Caravan (2007)
Kia Sedona
Nissan Quest
Hyundai Entourage*
Chevrolet Uplander (-146%)

#460 of 1261 Re: Make your choice [artgpo] by carcom2

Oct 18, 2007 (7:31 am)

Replying to: artgpo (Oct 18, 2007 5:17 am)
I always take those magazines "ratings" with a grain of salt. My grades with my vehicles have always been higher than their category grades. Maybe that is in part due to proper maintenance - just the usual stuff, nothing overboard.
My low mileage- 103K- '97 Grand Caravan Sport still drives great. The interior materials, seat fabric, dash are all in excellent condition. Recently replaced a 5 yr old battery. The car has not been garaged for the last 3+ yrs. Still have original engine & transmission. So, based on my actual ownership of the GC, I think it's been a great vehicle, very reliable and am strongly considering a 2008 T&C Limited over the Sienna which I drove last week. Don't like the interior of the Ody dash, so wouldn't buy it although the seats are very nice.
You think it's just because Dodge/Chrysler has sold more minivans, that you see many more of their older vans on the road still today VS the Ody or Sienna? I occasionally see the Previa and hardly ever an old Ody.

#461 of 1261 Re: Make your choice [carcom2] by bobw3

Oct 18, 2007 (9:10 am)

Replying to: carcom2 (Oct 18, 2007 7:31 am)
Reliability and quality are hard to measure. Even though you might have statistics that show one vehicle is better than another, you'll always have lots of conflicting stories.
 
The problem is that the measurements are always comparisons versus individual statistics. So we hear that the Odyssey is more reliable that the Caravan but not how much more or what is the difference.
 
It could be that with the Odyssey, 95% of them will go to 100,000 miles with less than $1000 worth of repairs, while with the Caravan, it's only 90%. And 80% of Odysseys and only 70% of Caravans will reach 100,000 miles with less than $100 worth of repairs. In both cases you can accurately state that the Odyssey is more reliable (if only we could get such statistics like this that meant something!!). But on the other hand, you'll have 70% of Caravan owners saying, "Hey, my Caravan has been trouble-free for the past 100,000 miles, so how can you say my van isn't reliable."
 
So when you see the red circles and black circles, or some other generic Good, Fair, Excellent rating you have to ask yourself what's the real difference and what percent of all vehicles we're talking about.
 
You may have 3 good vehicles all close in true reliability (which I define as dollars spent over miles driven) but in a ranking there has to be a number 1 and a number 3. If someone can show me stats broken down into $$/mile, then I'd be impressed but until then, I'd just use these ratings as a guide in addition to your own experience.

#462 of 1261 3rd row angle by bobw3

Oct 18, 2007 (11:05 am)

Is the 3rd row of the Caravan's seat as angled as shown in this link?? Hard to imagine being able to sit in that seat and reach the table, especially for kids in booster seats. It also looks tough to climb out of that seat.
 
http://www.allpar.com/model/m/2008-minivans.html

#463 of 1261 Re: Make your choice [artgpo] by dennisctc

Oct 18, 2007 (1:24 pm)

Replying to: artgpo (Oct 18, 2007 5:17 am)
I know when I got my "survey" from CR a few years back, I started filling it out, gave up halfway thru and tossed it. So my completely trouble free 2005 Caravan isn't accounted for. Also, I see how fair they are every time a new issue comes out - filled with photos of japanese cars on the cover, lead of articles etc... Ohh and lets not forget the controversy a few months back when CR tested full size pickups, and got caught!!!
 
When I think of it, none of my cars ever rated highly with them, but they did with me. Thinking there's no bias at CR is like news anchors being non-partisan and being able to be fair...yeah right!!!!

#464 of 1261 Re: Make your choice [dennisctc] by bobw3

Oct 18, 2007 (7:09 pm)

Replying to: dennisctc (Oct 18, 2007 1:24 pm)
When I think of it, none of my cars ever rated highly with them, but they did with me. Thinking there's no bias at CR is like news anchors being non-partisan and being able to be fair...yeah right!!!!
 
If you think they're biased, tell me what is their motive?

#465 of 1261 Re: Make your choice [artgpo] by hansienna

Oct 18, 2007 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: artgpo (Oct 18, 2007 5:17 am)
CR is NOT RECOMMENDED for purchase due to biased writing unsupported by their own research.

#466 of 1261 Re: Make your choice [bobw3] by dennisctc

Oct 19, 2007 (3:44 am)

Replying to: bobw3 (Oct 18, 2007 7:09 pm)
I'm not saying CR is, I'm saying their staff, writers are, and that's reflected in even the tiniest ways....like choosing pics for their covers or article leads etc... ALL people are bias, no matter what they may claim or spout - that's life.

#467 of 1261 Re: Make your choice [dennisctc] by bobw3

Oct 19, 2007 (4:42 am)

Replying to: dennisctc (Oct 19, 2007 3:44 am)
But why would their biases all lean towards Honda or Toyota, and is their bias only on cars?? They research a lot of different products. In fact if there would be a motive for any biases, then the bias should be to the Town & Country and Caravan, because there are more of them on the road then Odyssey's or Sienna's, so if they're trying to sell their magazine to the most number of folks so they can get the most profit for CR, then I'd say any bias in a minivan review would show Dodge/Chrysler in a positive light.
 
And even if you do feel CR is biased, readers can at least read the reviews and test results and do their own ranking based on what's important to them.

#468 of 1261 Re: Make your choice [bobw3] by dennisctc

Oct 19, 2007 (5:12 am)

Replying to: bobw3 (Oct 19, 2007 4:42 am)
You get large biases in other things, just look how imports are so prominent in CA, whereas domestics are prominent in MI? Entire newspapers have a bias based on owner's whims or a manager. I've been getting CR as a gift every xmas for 6 years, and I look at the cover and very rarely see a domestic car pictured, even if they're recommended. Just recently CR did put a domestic car on cover..I think a Saturn CUV? along with imports. The domestic's pic was the smallest one. Then when you flip to the actual section in CR...more pics of imports in the lead up to individual vehicles. You'd have to ask CR why this is the case. I actually think its subliminal. While youre at it, ask them why they had a bias report on the Toyota Tundra vs domestic trucks a few months back...they caught crap for that in the media.
 
I've always said CR is good for facts and figures, things that can't be subjective or spun i.e...0-60 times, MPG, braking, measured volumes and dimensions. When you get into "feelings" or "appearances", that when the bias comes into play. "Brake feel was better on vehicle A vs B".....I guess that would depend on what you're used to driving. I get out of my Company car - a Taurus, then drive my minivan, then jump in my old Corvair...they all feel different.

Messages Page 47 of 127

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement