Need to buy a mini van for uber

[alex16]

I am currently driving my 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage Es 5 speed and I want to do uber XL. I am looking for as cheap as possible, more reliable and then best mpg.


Needs to be 2006+ (10 years or newer required and under 350k with clear title able to seat 6 passengers) a 2007 is a bonus score.

From what I've seen in my 1,000-1,500 price range


Dodge caravan 2.4 4 cylinder seems to have the best mpg

Town and country and grand caravan are my favorite interior and features large v6 16-22mpg.

Ford freestar I've owned a 2003 wind star and I enjoy working on these vans. Car survey shows lots of bad reviews, the tranny is a weak point

Chevrolet up lander (fuelly shows worst mpg for a van)



Just curious of opinions, which would be the best cost per mile ownership including the million dollar question of reliability

[ksa8907]

Spending money to make money? And on a cheap, probably maintenance neglected vehicle. Seems like a bad idea to me.

[alex16]

The uber XL vehicles make pretty good money on special events and Saturday nights. If I get something that will drive 1500 miles with no issues it will pay for itself, on busy nights a uber XL can make $200-300 a trip during surge runs vs a uber x that makes $100 on the same run and is less likely to get the longer trips (parties or groups of people). If it can make 1500 miles it will pay for itself, then a rebuilt tranny can be done for $1200, used engine can be installed $1000. Spending 3k on a van that may need a engine or tranny anyways isn't s good investment vs a higher mileage one for cheap. Taxi companies make more profit from older well used cars for cheap that they rebuild when broken.

[MetroMPG]

Does the Mazda5 qualify?

Those were the only recent sliding side door minivans you could get with a manual transmission (not counting the early days of the minivan when almost everyone offered a stick).

It may not have a stellar EPA rating, but don't forget a properly driven manual will spank the EPA ratings. Harder to do with the automatic vans. Real world results of the Mirage CVT vs. Mirage 5-speed manual are a case in point.

The challenge would be finding one of course. They didn't sell in big numbers overall, and the manual would be a fraction of those sales.

But that's what I'd get. Might as well enjoy driving while driving for a living.

[Detroit1]

People always tell me I should be selling these things for a living because of how much I praise them, the Toyota Sienna. Of course it's going to be a little outside your extremely low price range of $1500 but just wanted to get that out there that the Sienna is the best vehicle I've ever owned.

From your choices

Dodge caravan 2.4 - it's an interference engine which means that you better make sure that the timing belt was done at the proper intervals. If that thing goes out, you've damaged the head, and the pistons (aka, toss it in the garbage. cheaper to buy another van than fix it)

Town and country is a luxury version of the caravan, feature rich but still plagued with the same mechanical issues.

Ford freestar - Yes, they have serious transmission issues, which is something the caravan/town & country don't have. You'll also feel less pull even though it has a much larger engine. Also, not sure where you're getting your specs from, but the freestar is the worst fuel economy of all your options here.

Chevrolet uplander - just my opinion, but DAMN is this thing ugly! Mechanically speaking, this is your best choice. Sure it doesn't have the high fuel efficiency of the caravan, but you're going to save a lot by not fixing the engine all the time. Unfortunately you have to put up with that horrible looking front end, I mean seriously...what the heck were they thinking.

I vote uplander. Or be realistic and put some more money on the pot and get a Sienna.

Source - Me, I've owned a car lot for the last 21 years and have seen them all come and go.

P.S. I own 3 porsches, a lamborghini gallardo, a suburban, and a 2006 Sienna; the Sienna is my favorite :P

[Hersbird]

Nothing is going to fit your price range. You might think you could find a high mile Ford or GM van those years that might but they don't make it that far before dieing 3 times over. The Chrysler are pretty reliable those years but are over, so are the Honda and toyota but way over. 2006 up Kia and Hyundai are good but also over you budget. For $1500 you would be hard pressed to find a good 2002 van.

As a serious business I would sell the Mirage and spend $18,500 on a new 2016 Caravan.
2016 Dodge Grand Caravan For Sale at Dave Smith Motors Kellogg Idaho | Serving Spokane, Portland, & Seattle.
Write it off on taxes

[redpoint5]

Great first post Detroit! Thanks for contributing.

I'll second the opinion to get the Sienna. You should save up until you can afford a better van or get a low interest loan. Maybe even sell your primary vehicle and just drive the van.

...now you have me thinking I should preemptively buy a van (I don't have children) and moonlight with Uber. Too bad they don't make a plug in van, or I'd be willing to let the Prius go.

[darcane]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

It may not have a stellar EPA rating, but don't forget a properly driven manual will spank the EPA ratings. Harder to do with the automatic vans. Real world results of the Mirage CVT vs. Mirage 5-speed manual are a case in point.

The challenge would be finding one of course. They didn't sell in big numbers overall, and the manual would be a fraction of those sales.

But that's what I'd get. Might as well enjoy driving while driving for a living.

Will hypermiling be compatible with being a professional driver with paying customers? I would imagine some techniques (EOC) would not go over well.

[Fat Charlie]

Minor hypermiling. You can't grab every scrap of fuel savings, but that still leaves a lot to get!

[alex16]

Paying much for a van for uber is not worth the investment, a uber car gets a lot of wear and tear, my mirage was brand new and it shows signs of wear but thankfully seats and other misc stuff is very cheap.

I'm going to narrow it down to the up lander ugly duckling and the 2.4 caravan. The timing belt is a worry but I can have it done after a few good surge runs. EOC is not really a option for hyper miling, a front air dam and small tail defuser, under pan is option though. I really like the idea of a 2.4 5 speed caravan but it's too much work.


Spending $5k on a van that is going to be abused on the interior and exterior is not a good investment, for ride sharing you want the cheapest wheels you can get that can be reliable. I am 45 miles from my uber city and I'll likely leave the van parked in the city and commute with my mirage.