Community› The Bump Message Boards› Stay at Home Moms
Stay at Home Moms
New Discussion

Minivan Recommendations Needed

orchid2007orchid2007 member
in Stay at Home Moms
We are in the market for a USED (2006-2008) minivan and I am just trying to research which ones are most reliable and which ones to avoid. I originally thought I wanted a Chrysler T&C because of all the great features they have but upon further research I am wondering how reliable they are... Especially when you are shopping used and they tend to have a good amount of miles already driven. 

I know it can really be a luck of the draw when you buy something used, but we only buy cash and new cars depreciate too quickly anyways. We are finding that anything between 2006-2008 are in our price range so that is what we are going with. 

If you own or know someone who owns a minivan in that model year range can you tell me your experience or make a recommendation?
Thanks! 
P.S. I plan to post this on other boards so if you see it duplicated, please don't get annoyed. 
BabyFruit Ticker
Married 1/20/07
DD Born: 2/18/11
LO #2 EDD: 10/16/15
Report Reply to Post

Re: Minivan Recommendations Needed

  • Hollylb3Hollylb3 member
    I've not heard good things about the town and countries or the caravans.

    I don't know what year ford stopped making the Windstar, but my parents' has over 300,000 miles on it and is still going strong. It's had very minimal problems. I think it's a 2004.
    image





    **Nestie Besties with Deutschefairy**

    Diagnosed PCOS '03, TTC #1 Since March '09
    BFP - 10/20/10, M/C - 10/29/10
    June 2011 - 50mg Clomid = No O
    Dieted and exercised my butt off for PCOS = BFP 5/7/2012
    Due 12/29/2012
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • lexusolsenlexusolsen member
    I have a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and it is not too bad for a minivan.  All the rear passenger seats stow-and-go, which is convenient and helpful.  We got our van at an Enterprise dealership.  I highly recommend buying from a car rental company.  It was well maintained and they fixed the few things that we found wrong with it.
    Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers
    Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers

    Report Reply
  • spring_timespring_time member
    lexusolsen said:
    I have a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and it is not too bad for a minivan.  All the rear passenger seats stow-and-go, which is convenient and helpful.  We got our van at an Enterprise dealership.  I highly recommend buying from a car rental company.  It was well maintained and they fixed the few things that we found wrong with it.
    Can I ask why it is good to get from a car rental company?  Is the fact that many people have driven the car a problem? I am also in the market for a used minivan and don't know if I should be looking at dealers or private sellers. I never heard of buying through a car rental company.

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • pinksweetpea2pinksweetpea2 member
    I love my 2008 Toyota Sienna.  We went with Toyota because it is the only one that offers the option of AWD and there was no way I was going to have a car without AWD in New England.   

    We bought ours used- it had about 65 thousand miles on it and now has about 80 and except for needing some new wipers and tires, I have not had any trouble...in fact I discovered that 80 thousand miles is considered pretty low milage for Toyota.  

    Personally I wouldn't bother with a minivan if you are not going to get the automatic doors. 

    Lilypie - (ZESJ)Lilypie - (QAi1)

    Report Reply
  • lexusolsenlexusolsen member
    spring_time said:


    lexusolsen said:

    I have a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan and it is not too bad for a minivan.  All the rear passenger seats stow-and-go, which is convenient and helpful.  We got our van at an Enterprise dealership.  I highly recommend buying from a car rental company.  It was well maintained and they fixed the few things that we found wrong with it.

    Can I ask why it is good to get from a car rental company?  Is the fact that many people have driven the car a problem? I am also in the market for a used minivan and don't know if I should be looking at dealers or private sellers. I never heard of buying through a car rental company.
    First off, I hate buying used cars because you don't know where they have been or what has happened to them. With enterprise, they had a complete history on its upkeep. If you bought from a used car dealership or a private party you wouldn't be very likely to get that info.
    Second, within a few days I had a leaking tire. I called them and they sent me to a local tire shop and replaced it. They even paid more so that the tire shop would repair all of my tires in the future.
    Third, it was so easy. We had been looking at different vans online. The saleswoman brought up the different vans on the lot and we drove a few. The one they had on the lot had a lot of miles, so she drove to another dealership to get one within our price range that had fewer miles. We weren't limited to the inventory just on that lot. Like I said, I'm not a fan of buying used, but if we do in the future it will be from enterprise.
    Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers
    Lilypie Fourth Birthday tickers

    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"