Tell me about your minivan

[El Chupacabra]

Not minivan related, but my neighbor is shopping for a used vehicle for his kid. He said he found a gem - a 2002 Tundra, ext cab, 4WD, around 60K miles, one owner, very clean.

$19K.

It's got to be one of the most reliable trucks made, and that's a great find, but still - for a 23 year old truck...

[bagtagley]

I’m not gonna argue that the used market is nuts. But there’s a reason a used Sienna or Odyssey costs a lot more than a Caravan. And AWD is relatively new and they didn’t make many especially early on so there aren’t a ton out there. Desirability and supply are making Toyotas expensive, though I suppose “tax” is an appropriate way to describe the upcharge.

I also don’t disagree that it’s BS, it’s the reason we’ve bought our past three cars new. But it’s been the case for a decade+ now and doesn’t appear to be letting up, so plus side is that there’s a great chance you get to overcharge when you sell.

[riser4]

My 2011 Sienna is getting long in the tooth. We love having it as our spare beater vehicle but it's definitely showing signs of neglect. Weve gotten 12 years with it, but we definitely turned it into a beater 5 years ago. As much as our 2016 Highlander annoys me, it's dependable and gets driven the right amount to stay limber without wearing out. I'd love to get 10-15 years out of it. We've already hit 5 and its in better shape than the Sienna was at the same point. Downside is that it will need both front lower control arms eventually as the bushings are worn, but still pass inspection. That's not a cheap job on a Highlander because of the labor involved. Genius engineers. I could get good money for it in sale or trade but I don't want a second car payment anytime soon.

[bodywhomper]

So buying new (and dealing with buying a car at a dealership - I hate the haggle and shit from car dealers), is it worth buying new if the closest dealer service garage is over an hour away? I’m working six days a week this winter (sometimes more). I generally don’t have time to drive to and from the dealer service garage.

Otherwise, we’re looking at CarMax.

Another question: leather seats. How durable will they be compared to fabric and pleather ones, if not conditioned, treated nicely, etc.? How to they hold up to wet?

[gravitylover]

Found one! Gonna go back in the morning and try to nail the deal. It's a 2017 XLE AWD with 76k.

[gravitylover]

Well, that one failed. Next...!

[J. Barron DeJong]

So buying new (and dealing with buying a car at a dealership - I hate the haggle and shit from car dealers), is it worth buying new if the closest dealer service garage is over an hour away? I’m working six days a week this winter (sometimes more). I generally don’t have time to drive to and from the dealer service garage. Otherwise, we’re looking at CarMax. Another question: leather seats. How durable will they be compared to fabric and pleather ones, if not conditioned, treated nicely, etc.? How to they hold up to wet?

Can't speak to wet, or at least not wetter than some kids in damp swimsuits, but we have a 2013 Sienna, ~110k miles, and haven't done shit to try to protect the leather and it's held up perfectly (other than grime from over a decade of kids in it that we can't get completely out, but haven't tried that hard). It does live in a garage FWIW.

[Not DJSapp]

Leather has been holding up well for me in the 2013 sienna. Some cracking on the driver and passenger armrests. Never garaged, in NorCal so mild winters and blazing summers (though the parking spot at home is shaded).

[dan_pdx]

My manager is in her mid 30s (I'm guessing) and super bummed out that she is likely going to get a minivan for her next car. I told her that all my dirtbag friends loved them because you can fit in skis, bikes etc. This did not convince her. Then I pointed out the wonderful convenience of being able to put sheet goods inside. This also did not convince her haha.

[skaredshtles]

My manager is in her mid 30s (I'm guessing) and super bummed out that she is likely going to get a minivan for her next car. I told her that all my dirtbag friends loved them because you can fit in skis, bikes etc. This did not convince her. Then I pointed out the wonderful convenience of being able to put sheet goods inside. This also did not convince her haha.

Ive run into several professional women that have some sort of psychological hangup on owning a minivan. Its generally a form over function issue. I suspect vanity is the main culprit. Cause minivans kick the ass of everything else for their functionality. I wish that Mazda would come back out with something like their old Mazda 5 which was basically a small station wagon minivan. We rented one of those in Florida many moons ago and it was pretty much the perfectly functional vehicle.

[toast2266]

Ive run into several professional women that have some sort of psychological hangup on owning a minivan. Its generally a form over function issue. I suspect vanity is the main culprit. Cause minivans kick the ass of everything else for their functionality. I wish that Mazda would come back out with something like their old Mazda 5 which was basically a small station wagon minivan. We rented one of those in Florida many moons ago and it was pretty much the perfectly functional vehicle.

90% of the people I know that are psyched on minivans are male. The legions of moms dropping their kids off at daycare / school in land yacht SUV's when they would very clearly be better served by a minivan is kind of the embodiment of middle class suburban America.

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[Norseman]

Ive run into several professional women that have some sort of psychological hangup on owning a minivan. Its generally a form over function issue. I suspect vanity is the main culprit. Cause minivans kick the ass of everything else for their functionality. I wish that Mazda would come back out with something like their old Mazda 5 which was basically a small station wagon minivan. We rented one of those in Florida many moons ago and it was pretty much the perfectly functional vehicle.

Drove my little Mazda 5 to work today!

MicroVan still kickin ass as Family Town Beater. Three pedals, even. It'd be the best car ever if it had AWD... alas.

[skaredshtles]

Drove my little Mazda 5 to work today! MicroVan still kickin ass as Family Town Beater. Three pedals, even. It'd be the best car ever if it had AWD... alas.

Mazda is *THIS* close to having the perfect vehicle if they would make an AWD CX-5 with sliding rear doors. Maybe box the back end off a bit more for more cargo space...

[riser4]

I like a boxy back end.

[bodywhomper]

Thanks for the responses about sienna leather upholstery.


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[dan_pdx]

90% of the people I know that are psyched on minivans are male. The legions of moms dropping their kids off at daycare / school in land yacht SUV's when they would very clearly be better served by a minivan is kind of the embodiment of middle class suburban America.

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TBF, this is sexist as hell, but if I see a guy with a minivan, I'm like "here's someone who knows what's up" and if I see a woman with a minivan, it's "cool, a mom-mobile." I guess I'm kind of an asshole.

[muted reborn]

Ive run into several professional women that have some sort of psychological hangup on owning a minivan. Its generally a form over function issue. I suspect vanity is the main culprit. Cause minivans kick the ass of everything else for their functionality. I wish that Mazda would come back out with something like their old Mazda 5 which was basically a small station wagon minivan. We rented one of those in Florida many moons ago and it was pretty much the perfectly functional vehicle.

90% of the people I know that are psyched on minivans are male. The legions of moms dropping their kids off at daycare / school in land yacht SUV's when they would very clearly be better served by a minivan is kind of the embodiment of middle class suburban America. Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

TBF, this is sexist as hell, but if I see a guy with a minivan, I'm like "here's someone who knows what's up"

Why would anyone smoke weed when you can mow a lawn?

[muted reborn]

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[gravitylover]

Still looking...

A few times now I've noticed that there's no mention of Android Auto or any Android integration with the head unit in the Gen 3 Sienna. Is that right?

[gravitylover]

Has anyone found a decent forum for Siennas? I found a few but they pretty much suck.

[bagtagley]

[emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji638][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]][emoji639][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]]]Thanks for the responses about sienna leather upholstery.


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Leather in the Sienna is coated. Only the faces are leather and if I recall it’s only the first and second rows.

[gravitylover]

^^ I think you are right. Well, gonna head up north in the morning to go get this 2019 Sienna SE AWD, hopefully it checks out as well in person as in pics. Anyone wanna meet in Plattsburgh tomorrow?

[gravitylover]

Do photo links work? Black on black AWD SE https://photos.app.goo.gl/Lgcqm4hKFKgYs1vZ6

[riser4]

Baller!

[gravitylover]

Thanx man. It drives great. When my wife asked what I thought of it while I was driving home, my response was 'so this is what a minivan is supposed to feel and ride like'. Now with 2 black cars I think that foam cannon I got is gonna see a bunch of use. This thing needs a serious clay bar session too. I'm guessing that with soooo much surface area that ought to take a while...