Caravan. Look up stow n' go.
Also, why would one wish to remove the roof rails? They retract our of the wind, and they are wonderfully useful.
Caravan. Look up stow n' go.
Also, why would one wish to remove the roof rails? They retract our of the wind, and they are wonderfully useful.
My 14' Grand Caravan just crossed 11K miles. So far so good---not one issue or problem. I drive tons of new vehicles, and it's part of my job to nit-pick minute problems. This van has none. I've been extremely impressed with the build quality, refinement (yes in a Chrysler product) and it's relentless practicality.
And I AM still cool! 
Coolness comes from within..... who cares what other people think about your vehicular choice-- chasing after status is for the weak and insecure. If you need to hammer a nail, you use a hammer---not a screwdriver. The minivan is the best tool for the job---- for a lot of folks.
No regrets from the Dodge camp so far. I average 20mpg in the city, 25mpg at 80mph, or 30mpg at 55-60mph. Stow and Go is also an engineering wonder--- it makes me giggle each time I watch the seats do their dance.
In reply to Streetwiseguy:
I have driven our Merc R 350 around Mid Ohio a couple of times, tires howling and all. Aside from the slow steering it is not bad as long as you get the Airmatic and set it to "Sport".
Back to the OP. We got ours when we had out third child and my wife refused to get a mini van. With all three rows in use storage space is limited but on the flip side adults can ride in the third row easily. We had two kids in car seats so I took out the arm rests for the middle row so our oldest could pass between the seats without having to fold them up, so far it has worked out great.
I drove it to the WEC race at COTA a few weeks ago. It was me, all three kids and my dad. All our stuff fit fine and I have not been in a better vehicle for long highway trips. I drive all 3000 miles or so myself and really did not feel tired.
If you can find one try it out, we have been happy with ours for the 80,000 miles we have put on it.
I really tried to get my wife to buy a minivan as our third car instead of an SUV. A minivan is so much more practical than just about any SUV unless you need to tow something heavy. The Chrysler is one of the best bang for the buck minivans out there from what I've read, but the Kia also gets good reviews.
Me- Hey everyone, my name is Ross and I am a autoholic.
Others in the meeting- Hi Ross.
Me- I did it again, bought another car... A minivan.
Others in the meeting-(...hushed silence...)
Me- It's cool though, really. It is really useful. I can haul all types of stuff, and people, and put my crap in it, and... I know, I know, its a minivan.
Others in the meeting- Its ok man, we all have slipped up. What matters is you sell it and move on. Get back on track, the racetrack.
Me- Noooooo, muh van... (peels out of the parking lot)
MY minivan rocks! (2000 Grand Caravan Sport, 80,000 miles)I am 32, married with no kids, a large dog, and a love of roadtrips. It really is useful. I built a bed for the back and since July 1 we have spent over 20 nights in it and over 10.000 miles. I have hauled junk yard stuff in it. Now all the seats are in it and we drove it to Philly full of people this weekend and had a blast. It is really awesome.
Thanks Ross
DrBoost wrote: Sorry, but refusing to buy the class-leading vehicle because you don't get/understand/like the name is silly.
It's a stupid name. If it were a reliable vehicle like everyone here says that it is, I would consider it. I told my wife I'm not changing diapers, and look how well that worked for me. Not sure if tongue in cheek is the term I'm looking for, but I wasn't serious.
Going to look at this tonight.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/cto/5188511440.html
Seems so odd that a toyota that's 7 years older, and has twice the mileage, goes for the same amount...
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/5232282310.html
In reply to lnlogauge:
You'll like that. Try the stow n' go. Also, check underhood for brilliant cartridge filter placement. The Pentastar is faster than it needs to be, too.
I like the 3.6 Pentastar in my Grand Cherokee. It feels like a sports car engine.
Pbw wrote: Reliable as far as transportation but lots of stuff goes wrong with them. I bought a 2008 about four years ago with around 20-30k miles for around 12k including tax and have had all similar issues as three other people I know with them. All replaced under warranty but still, front sub frame bushings, three a/c compressors, two steering racks, steering shaft needing lubed twice, several sets of sway bar end links, strut top mounts, rear spring insulators and couple of outer cv joints.
You're pretty much describing the same problems as an odyssey but everyone LOVES those.
The search is going miserably.
The one I intended to go look at was actually a dealer. There's a section for by owner, there's a section for dealer. Don't lie to me and tell me its your vehicle. Every conversation starts off the same.
Is the van still available? oh yes its still for sale.
Is the vehicle your personal vehicle? Yes, Ive had it for awhile now.
Is the title in your name? umm, no its not in in my name.
are you a dealer? I buy and sell cars sometimes
so you are a dealer. well umm
there's a section for buy owner, and dealer. you are a dealer. use the appropriate section so you dont waste my time. click.
I've called/emailed on about 12 minivans so far. Only one has been for sale by owner. Thanks dealers for absolutely ruining craigslist.
My mazda has been for sale for a month, with all of one person coming to look at it. I didn't anticipate this much difficulty buying/selling.
In reply to lnlogauge: Right there with you brother. This weekend I took a Routon for an overnight test drive. The family liked it but it had a very "used rental car" feel about it. The transmission wasn't as smooth as it should have been. Then another one at a different dealership, wrong color (black) and somewhat worn Michelins made it completely helpless on a wet road.
The Routon is a Caravan clone BTW. Third row is still folding but the 2nd row seats are bigger so they don't hide away.
The search continues.
Drive them all. Then enjoy your Odyssey.
My least favorite thing about the 3.6 Chrysler vans is the RPM drop from 3-4 will seriously piss you off. It's totally Jekyll and Hyde. Fast from 0-70ish and then falls off so hard that the first time it happens, you think you broke it. The trans is also shockingly lazy in manual mode. 
RWD in a van isn't really useful. It just raises the load floor and driveline loss. Maybe a Mercedes R-class is barely dynamic enough that it's appreciated, but I don't think anything else out there is, and a full size van definitely doesn't need to be RWD for any other reason than to save money by adapting it from a truck design.
Of the current crop, I prefer the looks and engine of the Sienna best. The Sedona really is pretty cool though! I crawled over one at the new car show last year and was impressed.
KyAllroad wrote: The Routon is a Caravan clone BTW. Third row is still folding but the 2nd row seats are bigger so they don't hide away.
That's an available option on the GC/TC twins, too.
We are up to 202k on our 2005 Odyssey Touring. It has been a great vehicle, owned since new.
Replaced the horrible run flats after 3 years, brake master cylinder at 5 years, motor mounts at year 8, rear struts around that time, rotors and a set of pads or 2.
The navigation screen just went and I ought a used replacement that I am going to install.
It has never burned a drop of oil and I am so optimistic that it will keep running another 100k, that I recently replaced the timing belt
The reported weak link is the transmission. I have had no problems with ours and change the fluid every 30k.
The wife wants something new since the kids are older now, but you really can't beat a minivan for a young family.
Four years ago, I bought bigger rims and put flame decals on the sides.
My oldest son removed them one night after my wife picked him up from school in front of his friends.
Go for it!
After a total of 22 phone calls/emails to dealers posing as owners, I finally found what I wanted.
Well not exactly what I was looking for, but I think GRM would approve.
And not exactly that van. I stole that one from google. If you've seen one 2001 Honda Odyssey, you've seen them all. Mine has large stickers on the door for the grandma's church. I'm really looking forward to removing 18x18 of adhesive.
On a positive note, the van spent its life in GA with one owner. A grandma who literally drove it to church on sundays, and took it to Honda for everything. The battery is even a honda. 69000 on the clock. It looks like new. 3000.00. No credit union, I won't be needing you this time.
We had a grand caravan when I was a teenager, 92 iirc, I learned to drive in it, had a few dates in it where it came in handy to have a van, packed it full of people for trips to the lazer tag joint, it only died when a rocker shaft broke and locked the engine up. Got decent mileage as well as I used it as a courier vehicle for a while as well. I loved it.
My sister has an 05 or 06 caravan with the 3.8 and ~160k miles. It's a fuel hog, she regularly avgs 16-18 nog, I can squeak 20 out of it dad claims he can get mid 20's but if you used the throttle much at all it drops to the teens regularly. AC is Ho hum. But the remote doors, and stow away seats are pretty cool. I still wouldn't pay money for one. I'm 5'11" and regulary crack my head on the upper door sill unless the drivers seat is dropped to its lowest position. I will say this, it moves out really well for a vehicle that size, and hides its speed well. It's the only vehicle in the family that I regularly find myself going faster than I intended to be going.
The newer 4.0 and 3.6 ones are much faster, too.
That $3000 honda sounds like it looks pretty good!
lnlogauge wrote: I'm really looking forward to removing 18x18 of adhesive.
Go to an art supply store or office supply store and buy a pint or two of rubber cement thinner - the usual brand is called Bestine. If you soak the adhesive a couple of times, and let it soften, it should do a great job of removing the adhesive without harming the paint at all.
Looks like a great van for a good deal!
In reply to lnlogauge:
GREAT score
Duke wrote:lnlogauge wrote: I'm really looking forward to removing 18x18 of adhesive.Go to an art supply store or office supply store and buy a pint or two of rubber cement thinner - the usual brand is called Bestine. If you soak the adhesive a couple of times, and let it soften, it should do a great job of removing the adhesive without harming the paint at all. Looks like a great van for a good deal!
Thanks for the tip! sending wife to hobby lobby today. Unfortunately I suspect there will be additional items coming home with her. You couldn't have suggested something from home depot?
I am way too excited about a minivan purchase. I'm gonna build thread my minivan as a token of my appreciation of my minivan. Transmission Cooler is at the top of the list, new tires, flip down dvd player, bluetooth stereo all follow. The only difference between this one and a new one is toys and looks. Most of the toys are stupid anyway. I want my kids growing up knowing how to shut a door.
Great buy! I'd do the 3X drain/fill on any used Odyssey I bought unless there's recent evidence of it being done via the service records. I've used only the Honda ATF (which is pretty pricey), but I'm a little OCD about using the manufacturer's recommended fluid in anything that has a reputation for transmission issues like an Odyssey. I perform the 3X drain/fill every 30k on ours.
If you're going to do any hauling/towing, an automatic transmission cooler is a must.
I recently spent a week in a rental Caravan SXT with 41k on it and was impressed. The powertrain is excellent, we averaged 27.5 MPG traveling from Phoenix to the south rim of the Grand Canyon and back. There was a lot of climbing (up to 7,000 ft.), and the engine never felt out of breath or down on power. Considering all that climbing, I thought the mileage was exceptional.
The rest of the van was great, too. We didn't use the Stow and Go, but the seats were comfortable (I've never liked the driver's seat in our Odyssey, and I thought the driver's seat in the Caravan was far better). Driving dynamics weren't quite as good as our Odyssey, but the brakes were night and day better. The power liftgate was great, and overall I really liked the van. I'd definitely cross shop one with a used Odyssey when ours is ready to be put out to pasture.
dj06482 wrote: Great buy! I'd do the 3X drain/fill on any used Odyssey I bought unless there's recent evidence of it being done via the service records. I've used only the Honda ATF (which is pretty pricey), but I'm a little OCD about using the manufacturer's recommended fluid in anything that has a reputation for transmission issues like an Odyssey. I perform the 3X drain/fill every 30k on ours. If you're going to do any hauling/towing, an automatic transmission cooler is a must.
New tires on order, as well as a new stereo. changing oil and ATF this weekend, as well as adding a cooler because they are cheap and easy.
Ive read on other places of honda recommending the 3x method. Is that really necessary? it seems like a giant waste of money.
lnlogauge wrote:dj06482 wrote: Great buy! I'd do the 3X drain/fill on any used Odyssey I bought unless there's recent evidence of it being done via the service records. I've used only the Honda ATF (which is pretty pricey), but I'm a little OCD about using the manufacturer's recommended fluid in anything that has a reputation for transmission issues like an Odyssey. I perform the 3X drain/fill every 30k on ours. If you're going to do any hauling/towing, an automatic transmission cooler is a must.New tires on order, as well as a new stereo. changing oil and ATF this weekend, as well as adding a cooler because they are cheap and easy. Ive read on other places of honda recommending the 3x method. Is that really necessary? it seems like a giant waste of money.
I'm sure the 3X is a giant waste of money, but at this point I'd rather waste $80 every 30k (10 qts total, about 3.3 qts per drain and fill on our '05) than drop $3k on a new transmission.
There's also a method where you can disconnect the ATF return line up near the radiator and avoid the draining/driving/draining... method. I'd try it, but at some point they switched the location of the return line and someone pumped ATF all over their garage. Here's the best thread for that method: http://www.odyclub.com/forums/14-periodic-maintenance/65442-diy-2007-odyssey-atf-complete-flush-atf-z1-fluid.html
Odyclub has an outstanding DIY section.
The reason for 3x is that it doesn't fully drain. About half old fluid remains.
1x = 50% new fluid.
2x = 75% new fluid.
3x = near 100% new fluid.
Once you've done one 3x, then do a 1x every 25-30k. The logic being that the fluid is only 75% dirty at 25k.
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