Minivans are the best vehicles for daily use. The only problem with US minivans is they are too big and have massive V6 engines, therefore the perfect minivan is something like Honda Stepwagon.
>>28664095I love my Chrysler Town & County
>>28664095>v6>massiveuhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I had a 1992 mercury villager and it was awesome. It even had the automatic seatbelts which are honestly more of a headache than they are worth.
>>28664113>You need 400HP on da highway mang>Proceeds to sey 80MPh on cruise control
>>28664095>Only minivan available here is the Kia CarnivalJust end this suffering.
>>28664095I had a choice between a 2500cc and 3500cc minivan and I chose the latter. You saying that’s a bad thing?
>>28664095I want a minivan but they're alike 50k brand new. A pickup truck would be cheaper. what do /o/
>>28664095Minivans are just straight vans. Ironically, big vans at that, and all the downsides included.
>>28664391what’s your use case? to run, a pickup will be more expensive because they get worse fuel mileagenew stripper F150s will be in the mid 40snew mid level odyssey will also be in the mid 40simo, if you want> covered, cavernous storage area > seating for 7 > reasonable fuel efficiency> ease of entry/exitthen minivan. if you want > 4WD > towing capability> open air storage> more comfortable daily ridethen pickupmy personal dream dad car is a maverick minivan hybrid with AWD
>>28664095The Honda J35s are fucking sick though, only thing bad on them are the trannys. The stepwagon is cool too, I'm a big fan of both the B20B and the KA24 from both gen 1 & 2 and love that they come in AWD with double sunroof and rotating captain's chairs.>butThey struggle to keep at highway speeds in the US especially in hilly areas. And with all 4 of my kids, my wife, and our two dogs that fucker is loaded to the brim. If you have a 6+ person family like me I highly recommend either a 7.3L Ford Excursion/Toyota Sequoia/4Runner with 3rd row. At least you can reliable tow with the latter examples.If you're not into either the E1/2/350's and lesser so the Transit vans are great people haulers and capable towers.>I don't need to tow!If you have a family, yes you do. I've towed my sons first car about 1200 miles after he enlisted and my other son's motorcycle and furniture were towed 1000~ miles to his college. I myself have towed 15~ cars I've purchase and sold and for friends.
>>28664393i mean they're quite small compared to the express, sprinter, and nv3500
>>28664508Minivans still have the following issues they get from being a "van" derivative:>engine usually located on or behind front axle, increasing working costs and labor>transmissions are typically worse than their large van counterparts as it's a cost cutting measure and they don't "need" to tow>typically heavier for its size than large vans, makes working on it more difficult, rust damage more severe, and tires more easy to wear>increases in weight post 2007 to meet safety standards means most US minivans became either v6's or turbo i4's. Many of the companies making minivans suck at making reliable V6's>GM's v6's vans from the 90s never made it past 150k and they were discontinued by 09>Ford Windstar v6 ate through headgaskets like a 2000 subaru legacy>Kia... it's a Kia and will die before 100k>Nissan Quest was just horrible to work on and ugly as sinBasically unless you got a Honda Odyssey or a Toyota Sienna you got fucked.
>>28664108I hated my town & country. everything on that piece of shit broke
>>28664113Anything over 2L is massive.
>>28664506the j35 is an anemic pig dum weeb
>>28664720I haven't had any issues with the 3.8. If you owned a 5th gen instead of a 4th gen then you played yourself.
>>28664495I've currently got a Frontier which was 36k for quad cab + 4wd. Wife's car is too unreliable, and she wants a 3rd row. Minivan feels like a great option except they're all incredibly expensive.
>>28664129a shame manufacturers no longer subscribe to the lazy understressed engine approach
>>28664095I keep thinking of buying a beater minivan but holy shit people think they're sitting on a goldmine.
Are any of the non-Toyota or Honda minivans reliable? Every so often the shitty brands do have a reliable product.
The problem with keicars or other boxy utilitarian JDM cars in America is they're not designed for highway speed. They're ultra square design is great for cramped Tokyo streets but terrible for doing 85 on the freeway. The difference would be around 5mpg compared to a same size crossover. My reference point is comparing a bronco sport to escape and sienna to grand highlander. Same size same engine but different shapes. So even if they tried to sell it here, no one would buy it when it got less mpgs than a CRV
>>28664243>You saying that’s a bad thing?Difficult to know as the OP didn't flesh out his needs, but it's safe to assume that he favors economy over power.
>>28664095In general I agree as far as usability goes, wagons are close second. But their downfall is maintenance. Engine bay is too small and they are too complex, big car means there are also far too many things that can break down. So wagons win overall in my book.
Please God, force Mazda to put their (Toyota's) hybrid drive train with AWD from the CX-50 into a mini-van body like the Odyssey. Holy moly. Odyssey is great though, they KNOW their market and there are so many small items that just make sense to the wife with a kid. Also put a VCM Tuner in that bitch, I paid for the engine I'm using the whole engine.
>>28664495>my personal dream dad car is a maverick minivan hybrid with AWDUnfathomably based.
>>28665928What's the difference between a wagon and a small SUV?
>>2866409535 years ago someone like you was saying a wagon sedan with a v6 was the perfect machine.Today someone like you is saying a more refined machine is too much.You people don't know what's good or bad, or anything, you just have an agenda that HAS TO WIN regardless of the effect.Actually, I think deep down you know, what you want is other people to feel as miserable as you do, and you're doing whatever you can to make it happen.Jump off a cliff.>>28664129>>28664803>400hp>v6 minivan>2L is massiveThe point of having power isn't to always use it all the time, it's so that you have another choice/opportunity for protection in a situation that might justify it.
>>28665958The small SUV is more like a bulby lifted sedan. Marginally more cargo space than the sedan. A wagon is long, has 3 rows, loads of leg room, and way more cargo space. Basically proto-minivan.
>>28665958SUV is less space-efficient and has bloat where it should not have it. Way less horizontal space usually comparing to wagon, typically also less space for passengers. Has extra ground clearance, sure.
>>28665961>The point of having power isn't to always use it all the time, it's so that you have another choice/opportunity for protection in a situation that might justify itIf you want protection then you better make sure the car has good brakes and ABS can keep up with them. Crashing at higher speeds is less safe.On my first job(like a decade ago) I drove an Opel Combo(100% sure it was sold as some sort of chevrolet in the us) with whopping 1.4 litre 95 HP engine, loaded with tools and replacement parts at 140 km/h(86mph) just fine. It didn't accelerate fast, but it wasn't super stressed at those speeds either. That's speeding on all highways in the US for those who don't know. I'm not saying you don't need anything more(if I'd want to buy one I'd think of slightly bigger engine with maybe 140 HP just to stress it less), but your minivan won't win any race, it's meant to be the ultimate small utility box. If you want to buy a sports car don't buy one.
>>28666748>If you want to buy a sports car don't buy one.As in don't buy a minivan. If you want sports car then buy that.
>>28666748>>28666753Most people cant own more than one car bro a v6 and a trail hitch will let you pull a Uhaul and will be nicer to drive everyday. Don't know why a man would want less power at the tap but the euro mind is a strange cucked place. American minivans are so great.
A Subaru Outback is the perfect all-around vehicle for daily use.
>>28666763A minivan for mom and a truck for dad is all most families need.
>>28666768>A minivan for mom and a truck for dad is all most families need.These days normies really want to spring for a 1/2 ton for the wife and a 3/4 ton for the husband. There are no children, only animals that act as surrogate children.
>>28666753>As in don't buy a minivan. If you want sports car then buy that.There is a perverse sense of satisfaction of pushing regular cars beyond their conventional use cases.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWAXejKOoUg
>>28665900>but it's safe to assume that he favors economy over powerAutomakers tried a smaller engine and it didn't work out. 3.5L is the sweet spot if the van isn't hybridized.
>>28665729>Are any of the non-Toyota or Honda minivans reliable?The newer Sedonas are okay, you'll see them get sent to the scrapper at 250k miles but they also tend to get the more negligent of car owners compared to Toyota and Honda owners, who tend to be a bit more fastidious with maintenance. Grand Caravans and Town & Countries are known to kill their transmissions so they're self-destructing out of the public roads. Pacificas and Voyagers are still built like government fleet vehicles so they aren't expected to last longer than 100k-150k mile mark, but that's also because government fleets have a set maximum they're allowed to spend before they get sent to the auction.If you want a minivan for the long haul, the Sienna and Odyssey are really your only options for a relatively modern minivan, since good owners easily run them well beyond 300k miles.
>>28664095There are these things. They're smaller than the typical USDM minivan but they're RWD with IRS and a 2l turbo engine. I've got one as a work vehicle and while it's good at a couple things it's terrible at everything else. It's no wonder they're discontinued. Parts are also expensive and they're a cunt to work on.
>>28664095>Too bigThey're actually very easy to drive, especially with all of the cameras on modern ones.>Massive V6 enginesMine has a 2.2L diesel.>>28664391Most people don't realise this, but minivans are luxury vehicles. Sure, you can spec them down to be cheap if you want, but the top trim levels really have a lot going for them. You'll be stretched to find anything (at any price point) with features that they don't have, and the convenience and space are huge luxuries just by themselves.
>>28665989>wagon>3 rowsWat? Unless you mean one of those old Roadmasters that had reverse seats in the trunk for when you really hated someone but had to take them along.
>>28664095>massive V6 enginesEven the French realized you should probably give your big people hauler a suitably big engine, picrel could be had with the heart of a 350Z.
Why do you need 3 rows? How many kids do you have?I'm one of 3 kids, we did fine in a sedan.
>>28666763I would because transverse V6s suck to work on. 90’s GM cars being an exception since they had much larger engine bays than a minivan.
>>28667396When someone says "3 row" I just assume they're talking about the length, the cargo space. A 3 row suv or wagon implies a certain length even if you never intend on using the 3rd row, and just leaving it folded down. That's what 90% of minivans are used for anyway. At least nowadays you can just easily fold the 3rd row up and down instead of literally removing it and having to store it in the garage. Although chilling on the minivan seats in your friends garage was a pretty kino childhood experience.
>>28667176I like the dustbuster designs on vans. Too bad they're seen as dorky these days.
>>28667396Kids stay in booster seats until they're 7 nowadays, and they're a bit of a hassle to get in and out even with Isofix. So even if you only have 2 kids, it can still make sense to have 3 rows if you're ever carrying adults as well. Because that way you can keep the booster seats installed in the second row, and any adults can go through the aisle to the third row. I only have one kid right now (another on the way), but we occasionally carry my sister and nephew as well. So right now we have my son's seat installed in the second row, and my nephew's seat in the third row. That way adults can still comfortably sit in the second row, and the third row is split for better storage of different kinds of cargo. Because the seats fold down into the floor, there's a nice and deep well behind my nephew's seat for carrying groceries, and a big flat next to it where we can store a pram lengthwise.But even if you do just keep it as a 5-seater (because you can fit three booster seats across the second row), you can carry an enormous amount of cargo. With the third row down, a minivan has over 3x the storage space of a station wagon. I'm one of two kids and we had a sedan too, but growing up we would sometimes even bring a trailer when we went camping just to carry all of the extra stuff. With a minivan, you'll never run out of space.
>>28665950I miss my Mazda 5. Sure it had its issues, but it was far better than the shitty American minivans I grew up driving.
>>28665055they just got tired of vehicles lasting over 100k miles.
I'm new to /o/ and started browsing to get help buying a car. With help the from the pinned posts I'm now the owner of a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country, kinda excited for all the kit and space it has.
>>28665055hondas v6 is still like that
>>28665950>force Mazda to put their (Toyota's) hybrid drive train with AWD from the CX-50 into a mini-van body like the OdysseyThey tried with the Mazda5 and holy shit did it sell horribly. They bet on a small MPV when everyone went long-wheelbase and now they don't make minivans.The real utility proposition is pretty much stuck in a very specific sizing dimension like kei cars are. The only way to really stand out is to add more cubic feet behind the first row, offer AWD, or offer hybrid.
>>28668215Just change transmission fluid at 30k. GC/TC transmissions burn up ATF fast and it's the primary cause of premature mechanical failure for the vehicle.
>>28665055I think this is a total meme. I’ve mostly driven 4 cylinders my whole life and neither the 1.5s in compacts or the 2.5s in midsize sedans ever had an issue going 200k+ miles.In fact the only car I’ve ever gotten rid of due to engine issues was a Volvo with a 5 cylinder turbo.
>>28668807how many miles do you think a '14 T&C would have? Its probably missed 3 of those changes
>>28665961Spastic freak tier post
>>28669695Just budget for a transaxle replacement.
Honda Odyssey is ranked very high, but it is 43k starting and for that price most people would choose the SUV.
>>28669820Not sure about the Odyssey since they don't sell it here, but the Sorento costs the same as the Carnival across the range. Buying an SUV over a minivan for the same price should be formally recognised as a mental disorder.
brenton tarrants car
>>28664095Give me one good reason why a van would be better than a truck
>>28669905>More comfortable>Better fuel economy>More efficient use of space>Can carry more people>Cargo is undercover>Can access cargo from inside the cabin>More flexible with different configurations>Sliding doors make it much easier to get in and out>Did I mention the sliding doors?
>>28669905Fits more kids.
>>28669919You can also make the back flat and camp out in there. Super nice for going to concerts and pregaming in the back
>>28669820Yeah, minivans are getting very expensive. It used to be that automakers did not want to breach the $50k MSRP ceiling, but those days are long over and the top trims are easily as expensive as full-size SUVs.
>>2867002250k today is 39k in 2019 money.
>>28670023That $50k ceiling breached in 2020, but I do get your point. The money doesn't go as far as it used to.
>>28670026Oh, did it? That is rather significant then I suppose.Not a burger but I am in the market for a minivan and the pickings are very slim here. Completely spoiled for choice with crossovers, but she doesn't want one.
>>28670030Minivans have the strange combination of being unpopular but also peak performance. If you know you want one, you'll accept nothing less.The most globally available minivan is the Kia Carnival, which is decent, but if you don't have access to a Sienna or Odyssey, you're missing out. In the US, the Carnival oftentimes is the last resort since the Pacifica gets bought en masse as a rental or government van, and the Carnival always ends up no higher than fourth place. It's no fault of the van, the competition is just that good.
>>28670030>The pickings are very slimWhich country? If you can get any of the Carnival, Pacifica, Odyssey, or Sienna, they're all great.Here in Australia we basically just get the Carnival, Staria and their chinkshit copy the LDV Mifa. But at least we get the diesel engine, which is so much better than the V6.Your wife knows what's up, by the way. Crossovers come in two flavours: "Hatchback avoidance vehicle", and "Minivan avoidance vehicle".
>>28670041>>28670044No Odyssey or Sienna sadly, just the Carnival and the Staria. She's not really into cars but she's leaning towards the Carnival. Is the hybrid much good, or is diesel the move?
>>28670060I have a diesel Carnival and love it. If you're living in the city and only doing really short trips then the hybrid might make sense, but the diesel is a really solid engine. It's been around for a while and it has a good reputation for being reliable, economical, quiet, and having a fair bit of grunt. It's by far the most common option, if that says anything.If they were the same price then I probably would have bought the hybrid, but not when it's a fair bit more expensive, has more expensive and frequent service intervals, and has more expensive insurance.
>>28670044>>28670076Same goes for the Pacifica hybrid? Have the option for gas or hybrid and I've never owned an electric, had me interested.
>>28670087>Same goes for the Pacifica hybrid?I only see them in government fleets. The government also dumps them early at <100k so I'm guessing they incur significant repair costs that cause them to trigger mandatory auctioning.
>>28664095These things are so damn ugly
>>28664817>anemic pig>>both J35A5's I've owned make 260HP, one has 279k miles and the other one has 145k>>only work done to either has been rear main seals, valve cover gaskets, timing chain retentioner and 3k oil changes. I've never actually met someone stupid enough to call any of the J-series V6's anemic, do you have any examples? I don't know a single person who owns any honda V6 who had it be the issue in their car, only the early j series that even have issues are them being connected to those god awful 00-06 automatic transmissions>weabI literally mentioned the 7.3L powerstroke you fucking donkey
>>28670211They have an overstressed GM turbo i4. I work at a state government building that has the police lots adjoined, all 20 of their Chrysler Pacificas as are lined up next to one another because they just bought a fleet of exploders second hand from our state troopers. It's saying something when a bunch of minivans will less than 100k miles are worse than second hand police explorers.
>>28664243V6 engines gigga fuck the autotragics in minivans. They rarely make it to 200k.
>>28670076Appreciate it, thanks. She apparently wants the hybrid, but will see how things go.
>>28672252>V6 engines gigga fuck the autotragics in minivans.Depends on the vehicle. Chrysler/Dodge had severely undersized transaxles and would burn up ATF, early Odysseys were not up to the task either.>They rarely make it to 200k.Siennas and Odysseys regularly make it over 200k. The Sienna in particular is the high mileage hero of the segment.
>>28665055They stopped subscribing to that because customers wanted better gas mileage and a big lazy engine is not the way that you get that.>t. 60's and 70's V8 owner.
>>28667396lmao imagine having only three kids. I have fucking 6. There's not point in staying on this rock if you're gonna gamble that one child is going to continue your lineage.
>>28669688>5cyl turbodid you read his post
