Forgive me for what I am about to do...

Wife wants a Mini Van. It's a vehicle full of utility for us, two small ones in big car seats and it will have room to grow more.

Her Brother has one he'll sell us for a reasonable some. Give me some thoughts.

2004 Sienna Toyotabot 3.3 v6 5spd auto trans Just shy of 160k miles.
Rubber looks good. Drives good.
Loaded without AWD or run flats (The interwebz say these cause problems). Leather interior for good kid defense. Seat heaters don't work, common 2004 problem. Not interested in fixing them.

They have good service records, but I can't find one for the timing belt. I'll find out about that. They are the original owners.

I'm going to take it to my local guy for a once over. It has been sitting for a year. He got a company car and parked it. Anything we should check with sitting? It has been garaged the whole time. I am thinking we should go through all the fluids. We drove the car today and it shifts fine, accelerates fine etc. It has some brake noise from the rear, some road noise, some minor rattles, and a faint whiff of antifreeze when I turned on the heater.

He wants $500 less than trade in value from KBB. What you guys think?

So for my wheels, I'll probably be taking my wifes 2007 rav4, 2wd, 4cylinder for a bit. It will suck the will to leave out of my body, but it'll be reliable. Wife agrees, I get a miata when we can afford it. Hopefully soon.

Looks like my 1996 Civic hatch will be for sale..... OHHH NOEZ!

Definately an appliance, but I enjoyed driving a friends to NYC from central VA to pick up a couple of transmissions. Nice seating position, comfortable for sitting hours on end. Had decent poke, and the suspension wasn't aweful. And if all goes as planned, you'll have a Miata to counterpoint it soon! I can't say much about pricing these days.

I know someone in CT who may be interested in that Civic when the time comes. Got any details on it?

As much as I resisted the purchase of our first minivan, the utility is quite amazing. As far as it sitting, I'd want to put a little oil in each cylinder, but with a transverse V-6 that's usually a chore. Other than that, sure change the fluid. Including the brake fluid.

Woody wrote: I know someone in CT who may be interested in that Civic when the time comes. Got any details on it?

South Carolina car. Local mechanic refers to it as mint. Have a half dozen " if you ever want to sell it, call me things." Was in an accident, but the stupid insurance company put $8k into fixing it. Best car I have ever bought

Run down. Civic hatch DX. No options except for a/c. Everything works except for the rear windshield washer. I think the pump and tank assembly should be replaced. Less than $50 on rock auto. Manual trans, manual steering. 130k ish mileage. Best mpg was 46. 32 mpg around town with my short commute. We can talk more should you want.

embrace the van.

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

Woody wrote: I know someone in CT who may be interested in that Civic when the time comes. Got any details on it?

South Carolina car. Local mechanic refers to it as mint. Have a half dozen " if you ever want to sell it, call me things." Was in an accident, but the stupid insurance company put $8k into fixing it. Best car I have ever bought Run down. Civic hatch DX. No options except for a/c. Everything works except for the rear windshield washer. I think the pump and tank assembly should be replaced. Less than $50 on rock auto. Manual trans, manual steering. 130k ish mileage. Best mpg was 46. 32 mpg around town with my short commute. We can talk more should you want.

I let him know. Thanks.

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. As much as I've bragged about getting through my daughter's childhood in nothing more than my Mk.2 Golf and the ex's '91 Civic, I have to admit it was a PITA sometimes.

And we only had one kid.

Besides, modern cars are so competent that there's not much difference on the street anyway.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/soccer-moms-revenge/

The only thing that you stated about the van that would worry me is the smell of antifreeze. I am thinking heater core? Best find out if those are easy to change.

BUT that being said. If getting it makes your wife happy DO IT!!!!! Trust me here.

dean1484 wrote: The only thing that you stated about the van that would worry me is the smell of antifreeze. I am thinking heater core? Best find out if those are easy to change. BUT that being said. If getting it makes your wife happy DO IT!!!!! Trust me here.

Probably not easy to change. cause there are two in the van.....

We will knock money off the price and get it fixed probably.

Do it. A minivan might be the bane of GRMs existence, but it will be the best thing you ever do for family transportation. We just stepped down from a minivan to a Jeep Liberty and the wife is already complaining it's too small and not near as usable as the minivan.

If it's been sitting for a year garaged, I change the fluids and put it back on the road.

You might also make sure the car wasn't built around the heater core if you think you need to replace it.

They sell so many because ultimately they're pretty useful. How big of a PITA is a heater core replacement? Looks like a $200 part. Any film on the windshield? Maybe a little extra negotiating room?

oldtin wrote: They sell so many because ultimately they're pretty useful. How big of a PITA is a heater core replacement? Looks like a $200 part. Any film on the windshield? Maybe a little extra negotiating room?

No film on windshield. Two heater cores though. I've also heard the control arm bushings like to waste themselves fast.

If its got the stupid electric sliding doors, carry a pair of sidecutters to let the door close again after the drive on the cable fails and locks it open.

Other than that, do the belt, check it out and go.

Streetwiseguy wrote: If its got the stupid electric sliding doors, carry a pair of sidecutters to let the door close again after the drive on the cable fails and locks it open. Other than that, do the belt, check it out and go.

It does have the sliding doors with the motors. Good hint.

Toyman01 wrote: Do it. A minivan might be the bane of GRMs existence, but it will be the best thing you ever do for family transportation. We just stepped down from a minivan to a Jeep Liberty and the wife is already complaining it's too small and not near as usable as the minivan. If it's been sitting for a year garaged, I change the fluids and put it back on the road. You might also make sure the car wasn't built around the heater core if you think you need to replace it.

I think the GRM crowd is pretty forgiving of minivans :). It is the great unwashed who has issues with them.

Or maybe it's the GRM crowd who have kids that are forgiving of minivans.

I'm 27 with no kids, but I want a van of some fashion. I will borrow one on occasion to move something big or to travel, and I never want to give it back. Being able to haul a coupe of engines in the back while still being able to seat 5 in comfort is worth the image issues.

No opinions on the Siennas, other than loving how well a beige Toyota van blends into the background.

My mom's got a 97 Caravan, manual windows, manual locks. I have restored houses, carried drywall, plywood, engine blocks, etc... Very useful vehicle. In favt, it is the family truck. Very incognito, also.

i dont see a problem with a van....i just question what he is charging you, it sat for a year are you looking at fair condition trade-in price which would put it around $1,700.00 after you knock $500.00 off. now they go for anywhere from $2500.00 to 10k most still bring in 5k to 7k range with milage around 100k or less. i think what he is asking is a fair price but he is fam it should be a great price

42 with no kids. Once you own a van, all other so called "utility" vehicles start to look pointless.

Why not minivan + civic and dump the Rav4?

Fueled by Caffeine wrote:

Woody wrote: I know someone in CT who may be interested in that Civic when the time comes. Got any details on it?

South Carolina car. Local mechanic refers to it as mint. Have a half dozen " if you ever want to sell it, call me things." Was in an accident, but the stupid insurance company put $8k into fixing it. Best car I have ever bought Run down. Civic hatch DX. No options except for a/c. Everything works except for the rear windshield washer. I think the pump and tank assembly should be replaced. Less than $50 on rock auto. Manual trans, manual steering. 130k ish mileage. Best mpg was 46. 32 mpg around town with my short commute. We can talk more should you want.

If Woody's friend falls through I know I'm interested.

cutter67 wrote: i dont see a problem with a van....i just question what he is charging you, it sat for a year are you looking at fair condition trade-in price which would put it around $1,700.00 after you knock $500.00 off. now they go for anywhere from $2500.00 to 10k most still bring in 5k to 7k range with milage around 100k or less. i think what he is asking is a fair price but he is fam it should be a great price

Umm. Kbb trade in is $5k. And nada guide rough trade in is $6900. Yeah dude you are way off on pricing. Welcome to Connecticut.

DILYSI Dave wrote: Why not minivan + civic and dump the Rav4?

Civic doesn't fit a car seat well at all. I could sell the Rav4 and get something else. But it's gotta fit some seats and kids. I hate to say it but the Rav is a known entity at this point. Reliable. Gotta get to work with no weekend wrenching. I don't have time.