| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/12/2008 5:52:47 PM | Head shaking time...
I didn't say I needed more 'leg' room... 'extended' means more room behind the last row of seats. Provides more space for camping gear and the like...
Who the hell was complaining about not being able to afford a new van? :S
Said I wanted to spend about $5000... Waiting for the hybrid's.
Again.. Single males without children and large pets wouldn't understand the need for space.
Hence why I wanna date other single parents.
I didn't say anything about day to day expenses. Sure you're reading the right posts?
As for gas costs...that's just a reality for larger families until they make a hybrid mini van (waiting for that). When they come out on the market I can see them going like wildfire. I was at a show a few months back and I think it was a Toyota rep that said they were coming out with one soon.
Impulse purchase? Never said that either. Did say I had a van before, so that should nix that comment. I'm out here to educate myself on my best mini van choices so that should show anyone that I'm doing research. Nothing impulsive about it.
Don't have space to 'store' a trailer...:S I would be transporting our bikes/canoes frequently and camping too or didn't you read that part either?
There wasn't at any time a complaint in this thread only advice, until you wrote a post!..lol
At least now I know why the waitresses serve you and then stear clear....lol
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/13/2008 9:35:47 PM | 1) $5000 is a very small budget for a certified minivan that isn't ten years old. Does this include licensing and taxes, and other dealer fees?
2) Is this a cash purchase? Pretty large factor. Particularly as maintenance will be either due, or severely over-due if it hasn't been maintained (as most minivans tend to be overlooked unfortunately).
3) How often do you go camping? You make it sound as if you bring seven people every time, every weekend. Please clarify if this is innacurate.
4) Fair enough, although most of us have at least one friend with extra parking space. However if this is a huge inconvenience to retrieve the trailer frequently, this point is moot.
6) Day-to-day expenses are what usually drown most families. But you did mention if you had an Aerostar, you are already aware what abysmal gas mileage you get with a van.
5) Not complaining. Simply being a realist. I may be single, but if I do go camping, I won't be shy to spend a couple hundred to rent a Suburban for a few days. Keep in mind, I'm lucky to go camping once or twice this summer, if at all.
7) Hybrid vans... You'll be lucky to crack 40mpg with serious effort. Don't get your hopes up to high. Mind you, in light of minivans (about 18mpg highway in a Caravan), this is significantly better.
Lastly, I don't hide behind a digi-curtain. Puh-lease. I am who I am, and I am not going to bow down to political correctness. Somehow me hoping to find slightly more attentive waitresses ended up being called out as a chauveneoustic (sp?) creep. | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/13/2008 10:19:14 PM | | I would buy a north american vehicle, they are used in the car rental industry and you can find a really good deal on them. Buy from a dealer GM, Ford etc, Gm extended warranty is really good not cheap but good. Another piece of advice is go to chapters buy a coffee or drink and read the lemon aid guide on used vehicles it has all the pros and cons, safety, reliability, and a rating, etc. I read it everytime I go car shopping. | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/14/2008 3:22:54 AM | mspinkest, I had a van for several years, while raising children. I loved driving the van, and all its conveniences. In fact, I am seriously thinking of buying another. I am on my own, but, have decided I would far rather have the space to transport luggage and other bulky items without trying to stuff them into a small trunk.
Until someone has kids, pets, and gear to haul around, and a few more years under their belt, they are no authority on convenience, hence, I suggest you totally disregard msgs 22, 24, and 27.  | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/14/2008 6:41:38 PM | Well crap, looks like I gotta spend a couple of bucks on my van. I HATE when I hear that if I don't fix a little break it will turn into a big one! But thanks Fred Astaire (hmm, who'da thought). And now firmbear, you have me thinking about how my clock seems to have letters instead of numbers, and why it sometimes say 9:33 for 20 minutes.
Okay, I take back my recommendation for a Pontiac Montana :) | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/15/2008 2:11:15 PM |
5'5" (according to your profile), and still need more leg room? Is this even worth commenting?
Do as you wish, I guess if you had an Aerostar you're already used to the abysmal fuel mileage, making that a moot point. For those who are perusing this thread and contemplating the idea themselves, please realize a basic Dodge Caravan nowadays costs 80 dollars (at least) from empty to full. That seems like an awful lot for basic transportation. Normally, I wouldn't even bother, but you're complaining about not being able to afford a 'new' van, yet ignore the 'day-to-day' expenses? Impulse purchases tend to be the ones you regret the most.
Particularly since a 'Hidden Hitch' exists for every kind of vehicle out there, the once in a blue moon you hitch on a trailer to tow the 'bikes', I'm sure everyone can squeeze in for the 'ten minute' ride as you said. If you drove those five kids every other day, and all the dogs and bikes for a hundred-mile trip, perhaps you'd have a reason for it. But this is almost never the case. Just another consumer, who, when gas is up to $2 per liter, will complain and whine their van is costing them $140 per fill.
Sorry if this sounds as a rant, but I always try to shove logic where there tends to be only love/lust.
(And hence why I drive a tiny Toyota Yaris as a commuter, instead of the Pontiac G8 GTP or Dodge Challenger SRT-8 as I originally desired.)
Yeah, I agree with you, that carrying so much is useless. But you do sound like you're ranting.
It's the people's choice what kinda car they get and how much they pay for it. I personally know people who drive Escalades and Suburbans and they don't care about the gas prices. They can afford it. In fact, they are happy that SUVs prices fell so much.
By the way, my 55L tank cost $85 to fill up so I don't understand your point (I fill up with premium). | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/15/2008 8:32:18 PM | Let's clear up the confusion... and put the issue to rest.
We're homeschoolers and as such we don't have the schedule the rest of you do...
We go on trips weekly...ha ha Sometimes twice. We are the 'Go To' for all my kids friends and the kids who visit that used to be in my daycare. I have 5 yearly memberships to various attractions too. Our dogs would go everywhere with us if we didn't have to worry about TTC's rules and my big guy is the size of /or bigger than, a Bouvier. The puppy's not too far behind. I have a disabled mother who's has a scooter and with the middle seat out we could transport her everywhere without the inconvienence of her not having her scooter(it doesn't fold up).
I belong to a number of groups in which my childless weekends are spent going on trips and I would like to provide a carpooling option to others of my group. We also belong to many homeschooling organizations, go on trips weekly and carpooling there would be great too(everyone chips in).
My daughter rides a 3 wheeler adult trike and as such it doesn't fit a standard rack, but would fit in the back of a van with the back seats removed, still leaving me room for 4 others.
A few members of my family don't have wheeled transport or access to.. So I would become their taxi/pick up/delivery service too, which I'm more than happy to do cause family is very important to me. I fufilled this position before I met the pole..lol
I hope to find a partner with kids and as such a van would have to be available.
Thanks Bryan but I did check all those makes out and they're way too small...:)
I bought my 5 yr old Aerostar for $5000(purchase price only) and it was in great condition with good mileage, all the bells and whistles and didn't need any major repairs the whole time I had it. I'm not sure your familiar with the prices of used mini vans nowadays...
Hopefully the issue will rest now and we can get back to advice..!!  
Raise a glass! lol | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/16/2008 10:44:38 AM | Well I was going to suggest ditching the minvan idea entirely and going for a crossover SUV like I will be, but with the last post explanation of the accessibility issues I don't think that option would work as well for you as it would for me.
I DESPISE minivans of all types!!! Theoretically you buy a minivan because you have a load of kids, and therefore loads of stuff. But when you swing up the back door theres a foot of floorspace to cram everything into?!?!?!?!?! I can't stand it when people have one kid and rush out and buy the newest and greatest minvan because "thats what parents drive".
About the only one I would consider if desperate would be the toyota. It has a model that
seats 8 and the back seat goes into the floor not just folded down(or having to lug it out).
I'm not a big driver. I have 3 kids and we walk literally every where we can. I burn about a tank of gas every 3 1/2 weeks and thats mostly due to a job I do on saturdays 90 km from the house. I'll be giving that up soon if gas prices keep going the way they are!!!!!
I currently drive a chevy cavalier, and planned it that way because i didn't want to be hauling carseats & kids in and out of a minivan. They're all under age 8 & the small car suits us perfectly fine for where ever we need to go to that we can't get to buy bus or walking. I can't imagine however ramming three teenagers in the backseat of that car though.When the poor little sucker dies out on me I'll be going for either a Honda Pilot, or GMC/Saturn Acadia/Outlook.
They both have models that seat 8 and in both the back seat folds into the floor flat, and I really don't give a crap about the big SUV scare about gas, because I wouldn't be buying the monstrosity if I could manage without it.
If they made a 4 seater smartcar I'd be all over it for in town use!
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/17/2008 9:09:01 AM | Mae B, they do have a Smart 4 seater in Europe.. Called Smart forfour
Oha and to the OP, it looks like your decision is already made up then!
I would recommend a Honda Odyssey if I had to get a van I'm sure you could find one for 5k... Maybe one that's 8 years old or so. These vans are very roomy and the engine lasts forever. | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/17/2008 9:26:27 AM | Oha and to the OP, it looks like your decision is already made up then!
If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Umm.. the thread says title basically says what type of mini van would you recommend. Yes, her decision was made up that she was going to buy a mini van which was pretty clear from the original post but no it doesn't look like her decision is already made on the type of mini van. I could be wrong but I don't think she posted this thread because she wanted to debate if a mini van was the right choice of car for her. The title doesn't say should I buy a mini van. Instead it is merely asking for which type of mini van would be good choice - which type would be the better choice, etc. Questions like "how often do you go camping" have little to do with what type of mini van she should buy. Instead it comes across, at least to me, more questioning her judgement to buy a mini van, which is not what the topic of this thread is about. | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/17/2008 10:58:57 AM | Questions like "how often do you go camping" have little to do with what type of mini van she should buy.
I disagree...to me is has to do with the and why portion of the question/dicussion...if you go often perhaps a larger van...etc...ditto with the kids n dogs.
And because this is pof...how many road trips? 
lotta choices out there now as lots of peeps are getting rid of...me if i could do would stick with honda or toyota | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/17/2008 11:05:09 AM | I disagree...to me is has to do with the and why portion of the question/dicussion...if you go often perhaps a larger van...etc...ditto with the kids n dogs.
Let me clarify, yes, it may help determine what type of minivan one should buy, but we both know the question was not asked in that context. If one were to look at the entire list of questions it was more a list of "should you buy a minivan" and "let me tell you why you shouldnt buy one" and not meant to help determine which one was the best. To me its pretty apparent that the OP is frustrated with feeling like she has to justify her decision, and I don't blame her. | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/18/2008 6:10:31 PM | | Dodge Caravan for price, practicality, and the fact that it has been around for so long, there are practically no flaws in it anymore. Dodge Grand caravan for the handyman, since the seats fold into the floor and you can carry 4x8 plywood, drywall, etc and shut the back door which is an excellent feature. This coming from a handyman kind of person, so perhaps a bit biased in my opinion. | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/19/2008 10:13:01 PM | That is a flawed statement. I've yet to hear of anyone owning a completely trouble-free Caravan (particularly in the years her budget will be looking in).
I don't think you'll find much from 'Yota or Honda in your price range. However, it would be the preferred choice. Otherwise, the big three all make roughly-equivalent vans... Grab the one with the most cupholders out of the three, I say! | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/21/2008 3:43:04 PM | I would get a Mazda 5.
Why?
-It comes with a 4 cylinder engine and is the minivan with probably the best fuel mileage... great given the high cost for gasoline
-it can be ordered with stick shift (I only buy vehicles with stick)
-I like how it looks
-It's a real MINI-van... unlike all other Mega-sized "minivans"
-They only cost around $20,000 new... so they're even cheaper used.
-Mazdas usually have decent handling and a good reputation for reliability too
As for insurance... I say just call your existing insurance company and get them to plug in the numbers and give you a quote.
The insurance company I use is Belair Direct.
If the vehicle has had an accident, it had better be selling for CHEAP. And even then, you have to make sure it was fixed properly. Basically, if the frame is bent and the car doesn't track straight, you should avoid it because you'll have problems like uneven tire wear and handling and safety issues.
As for leverage to get the best price... the best way to have leverage is to be willing to walk away from the deal. Basically you say to yourself... if you can't get car A for price X, then I'm going for car B for price X.
How much money do you want to spend? | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/21/2008 3:49:53 PM | Whoops... missed your subsequent post that you only wanted to spend $5000.
Well that changes everything.
You'll have to wait a few years before Mazda 5's get that affordable.
So what's at that price level?
You could get a Toyota Previa or a 1st gen Honda Odysey. A Chrysler minivan can be good as long as you stick with the 3.3L or 3.8L V6 and make sure you change your transmission fluid with the correct Chrysler-dealer supplied transmission fluid.
You could also buy another Ford Aerostar. | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/27/2008 1:02:31 PM | True I've been thinking about getting another Aerostar...but then the pole nightmares start all over again..lol
I'm not in a huge rush for this so I can walk away and or really bargain.
Again I'm not looking for a 'new' or anything even close to that...Hoping to buy new(hybrid) in a few years and I might even think about a car by then. So for now I just need a 'minivan' for ease of transporting my entourage..
I live in scarb and the average price of a one is around $5000 at most of the dinky lots around me. If I found a really good deal, I'd spend more but would prefer not to.
I haven't driven in a few years and my ins. for the first 2 years is gonna be a joke...$3000 ++ a year. I really don't want payments too. So I'm factoring in all these details.
I've learned alot from peoples advice... Not so much from their bytching..lol | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/27/2008 3:50:32 PM | | Let me know if I can help you at all when you go to look at a van. I have been in the automotive business for over 30 years and I have seen hundreds of used vehicles. I work in Scarborough, so getting there any day is easy. Just ask... | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/28/2008 7:06:54 PM | I think by the sounds of it you need to be looking for a "short bus"then you would definately have enough room!
I think if you are just using the van for going on little day trips and not driving it to and from work and are only goiung to put like 10-15 thousand k a year then I would go for a full size then you are sure to have enough van under you for the kinda weight you want to carry...parts are very reasonable,as far as fuel mileage goes when you start taxing a small motor to the max they really suffer in fuel mileage also!JMHO | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/28/2008 8:43:43 PM | Probably the best buy would be a Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna. That said - they can be pretty costly to buy used but they are worth it if you got the money to spend.
Auto trader.ca is a great place to start. Like you, I wasn't in dire need at the time so I could afford to source out a deal. I found a great deal for $5000 (included taxes,etc.....) When it comes time to buy again it will likely be another Venture or one of the two listed above. | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/28/2008 9:21:59 PM | For that $5,000 target price range, I'd be looking at a 6 or 7-year old Dodge Grand Caravan. They're plentiful in the marketplace, parts (both OEM and after-market) are relatively inexpensive compared to the imports, and every mechanic and their dog knows them inside and out.
As for the competition, the GM and Ford minivans simply don't compare in long term durability and reliability, and the imports will be more expensive to buy and maintain by comparison.
I've got a 2002 Caravan in the driveway, purchased used after coming off lease three of years ago. It's not flashy but it has been nothing but reliable for me. It carries me, the dog, and most of my Home Depot purchases with reasonable fuel economy. I've even thrashed and drifted the thing around a couple of area race tracks for grins and giggles. For a daily driver with family wagon with room when you need it, the Caravan is a good choice. | |
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| If you were gonna buy a mini van, what would you buy? and why?
Posted: 7/28/2008 10:20:35 PM | My ex had the pretty well the same van, a 91 Pontiac Transport ... 3.8 litre, lots of power and room (The seats are kinda heavy to muscle around), impervious to parking lot dings BUT hard to see where the front bumper is, hard on disc brakes and a little hard on fuel. But the cost per mile works out great. She sold it and bought a F O R D W I N D S T A R piece of junk that is in the shop every second week.
Personally I'd get a two or three old Honda Odyssey - the seats fold under the floor, lotsa hidden storage. | |
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