The full size crew cab pickup. Dad's socially acceptable replacement for the mini van.
Although he's probably better off with mini van.
Although he's probably better off with mini van.
The full size crew cab pickup. Dad's socially acceptable replacement for the mini van.
Although he's probably better off with mini van.
A van could do most any of those things once.Definitely can't fit the Can-Am in the back of a mini-van, definitely can't tow a 7,000lb boat with a minivan, definitely would be periods where a van isn't making it back to the camp. Lots of reasons not to own a van just like there are lots of reasons a truck may not make sense either. Everybody's situation is different, why assume we know what's best without any sort of knowledge as to the details?
During the first trimester you find out how many are on the way. What vehicle would be good for quintuplets? A Sprinter?2, max.
Yeah, I said that too...Didn't happen..2, max.
There could be a bit of that going on. However the minivans are not that far off from a half ton truck. Our Kia Carnival SX (upper-mid trim) A fair comparison could be a GMC SLT 2wd, $49095 on the truck and the Carnival $42275. Both prices full retail with destination. If you use GMC's posted website cash allowance and assume no dealer discount, $46845. Both will result in a payment in the 700-800 dollar range and considering the utility/resale value of the pickup truck it is probably cheaper in total ownership cost.The issue is on these threads you get people who can't afford trucks-and that reason alone is good enough to bash them.
Do you think the upcoming winter is a concern? You running snow tires or think you can get by on All Season tires? Your vehicle is one of the best looking minivans to come out of a design studio in decades-IMHO.There could be a bit of that going on. However the minivans are not that far off from a half ton truck. Our Kia Carnival SX (upper-mid trim) A fair comparison could be a GMC SLT 2wd, $49095 on the truck and the Carnival $42275. Both prices full retail with destination. If you use GMC's posted website cash allowance and assume no dealer discount, $46845. Both will result in a payment in the 700-800 dollar range and considering the utility/resale value of the pickup truck it is probably cheaper in total ownership cost.
It gets even worse if we get back to good discounts on big 3 half tons. 10k off a crew half ton was very common if not a lot more. Honda, Toyota, Kia mini vans never really got much of a break in price.
But the real point here is that a Mini Van is very easy to drive around and get in and out of places compared to a CCSB FS truck. In particular with our Kia, the very good camera systems and parking monitors would leave a driver zero excuses of hitting something in a parking lot scenario. Way easier to get kids in and out of, more room for adults, enclosed cargo space, all in a package that doesn't feel like its a full size.
Me, personally, i would consider an even larger van if something like this artist render came to pass:
I'd rather have a fancy van (factory built, not conversion) than a fancy crew cab truck.
Not worried, and i would buy a dedicated snow wheel tire setup if i was. It would be nice to have an AWD Carnival and i would consider trading into one but its far from needed. The family can just stay home on the 2-3 days that snows hard. Nobody has to take the van out of the garage every day. I am the only one that has to leave the house daily and i can RIP it in the AlltrackDo you think the upcoming winter is a concern? You running snow tires or think you can get by on All Season tires? Your vehicle is one of the best looking minivans to come out of a design studio in decades-IMHO.
Trucks were pretty cheap really before Covid, the 4x4 Crew cab Ram Classics were less than a minivan then, almost less than my Outback. We still didn't want one as we don't really need it and I'd like to keep my fill ups under $100 for a while yet. My Dad did get one and its the ideal second vehicle for them as they are retired and don't put that many miles on it, tow a RV, pick up pallets of food for the food bank, etc.The issue is on these threads you get people who can't afford trucks-and that reason alone is good enough to bash them.