Minivans
 

For those with Jeeps, if you also own a minivan, can you reply? I'm
thinking of buying one. Thanks for your recommendations.

Chevrolet Venture
Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Ford Windstar
Honda Odyssey
Kia Sedona
Mazda MPV
Nissan Quest
Pontiac Montana
Toyota Sienna

Thanks
Mike
Jeep Sport Cherokee 2000

Re: Minivans
 

>For those with Jeeps, if you also own a minivan, can you reply? I'm
>thinking of buying one. Thanks for your recommendations.
>

>Chrysler Town & Country

My wife's last minivan, 2000, we liked it a lot, but I had problems on long
trips with my knees giving out, but I am 6'4". The interior has been redesigned
since then, and we rented the Dodge model in FL last spring, and it seemed much
more comfortable.

>Honda Odyssey
Our current one, delivered in Feb 2003, and although Honda has a good
reputation, the one we got must've been built on a monday or friday. Was in the
dealer's shop 4 times for a total of 32 days the first two months we had it for
severe engine oil leaks. After replacing the oil pan (1st visit) and a seal
between the engine and transaxle(2nd visit) they finally replaced the
shortblock at 1200 *twelve hundred* miles (3rd visit). Main seal on new
shortblock leaks, they inspected (4th visit) and denied it, so we are going
through the Michigan lemon law process for them to take it back, which we
politely requested they do after the second time it was in the shop. Now we are
experiencing, in addition to the oil leak, electrical problems with the
radio/DVD player, and one of the motorized side doors doesn't reverse fast
enough if it's obstructed while closing...ask me how I know...
* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

Re: Minivans
 

>For those with Jeeps, if you also own a minivan, can you reply? I'm
>thinking of buying one. Thanks for your recommendations.
>

>Chrysler Town & Country

My wife's last minivan, 2000, we liked it a lot, but I had problems on long
trips with my knees giving out, but I am 6'4". The interior has been redesigned
since then, and we rented the Dodge model in FL last spring, and it seemed much
more comfortable.

>Honda Odyssey
Our current one, delivered in Feb 2003, and although Honda has a good
reputation, the one we got must've been built on a monday or friday. Was in the
dealer's shop 4 times for a total of 32 days the first two months we had it for
severe engine oil leaks. After replacing the oil pan (1st visit) and a seal
between the engine and transaxle(2nd visit) they finally replaced the
shortblock at 1200 *twelve hundred* miles (3rd visit). Main seal on new
shortblock leaks, they inspected (4th visit) and denied it, so we are going
through the Michigan lemon law process for them to take it back, which we
politely requested they do after the second time it was in the shop. Now we are
experiencing, in addition to the oil leak, electrical problems with the
radio/DVD player, and one of the motorized side doors doesn't reverse fast
enough if it's obstructed while closing...ask me how I know...
* * *
Matt Macchiarolo
www.townpeddler.com
www.wolverine4wd.org
http://wolverine4wd.org/rigs/macchiarolo_ml.html

Re: Minivans
 

"Mike" wrote ...
> For those with Jeeps, if you also own a minivan, can you reply? I'm
> thinking of buying one. Thanks for your recommendations.

Just remember that many of the supposedly SUVs are basically minivans that
have been labeled as SUVs just for marketing purposes... The Mercedes 'SUV'
even looks like a minivan... Personally, I always liked the Chevy Astro /
GMC Safari minivans... They are not a full size van, but better than the
shrunk down matchbox car type vans of the traditional minivan ilk... You can
check out reader comments on various vehicles at http://www.carreview.com
....

If I was buying a van, I would look for whose rear seats could be easily
removed (assuming that I actually decided that I needed rear seats) and it
would provide a nice flat space that was large enough for someone to crash
out in for those long driving trips when your driving in relays and not
staying at hotels each night... Maybe you don't do that, but I have done it
and although it is possible to do that with my XJ, you have to sleep at an
angle and it's pretty much a one person sleeping at a time type of
endeavor... In the end, you need to determine what is the mission profile
for which you are expecting the vehicle to used...

Re: Minivans
 

"Mike" wrote ...
> For those with Jeeps, if you also own a minivan, can you reply? I'm
> thinking of buying one. Thanks for your recommendations.

Just remember that many of the supposedly SUVs are basically minivans that
have been labeled as SUVs just for marketing purposes... The Mercedes 'SUV'
even looks like a minivan... Personally, I always liked the Chevy Astro /
GMC Safari minivans... They are not a full size van, but better than the
shrunk down matchbox car type vans of the traditional minivan ilk... You can
check out reader comments on various vehicles at http://www.carreview.com
....

If I was buying a van, I would look for whose rear seats could be easily
removed (assuming that I actually decided that I needed rear seats) and it
would provide a nice flat space that was large enough for someone to crash
out in for those long driving trips when your driving in relays and not
staying at hotels each night... Maybe you don't do that, but I have done it
and although it is possible to do that with my XJ, you have to sleep at an
angle and it's pretty much a one person sleeping at a time type of
endeavor... In the end, you need to determine what is the mission profile
for which you are expecting the vehicle to used...

Re: Minivans
 

My wife has a Dodge Grand Caravan and we love it. It has all-wheel drive,
abs brakes, auto stick transmission, overhead console/computer, leather
seats (front heated). It's the thing to take on a road trip, especially
with my two kids aboard. I can't think of anything I'd rather drive on the
interstate than that.
There were some years with bad auto transmissions, though. Do your
homework.

"Mike" <yared20817@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:2f6bb44a.0309111156.ef4d93b@posting.google.co m...
> For those with Jeeps, if you also own a minivan, can you reply? I'm
> thinking of buying one. Thanks for your recommendations.
>
> Chevrolet Venture
> Chrysler Town & Country
> Dodge Grand Caravan
> Ford Windstar
> Honda Odyssey
> Kia Sedona
> Mazda MPV
> Nissan Quest
> Pontiac Montana
> Toyota Sienna
>
> Thanks
> Mike
> Jeep Sport Cherokee 2000

Re: Minivans
 

My wife has a Dodge Grand Caravan and we love it. It has all-wheel drive,
abs brakes, auto stick transmission, overhead console/computer, leather
seats (front heated). It's the thing to take on a road trip, especially
with my two kids aboard. I can't think of anything I'd rather drive on the
interstate than that.
There were some years with bad auto transmissions, though. Do your
homework.

"Mike" <yared20817@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:2f6bb44a.0309111156.ef4d93b@posting.google.co m...
> For those with Jeeps, if you also own a minivan, can you reply? I'm
> thinking of buying one. Thanks for your recommendations.
>
> Chevrolet Venture
> Chrysler Town & Country
> Dodge Grand Caravan
> Ford Windstar
> Honda Odyssey
> Kia Sedona
> Mazda MPV
> Nissan Quest
> Pontiac Montana
> Toyota Sienna
>
> Thanks
> Mike
> Jeep Sport Cherokee 2000

Re: Minivans
 

Look under the hood and imagine working on one. I have worked on quite a
few of these and the engine compartments are pretty darn cramped.

chris
g1


"Mike" <yared20817@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:2f6bb44a.0309111156.ef4d93b@posting.google.co m...
> For those with Jeeps, if you also own a minivan, can you reply? I'm
> thinking of buying one. Thanks for your recommendations.
>
> Chevrolet Venture
> Chrysler Town & Country
> Dodge Grand Caravan
> Ford Windstar
> Honda Odyssey
> Kia Sedona
> Mazda MPV
> Nissan Quest
> Pontiac Montana
> Toyota Sienna
>
> Thanks
> Mike
> Jeep Sport Cherokee 2000

Re: Minivans
 

Look under the hood and imagine working on one. I have worked on quite a
few of these and the engine compartments are pretty darn cramped.

chris
g1


"Mike" <yared20817@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:2f6bb44a.0309111156.ef4d93b@posting.google.co m...
> For those with Jeeps, if you also own a minivan, can you reply? I'm
> thinking of buying one. Thanks for your recommendations.
>
> Chevrolet Venture
> Chrysler Town & Country
> Dodge Grand Caravan
> Ford Windstar
> Honda Odyssey
> Kia Sedona
> Mazda MPV
> Nissan Quest
> Pontiac Montana
> Toyota Sienna
>
> Thanks
> Mike
> Jeep Sport Cherokee 2000

Re: Minivans
 

I love my Safari....
It's not too big but big enough to tow my Jeep when it gets broken
offroading....
No front wheel drive minivan can do that to my knowledge.
My Safari's got 101,000 miles and still going strong.
My 2 centavos..
Rich

"Grumman-581" <grumman581@DIE-SPAMMER-SCUM@houston.rr.com> wrote in message
news:kX68b.2423$z32.613@twister.austin.rr.com...
> "Mike" wrote ...
> > For those with Jeeps, if you also own a minivan, can you reply? I'm
> > thinking of buying one. Thanks for your recommendations.
>
> Just remember that many of the supposedly SUVs are basically minivans that
> have been labeled as SUVs just for marketing purposes... The Mercedes
'SUV'
> even looks like a minivan... Personally, I always liked the Chevy Astro /
> GMC Safari minivans... They are not a full size van, but better than the
> shrunk down matchbox car type vans of the traditional minivan ilk... You
can
> check out reader comments on various vehicles at http://www.carreview.com
> ...
>
> If I was buying a van, I would look for whose rear seats could be easily
> removed (assuming that I actually decided that I needed rear seats) and it
> would provide a nice flat space that was large enough for someone to crash
> out in for those long driving trips when your driving in relays and not
> staying at hotels each night... Maybe you don't do that, but I have done
it
> and although it is possible to do that with my XJ, you have to sleep at an
> angle and it's pretty much a one person sleeping at a time type of
> endeavor... In the end, you need to determine what is the mission profile
> for which you are expecting the vehicle to used...
>
>