Most economical minivan?

[Isaac Zachary]

Ok. So we've decided to not get a van and to just sell the Prius and stick with the Avalon. It will continue to be a tight fit and it will limit us in some ways, but there are more important things we can do with our time and money. If things change in the future we'll see if we can then get a minivan of some sort, but just not any time soon.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

If things change in the future we'll see if we can then get a minivan of some sort, but just not any time soon.

I guess trying the 25-year rule to import a Kombi from Mexico wouldn't be out of question, at all

[Isaac Zachary]

A Kombi would be awesome!

I almost got a $250 manual transmission Previa that needed a battery and tires here nearby but someone came by and offered a lot more to the seller before I got there.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

A Kombi would be awesome!

Too bad their prices skyrocketted, otherwise it would be quite tempting to get a Kombi and turning it into a camper van.

I almost got a $250 manual transmission Previa that needed a battery and tires here nearby but someone came by and offered a lot more to the seller before I got there.

Well, even though the manual transmission may render it easier to eventually try an engine swap, the Previa is way more complicated to service than a Kombi would ever be.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Well, even though the manual transmission may render it easier to eventually try an engine swap, the Previa is way more complicated to service than a Kombi would ever be.

At least I know what makes a Previa tick too and how to work on them, unlike my 2013 Avalon that I can't even get the radio to work in and will have to take it to a dealership to get it fixed, again.

The Previa would also likely need that kind of complicated service less often. I'd probably have to change the SADS bushings and radiator hoses, but after that one of those should be a reliable minivan.

[Isaac Zachary]

I found something interesting. Using Edmunds TCO calculator, I put in 2016 through 2022 Toyota Siennas, all 8 passengers, LE, 2WD models, and the cheapest ones (by true cost of ownership) were the brand new ones (2022 or 2021)...

2016 $46,401
2017 $49,213
2018 $50,229
2019 $51,370
2020 $53,279
2021 $38,373
2022 $38,976

[redpoint5]

What is true cost of ownership? Depreciation is normally the #1 expense by far. You lose 5% just signing the paperwork, and then another 10% the first year.

My total cost of ownership calculator can shed light on this.

I'm hoping a used Tesla Model 3 7-seater becomes reasonably priced within the near future, otherwise a new Pacifica hybrid might be the next vehicle. I wonder how practical the 7-seater is though, lifting the middle row away to stuff kids in the back. Model X is probably more practical and a whole other price tier more expensive.

Hmm, title is most economical... economical in terms of purchase price, cost per mile, or overall cost of ownership?

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

What is true cost of ownership? Depreciation is normally the #1 expense by far. You lose 5% just signing the paperwork, and then another 10% the first year.

My total cost of ownership calculator can shed light on this.

I'm hoping a used Tesla Model 3 7-seater becomes reasonably priced within the near future, otherwise a new Pacifica hybrid might be the next vehicle. I wonder how practical the 7-seater is though, lifting the middle row away to stuff kids in the back. Model X is probably more practical and a whole other price tier more expensive.

Maybe Edmunds numbers are going off of the current trend due to COVID, in which vehicles aren't losing 10% of their value in a year, but remaing almost the same.

A new Sienna is worth just a bit less than $40,000, yet one that's three or four years old is worth about the same right now...

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Hmm, title is most economical... economical in terms of purchase price, cost per mile, or overall cost of ownership?

Total overall cost of ownership.

[redpoint5]

I'm normally not interested in new vehicles, but now is not normal.

Was looking at both new and used Chevy Bolts 2 years ago. ~$14k for a 3 year old used one, or ~$23k for a new one. New was pretty tempting. Then prices went insane.

Normally I'm patient, but with the expanded family, the utility of a larger vehicle is handy now.

I'm overdue for a replacement company car, so I'll hold out and see what's on the menu before making a personal purchase. They are wanting to move towards electrics, which is my interest. That said, they don't reimburse electricity, but they do pay for petrol.

[Isaac Zachary]

In my case I have too many conflicting ideas.

When I got the Avalon I thought to myself that a 3 to 5 year old vehicle with 50,000 miles or less would be the best deal I could get.

Before that I was always getting old beaters that needed a lot of work. I did that again with the 2006 Prius for $300. The thing is it has taken me 2 years and I still don't have it road worthy.

But I also have a budget. Ideally I'd like to spend 10% of my monthly income on all our monthly transportation expendetures, and not more than 20% total. With just the Avalon I've been sitting at 17% of my income. But even looking at a 7 year loan, it seems adding a minivan would blow my budget out of the water.

So maybe I should trade the Avalon for a minivan?? But if I did, it would likely have to be a minivan with 100,000 miles or more, the same as my Avalon. The Avalon has been in my care for over half it's life (in miles). I also have a custom tow hitch and a whole set of extra rims with studded snow tires. And all my tires, summer and winter, are all in great condition.

How do I trade all that for the same thing, starting with a minivan that has had 5,000mi/6m or less oil changes with top spec oil, at least since it had 50,000 miles? The Prius burns oil and I'm pretty sure it's because the oil wasn't changed every 6 months or 5,000 miles. That and how do I trade my snow tires and rims for snow tires and rims? And I need a tow hitch... All that in one transaction, Avalon for minivan.