We sold our Explorer! It's bittersweet because I love that vehicle, but I have to admit that with 3 kids in car seats, I am looking forward to more room (and the ability to seat the kids so they cannot touch each other.)
So, I'm looking for recommendations for vans. We have saved some money and will be looking around this weekend with the hopes of finding something...soon.
Any words or wisdom? What to buy or what NOT to buy?
14 comments:
We love our Chrysler Town and Country. If you take your time and compare overall value, you will definitely be able to find a great deal.
Nathaniel created a computer program that compared all types of variables: price, mileage, make, model, age, condition, etc. It really helped because we ended up spending a little bit more than planned for a car that we basically stole off the lot- the dealership lost $1,400 with Nathaniel's smart-talking. It was incredible. And we really love our van.
Keri has a van that she loves, but all I can tell you about it is it is navy blue and has a sliding door on BOTH sides in the back.
We heard great things about Dodge Grand Caravans; we got one and ours has been great. We had a Honda Odyssey for a while too and it was wonderful but definitely pricey. The insurance on the thing was killer when we moved to KY so we switched to the Dodge- cheaper all the way around and not a huge difference in mileage or repairs needed. We do miss the automatic sliding doors though.
For me, stow and go seating that folds into the floor is the best invention since arm rests. Wouldn't want a van without it.
We have a Chevy Venture and its been a very good van. We bought it new in 2003 and had only minor fixes.
We had a Honda Odyssey before we were rear-ended and loved it. Now we have a Toyota Corolla and love it also!! We are partial to foreign cars, never have any problems with them and they last forever, though, and I know they aren't as easy to find in the Marion area. :)
I meant Toyota Sienna. Our other car is a Toyota Corolla. Sorry for the confusion. :)
Whatever you do, don't get a Hummer. They are gas guzzlers and don't have cup holders in the rear seats.
We have a Honda Odyssey and LOVE it! Mike would rather drive it than his Expedition. You have to be careful not to get a model before 2005, though, because they are known to have transmission issues. They fixed the 2005 and later models. We found ours on craigslist.com and got a great deal! It's used (2005) but we were able to pay cash. :) We had a Honda Accord that we drove well past 200,000 miles and sold it to a friend who is still driving it and it's still a great car. I'm sure you know all about foreign cars lasting forever! Hope you find something great!
Have you checked Consumer Reports? They rate vehicles by safety, expected repair costs over the years, etc.
Also, someone once told me to take the car seats while looking for vehicles. Or take a grocery bag. Make sure things fit the way you want before buying.
We're "foreign" car people ourselves. It's part of rebelling against growing up in Michigan, I guess.
When we bought our van we used the consumers report used car guide. It is a book you can buy ( i am sure you can get one online used for cheap). They come out every year. You could even use a book that is a year or 2 old if you want a van older than that. It compares how things held up, problems it has had, etc.. We bought our 99 Toyota Sienna that way. (we would buy toyota again!) The book said that the hardware was one of the worst things in breaking and yes the handle had to be fixed once and a cubby cover fell off but those are easy fixes. I knew the big stuff should hold up well. It can also show you which ones to stay away from pretty clearly. Hope this helps.
Well, When Chris and I aren't poorer than dirt we plan on getting a Honda Odyssey :) They are one of the top rated for safety, gas milage and comfort. They have the option for 7 or 8 seating capacity. It's pretty much the best van ever.... sigh** Someday, when I'm done with school... :)
My brother Kris and Becka have toyota sienna and love it as well. I think it was rated at the top for gas milage although it has a bit of road noise.
To reiterate what has already been said, foreign cars last forever :)
You may know this already, but we love the LATCH system for the car seat. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think 2005 models and newer have them.
We really like our Chevy Uplander. I would definitely suggest getting one that is extended in the back...I have no idea what ours is called since it included the extension, but for example in Dodge, a Caravan is regular van and a Grand Caravan has a little longer back end so that you can fit things in it.
I would have LOVED to have a van with an automatic door opening (on your keychain) on both sides...it would sure save a lot of hassle when my arms are full!!!
Hope you find something you like...glad you were able to sell the Explorer!!
Michelle
congrats on selling the explorer! i hope you were pleased with what you were able to sell it for.
if we had the money, we would've bought a honda odyssey. but we are pleased with our nissan quest... though the doors on both sides would be nice to have... but again, money was an issue for us. we like what we have and especially since we were able to pay cash for it!
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