Minivan - there, I said it

[gr8fl4porsche]

My wife may be entertaining the idea of getting a minivan in lieu of the midsize SUV I have been looking for. I have been looking at the FX35/45, Toureg, Cayenne (still too pricey), Murano and Lexus 330. The FX45 wins the sporty and affordable (used) catagory with the Lexus winning the reliability test.

Now she wants to look at the Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey.

Anyone own the Toyota or Honda Minivan for a while?

This vehicle will be her daily driver/child hauler.

We are looking for low operating costs like our curent Subaru, AWD (rules out the Odyssey), lots of space to haul crap, nice ride with decent gas mileage.

Thats a lot to ask out of a vehicle, thus the new thought of breaking down and joining the Minivan crowd.

[Moses]

I wouldn't be without one. We use our to travel (comfortably) with our kids. The seats pull out easily and I can haul an incredible amout of stuff. The new ones have seats that fold down flat.

A minivan is probably the most versatile vehicle ever made. I'd hate to be without mine. Who the hell cares what people think? I don't need to make a statement while I'm hauling my kids around.

[slakjaw]

I dont know how you feel about Ford.

You should check out the windstar though. I drove one around for a few months and it was actually very nice.

Rode like a caddy, decent milage, comfy.....

[Seahawk]

Originally posted by Moses
I wouldn't be without one. We use our to travel (comfortably) with our kids. The seats pull out easily and I can haul an incredible amout of stuff. The new ones have seats that fold down flat.

A minivan is probably the most versatile vehicle ever made. I'd hate to be without mine. Who the hell cares what people think? I don't need to make a statement while I'm hauling my kids around.

Too true...We owned a Mazda MPV AWD for almost 8 years when my children were infants and kids. We hauled more "stuff" than Hannibal took over the Alps.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by slakjaw
I dont know how you feel about Ford.

You should check out the windstar though. I drove one around for a few months and it was actually very nice.

Rode like a caddy, decent milage, comfy.....

Had to move some stuff 1000 miles. Rented a Windstar and drove for several days.

Actually liked the thing and it would have been something to have except got my old beater wagon for a better price.

Well worth looking at...

JoeA

[gassy]

I've heard nothing but good things about the Honda Odyssey.
Christian.

[kaisen]

Don't buy a domestic minivan new. There are very few vehicles that depriciate faster. But that also makes them very good deals when slightly used. Exactly the opposite advice for foreign, buy one new.

By the way, I recently helped my parents set up a one year lease in a 2005 Saturn Relay (same as Chev Uplander/ Buick Terazza /Pontiac Montana SV6). They are very impressed, especially with the fuel economy. They averaged 26 mpg on a 2600 mile trip to Texas over Thanksgiving.

You can buy used 2005 nicely-equipped GM minivans for $17-20K, about the same as the Dodge Grand Caravan SXT or Chrysler Town & Country Touring, or Ford Freestar SE. The local Saturn dealer has company unit Saturn Relay 3 ALL WHEEL DRIVES with every option (heated leather, power doors, DVD, stability, park assist, etc) with 5-6K miles for about $23K (They stickered for about $34K new).

A used 2005 Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey? Thousands more.

I've heard great things about the new Sienna, but the loaded AWD version can sticker for north of $40K!!! What do you need AWD for anyway? They can make it through snow just fine without it, especially with traction control and stability management.

E

[David McLaughlin]

I have to admit that I really like my (wife's) 2004 Toyota Sienna. It's got more than enough power to entertain when the kids are not in the car plus it has a lot of room. As much as I hated the idea of owning a mini van, I find that I'm very pleased with the purchase.

Now if I could only get the go ahead to buy the TRD supercharger option and a set of swaybars...

I test drove most of the vans out there. I really wanted to buy American. I could have purchased a far better optioned out Chrysler but back to back test drives made me believe the Toyota was the better product. I chose the Toyota over the Honda because it was the newer model at the time. The new Honda has some nice features too.

[tabascobobcat]

The new Honda has set the standard for that segment that the others follow.

[nostatic]

I'll go against the grain. SUVs and Minivans tie for most sucky. What's wrong with a subie station wagon?

[SLO-BOB]

Originally posted by nostatic
I'll go against the grain. SUVs and Minivans tie for most sucky. What's wrong with a subie station wagon?

Other than headgasket problems? They're too small. I couldn't fit what I need in a Suby. Maybe now they've solved the headgasket issue, but I wouldn't buy one more than 2 years old.

On minivans-I agree with Moses and the others who vouch for the minivan. The Honda is probably pretty good. My in laws have a Toyota. Kinda pricey and not any better than our Grand Caravan-smaller inside even. I also agree with the buy a domestic mv used and save big. I bought a 6 month old 97 Windstar for half of it's original sticker with 14k miles on it. Our current Grand Caravan was purchased for pennies on the dollar. It was three years old when we bought it. I've had three Grand Caravans so far and they've been great. I highly recommend them.

[Teutonics]

My wife has (I wouldn't claim to own it!) the Toyota, and it has been a great vehicle for all of the above mentioned reasons, yada, yada, yada.

Be forewarned, however, that you will get NO RESPECT on the road. I can't stand driving her car because of the way people act towards minivans. I don't drive it any different than any of my other cars, but constantly get tailgated, cut off, have cars pull in front of me, blah, blah, blah. There is definitely a pre-conceived notion of minivan drivers by a large population of drivers out on the road!

I find this especially concerning in that I have my three children in the car. In my mind this makes it a higher risk to my children. When it comes time to replace it, it will not be with another minivan.

[Big Ed]

Have never owned one, but gotta say, I watch the commercials that show how the rear seats fold into the floor for some models, and I really appreciate how versatile a vehicle could be. You can haul 4 guys and gear to a golf or ski weeekend, pick up sheetrock at the Home Depot, etc.

But I can't imagine they are very fun to drive.

[legion]

Don't most minivans still have solid rear beam axels?

A coworker of mine likes to brag that his minivan (Honda Odyssey) has more horsepower than my 951. I try to explain about power/weight, center of gravity, etc. He still doesn't get it. He always ends with: "But I have 11 cupholders, you have none."

[fastpat]

Originally posted by gr8fl4porsche
My wife may be entertaining the idea of getting a minivan in lieu of the midsize SUV I have been looking for. I have been looking at the FX35/45, Toureg, Cayenne (still too pricey), Murano and Lexus 330. The FX45 wins the sporty and affordable (used) catagory with the Lexus winning the reliability test.

Now she wants to look at the Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey.

Anyone own the Toyota or Honda Minivan for a while?

This vehicle will be her daily driver/child hauler.

We are looking for low operating costs like our curent Subaru, AWD (rules out the Odyssey), lots of space to haul crap, nice ride with decent gas mileage.

Thats a lot to ask out of a vehicle, thus the new thought of breaking down and joining the Minivan crowd.

I don't know how many children you have, but my wife has the 540i as her daily driver and could haul at least four around, see my sig for a pic, and she absolutely loves it. She's not a gearhead like I am, but says it makes her feel safe more than any car she's ever driven. It's actually pretty good on gas, getting about 21-23 mpg on her commute, and better than 24 mpg at 80-85 on the highway. When we moved here I towed a large boat from CA to SC. She followed at about 55, hated it of course, and got better than 28 mpg.

The back seat folds flat, either half or both together and it comes with a net that cordons off the rear area when the back seat is down. The rear cargo area is larger than an X5, both square footage and volume.

Finally, it goes like stink when you want it to and handles as good as the sedan. If you don't need three rows of seats, might ought to consider it.

[Noah930]

He always ends with: "But I have 11 cupholders, you have none."

Hey, if I needed a continuous caffeine infusion to keep me awake while driving a minivan, maybe I'd want 11 cupholders, too. But with the P-car, no added stimulant is necessary.

[DonDavis]

I've beat he heck out of an Aerostar (aka Death-star) a Windstar, and now have a Freestar. Only the Aerostar stranded me. It was a heap when I got it and was just the interim vehicle till my Windstar came in. The other 2 have never failed with nearly 200,000, mostly city, combined miles. They ride great and can fit a ton of cargo. If you have kids it's a fine way to go. Otherwise, I'd have a truck.

[SpeedracerIndy]

My brother has had two of the Ford versions, windstar, freestar or whatever they are called now, for company cars. They were/are constantly in the shop for something. Whenever I ride in it, all I notice is all the rattles and how awful it sounds and feels over bumps. His wife's car is a Sienna. Exactly the opposite impression and experience with the Toyota. Those things are handy as heck, but I sure hope I don't ever have to own one.

[LeeH]

A friend just bought a new Odyssey. I never realized how big they are inside. There's lots of technology, too... active noise cancelling and an engine that cuts out cylinders to save gas.

We didn't need something so large so we just bought a Mazda5. It's smaller than a minivan, but bigger than a Toyota Matrix. Still seats 6 though. We're consistantly getting 24 around town and 28 on the highway - actually better than the EPA numbers.

[Jays72T]

Picked up an 01' Odyssey about 6 months ago and think it's great. The one thing I don't like is the road noise, a little loud. If you're looking at a new one get the Odyssey, that's a sweet MV. Check out:
Odyclub