Man van or mini van???

[1983Capri351W]

I am expecting my first child soon and wanted to get some opinions on a good mini van or man van? I was thinking about a newer dodge journey or grand caravan. Possibly a Honda oddessy. Any one here own one?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[84StangSVT]

My brother has a Dodge Journey and it seems to fit his family of 5 really well. Having drove it a couple of times, it seems to be a fairly well built, comfortable and peppy vehicle. Of course this is from a limited perspective but he has been really happy with it so far.

And congrats on the new addition to the family!

[STANGMAN116]

My boss has a KIA van and says it was the best on the market surprisingly!

[Blownsob]

From personal experience, I would say Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna all the way. If it were up to me, we would have a Ford Transit 250.
I worked at a Chrysler dealer and while for the money, the Chrysler or should I say Fiat, vehicles are not made to last like the Honda and Toyota. This coming from a guy who saw the Journey and Caravan/Town & Country in service as much a the first gen liberty and second gen neons.

I have driven and known people that own the Honda and Toyota, with anywhere from 30,000-200,000 miles on them and they seem to hold together really well mechanically and are much harder for the kids to tear apart inside as well.

Also to add to my references, I have 3 kids and one due in August....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Blownsob]

Just to add... recently my grand Cherokee was in for service and the loaner they gave us was a Town & Country. Now, before I get slammed for saying this, I realize it was a "loaner" so probably driven like it was stolen daily. However, it had 3X,XXX miles on it and the blower motor wheel squeaked at any speed... not a little squeak... like a big annoying squak almost. Just an example of small crap that shouldn't have issues that soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ZephyrEFI]

Yeah. Look at any Consumer Reports list, current day Mopars are garbage.

I notice you didn't mention the Transit Connect. Is that because you don't know about it. Could hardly blame you, Ford barely acknowledges that it exists.



Anyway, that's the route I'm going. We don't have ours yet because we special ordered it, and they only build the passenger versions during certain times. Anyway, it's TONS more space-efficient than even a 3-row SUV (way cheaper too), yet still seats 7, and it's way more reasonably sized than what passes for a "mini"-van these days. In fact, it's closer in size to the original '84 Caravan than anything out there right now. Wrap all that in a package with a style that says "work van" more than "soccer practice", and you've got something pretty special, in my opinion. And it just so happens to keep my Blue Oval heart happy! The only downsides are, it doesn't come with as many luxury features as some, and it can't tow like the modern interpretation of a minivan can.

[dtmilsap]

Chrysler Pacifica, heard its good. Have t and c for 10 yrs. 175000 miles. Only changed egr and alternator in that time.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[1983Capri351W]

Thanks for all the replies I've got a lot of research ahead of me. At least the baby's not due until September

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[1983Capri351W]

What about awd options. Sienna, outback, and journey I have found with awd.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[Blownsob]

Yeah. Look at any Consumer Reports list, current day Mopars are garbage.

I notice you didn't mention the Transit Connect. Is that because you don't know about it. Could hardly blame you, Ford barely acknowledges that it exists.



Anyway, that's the route I'm going. We don't have ours yet because we special ordered it, and they only build the passenger versions during certain times. Anyway, it's TONS more space-efficient than even a 3-row SUV (way cheaper too), yet still seats 7, and it's way more reasonably sized than what passes for a "mini"-van these days. In fact, it's closer in size to the original '84 Caravan than anything out there right now. Wrap all that in a package with a style that says "work van" more than "soccer practice", and you've got something pretty special, in my opinion. And it just so happens to keep my Blue Oval heart happy! The only downsides are, it doesn't come with as many luxury features as some, and it can't tow like the modern interpretation of a minivan can.

I did see a transit connect the other day and mentioned that one to my wife but she just shook her head. Lol.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Blownsob]

Chrysler Pacifica, heard its good. Have t and c for 10 yrs. 175000 miles. Only changed egr and alternator in that time.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

The 2009 and older Town & Country vans weren't terrible. It's when you get to the 2010/2011 and new that they really started having issues.

On the 2012s there was a radiator hose problem where a plastic connector would break before the vans ever hit 50-60k miles. They came in so often that if one was leaking coolant and was around 50k miles, I could quote time/labor/parts without even opening the hood. I think it was engineered to fail. I've seen a similar setup on a Chevy Cruz and had to replace it around 75,000 miles. No need for the plastic piece, a simple tee connector can even be used in its place.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Blownsob]

What about awd options. Sienna, outback, and journey I have found with awd.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

I have had a few friends with Suburus. About 50% love them and swear by them, the other 50% have had to perform major service (like full engine replacement) before 80,000 miles. Some of them have "Ringland Failure"...

I'm really liking the Sienna right now. I don't know anything about the vans AWD system but I think it is ranked number 1 on the top ten minivan lists right now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[WilliamCapri]

Had a Honda Odyssey and it was a good mini van. Lots of room and comfortable seats. I like the more upright seating especially for long trips. The Odyssey made many trips to the Outer Banks. The only drawback is that the seats have to be removed to make a load bed if needed and they are not light. I usually just gently rolled the rear bench out the back. It was very reliable.

[vintageracer]

Can you say "FORD FLEX"!!!

Get one with AWD.

GREAT family vehicle and it's "First On Race Day"!

[1983Capri351W]

The Ford Flex looks nice but the mile per gallon is crappy might as well get an explorer

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[ccurtin]

Honestly, none of the above.

Why? This is your first kid and no matter how much you budget for 'kid stuff' you'll be wrong.

As a parent cash flow and PLANNING are critical.

What I'd do if I were you
- how old is the daily driver the child will be riding in most today? < 10 years and not a Corvette, stick with it
- > 10 years old (so no side air bags, anchors etc.) go find a good 5-6 year old 4 door car or small SUV (CR-V, Rav-4, Escape)
- either way you can get almost everything into the trunk of a modern car you'd need for a visit to grandmas. No you can't get an Excersaucer, but buy one for Grandma instead of spending $500 a month
- take $150 of the savings and put it automatically into a college fund. Really, auto withdrawal, 5th of the month. 18 years later I had $72,000. My child, now in college will graduate with 0 debt AND my wife and I aren't paying anything out of pocket. (so we get to live, vs. our friends who don't do anything because every $ is going to next semester's tuition)

- When you have child #2 go to the small SUV if you didn't before. Kid #3 might mean a bigger van.
- When they get to be 10, look hard at their interests. Here is where you're going to need a bigger van/suv. Sports gear, band gear, scout gear, 5 friends to the movies, etc. doesn't really happen until 5-6th grade.

I did the mini-van with the new kid and spent a ton of money on a car we use 40% of, instead of saving until we really needed it (10 years you'll need a new car)

[vintageracer]

The Ford Flex looks nice but the mile per gallon is crappy might as well get an explorer

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

The FLEX is a whole lot better family vehicle than an Explorer.

Besides great gas mileage and family vehicle don't go together!

[ZephyrEFI]

Honestly, none of the above.

Why? This is your first kid and no matter how much you budget for 'kid stuff' you'll be wrong.

As a parent cash flow and PLANNING are critical.

What I'd do if I were you
- how old is the daily driver the child will be riding in most today? < 10 years and not a Corvette, stick with it
- > 10 years old (so no side air bags, anchors etc.) go find a good 5-6 year old 4 door car or small SUV (CR-V, Rav-4, Escape)
- either way you can get almost everything into the trunk of a modern car you'd need for a visit to grandmas. No you can't get an Excersaucer, but buy one for Grandma instead of spending $500 a month
- take $150 of the savings and put it automatically into a college fund. Really, auto withdrawal, 5th of the month. 18 years later I had $72,000. My child, now in college will graduate with 0 debt AND my wife and I aren't paying anything out of pocket. (so we get to live, vs. our friends who don't do anything because every $ is going to next semester's tuition)

- When you have child #2 go to the small SUV if you didn't before. Kid #3 might mean a bigger van.
- When they get to be 10, look hard at their interests. Here is where you're going to need a bigger van/suv. Sports gear, band gear, scout gear, 5 friends to the movies, etc. doesn't really happen until 5-6th grade.

I did the mini-van with the new kid and spent a ton of money on a car we use 40% of, instead of saving until we really needed it (10 years you'll need a new car)

Something to be said here. We have two kids, 3 and 5, and (gasp!) don't own a minivan or SUV. Although the Transit Connect is on its way. And we did have the Aviator for a while. We've taken MANY trips in a Focus or Fusion though. The Focus is pretty tight if you're including a pack & play and a cooler, but it can work. Fusion was better for that obviously. Thank goodness we're past the pack & play stage now, so just about anything can work until the kids get big enough and start really getting into each other's space. We're going to the minivan now only because the lease is up on the Focus and I miss being able to haul stuff myself. Not to mention, since Ford doesn't bother advertising the Transit Connect, it could leave our market ANY time, and I'd like the opportunity to get one just how I want it.

Oh, and one more thing. You can only really have one rear-facing child seat in a Focus, unless the driver is really short. Now that I'm thinking about it, we went to the Aviator right when kid #2 came along for that reason. In a Fusion, you'd be fine though. The Aviator was mostly a flight of fancy just for me.

[Supersonic G.T.350]

Of your options listed, the Honda hands down. As a auto mechanic for the last 14 years (professionally) there's not a whole lot that Chrysler has to offer that's really impressed me.
Granted, all vehicles have issues, if it's mechanical it will fail, period but Honda has the best van of your choices. Outside of that, Toyota has a very nice van, I'm not an advocate for imports but value for the dollar spent has to go to Honda/Toyota.

[ZephyrEFI]

Of your options listed, the Honda hands down. As a auto mechanic for the last 14 years (professionally) there's not a whole lot that Chrysler has to offer that's really impressed me.
Granted, all vehicles have issues, if it's mechanical it will fail, period but Honda has the best van of your choices. Outside of that, Toyota has a very nice van, I'm not an advocate for imports but value for the dollar spent has to go to Honda/Toyota.

Really? Cuz it sounds to me like you're an advocate for imports.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[83gt351w]

Skip the van, and go YUGE! We can haul 47 kids, gear, and pull a house at the same time. Only downside is 19 mpg's.

[84StangSVT]

Skip the van, and go YUGE! We can haul 47 kids, gear, and pull a house at the same time. Only downside is 19 mpg's.

Yeah, till the rear brakes fail and you gotta drag her home using the front tires.

[E2ZZGLX]

Second gen Subaru Forester...very popular here for a small family. Economical, reliable-simple, AWD and safe.

[Supersonic G.T.350]

I'm really not man but experience has shown me that they do build a quality product, some of them anyway. I'm not much a fan of the Korean cars but the Subies, yotas and Hondas are pretty decent vehicles.

[Supersonic G.T.350]

Skip the van, and go YUGE! We can haul 47 kids, gear, and pull a house at the same time. Only downside is 19 mpg's.

... And the hundred dollar oil changes, lol!