We have to go buy a van tomorrow

[Kim in Appalachia]

My van died this week.  We own a 2007 Toyota Sienna.  It has 244,000 (plus some change) miles on it.  It has been a faithful van.  We haven't had to fix anything until this year.  A month ago we replaced the radiator.  I knew it was the beginning of the end, but I was hoping to make it through the summer.  But this week the head gasket went, so now we need a new van.

 

We still have 4 kids at home, so I think a van is still my best option.  Toyota has a great financing deal going on for the Sienna, but not one for the Highlander so the SUV is out.

 

I'm a bit of a wreck.  I hate spending money, and I hate buying cars.  We are going to have to finance over half of this thing, and it always makes me a bit ill.  We do get our money's worth, but it's still nerve racking.

 

I'm a bit torn about looking at higher end models.  I would love the auto lift gate and even the leather seats.  In my head I think they would be easier to keep clean.  I don't think we'll spend the extra money, but still, it's tempting.

 

Anyone here feel like the extras are worth it?  I'm always a bare bones kind of gal, but I do spend a lot of time in that van.  

 

Any other advice?  Go for the luxury?  Go bare bones?  Pretend I don't need a vehicle and I never have to leave my house again?:D

 

We go tomorrow (Saturday).  I've done my research online and talked to a guy at a dealership in the city.  He knows we intend to leave with a vehicle.  I don't like messing around.  If he gives us a hard time, we will go elsewhere.  Last time we bought a van the guy was great.  That person no longer sells cars; I don't think he liked the business. 

[texasmama]

I have never regretted buying the leather seats.  SO much easier to keep clean.

[plansrme]

I will never have a car without leather, but it is hard to find that in a package with leather but witnout stuff we don't want. We usually buy the bare-bones model and get the dealer to add leather. It always comes out cheaper.

 

I could go either way on the lift gate. I do like not having to put my hands on the dirty car to open it. On the other hand, it is slower than yanking it up yourself, and it fusses if you try to force it.

[katilac]

My kids always had pens and pencils in the car. Leather would have been ripped in no time flat. 

 

ETA: What we did to keep the seats clean was to put big beach towels under the car/booster seats.  Easily removed and washed. And stylish, yes, quite stylish :laugh:  

[texasmama]

My kids always had pens and pencils in the car. Leather would have been ripped in no time flat. 

So do mine, but the leather has held up.  We do talk to them about being careful.  The carpet is completely trashed in my 2007 van, but the seats have held up really well.  Maybe we are lucky. 

[katilac]

So do mine, but the leather has held up.  We do talk to them about being careful.  The carpet is completely trashed in my 2007 van, but the seats have held up really well.  Maybe we are lucky. 

 

I'm also just noticing the age of the kids in the OP. If the youngest is 9, she probably won't have that problem. 

 

When I see 'van,' I always picture younger kids! 

[mamakelly]

My last 2 cars have had leather seats. I never wanted them, but dh insisted and now I couldn't imagine not having them. Maybe buy used and a higher end model?

[Kim in Appalachia]

I like the idea of leather seats, but I do not want to pay for a navigation system.  I don't think it's worth it (I can use my phone when needed), and that system adds a lot to the cost.  I hadn't thought about them adding seats to one that didn't have it.  I need to drive away with the van tomorrow, I can't wait, so I don't know it that will make a difference.

[Kim in Appalachia]

We always have done used, and I do prefer to do that, but the 0% or .9 % financing is a hard deal to give up.  We'll have to see how the numbers crunch.

[Catwoman]

Go for the luxury and try to negotiate for a great deal on it. If it still ends up costing more than you want to spend, you can always pick something more basic.

 

If you end up going with certified pre-owned instead of new, the options often don't add that much to the selling price -- definitely far less than they cost on a brand new model -- and a fully loaded vehicle may not cost substantially more than a bare-bones one.

[Catwoman]

One other thing I just thought of -- have you checked Edmunds.com to look at the "true market value" of new and used vehicles in your area? If you go to the Research section of the website, you can do a build-your-own thing where you add the options you want and the site calculates how much the MSRP would be, as well as the invoice pricing, and it tells you approximately how much others in your area are paying for the same vehicle. You can also see if there are manufacturer incentives.

 

Edmunds also has forums where people discuss the prices they paid, and where they bought their cars.

[Kim in Appalachia]

I checked Edmunds and TrueCar.  TrueCar gave better prices.  I am a careful researcher.  I liked to go in armed to the teeth and ready to walk away if needed.  It was interesting that the prices are a bit lower up north.  I put in my sister's zip code and everything was about $1000 less.  I plan to use that too.  We bought our car in PA, near my folks, because the prices were much lower.  

[Alicia64]

Enterprise Rental company sells the cars they no longer use -- and those cars have received top notch care. You might want to consider.

 

We have a Dodge Grand Caravan and I highly don't recommend. Ours only has 117,000 and we've done a lot to it.

 

Alley

[plansrme]

I like the idea of leather seats, but I do not want to pay for a navigation system.  I don't think it's worth it (I can use my phone when needed), and that system adds a lot to the cost.  I hadn't thought about them adding seats to one that didn't have it.  I need to drive away with the van tomorrow, I can't wait, so I don't know it that will make a difference.

 

The nav system and the DVD player were both always included with leather, and I didn't want either of them.  If they are putting in leather, it only takes a day, and you can bring the van back another day to have the work done if they can't do it tomorrow.  I have always been told that dealer leather is actually nicer than manufacturer leather; granted, I have been told that by dealers.

[catz]

I live in a cold climate.  We have leather seats in our newish mini van.  There are seat warmers, but I still have mixed feelings about leather seats.  So we got a year end deal on a Kia.  We got automatic doors and leather for like 10K less what we would have spent on a similar model in a Toyota or a Honda.  Just throwing it out there.  We have another Kia minivan that has ran about flawlessly for 5 years pushing 100K.  We've just replaced the battery and done regular maintenance on it.  We do NOT have a navigation system though.  We have iPads and get cell data on them for vacation when we need GPS.  Don't need it much around our own metro area.

[Kim in Appalachia]

I live in a cold climate.  We have leather seats in our newish mini van.  There are seat warmers, but I still have mixed feelings about leather seats.  So we got a year end deal on a Kia.  We got automatic doors and leather for like 10K less what we would have spent on a similar model in a Toyota or a Honda.  Just throwing it out there.  We have another Kia minivan that has ran about flawlessly for 5 years pushing 100K.  We've just replaced the battery and done regular maintenance on it.  We do NOT have a navigation system though.  We have iPads and get cell data on them for vacation when we need GPS.  Don't need it much around our own metro area.

 

 

I haven't really looked at Kia, because I'm so happy with the Toyota.  We had a Pontiac Montana before the Sienna, and it only made it to about 150,000.  We put close to around 35,000 miles a year on the van, so I want one I know can take it.  When I had looked at Kia before they weren't rated as highly, but it is a thought.  

[Stacia]

A frivolous thing (& I'm not even where it's very cold).... I had to buy a new (used) car a couple of years ago. The one I ended up liking has heated seats. As I was buying in July, this didn't really matter to me at all. I didn't think I'd really care. But, it's really, really, really nice, esp. on cold mornings or when I just don't feel great or something. Very soothing & wonderful (esp. with leather seats). I never knew I wanted them, but am so glad I have them -- a small thing that turned out to be a wonderful luxury.

 

Good luck & speedy van-buying wishes!

[texasmama]

<bun warmers>  :D

 

Love them.

[Veritaserum]

I have a 2011 Sienna with leather, nav, DVD, and power everything. I love it. I'd never had a vehicle like this before, but I was sold on it pretty quickly. When kids puke in the car, the leather is so much easier to clean. I sometimes use the DVD player to play documentaries or other educational videos while we are driving around.

[Tess in the Burbs]

I bought a Toyota in Oct....they don't use real leather anymore due to costs....it isn't as nice as real leather.

[Ravin]

A new engine is a lot less expensive than a whole new van.

[TammyS]

 

 

We have a Dodge Grand Caravan and I highly don't recommend. Ours only has 117,000 and we've done a lot to it.

 

 

 

:iagree:  If you look at Consumer Reports, Dodge/Chrysler  vans have consistently ranked VERY low in everything, for a long time.  The only way I would have one is if it was free.

 

[AMJ]

DH told me to start doing my homework into vehicles since he'd like to replace my minivan in another year or two.  We have a Kia Sedona, so that is my baseline for comparisons to other vehicles (both minivans and SUVs).  I don't know if you want to consider buying new, but here's what I've found so far, in case it helps:

 

Kia recently revamped their Sedona minivan, giving it a new look and adding in a lot of features.  Our current Sedona is an EX, with power doors and lift gate, power outside mirrors, power driver's seat adjustment with 2-position memory, a back-up camera, and navigation.  It also has a moon roof we really like, but the presence of that feature was simply a bonus, and not a decision driver at all.  It has the typical minivan profile of the past several years, and I LOVE the ability to see out in all directions from the driver's seat -- something I've found significantly compromised in most SUVs.

 

The new Kia Sedona 2015 has an updated look, which makes the windows more similar in shape to my SIL's Honda Odyssey.  I recently drove her Odyssey, and found the visibility from inside was much like an SUV's, and SIL, after driving my Sedona, marveled at the ability to see all around.  I haven't yet test-driven the 2015 Sedona and so I don't know what the visibility from inside will be like, but I imagine there will be more restriction than in my current van.  In looking around at other makers' minivans I find that the 2015 Toyota Sienna has windows most like my current Sedona.

 

The new Sedona, however, has some new features added in that I find very tempting, especially in the Limited.  One of these features, which just might compensate for the reduced visibility from inside, is an external camera system that gives a view from all 4 sides of the vehicle, a feature I have not found offered at all on any other minivan I looked at.  There are more safety features that caught my eye, too (which Honda and Toyota are also offering), and the idea of having seat COOLING and integrated sun shades in our long and sweltering summers is quite enticing.

 

I looked at prices for the top-of-the-line Sedona, Sienna, and Odyssey, too.  In years past I had found Toyota and Honda to be close in price, with Kia being more economical.  Now the decked-out Sedona and the deck-out Sienna are quite comparable in price, with the Odyssey more expensive.

 

As I said I have a year or two to make up my mind and there may be more changes during that time.  There will also be some "shake-out" time for the newest features, hopefully finding and rectifying any bugs or issues that are spotted in this year's models.  Still, for what we do and what I like in a vehicle it looks like a minivan will be my next vehicle, too.

 

Edited to add:  The 2015 Kia Sedona offers as options seat heat AND seat cooling in the front row, and seat heat in the second row of seats.

 

[TammyS]

DH told me to start doing my homework into vehicles since he'd like to replace my minivan in another year or two.  We have a Kia Sedona, so that is my baseline for comparisons to other vehicles (both minivans and SUVs).  I don't know if you want to consider buying new, but here's what I've found so far, in case it helps:

 

Kia recently revamped their Sedona minivan, giving it a new look and adding in a lot of features.  Our current Sedona is an EX, with power doors and lift gate, power outside mirrors, power driver's seat adjustment with 2-position memory, a back-up camera, and navigation.  It also has a moon roof we really like, but the presence of that feature was simply a bonus, and not a decision driver at all.  It has the typical minivan profile of the past several years, and I LOVE the ability to see out in all directions from the driver's seat -- something I've found significantly compromised in most SUVs.

 

The new Kia Sedona 2015 has an updated look, which makes the windows more similar in shape to my SIL's Honda Odyssey.  I recently drove her Odyssey, and found the visibility from inside was much like an SUV's, and SIL, after driving my Sedona, marveled at the ability to see all around.  I haven't yet test-driven the 2015 Sedona and so I don't know what the visibility from inside will be like, but I imagine there will be more restriction than in my current van.  In looking around at other makers' minivans I find that the 2015 Toyota Sienna has windows most like my current Sedona.

 

The new Sedona, however, has some new features added in that I find very tempting, especially in the Limited.  One of these features, which just might compensate for the reduced visibility from inside, is an external camera system that gives a view from all 4 sides of the vehicle, a feature I have not found offered at all on any other minivan I looked at.  There are more safety features that caught my eye, too (which Honda and Toyota are also offering), and the idea of having seat COOLING and integrated sun shades in our long and sweltering summers is quite enticing.

 

I looked at prices for the top-of-the-line Sedona, Sienna, and Odyssey, too.  In years past I had found Toyota and Honda to be close in price, with Kia being more economical.  Now the decked-out Sedona and the deck-out Sienna are quite comparable in price, with the Odyssey more expensive.

 

As I said I have a year or two to make up my mind and there may be more changes during that time.  There will also be some "shake-out" time for the newest features, hopefully finding and rectifying any bugs or issues that are spotted in this year's models.  Still, for what we do and what I like in a vehicle it looks like a minivan will be my next vehicle, too.

 

Edited to add:  The 2015 Kia Sedona offers as options seat heat AND seat cooling in the front row, and seat heat in the second row of seats.

 

How have you found the Kia in terms of reliability?

 

We have a Toyota Rav 4.  While I don't love it the way that I loved having a minivan (creature comforts), I do love that it's 7 years old and has 120,000 miles on it and we have done nothing other than regular maintenance. Reliability is a big thing for me, as I find that I can't even shake hands with a mechanic for less than $300.

 

 

[Carrie12345]

I hate buying cars.

I hate debt.

I hate indulging myself.

 

A few months ago, we spontaneously and recklessly purchased a brand new Grand Caravan with lots (not all, but definitely lots) of the fancy shmancy perks, including black leather and suede with white pinstriping, blacked out grill and wheel wells, lots of power stuff, USB ports, dvd and individual headsets...  

 

I wallowed in guilt for a few weeks.  And then I finally accepted the fact that I LOVE my vehicle.  If there were a contest for sexiest minivan, mine would win.  I feel safe and secure driving it (vs. my 2003 T&C that my trusted mechanic was to the point of labeling as possessed) and I also feel fun and happy and cool (vs. a lame old lady in a rusted out van.)

 

It's not breaking us, financially.  I'm enjoying it, fully.  Win/win.

[sarahbobeara]

If I could have re-done our last van purchase, I would have gotten a cheaper model.  No DVD, no navigation.

 

Our kids aren't into DVD movies so much anymore, they have too many electronics and books to entertain them. 

 

I don't care for the navigation in our Odyssey, it's just not user friendly.  A few other people I've come across have agreed about the Honda system.  I use a Garmin, I prefer that format anyway. 

 

The power gate is nice but I've seen some cars where you can just wave your foot under the back bumper and if you have the keys in your pocket, the gate lifts--no buttons!  I know when both hands are full with heavy grocery bags and I have to REACH UP to press the gate button, I curse Honda under my breath.

 

We have leather seats and...meh.  Easier to clean but we rarely eat messy snacks/meals in the car in the first place.  Leather is freezing cold in the winter and sears your legs on a sunny summer day.  When we lived in Florida I got seat covers for the front 2 seats because I didn't like burning my legs.

 

One thing I do recommend is getting all-weather mats as part of the purchase package...Car carpeting gets trashed easily.

 

I do like a van instead of an SUV because I know my kids will ding other cars with their doors, so the sliding doors mostly avoid that issue.

 

Hope you find something you like! 

[Catwoman]

With 4 kids, my first concern would be comparing safety ratings with the van models. I don't know how this year's models rate, but there definitely are differences in past years with regard to front/back/side ratings.

:iagree: :iagree: :iagree:

 

All of the bells and whistles in the world are useless in an accident. I think safety is the most important consideration.

[LucyStoner]

We have an older Sienna bought used this last year and it's one of the high end models with all the features, including leather and a moonroof. I love it. The leather looks and feels much nicer than the cloth seats in our Camry. Toyotas are very reliable as you well know and I'd definitely prefer a gently used XLE one with leather seats to a brand spanking new barebones version with cloth seats.

[Kim in Appalachia]

We got the Sienna XLE. It has (fake) leather seats (and heated!), a blind spot monitor, rear camara, and all the other normal extras.  It doesn't have the navigation or DVD system (which I did not want).  I believe we got a fair price.  It was a couple thousand over what the LE would have cost, so it was hard to decide.  But it feels great to drive and I am happy with it.  I know I will have the whole guilt thing for a few weeks, but there is a small part of me that was happy that we could indulge a little.  If you knew me, that's real growth (or me growing stupid or soft)

.

We did catch (and get rid of) some weird fee, which was $500, that the dealership tried to tack on.  It was a insurance policy that would give you $5,000 if your van was stolen and not recovered during the first 3 years you own it.  I'm not into paying all the dealer extra's, I think they are a waste.

 

The only annoying thing is that the 8th seat is now much smaller.  It's like a "jump" seat, half size.  It's kind of useless, which is frustrating.  

[school17777]

Enjoy your new van!

[Catwoman]

:party: :party: :party:

 

Congratulations on your new van, Kim!!! :hurray:

[applethyme]

:party:  :party:

[Guest]

Congratulations! New cars are so fun!

 

I love my 2006 8-passenger Sienna LE. If we have to replace it, it would probably be with a Honda because of the joke 8th seat in the current version of the Sienna. I keep hoping Toyota will realize what a mistake it is and change back to a real sized one.

[EmseB]

Congratulations! New cars are so fun!

 

I love my 2006 8-passenger Sienna LE. If we have to replace it, it would probably be with a Honda because of the joke 8th seat in the current version of the Sienna. I keep hoping Toyota will realize what a mistake it is and change back to a real sized one.

That is why we ended up with an Ody even though we are "Toyota people". Toyota screwed up the seating on the RAV4 too in a similar way. I loved that car, but it doesn't seat 5. It seems so weird that Toyota thinks people somehow don't want to sit in the seats.