Family Vehicle Purchase

[TangoJuliet]

I been planning on some time on making a purchase this weekend. I narrowed my search down to

1. Honda Odyssey

2. Ford Edge

3. Nissan Quest

4. Toyota Prius V

My family has purchased 6 Hondas the past couple years so the dealership is going to work with us on getting a good deal. However, I am trading in my 2009 Ford Focus so I think Ford is going to give us the most money on the trade.

We're looking for something 1 step above the basic trim. We'd like to get leather seats because they're easier to clean with 2 little kids.

We are going to lease the vehicle and its going to be my wife's primary car. We only live 5 miles from her job so the mileage is going to be light. We're hoping for around $300/m with the trade and $0 money down.

Thoughts?

 

[Bignate603]

My father has an Odyssey. Its from the mid-2000's so I would think a few issues would be normal but that thing has really been bad. The power sliding doors broke so they are a pain to open and it eats transmissions. It's in its third one right now, they had to replace it again last month.

 

[txsizzler]

We (Wife, 2 kids, and I) are looking as well, and will most likely go with a Honda Odyssey. Love the newer refresh for 2011 and 2012. Like it more so than the Sienna and the Quest, although the Quest is a pretty thoughtful little minivan.


Ian

 

[ssm0002]

I bought an 03 Pilot XL for wife in 07 with 59k miles on it because sales guy at work owned one with 250k miles on it and had no problems and never had any alignments done. All tires he put on it wore perfectly. That was in 07. Today my Pilot has 121k miles on. Still no alignments required and wife hits EVERY pothole she can find and still perfect tire wear. Can't say that about all of the other autos she's driven over the years. Had an 03 Grand Caravan that ate tires for lunch and could never stay in alignment on the roads here in SC. Guy at work has 450k miles on his 03 Pilot now and no alignments since day one. I have oil changed every 7500 miles and all fluids changed every 50. On these modern day trannies you have to keep the fluids clean to get the miles out of them.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Well, we plan to lease the vehicle so we shouldn't have to worry about repairs or it breaking down.

 

[Jumpem]

My wife and I have two young kids. I am more concerned with keeping the budget in check; lease payment of $250-$300, and good fuel economy.

Leaning towards an Impreza hatchback or waiting for the XV Crosstrek. I looked at a Focus Titanium and 3i SkyActiv, but Ford and Mazda's lease prices are ridiculous. I could get another Outback for less. I wanted soemthing that got good fuel economy, but the cost of those eceonomy cars ate up any fuel savings.

 

[Jumpem]

I do find it interesting that all of you are looking at large vehicles that get maybe 20mpg.

 

[Demo24]

I do find it interesting that all of you are looking at large vehicles that get maybe 20mpg.

what? All of those vehicles can return well over 20 provided its not nearly all city mileage.

 

[waggy]

I do find it interesting that all of you are looking at large vehicles that get maybe 20mpg.

im sure they get more then that. my 2002 Ford windstar got on average 20. i have to think a 10 yr newer vehicle is going to get better. hell my dads 2006 (whatever was the last year they made the vans) got better.


I love vans. the 2 sliding doors on the back are great. I am thinking of getting another one this summer. Though i have to admit if i can find it i plan on getting a full sized van.

 

[Jumpem]

what? All of those vehicles can return well over 20 provided its not nearly all city mileage.

im sure they get more then that. my 2002 Ford windstar got on average 20. i have to think a 10 yr newer vehicle is going to get better. hell my dads 2006 (whatever was the last year they made the vans) got better.


I love vans. the 2 sliding doors on the back are great. I am thinking of getting another one this summer. Though i have to admit if i can find it i plan on getting a full sized van.

My point was that they won't get the fuel economy of a smaller four cylinder car.

I'm just surprised people are willing to throw that much money around for a large van and all of the extra gas it will use. I'm more concerned with saving.

 

[Bignate603]

My point was that they won't get the fuel economy of a smaller four cylinder car.

I'm just surprised people are willing to throw that much money around for a large van and all of the extra gas it will use. I'm more concerned with saving.

Your concerns aren't necessarily everyone else's concerns. Vans offer a quite a bit of utility that you can't get in another vehicle. For some people that extra utility is worth more than the extra gas they burn.

 

[Ketchup]

My point was that they won't get the fuel economy of a smaller four cylinder car.

I'm just surprised people are willing to throw that much money around for a large van and all of the extra gas it will use. I'm more concerned with saving.

The OP is trading in a 3-year-old car, meaning he will eat a lot of depreciation when trading it in, and he is looking to lease a new vehicle now, so I don't think he will be too concerned with saving money on gas. Would you say that is a fair assessment TangoJuliet?

As for the others, let me just say that an Odyssey is a wonderful vehicle for families with children. Just check out the car lines at local schools.

 

[TangoJuliet]

The OP is trading in a 3-year-old car, meaning he will eat a lot of depreciation when trading it in, and he is looking to lease a new vehicle now, so I don't think he will be too concerned with saving money on gas. Would you say that is a fair assessment TangoJuliet?

As for the others, let me just say that an Odyssey is a wonderful vehicle for families with children. Just check out the car lines at local schools.

I got the focus because I was driving 35,000 miles/year. We just moved and I got a new job that is closer to home. I'll go from doing 140 miles/day down to 15. My wife's car is a Jetta which I'll be inheriting so it gets pretty good MPGs but fuel economy isn't really a concern of our since we won't be commuting that much.

My guess is that my wife will do 6,000-9,000 miles a year and I'll probably have 10,000-12,000. The only reason we were considering a Prius V was that I could take it a couple times a week to work during the summer when my wife is off (teacher). I'm sure gas is going to soar to over $4/gal this summer so saving a couple $s.

Our main concern is hauling all of the kid's crap around. Having strollers, pack and plays etc in the truck was a challenge especially when we went food shopping. The sliding doors are going to be awesome....the focus is a coupe and its a PITA getting 2 kids in the car.

I've only heard great things from Odyssey owners.

 

[punjabiplaya]

if you don't something so big, maybe a Mazda 5?

 

[TangoJuliet]

We leased a EX-L with auto-start for $279/m nothing down aside from the trade.

 

[Chess]

I will never and I do mean never own a minivan

 

[allanrscott]

Have you looked at the Chevy Traverse? Can't beat the price and it has a 3rd seat. Tons of cargo room as well. I have a family of 5 and it does the trick.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Have you looked at the Chevy Traverse? Can't beat the price and it has a 3rd seat. Tons of cargo room as well. I have a family of 5 and it does the trick.

We did and we really like the sliding doors a mini van will provide us. Its a done deal we got the Odyssey

 

[thedarkwolf]

I will never and I do mean never own a minivan

small penis?

 

[Demo24]

My point was that they won't get the fuel economy of a smaller four cylinder car.

I'm just surprised people are willing to throw that much money around for a large van and all of the extra gas it will use. I'm more concerned with saving.

Of course not, but if you want to haul around more than 4 people with any sort of reasonable comfort and all their stuff then a van is hard to beat. Think of the people per gallon ratio, and a 7 passenger van is well ahead of any compact car.


It's not likely we will see minivans well over 30 until they get hybridized or diesel engines go in there, but for what they are they do pretty well.

--

After driving several minivans for thousands of miles, I've discovered the appeal. They aren't exactly thrilling to drive but they are damn comfortable and very easy to drive. The Quest certainly looks interesting!

 

[Jumpem]

We leased a EX-L with auto-start for $279/m nothing down aside from the trade.

Wo. How much did your trade play into that? I would of thought a $35k minivan would be more like $400-450 to lease.