Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

[1730V]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

I have a story about an AWD Ford Aerostar in Minnesota.

Twas, the eve of halloween of 1991. Through the night it snowed 29 inches.

The roads were a disaster The Aerostar was pushing snow over the winshield but she would not stick.

I was the designated beer/gas man for the snowblowers that never stopped. I was also the ONLY vehicle that the 7-11 clerks saw that night.

Personally, I put five gallons of gas through an 8 HP Tecumseh (snow blower) that night/day. That's real work.

THe AWD Aerostars put me in Pheasant rich areas of South Dakota and plowed down many a corn stalk-never stuck. The vehicles were never rated to do what I did but they did it.

The Windstars I owned were perfect "trip" vehicles. Comfortable, easy on gas, and plenty powerful. They would cruise all day/night at 75+ MPH and get 30+ MPG.

Never one issue with any any one of them. That's six Fords over 17 years. I racked up miles quick. All were traded at just shy of 100K.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

If you forget about the stigma, minivans are much better than SUVs for a family. I never worry about stigma, so it was a no brainer for me.

Biggest reason is the sliding rear doors, which help a lot in the parking lots.

Wifes ride is an 07 Nissan Quest. I liked the styling better than all the others, and it has plenty of power (same engine as the 350z).

Owned it one year, and no complaints.

Toyota was second choice, Honda dead last (that is the most boring looking vehicle ever).

Ken

 

[1730V]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

Mark,

I'm not trying to say you made a bad choice. I am saying don't sell American short.

Obviously your Mountaineer gave you good service.

As an X Toyota dealer Service Manager I can say they (Toyotas) are not without their "issues". Toyota is much more secretive about coming clean on their issues. They can afford that, they are "offshore" corprorately.

The "mindset" of a Toyota owner and an American car owner is 180 degrees. Toyota owners service their vehicles religiously as American car owners could care less. I know, I've seen it.

Service your van at the Toyota dealer and you'll have a great experience and buy another.

Keep in mind that your $$$ go straight to Japan.

I'm an American. I buy American and keep my $$ here.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

Mark,

I'm not trying to say you made a bad choice. I am saying don't sell American short.

Obviously your Mountaineer gave you good service.

As an X Toyota dealer Service Manager I can say they (Toyotas) are not without their "issues". Toyota is much more secretive about coming clean on their issues. They can afford that, they are "offshore" corprorately.

The "mindset" of a Toyota owner and an American car owner is 180 degrees. Toyota owners service their vehicles religiously as American car owners could care less. I know, I've seen it.

Service your van at the Toyota dealer and you'll have a great experience and buy another.

Keep in mind that your $$$ go straight to Japan.

I'm an American. I buy American and keep my $$ here.

How many American Automobile companies make a mini van with seating for 7 ADULTS with All Wheel Drive? The answer is THERE AREN"T ANY! Thats why I bought a Toyota.

BTW, a good portion of those dollars you spend on American cars pay for all the parts that are made in Mexico, China and Canada. So the money goes to Mexican companies, Chinese companies and Canadian companies.

Buying an American car is not buying American anymore. But you already knew that, didn't you.

 

[2broke4this]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

Mark, congrats on the purchase! I have to admit that if my mom's minivan could pull my boat, I'd drive it in a heartbeat! I drove a Sienna for about a week on a school trip last year and actually enjoyed it. I'm 24. Does that make me odd?

One other thing... the Sienna is made in Indiana.... the Windstar/Freestars were/are made in Ontario. I'm not trying to say anything bad about Canada, I'm just saying that the argument that so many people have to "Buy American" doesn't hold the same water that it used to. Argue all you want about headquarters location, I'm more concerned with the people who build them than the people who run the company.

-Carl

 

[woodrat]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

I wouldn't be so quick to discount the toyota's longevity. My experience with toyotas has been very good and I have driven several of them that were close to 300k and still going strong. My brother is driving a Camry right now that has almost hit 300k on the original engine.

The american car companies I think have created their own problems by not making cars that people want to buy and by making a lot of cars and trucks with really shoddy construction.

If I were in the market for a new car, it would probably be a Toyota corolla or something like that. It's been many many moons since detroit made anything I would want to own, besides my Dodge diesel truck, and that is a 92. Cummins engine is great, body and interior are falling apart. If it weren't for the diesel engine, this thing would have been in the junkyard at 150k.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

... I'm just saying that the argument that so many people have to "Buy American" doesn't hold the same water that it used to......

-Carl

Ya know, my 1969 Chevrolet Impala was built in Canada. Yep, even back in 1969 American automobiles were being built by other contries and shipped back here.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

Congratulations. Remember I work at a Toyota dealership.

For everyone who hates vans....... take a trip in a Sienna then try to complain. They are VERY comfortable.

Mark you have a PM.

I like my Jelly bean van. 1991 w/ 120k miles on it. It's been a great van.

 

[tommays]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

Is there any brand that has a higher AMERICAN parts content or builds a greater % of there cars in America


Toyota seems to win as far as American parts and labor




Tommays

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

Is there any brand that has a higher AMERICAN parts content or builds a greater % of there cars in America


Toyota seems to win as far as American parts and labor




Tommays

I guess thats one of the reasons why they are the best and biggest in the world now.

 

[1730V]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

"Buying an American car is not buying American anymore. But you already knew that, didn't you"

Nope, the CEO of Toyota lives in Japan, not the USA. The money goes to Japan, not the USA.

Components for ALL vehicles are made all over the world. I look at the bigger picture. I look at the money trail.

Anyway, congratulations! I'm sure it will perform well for you and you'll have many happy memories in that beautiful boat of yours. That's the important part.

 

[ship5182]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

We have a 2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager Minivan (The last year for Plymouth). It is a great vehicle, only minor maintence in 110,000 miles. But I use my full size Dodge Truck to pull the boat. We will be looking at the Toyota Minivan When the Plymouth won't go, but for now it is doing fine. Mark, I love that blue & White and enjoy following your projects. Best wishes.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

I wouldn't be so quick to discount the toyota's longevity. My experience with toyotas has been very good and I have driven several of them that were close to 300k and still going strong. My brother is driving a Camry right now that has almost hit 300k on the original engine.

The american car companies I think have created their own problems by not making cars that people want to buy and by making a lot of cars and trucks with really shoddy construction.

If I were in the market for a new car, it would probably be a Toyota corolla or something like that. It's been many many moons since detroit made anything I would want to own, besides my Dodge diesel truck, and that is a 92. Cummins engine is great, body and interior are falling apart. If it weren't for the diesel engine, this thing would have been in the junkyard at 150k.

I've had almost exactly the same experience with Toyota's. There ability to keep going and for everythin to keep working on them made me switch over to them. I do find their older (smaller) trucks a little light for anything but gardening. Their new Tundra stuff seems to be taking care of this issue tho'.
I keep me to sell off our 91' (4cyl) 4-Runner...but it never stops, gets great mileage and keeps cheating me out of a good reason to lose her'.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

We bought a brand new 2004 Toyota Camry after having serious reliability issues with a 98 Olds Cutlass. I hate this car. It has had constant steering issues since new. The dealer kept blowing us off (and worse making us pay for useless alignments) until just after the warrenty expired then magically found the problem which was a steering shaft at a cost of $600 to replace. Fortunately we foud a zillion TSBs on this isssue online and complained to Toyota. They covered the repair. But the steering still isn't too great if you ask me. The same year we bought the new Camry I bought a well used 2000 Buick Regal with 60k miles on it. It has been bullet proof and now has 125k on it. The Camry is our first and will be our last Toyota and will probably be our last new car. We hate it but are stuck with it because we put a lot of miles on it and can't get out from under it financially.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

Wife's ride is a 02 Mercury Villager (Nissan Quest). Nice vehicle, comfortable, drives good, but only gets 20mpg on a good day and the little things that break are driving us nuts. Drivers door handle broke off (thin plastic), door seals won't stay on, CEL caused by bad connection, couldn't pull computer codes due to bad wire that had to be replaced... etc. 02 sensor repplacement = $220. Was told it may have a knock sensor going out. if so, 6hrs and a $300 part.....

I wanted an explorer/expedition/mountaineer. She would have none of it and wanted the van. She like the convenience of the van, but she's irritated with it and wants a Mountaineer......

I get much grief from the guys that work for me about owning a van. Oh well, its what the wife wanted.

 

[moterboat]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

I Don't Blame Him For Buying A Toyota Van, I Would'nt Want To Back A Good Vehicle Into Salt Water To Launch The Boat....

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Uuuggghhhh!!!! I Bought A Minivan!

The "mindset" of a Toyota owner and an American car owner is 180 degrees. Toyota owners service their vehicles religiously as American car owners could care less. I know, I've seen it.

That ain't always true. My dad is the service manager for a foreign car repair shop just outside of Atlanta. They repair everything from the Beamers and volvos to the toyotas and hondas. The biggest issues they have with owners was not the beamer owners, but the toyota truck and van owners. They won't service them anymore. The owners tend to be the type that won't spend the extra money when something breaks, because they think that they spent enough in the beginning, that stuff shouldn't break. His shop was tired with arguing with idiots demanding free repairs EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T HONOR WARRANTIES. If an owner needs warranty work, he needs to go to the dealer. And, specially after the warranty is ended, you ain't getting free service.
Now mark, I am not saying this as a bash to you. I have read many of your posts, and you seem to be one of the better organized people, who always makes sure everything is done right. I am talking about the majority. You actually had a plausible reason for going with what you did.
The BMW owners are a whole different animal....
Well, I am not gonna go there, as they are the reason I get dinner each night.

For the record, our three vehicles are
1989 Chevy 3/4 ton silverado with 350 V8 - 400k miles
1994 Chevy 3/4 ton suburban with 454 V8 - 220k miles
1998 Chevy Tahoe 350 V8 - I think about 120k.