What's the best cheap minivan for city driving?

"Rainbow" (rainbeaux) 02/25/2019 at 08:43 • Filed to: None

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So, if this interview falls through today, my back-up plan is to go back to being a courier. However, I don’t want to put more miles on my regular car, so I’d be buying a cheap minivan to abuse. My maximum price is probably $2,000, but the lower the better. I’m thinking of a Previa, but most of the ones in my price range have nearly 200k miles. I could get an ex-USPS Caravan with under 100k, but if I remember from my parents owning one, they’re not terribly reliable. So... what are some that you would consider?

Another option is a pickup with a camper shell ( probably- my last courier job allowed these, but I’m not sure they all do) but that’s going to be even harder to find in my price range.

Nibby > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 08:51

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ford excursion

duurtlang > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 08:53

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I would look for the best maintained minivan that you can afford, regardless of brand or mileage. Given your budget, maintenance is far more important than mileage or brand.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Nibby 02/25/2019 at 08:59

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The perfect city courier vehicle...I don’t know why the USPS doesn’t just buy a fleet of them

Nibby > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 02/25/2019 at 08:59

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well the downside is they’re not produced anymore

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 09:04

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I there anyway you can use a car or wagon with the back interior torn out? Seems like you’d get near the same cargo volume.

I fit a goddamn wingback arm chair in my Fiesta one time, seats folded down.

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 09:08

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There are lots of older Minivans purchased by older folks (grandparents) That are squeaky-clean and lightly used. Just not as many as have been poorly maintained and digustified by families. Caravan is usually the right answer. I find the GM minivans are the cheapest out there but they se em to die death of a thousand cuts with stuff just failing and falling off.

Ash78, voting early and often > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 09:14

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If I look around my area at all the old minivans used mainly by construction crews, the first-gen Nissan Quest/Mercury Villager seems to be a popular choice.

I would hold out for an early, high-mileage Mazda5 for much better city maneuverability. That’s about the best use of space for the footprint that you’ll find.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 09:25

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Corvair is the answer:

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 09:27

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Alternate:

Shortened VW Bus, you can park ANYWHERE!

Shift24 > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 09:36

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I know here the wagon is considered the perfect car but I would look at 90s Honda or Toyota Wagons.

Minivans are great for moving stuff but other than the Previa, there isnt much left I would touch. I dont know much about the Previa but I have a feeling that might be hard to get parts for.

Maybe a first gen Odyssey with the i-4 and car doors, but I dont know the trans reliability on those. Or an early CRV and take out the back seats.  

If your lucky and find an Accord Manual wagon you are golden. I would try to stay away from 94 to 97 Accord Autos.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Shift24 02/25/2019 at 10:04

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I know a guy with a first gen Odyssey. He’s at almost 300k and still pretty reliable. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 10:14

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Just find a Caravan/Voyager with good maintenance records, specifically trans maintenance.

They have no issue running well over 200k without issue when properly maintained, issue is finding one that has been.

1st/2nd/3rd gens have removable seating, which makes them a perfect stuff hauler, and they can easily be had for under $2k.

Best bet would be finding a 3.0/3-spd combo as the 3 spd took better to poor maintenance than the 4-spds.  

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > duurtlang 02/25/2019 at 10:14

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This.

Shift24 > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 02/25/2019 at 10:23

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Yeah just was never sure about them. I know the motors they used are very robust (F22 and F23) but didnt know how the trans held up because from 94 to 97 the Accord’s had issues. No clue how well they sold ether but its rare to come up on one.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 11:08

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I was actually just looking at an 06 Kia Sedona as a flip. It was suprisgly decent. You can find them pretty cheap too from that 06-13 model run. 

CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 11:24

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Honda Odyssey. It drives like a sedan  and it is comfy. Preferably the 2009+ model. 

Rainbow > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 02/25/2019 at 11:26

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Yes, but if it’s anything like my last job, I would get paid a smaller percentage for using a car. It's stupid.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 11:28

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That is dumb

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don 02/25/2019 at 12:18

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It drives like a *70s land yacht and it is comfy.

*fify.

Sorry man, but the Odyssey drives terribly, even by minivan standards.

Monkey B > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 12:24

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Chrysler mini vans are plentiful, cheap and you can find Ram cargo versions. High mileage 1st gen Transits might fall cheap.

CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 02/25/2019 at 12:24

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Which year are you speaking of? My 2010 is fantastic (to me) 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don 02/25/2019 at 12:42

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We drove a 2009 and a 2016, they both felt overweight, sloppy,  and excessively rolly. The only minivan that drove worse was the Sienna.

CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 02/25/2019 at 13:08

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I guess I haven’t had the chance to drive anything better. The only minivans I have ever driven/owned were the old Chevy venture, 06 town and country, and my odyssey.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don 02/25/2019 at 16:08

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The Transit Connect passenger is at the top of my “best driving minivan” list as far as modern vans go.

The GC GT, and Pacifica are close 2nd/3rd.

The GC, Odyssey, Sienna all drive like hot garbage at best.

CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 02/25/2019 at 16:29

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I actually wanted to get a pacifica but settled on my odyssey.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don 02/25/2019 at 16:54

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We tested all the new vans a couple years ago, I was downright appalled by how terrible the Od/Si/GC drove. They honestly made my 94 Voyager with a 2" lift and 27" ATs seem tight/stable ( not to mention they get worse mileage real world and perform worse, but that’s another subject ).

The Pacifica rode nice, while being stable. The GC GT gave up a little ride, but handled quite nicely. The TCp drove like a car, while still riding pretty decent. Disappointed the TC doesn’t come with a better engine option, but the 28 mpg we averaged was nice.

CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 02/25/2019 at 17:27

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Well, I am happy with my odyssey for what I have to compare it to. Which in terms of comfort, my ae86 is not as nice of a ride.

TheDutchTexan > Rainbow 02/25/2019 at 19:57

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Only replying here because I legit saw one like the one in the picture today at the grocery store as I walked out with perishables (otherwise a photo would have been gotten).

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don 02/26/2019 at 07:03

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I applaud you man, I wouldn’t be able to go from something like an AE86 to something like an Od yssey, it would absolutely kill me.

CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 02/26/2019 at 07:55

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Well, I still have both. I just can’t fit my kids in my 86.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don 02/26/2019 at 10:03

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Gotta try harder ;)

I carried 2 kids in car seats in a 1990 Integra coupe.

CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 02/26/2019 at 10:58

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That must have sucked getting them in and out lol. I plan on putting in a harness bar and completely removing the back seats. Plus it was time to stop dailying her, she is getting too old for that .

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don 02/26/2019 at 12:00

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It was actually easier than a lot of sedans due to the doors being larger and the front seat folding all the way to the dash. I was able to walk right in and click the seats into place.

There’s no such thing as too old to daily:

CONTINENTLDRIFT02-They call me Don > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 02/26/2019 at 12:31

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Well, I plan on restoring it and just driving it every so often as they are getting hard to find and I don’t want to damage it.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > Rainbow 02/28/2019 at 13:56

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If you’re using it to haul stuff, what about if you had an xB or cube with the seats removed?  IIRC you used to have an xB, right?  And when I had my cube, while it was boring to drive, if you removed the rear seats they had a suprising amount of room in them.  I think that would probable be the cheapest way to go.  Although I’m not sure if you can find a cube for under 2k or not.