Hello all - We presently have a '97 Mazda MPV minivan (3.0 l SOHC 4-speed automatic RWD 7-passenger 308K km) and an '09 Mazda 5 microvan (2.3 l DOHC 5-speed manual FWD 6-passenger 112K km).
The MPV has been a great vehicle over the almost 15 years we've owned it, but we're feeling that it's getting too ancient to take on long trips. It's been mostly a backup vehicle for the last five years. We'd likely pass it on to our son & daughter-in-law. It would likely do them for the next couple of years.
The 5 is great fun with the manual transmission, but is small and suffers when we're hauling bikes (with a hitch-mounted carrier). Although it's a 6-seater, in practice a trip with five and bikes would involve a rooftop carrier for luggage and one bike on top.
I'd buy another MPV, but the MY '06 were the last ones sold here and the supply is drying up. I'd like something newer anyway.
I'm a bit scared of the domestics with all of the horror stories about the Mopar transmissions & electrical gremlins and the Uplander (GM) head-gaskets.
The Hondas & Toyotas seem to be way overpriced, which leads to look at the Hyundai/Kia twins for the 1st time. (I've not been impressed with Nissan since Renault took it over.)
I've did a bit of work on my friend's '04 Sedona and it seemed to be well-engineered and well-built. It was written off before it got up in years & mileage, so I don't know how it would have held up over the long term. There are not many around, but I'm not sure whether that's because they haven't lasted or whether there weren't many sold.
Anyway, here's my 2-pronged question ...
If I could find a good late model (say 2009 or later) are the GM & Chrysler vans better than I've been led to believe? Are some years better than others? One friend has a '13 Grand Caravan w/ the 3.6 l Pentastar & the 6-speed tx and it's been a great vehicle. Another has an '04 Venture (Uplander predecessor) w/ the pushrod 3.4 4-speed tx and is delighted with it, especially the mileage on the highway. (He had a '98 Caravan and a an '03 Grand Caravan previously, and both were problematic.)
If not a domestic, are the Kia & Hyundai vans good? They are sure priced attractively used compared to their Japanese counterparts.
Any advice appreciated! Many thanks in advance, and thanks for wading through this wordy post.
The MPV has been a great vehicle over the almost 15 years we've owned it, but we're feeling that it's getting too ancient to take on long trips. It's been mostly a backup vehicle for the last five years. We'd likely pass it on to our son & daughter-in-law. It would likely do them for the next couple of years.
The 5 is great fun with the manual transmission, but is small and suffers when we're hauling bikes (with a hitch-mounted carrier). Although it's a 6-seater, in practice a trip with five and bikes would involve a rooftop carrier for luggage and one bike on top.
I'd buy another MPV, but the MY '06 were the last ones sold here and the supply is drying up. I'd like something newer anyway.
I'm a bit scared of the domestics with all of the horror stories about the Mopar transmissions & electrical gremlins and the Uplander (GM) head-gaskets.
The Hondas & Toyotas seem to be way overpriced, which leads to look at the Hyundai/Kia twins for the 1st time. (I've not been impressed with Nissan since Renault took it over.)
I've did a bit of work on my friend's '04 Sedona and it seemed to be well-engineered and well-built. It was written off before it got up in years & mileage, so I don't know how it would have held up over the long term. There are not many around, but I'm not sure whether that's because they haven't lasted or whether there weren't many sold.
Anyway, here's my 2-pronged question ...
If I could find a good late model (say 2009 or later) are the GM & Chrysler vans better than I've been led to believe? Are some years better than others? One friend has a '13 Grand Caravan w/ the 3.6 l Pentastar & the 6-speed tx and it's been a great vehicle. Another has an '04 Venture (Uplander predecessor) w/ the pushrod 3.4 4-speed tx and is delighted with it, especially the mileage on the highway. (He had a '98 Caravan and a an '03 Grand Caravan previously, and both were problematic.)
If not a domestic, are the Kia & Hyundai vans good? They are sure priced attractively used compared to their Japanese counterparts.
Any advice appreciated! Many thanks in advance, and thanks for wading through this wordy post.