Selecting a Potential "Forever" Vehicle

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amateurbob

Joined
Oct 19, 2025
Messages
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I have been thinking about my next and ideally last vehicle.

My goals are longevity, ease/cost of repair, I do not want cylinder deactivation, comfort(soft ride and ease of entry), and utility (cargo space/seating capacity). I have always purchased used and l would plan to in this case as well. Purchase price and value is a big consideration.

My current list is:
Sienna
2012 or older Pathfinder
Nissan Armada
Sequoia
GX460

Are their any other vehicles that should be considered? I have only driven a Sienna so maybe the others do not fit my criteria.

Please share your thoughts
 
Toyota offered a 4-cylinder Sienna in 2011 and 2012. They are MUCH easier to repair than any V6 :D

I'm surprised you want something so big :unsure:

Cars popular with old people due to easy entry/exit include the Kia Soul, and the Scion XA/XB/XD. Possibly, the Matrix/Vibe too.

A minivan will have more space than an SUV or crossover of the same size. In addition to the Sienna, the Transit Connect is another option worth considering.
 
slacktide_bitog said:
Toyota offered a 4-cylinder Sienna in 2011 and 2012. They are MUCH easier to repair than any V6 :D

I'm surprised you want something so big :unsure:

Cars popular with old people due to easy entry/exit include the Kia Soul, and the Scion XA/XB/XD. Possibly, the Matrix/Vibe too.

A minivan will have more space than an SUV or crossover of the same size. In addition to the Sienna, the Transit Connect is another option worth considering.
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I guess l was thinking the engines and transmissions on the selected vehicles are known to go (if cared for) 3 to 500k. I also selected those because of all the room. I like ability to not have to rent a vehicle to carry stuff.

The sienna would probably be my first choice. The 4 cylinder sienna would be optimal. I will have to do some research on the Transit Connect. Off the top of my head l heard they known for transmission issues.
 
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amateurbob said:
I have been thinking about my next and ideally last vehicle.

My goals are longevity, ease/cost of repair, I do not want cylinder deactivation, comfort(soft ride and ease of entry), and utility (cargo space/seating capacity). I have always purchased used and l would plan to in this case as well. Purchase price and value is a big consideration.
Click to expand...
A used Model Y is as good as it gets for your spec's.
 
macarose said:
How old are you? I want to first understand your perspective on the life a 'forever car' and what your needs actually are.
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Funny you should mention that. I am in my late 40s. I did a rough guestimate on how many miles l have left given my family history. At my current annual mileage l have around 400k.
 
I'd get the nicest Sienna you can find up to the '20 model when they discontinued the V6 in favor of the all-hybrid model. (A lot of that is me loving that tried and true V6 with gobs of power, but the hybrid ones would be a good forever choice too.) They ride nicely and have an absurd amount of space due to the way the car is packaged.
I don't think the 2.7 4-cyls were particularly common or desirable, given they aren't a splendid match for the weight of a loaded-down Sienna.
The 2GR-FE (older) or 2GR-FKS (newer) have proven to be very reliable. We have one with nearly 250k and one over 100k, and I'd buy either again in a heartbeat.
 
amateurbob said:
You think it could last 25 years plus without major repairs?
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I cannot answer that question. My SWAG is, the drivetrain would last, the battery would have lost capacity but could still be usable. I think 15+ years and 250K would be no problem. Possibly much more?
Depending on location, rust may kill the vehicle first.
25 years probably takes a toll on any vehicle, but probably more so on ICE vs EV if you take all in costs.

Now be sure and check your insurance rates; that can be a kick in the teeth.

Regarding your van preference, the Model Y can be pretty utilitarian. A stretch version is on the way. Of course there is Rivian and others, but I am not familiar with them.
 
JeffKeryk said:
I cannot answer that question. My SWAG is, the drivetrain would last, the battery would have lost capacity but could still be usable. I think 15+ years and 250K would be no problem. Possibly much more?
Depending on location, rust may kill the vehicle first.
25 years probably takes a toll on any vehicle, but probably more so on ICE vs EV if you take all in costs.

Now be sure and check your insurance rates; that can be a kick in the teeth.
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Good call, l forgot that aspect.
 
Last year we got rid of our 2022 Audi Q5 and bought a new Honda Pilot Elite. Our plan was to keep the Audi as our "forever" vehicle, but after two engine recalls while still under warranty, one bottom end and the other top end, we decided to look for something else and landed on the Pilot. We wanted the new vehicle to have more cargo space and third row seats to haul grandkids. My requirement was naturally aspirated and a conventional automatic transmission (though the dual clutch was fun to drive).

While the Pilot does have cylinder deactivation, aka VCM, switching the transmission drive mode to Sport or Tow prevents VCM from being activated while also turning off auto start/stop.

There were times I thought maybe we should have gotten a Toyota or Lexus, but they're having their own set of engine problems. The 2025 Pilot was the third year of the J35 engine iterations. The new 2026 models use the same drive train, but have "upgraded" the electronics and other stuff.

We enjoy having room to pack our bags and toss them in the back without having to put anything in the second row if we don't want to. Our German Shepherd Dogs like the Pilot because he can sit fully upright while guarding the rear, keeping us safe. He had to scrunch down in the Audi.

The OEM tires (Bridgestones) are pretty stiff, but we're okay with the current ride for now. Once I get another 10k-20k miles on them, I'll switch to more comfortable-riding tires, like the Continental DWS06+ which I'd put on the Audi.

JeffKeryk said:
Now be sure and check your insurance rates; that can be a kick in the teeth.
Click to expand...
Our insurance price dropped quite a bit with the new Pilot vs the 3-years-old Audi, though the purchase prices weren't terribly different.

As part of our plan to keep this car a long time, I bought an 8 years/120k HondaCare warranty which covers everything except for normal wear parts for ~$3k. My wife retired on Dec 31st, and I will be early next year. Having it gives a level of comfort in mitigating surprise expenses for many years to come.
 

"Forever" Vehicle"​


This,
Been around forever. Soft ride, ease of entry, lots of cargo space/seating capacity. No high tech cylinder deactivation. Rugged, taxi tested tough. Never lose a dime in depreciation. Fabulous livery. Lots of cachet.

If you ever need a side gig; instant Uber ride.

1773876834881.webp

Facebook
 
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