Originally Posted By: JHZR2
If I was looking for a used van, the only one Id consider is the Chrysler product. Toyota and Honda are overpriced, the older Kia/Hyundai offerings were way behind while the newest ones push the envelope too much without offering economy of fuel or cost, and the Nissan honestly I just didn't like much.
We were tied in if we would buy an odyssey or a town and country. Keep in mind I learned to drive in and absolutely loved our Toyota Previa, which went way, way over 200k with no real service needs except a new radiator. But the Sienna didn't set up the way I wanted it, and didn't offer the value proposition of the Odyssey. The odyssey and T&C/caravan are class best IMO, having driven a TON of rental T&Cs for thousands of miles, and now being an owner of the odyssey who test drove all of them. The thing that made us pick the odyssey was twofold: right place right time for a killer deal, and the center overhead console in the chrysler vans, which while not a deal breaker, was not desired by either of us, especially my wife.
So if the ody is a bad deal used, which Ill say it is (we bought new for less cost per mile assuming it is kept to 100k, than any used deal we could find), and the chrysler is top in class, then look at chrysler.
And heres what Id do: avoid the T&C, which has a highish sticker new and doesn't depreciate as much. Look for low level Caravan and wait for a good one. Find one that had one of those value packages, which means that it might have been bought for near, if not below, $20k. Then start depreciating from there and you start to find a decent late model van for not a lot of money.
But be patient. That is key. I think the caravan base, late model, even if a little over your stated budget, is the best bet. Learn its weak points and address them, keep after it, treat it nice and gently, and Im sure it will give very good service.
Thanks for dropping some wisdom here. This post is a real gem that, BITOGers would be wise to pay attention to.
Mulling over the Chryslers now after this and some other posts, but as you said, looking at bottom of the line Caravans. I originally wanted a Sienna, but the prices are pretty high when you compare apples to apples, especially comparing base models to base models. The interior on the base Sienna on the 07-10 models is not nearly as nice as the the base 08-10 Caravans, and you can get a Caravan with significantly less mileage and 1-2 model years newer for the same money.
I drive for the app-based car sharing services that are often in the media, in addition to my day job in IT. (I won't get into the personal reasons why I'm doing 2 jobs, send me a PM if you want to know). I need a minimum of 7 seats to increase my revenue potential to the next level of the service I offer and don't need any fancy stuff.
I'm ok with a smaller less powerful engine because I don't need much power to drive students from their dorm rooms to the bars, I rarely get above 40MPH doing so. Sometimes, I get on the freeway but even so I don't need to go that fast. I drive a 4 cylinder Kia Rondo now and I'm sure the Caravan 3.3 is not any worse than the Rondo with 5 people in it.
Mods: please delete if this constitutes advertising and I will re-post without the paragraphs about the car sharing service(s). I am hoping by being non-specific it is not actually "advertising" but asking for help from BITOGers in choosing the right vehicle for my needs.
If I was looking for a used van, the only one Id consider is the Chrysler product. Toyota and Honda are overpriced, the older Kia/Hyundai offerings were way behind while the newest ones push the envelope too much without offering economy of fuel or cost, and the Nissan honestly I just didn't like much.
We were tied in if we would buy an odyssey or a town and country. Keep in mind I learned to drive in and absolutely loved our Toyota Previa, which went way, way over 200k with no real service needs except a new radiator. But the Sienna didn't set up the way I wanted it, and didn't offer the value proposition of the Odyssey. The odyssey and T&C/caravan are class best IMO, having driven a TON of rental T&Cs for thousands of miles, and now being an owner of the odyssey who test drove all of them. The thing that made us pick the odyssey was twofold: right place right time for a killer deal, and the center overhead console in the chrysler vans, which while not a deal breaker, was not desired by either of us, especially my wife.
So if the ody is a bad deal used, which Ill say it is (we bought new for less cost per mile assuming it is kept to 100k, than any used deal we could find), and the chrysler is top in class, then look at chrysler.
And heres what Id do: avoid the T&C, which has a highish sticker new and doesn't depreciate as much. Look for low level Caravan and wait for a good one. Find one that had one of those value packages, which means that it might have been bought for near, if not below, $20k. Then start depreciating from there and you start to find a decent late model van for not a lot of money.
But be patient. That is key. I think the caravan base, late model, even if a little over your stated budget, is the best bet. Learn its weak points and address them, keep after it, treat it nice and gently, and Im sure it will give very good service.
Thanks for dropping some wisdom here. This post is a real gem that, BITOGers would be wise to pay attention to.
Mulling over the Chryslers now after this and some other posts, but as you said, looking at bottom of the line Caravans. I originally wanted a Sienna, but the prices are pretty high when you compare apples to apples, especially comparing base models to base models. The interior on the base Sienna on the 07-10 models is not nearly as nice as the the base 08-10 Caravans, and you can get a Caravan with significantly less mileage and 1-2 model years newer for the same money.
I drive for the app-based car sharing services that are often in the media, in addition to my day job in IT. (I won't get into the personal reasons why I'm doing 2 jobs, send me a PM if you want to know). I need a minimum of 7 seats to increase my revenue potential to the next level of the service I offer and don't need any fancy stuff.
I'm ok with a smaller less powerful engine because I don't need much power to drive students from their dorm rooms to the bars, I rarely get above 40MPH doing so. Sometimes, I get on the freeway but even so I don't need to go that fast. I drive a 4 cylinder Kia Rondo now and I'm sure the Caravan 3.3 is not any worse than the Rondo with 5 people in it.
Mods: please delete if this constitutes advertising and I will re-post without the paragraphs about the car sharing service(s). I am hoping by being non-specific it is not actually "advertising" but asking for help from BITOGers in choosing the right vehicle for my needs.
