Suddenly I need a minivan

[chics in the sun]

I just traded in my Prius for a Honda Pilot since BF and his two tween/teen daughters seem to be sticking around. They are essentially adult-size, so I have the two adults, two teens, and my son in his booster seat. We all fit very comfortably, and can even fit more in with the back row up. The milage isn't too bad (still a shock after having a Prius), and I had a Honda CRV before that that NEVER broke down. My friends bought it and it's still running great. With the seats down I can even put a full size piece of plywood in it, lying flat.

 

[LiLRedCV]

Quote:
Yes! USA so are all of mine

kinda the first thing I look at when buying a car. Course in 95', my burbs year, most USA cars where still made in the US.
When buying a used car I think paying the $50 for a auto check or car fax is a very good idea! You can learn so much from its history.

Those Car Fax checks are not always accurate! We were looking into buying a Corvette convertible a couple of years back. Had a VIN replacement on it. Owner told us the history: had been a fleet car (rental), was stolen just a few months after the company bought it. Was gone for 5yrs!! [Surprised it wasn't stripped.] Had been in a high speed chase when it was located... driver went off into a ditch. Had some [surprisingly minimal] damage done to it. Allegedly low miles... Insurance recovery... sold at auction to this guy.

Absolutely NONE of this information was listed on the Car Fax reports we bought for this car!!! NONE!!!!!! Anytime you have a car that's stolen, insurance paid out, and the car recovered and claimed by insurance company, it's supposed to have a SALVAGE TITLE. According to Car Fax, this car didn't have a salvage title, but the title showed it was just that. And it absolutely did have a VIN replacement done.

While the owner was as honest as honest could be about it, we just weren't comfortable after having viewed those reports - 'cuz what else could've happened to the car before we found it for sale???? While I know any potential damage/repairs may not have been reported at any time during the time span the thief had the car, at least this theft of the car and VIN replacement information should've been listed.

[BTW - while we didn't buy that Corvette back then, we did finally find one we bought this past April. Our finance company guaranteed the clean title for us.]

 

[emmalynn]

I have a 2000 Dodge Caravan- 23 miles per gallon, seats 7, captains chairs in the middle. Lots of trunk space. Last seat can be taken out. Middle seats fold down and make mini table for the back row. Both sides open. Love the thing...don't need it but love it. Hauls a bunch of crap when you take the seats out. Lots of lumbar for the barn has come home in that van. I am also the 2nd owner, bought it from my Dad.

 

[Duramaxgirl]

Quote:
Yes! USA so are all of mine

kinda the first thing I look at when buying a car. Course in 95', my burbs year, most USA cars where still made in the US.
When buying a used car I think paying the $50 for a auto check or car fax is a very good idea! You can learn so much from its history.

Those Car Fax checks are not always accurate! We were looking into buying a Corvette convertible a couple of years back. Had a VIN replacement on it. Owner told us the history: had been a fleet car (rental), was stolen just a few months after the company bought it. Was gone for 5yrs!! [Surprised it wasn't stripped.] Had been in a high speed chase when it was located... driver went off into a ditch. Had some [surprisingly minimal] damage done to it. Allegedly low miles... Insurance recovery... sold at auction to this guy.

Absolutely NONE of this information was listed on the Car Fax reports we bought for this car!!! NONE!!!!!! Anytime you have a car that's stolen, insurance paid out, and the car recovered and claimed by insurance company, it's supposed to have a SALVAGE TITLE. According to Car Fax, this car didn't have a salvage title, but the title showed it was just that. And it absolutely did have a VIN replacement done.

While the owner was as honest as honest could be about it, we just weren't comfortable after having viewed those reports - 'cuz what else could've happened to the car before we found it for sale???? While I know any potential damage/repairs may not have been reported at any time during the time span the thief had the car, at least this theft of the car and VIN replacement information should've been listed.

[BTW - while we didn't buy that Corvette back then, we did finally find one we bought this past April. Our finance company guaranteed the clean title for us.]

Wow scary sounding vette!
Yes I've also encountered carfax being inaccurate, autocheck is better IMO. But most of the time the history is correct only in a very few occasions as in yours is it not correct. I still think in the long run its a good idea. If you'd run autocheck on the vette it might have showed the true history. Its not perfect but most the time its very good!

BTW we've purchased 2 Salvaged pickups in the past. Had great results with them, no problems at all. If the rebuild is done right no need to be scared of buying them. We had ours compleatly checked out before purchase. its a good way to buy a much newer nicer car for A LOT cheaper.
I would never buy a flood vehicle, of course

 

[australorpchick]

Love, love, love my 2001 Suburban (aka Moose)! Has 9 seats and plenty of room in the back. Ours has almost 160k miles on it and we've owned it all 10 years. The past 3 years its been our weekend jaunt vehicle, but now that Hubby realized that it gets better mileage than his 2008 Silverado, he's taking it to work more often. The upkeep has been very minimal, basically, oil changes and tire changes. The kids will be learning to drive in it. If they can drive that, they can drive anything smaller.

 

[EweSheep]

I refuse to drive stick shift!

 

[HeatherLynn]

Don't Don't Don't buy a mini van. Oh how I hate mine. I blame me getting one on being pregnant at the time. If I had been sane I would have bought a suburban. NO NO NO storage space. Seriously eight passenger van and we can barely carry every ones book bags. Its horrid. We bought a Chevy Venture. Biggest piece of junk ever. A friend is on her 3rd van. Has yet to get a good one. Why she keeps trying i don't know. As soon as ours is paid off it is getting sold and we are buying a suburban. If I could fit us all in a Jeep I would get another of those but a suburban is what we are down to also.

Just whatever you do, resist the push to become a mini van mom. Its a horrible horrible thing. I might be sounding dramatic but I seriously hate the dang things. My one experience has been awful.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
So, tell me how ya really feel

I have driven a minivan before, and kinda like them myself. But.....I prefer SUV's. I wish I'd have kept my 95' GMC Jimmy, but I got tired of 16 mpg

I am mainly looking at mpg, we drive ALOT!

 

[featherfinder]

Ford Expedition. I have one and it get 17 mpg city. And it seats 8. Has 6 places in the back plus passenger seat and driver. Very comfortable to.

 

[FarmerJamie]

Late to the party as usual, from our experience "thumbs down" on the Odyssey. We have a 2001 and it's been a maintenance nightmare since we got it in 2003. I can put the back seat down and remove the middle seats to make some nice cargo space (like 4x8 sheets of plywood), but that's all I like about it.

I think a good solid SUV would serve you better.