Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Mini-vans are good automobiles and the sales figures indicate that they are extremely popular. The best selling mini-vans are manufactured by Chrysler, and I think Chrysler is putting out a very quality product lately. I just could never buy one... sorry. I want a car that in some way makes me tingle a little, and a mini-van never will. < I had one and I never thought I would either....and it was Ok for 3 years. had one kid in active sports and the other a baby and it really worked out well. I had nice wheels on it and the tingle came from a 1000 watt - 10 speaker stereo system we put in it at the time -- never say never ( but I do understand)
Originally Posted By threeundertwo Advantages of a mini-van: (I have a '98 Toyota Sienna) We took out one of the center row seats, leaving us with a nice "dance floor" which helps kids maneuver into and out of their seats. With the remaining bench seat in the back and 1 center row seat, we can separate the kids nicely. Laugh if you want, but we take a lot of long car trips and everyone needs their space. One of the best features - the little step (is it called a running board?) This was a godsend for helping little people get in and out themselves at an earlier age. Some SUVs are really high by comparison. My only regret is that our old model doesn't have the door that opens and closes on its own (i.e. remotely). The doors are really heavy for small people - or obviously the mom has to stop the car and go open the door for drop-offs. This feature alone would still be worth a lot to me, even though my kids are bigger now. Just my $.02.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I want a car that in some way makes me tingle a little, and a mini-van never will.>> If Volkswagen had built the Microbus concept vehicle they first showed back in 2001, that would have been sweet. I'd drive one of those in a heartbeat.
Originally Posted By avromark ^^^ VW will have a minivan based on the 2008 Chrysler platform, built in one of their plants. VW states that it will be completely different from the Chrysler vans, I wouldn't be surprised if it incorporated some features of the Microbus concept, but I doubt it will be that bold. Remember that the Sienna is based on a Camry platform, heck the original Chrysler minivan shared a platform with the LeBaron convertible. Just because it's based on the same platform doesn't mean it'll look anything like the Dodge vans, doesn't mean it'll have the same engine either (Mazda CX-7 and Ford Edge are "twins" in platform, one's built in Japan using a Mazda supercharged engine, the other in North America using a Ford V6, neither look anything alike and unless you knew they shared a platform you'd never guess) Platform sharing happens between luxury brands and normal brands as well (Honda and Acura). Heck what Europeans know as the Honda Accord (different from ours) is known as an Acura here...
Originally Posted By fkurucz >> VW will have a minivan based on the 2008 Chrysler platform, built in one of their plants. << That just seems so wrong. Why can't VW design its own. Ona a related note: I really like the recent "un-pimp my ride" VW commercials. I just hope the next gen Golf isn't built on a Dodge Neon platform.
Originally Posted By fkurucz ^^For those in Europe and elsewhere, the new VW commercials start out with a young guy and his "pimped out" Japanese car. The VW guy (in a very Mike Myers Dieter like persona) trashes the pimpmobile and replaces it with a much more tasteful Golf. In once commercial he drops a container on the pimpmobile (which flattens it) and the new Golf emerges from the container.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip My son has a VW Jetta. You don't want to EVER own a VW Jetta. Not unless you have a mechanic that you would really like to support. He loves his Jetta, but readily admits that it requires more repairs than any other car he's ever driven.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess I agree that minivans are comfortable and roomy and practical, especially when you have kids. One thing I miss is the sliding doors. Now I'm constantly warning, "CAREFUL! Don't hit the car next to us!" when my kids go to swing open the doors. (And they seem to be exceptionally long on my Camry, for some reason.)
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <My son has a VW Jetta. You don't want to EVER own a VW Jetta. Not unless you have a mechanic that you would really like to support. He loves his Jetta, but readily admits that it requires more repairs than any other car he's ever driven. < VW gets creamed yearly by Consumer Reports etc on reliability of it's cars --
Originally Posted By fkurucz Jettas (and Golfs and Beetles) sold in the US are built in Mexico. The Passat is built in Europe and IIRC gets a CR thumbs up.
Originally Posted By avromark <<That just seems so wrong. Why can't VW design its own.>> They have their own, but it's not up to American tastes. Mercedes-Benz also has a minivan (Built in Korea for the Asian markets). I can't wait for the good weather when I can take my small block (the 327 is a small block right?) Parisienne out, the one thing I abhor about my truck is it's automatic. The Phaeton seems nice. Too bad it didn't sell well. You want long doors? <a href="http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2003/01/19/152967.1-lg.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.theautochannel.com/ news/2003/01/19/152967.1-lg.jpg</a> The rear seat in the Camry is way to low for full sized adults, you get cramps in your legs (How do you think they make it "big" inside?) Also why did cornering lamps disappear on cars?
Originally Posted By Minnie1955 ok guys, so I caved in to DH and we are now proud owners of a Chrysler 300 We went to a different dealer than the first 300 that we test drove and ended up paying $2000 less at this place. We got the extended warranty too. I'm actually really happy with it... but like I mentioned, I just have to get used to the size. Thanks for all of the help and suggestions everyone!!!
Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 Congratulations and good luck with your new car! I've been reading the posts b/c my transmission went (again, on my 1994 Taurus) and it's time to find another car! I've been looking for an Impala after reading Avromarks's posts and a used one is hard to find! (Their owners must like them too much to sell or trade in!) Does anyone know how the Chevy Malibu holds up these days? We had one back in the 80's and it lasted really long. Then, I think they stopped making them for a while, I didn't know they were back until we rented one when we came to DL the first time. (There is one listed for sale in our local paper.) I was "watching" a Ford Windstar on Ebay. It was just beautiful. (The seller was local.) I really wanted to bid on it and then I read one of the posts saying their Windstar started to go downhill after 50,000 mi. This one had 58,000 mi. on it, so I chickened out! It sold for 7900 and it was a 2003. That seemed like a great deal to me.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Tinkerbell -- be glad you didn't get the Windstar. Seriously. I had more problems with that car than any of the cars I've owned in the past 20 years (and I have owned... let me count... 8)! My husband's a seasoned mechanic, and even he couldn't believe some of the things that went out on it as early as they did. He was amazed. (And we have owned MOSTLY Fords so I'm certainly not knocking Fords.) I would think the Chevy Malibus were pretty decent... would be worth checking into. Minnie: Congrats on your new car! Bet it's gorgeous!
Originally Posted By Tinkerbell819 Thanks, MomofPrincess...it must have been your post I read earlier in this thread! (It was what held me back from bidding! You've made me feel better now!
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess No problem. There's probably a reason such a new car went for so little - you know?!
Originally Posted By avromark In regards to Windstars, I have a 2001 with 212k on it (Moms old van, it used to shuttle 3 kids for sports etc). It's on its original transmission, engine. Our family has had a 95, 2 98's an 01 Windstar, no transmission problems whatsoever. My dad's probably going to buy another minivan or SUV (He's regretting downsizing to a Mazda5, loves the car but until then the smallest vehicle he had was a minivan. He bought the Mazda5 because of the gas price scare we had (Had a Yukon XL). Remember that the owners you hear are a fraction of those that have owned them. All minivans are reporting transmission problems by the way. The thing many people forget with minivans (especially those coming from small cars) is to ALWAYS stop before shifting into forward/reverse. The people I know with various brands of vehicles that have transmission problems tend to be the ones that reverse directions with their transmission before coming to a complete stop. The one thing many people forget to do is service their transmission, yes you need to install "kits" and flush their fluids. I used to own a 93 Taurus GL Wagon in college Malibu's are good, try to find a nicer trim level one, if you do a lot of highway driving try to get a V6. They're roomy. I'd stick with the new generation (2004+). The 4 cyl would be the "Ecotec" and the V6s would have a 3500 in them. Try to get ABS, Remote starters are nice for those who like to warm their cars up in winter (Guilty!) Onstar is nice, it's like TeleAid. If you buy new you get 1 year free service. Don't worry if you lock your keys in the door. You can also get the MAXX version which has seats that are on a half foot track, so you can crank em back for adults, or slide them forward for your baby. They also recline. The Malibu has an optional rear seat DVD system. My local Chevy dealer probably has at least 15 used 05/06 Impalas in stock, I'd imagine the other Chevy dealer in the city has the same. I'm happy my Trailblazer is still under 18k My Windstar is an SEL, one problem I had was my one brother ripped the armrest off accidently (my mechanic put it back on). I like the cornering lamps (SEL/Limited) they light up the road to the side of the vehicle when you have your turn signals on, not so useful in the city, but great in the country. Even if you have a tire pressure monitor, I still check my tire pressure. 2001-2003 have a nicer steering wheel and interior colour compared to 1999/2000. I do miss some features from the older generation though. (Our 1995 had digital gauges as a teenager I thought they were cool). You'll love the seats in the higher trims, they're firm and have a power lumbar (you can inflate/deflate the support in the "small" of your back). These are great on longer trips, I tend to inflate them a bit more as the trip progresses. If you have kids the conversation mirror (now lots of vans have them) are nice. Or if you like your friends in the rear Oh for tires, I recommend when they wear out to get Goodyear Assurance Triple Treds they're noticeably nicer then stock. They increase traction and work well in snow/slush/rain. It's a unidirectional tire with a slight price premium, but worth it. Congrats on your 300 and better price, I hope you had a better salesman to boot. You'll get used to the size, we're sure! If you have any questions about controls pester RoadTrip not me He knows the car well. J/K.
Originally Posted By avromark Japanese cars tend to be overvalued near the end of their lives, you can spend 10k on one and get a car that only has 20% of its life left. Buyer beware though with used. Condition varies greatly, however if you spend 7600 on a car and it lasts say 100k, you've saved enough so even if it needs 7600 in repairs, your ahead of a 30,000 new vehicle that lasts 200k. Even without mechanical problems to reach 200k no matter what the vehicle, their will be some items that you must replace. Your bearing will probably go, from the cheapest small car to the most expensive luxury barge. You will replace tires (more then once), you will replace shocks, your muffler will probably need replacing after a decade, lightbulbs will require replacing (especially headlamps around the 100k plus mark), you will need to do tune ups (Ie sparkplugs), you will still need to do oil changes, change filters (Fuel/Oil/Cabin/Air), check your tire pressure, rotate tires, E-test (in certain provinces and states), you'll need to service your transmission, replace and flush your fluids (brake, Antifreeze). Just because you bought a "Camry" or "Accord" doesn't mean those expenses go away. You also pay a premium for that cachet, which some people forget to include in operating costs. That said you like to change your vehicles every 2 or 3 years and do average mileage, buy Japanese. If you want to save a bit of money buy a 2 oe 3 year old domestic, the depreciation will cover the "extra" expenses, do preventive maintenance. I know there are some other LPers online besides MOP who were/are Windstar owners. A couple who probably doesn't want to be mentioned over all likes theirs. The other thing is any vehicle under warranty, especially when new will be a pleasure to own. No car exists that won't have those expenses.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess Just for the record, my transmission was fine in my '99 Windstar. It was everything *else* that went out in it. Maybe like your Camry, avromark, I just had a lemon. I owned several Tauruses, though, and loved them.
Originally Posted By MomofPrincess >>The other thing is any vehicle under warranty, especially when new will be a pleasure to own.<< Not necess-celery. ;-) Our friends bought a brand new Pacifica two years ago. They had it into the shop every other week for MONTHS--they honestly were without it more than they had it. The dealer finally took it back under the lemon law. So, even brand new cars can have a slew of problems. In fact, my husband works on brand new government vehicles every day and can't believe some of the stuff that he finds wrong.
