The Search continues...I can into minivan?

"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
07/10/2015 at 21:03 • Filed to: Fatherhood, minivans

As you !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I’m on the hunt for a minivan to ferry my growing family about. With my second child due any day, the pressure is mounting to find a suitable new vehicle before we become zombies.

The above van didn’t show as well as represented and had several apparent issues that I don’t want to deal with, ie leaking valve covers & possibly more, weak AC, a whine from the transmission, incorrectly sized tires, and various cosmetic issues that I wasn’t willing to look past. Upon further reflection on that lesson, my original and perhaps overly optimistic $4-5k budget thus went out the window. So, we’ll be getting a small loan from the local credit union to make up the difference to around $10k, which will enable us to get a newer van with less miles for a small and not too-long-term payment. Hopefully, this one:

It’s an ‘05 Sienna XLE Limited, 2 owners and 114k miles, asking $10,900, which is right on book. Importantly, it’s not beige, and does not have Navigation, which is fine because few things are less useful than 10 year old Nav systems. Leather, so it should hold up well to kiddos. Wood trim, so it’s reasonably classy inside. And the newer Siennas are notably more spacious than the 1st-gen vans. The seller is nice, the van sounds nice, and it’s about 100 miles away so I’m going to look at it tomorrow morning, fingers crossed it’s the one and I can go back with a check next week, because I want to return to surfing Craigslist for things that will waste money instead of spend it practically. And a bonus, I’ve already got a buyer for our 325iT lined up, one of my favorite clients. Things are coming together. And like it or not, this van will be receiving an Oppo sticker, MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

DISCUSSION (26)

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > RallyWrench
07/10/2015 at 21:35

Those wheels are going to blister and peel like you’ve never seen before. Prepare yourself.

Your boy, BJR > RallyWrench
07/10/2015 at 21:36

Fuck that, get an Escalade.

Anon > RallyWrench
07/10/2015 at 21:39

What do you have against wagons? The Jetta sportwagon should be avaliable in that price range.

RallyWrench > Anon
07/10/2015 at 21:49

I love wagons, but with 2 kids, friends, families, and accessories, they get awfully small. This makes my wife’s life easier.

RallyWrench > Your boy, BJR
07/10/2015 at 21:50

Fuel economy and height FTL. We’re not blingy people.

RallyWrench > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/10/2015 at 21:52

Hopefully i can put something else on it.

JR1 > Your boy, BJR
07/10/2015 at 22:11

Fuck the Escalade. Get a Navigator

VincentMalamute-Kim > RallyWrench
07/10/2015 at 22:13

Too bad it’s not current gen. Mugen now makes lowering springs; slightly lower and firmer ride. I had an ancient Caravan I definitely would have liked to have lowered and firmed up but no one made aftermarket sets. Firmed up sway bars and I would have been chasing BMWs and Porsches.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sienn…

N51fanatic > RallyWrench
07/10/2015 at 22:22

I dont get folks who dive head first into a minivan or “something bigger”. I have a 17 month old, i drive a 1 series BMW and wife drives a cx-5, plenty of room. Now a 2nd will be a tough squeeze in the CX-5 and will be non starter in the 1series, but still not sure why folks think they need something bigger right away.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RallyWrench
07/10/2015 at 22:26

Why not a 90s Previa Supercharged?

boxrocket > RallyWrench
07/10/2015 at 22:38

Nothing against the Sienna, but this one may be a little worn and beat for the money. Why not something that doesn’t carry the “Toyota Tax” in the same price range, like a Ford Freestyle/Taurus X, Transit Connect Wagon, Mazda CX-9, Mazda MPV, Hyundai Veracruz, Kia Sedona/Hyundai Entourage, etc.?

I’m playing “devil’s advocate”; I like and appreciate minivans (when treated right).

JR1 > RallyWrench
07/10/2015 at 22:39

Get yourself a 50s land yacht they have more room and will be far more enjoyable to drive.

jkm7680 > RallyWrench
07/10/2015 at 23:24

CP, those things were garbage. Toyota reliability my ass, they had issues with the doors freezing shut, the rear seats moving around etc etc.

Ike > RallyWrench
07/10/2015 at 23:33

V70r with rear jump seats?

I agree I love mini vans for there practicality in regards to average wants/needs of the American family.

You just do an oppo review when you get it. I expect great things sir.

GREAT THINGS

Your boy, BJR > JR1
07/11/2015 at 00:07

The more you insist the navigator is even remotely as good as the escalade, the more adoreable it gets.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > RallyWrench
07/11/2015 at 00:09

I don’t think I’ve seen a single Sienna with those wheels intact.

RallyWrench > jkm7680
07/11/2015 at 01:12

It’s a lesser of the evils thing, i don’t consider those reliability problems. Door and seat issues are better than serious mechanical problems, which most other 10 year old minivan options seem to have.

RallyWrench > JR1
07/11/2015 at 01:16

I already have my ‘66 Fairlane for that. I want my wife and children in something safe, that i don’t have to work on all the time.

RallyWrench > boxrocket
07/11/2015 at 01:23

A couple of those are on the list, but my wife wants a van. And most 10 year old siennas have considerably more miles, which is why this is worth a look.

RallyWrench > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/11/2015 at 01:26

Find me a nice one with less than 300k! I like Previas, there have been 2 in the family.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RallyWrench
07/11/2015 at 01:32

LESS than 300k? I’m not a miracle worker!

RallyWrench > N51fanatic
07/11/2015 at 01:34

This is a considered move. Our 3 year old spent most of the first 18 months in a GTI, and now in a 12 year old 325i wagon with 160k. As active as my wife is with friends and family, the van will make things easier.

RallyWrench > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/11/2015 at 01:42

Believe me, I’ve looked!

JR1 > RallyWrench
07/11/2015 at 08:21

I can't blame you. I'd never DD a classic myself

Der Käfer > RallyWrench
07/11/2015 at 11:15

Have you looked at the Hyundai/Kia Vans? They can be had with way lower miles and a lot newer than that sienna. Another good van that's newer and in that budget is the oddball Volkswagen Routan, I work for VW and they are just hard to sell so we discount or lower the price drastically to move them.

RallyWrench > Der Käfer
07/11/2015 at 15:51

I have actually, but they’re oddly hard to find, and a Kia Master Tech friend says the pre-06 Sedona is no good. I thought about Routans because I’m a VW dork, but can’t get past the problematic Mopar behind the badge.