Most economical minivan?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

an e-MiEV with 63 horespower and 62-99 miles of range

I have seen one a few times in Florianópolis, and it's US-spec. It's part of the fleet of the Santa Catarina state electric power utility. On a sidenote, the hybrid "transmission" fitted to the plug-in hybrid version of the Outlander is reported to be based on the very same hardware of the i-MiEV, yet operating at a higher voltage.

[Isaac Zachary]

I keep feeling the temptation to buy a Minivan.

KBB says I could get $12,000 for the Avalon if sold outright.

I could get a minivan (Caravan for example) with similar mileage for less than that.

The MAZDA5 only has 6 seats but in with a manual transmission would be sweat.

[redpoint5]

I don't trust the Dodge transmission, though I only say this because it shifts rough. Not going to get good MPGs. A family of 4 or less can probably get by with a Prius and a trailer / cargo box.

Pacifica hybrid is on my radar, but not while prices continue to be insanity. Only thing I'm interested in at the moment is selling excess vehicles. Buying now is for suckers.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

A family of 4 or less can probably get by with a Prius and a trailer / cargo box.

We're four, but it kind of sucks whenever we have rent a van or make another trip for a pair of friends or cousins.

[Piotrsko]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

We're four, but it kind of sucks whenever we have rent a van or make another trip for a pair of friends or cousins.

Probably beats driving a 6 place stretch 3/4 ton diesel truck solo and empty most of the time.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Probably beats driving a 6 place stretch 3/4 ton diesel truck solo and empty most of the time.

True.

On the other hand, I got to keep convincing myself there is no "perfect" vehicle. I could go buy a brand new 15 passenger van, but that would be expensive. Or trade in my cars for a Mitsubishi Mirage and save some money, but that would be cramped.

I miss the days when everyone had a station wagon and if you picked up some extra friends you just piled them up in the back without seatbelts.

But I owe $3,000 on the Avalon still. I see a MAZDA5 minivan with a 6 speed manual transmission for $9,000 that has the same mileage and is one year older than my Avalon. KBB says my Avalon is worth $12,000 to $13,000. Of course the MAZDA5 gets like 25mpg, but the Avalon 40mpg.

[Piotrsko]

There is a perfect vehicle, unfortunately it isn't the one some one currently has.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

We're four, but it kind of sucks whenever we have rent a van or make another trip for a pair of friends or cousins.

Same situation I'm in.

There were occasions where we'd use all 5 or more seats when it was just my wife and I.

Now that we are 4, a skinny person can wedge between the car seats uncomfortably after climbing over them. Had the in-laws over the weekend and they had to take a seperate car 90 minutes to Eugene to watch the track events with us. If I could seat 7, we'd have all made it in a single vehicle, save some fuel, and not pay for the extra parking spot.

I don't see any getting around the need for additional seating, and that need will continue until the kids are out of the house.

Model Y is on my radar if the prices ever become reasonable.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Same situation I'm in.

There were occasions where we'd use all 5 or more seats when it was just my wife and I.

Now that we are 4, a skinny person can wedge between the car seats uncomfortably after climbing over them. Had the in-laws over the weekend and they had to take a seperate car 90 minutes to Eugene to watch the track events with us. If I could seat 7, we'd have all made it in a single vehicle, save some fuel, and not pay for the extra parking spot.

I don't see any getting around the need for additional seating, and that need will continue until the kids are out of the house.

Model Y is on my radar if the prices ever become reasonable.

Another problem I have is lack of drivers. My wife is not a driver, which leaves me to drive. Most of her family that comes to visit doesn't drive either. Her sister is legally blind, for an example. So that puts the burden on me. Maybe some day the kids will get their licenses and be good drivers and can take a second car. Until then, it can be hard to move everyone every once in a while, especially when there's no public transportation here and towns are an hour away from each other.

[freebeard]

Maybe some day the kids will get their licenses and be good drivers....

Be aware that's two different things.