Mazda5 vs a "real" minivan

The styling of the quest at least the new one is hideous.

The reliability information on the Chrysler vans is decidedly subpar compared to the Honda and Toyota from what I have researched via truedelta and consumer reports

I bought a Rondo over a 5 due to space limitations. It does a better impression of a Minivan, but it is still no Minivan. The Odyssey seems to be the cream of the crop, but that hideous kink at the rear window turns my stomach. Get the previous gen. Here is an example of a 100% stock Odyssey:

Yeah, if we had even more than one child, I don't think the Mazda5 would cut it. It's just about perfect for us as a long-haul vehicle, as we take frequent 5+ hour driving trips with two adults, one infant, one medium-sized dog, and a rabbit. The rabbit actually takes up a bunch of space.

On these trips, the 5 is pretty darn loaded up, between passengers, pack-n-play, baby stuff, rabbit food, etc. Kid #2 would require investing in a "real" minivan I think. But that's years off.

I too thought the Nissan Quest, especially the last generation, was a good alternative to the Oddy. I'd probably end up with a used Caravan though.

The Sienna does have one cool feature:

We go on vacation in a midsized sedan - two full sized adults, two mid-sized kids, and one little dog. And we have plenty of room. Once you get past the pack 'n' play, stroller, backwards car seat. etc. stage, I can't figure out why you need anything bigger than a Civic for day to day duty.

We have a Honda Pilot in excellent condition that just sits in our garage. We kept it for all those times we were going to need three rows or to haul something really big. Those times pretty much never happen.

By the way, something that nobody but Chrysler has - Stow n Go is awesome for road trips.

Yeah I love the stow and go. I think the Honda and Toyota the 3rd row can go flat but not the whole thing

Jaynen wrote: The styling of the quest at least the new one is hideous. The reliability information on the Chrysler vans is decidedly subpar compared to the Honda and Toyota from what I have researched via truedelta and consumer reports

I found a dealer website in Orlando that had four 2011 Quests on the lot with zero miles on them. Meaning they've been sitting unsold for over a year. One of them was listed as "Dark Purple", a color that was never available from Nissan.

Just for grins, I e-mailed the dealer and offered them $12K for it. They didn't answer.

Why no love for the Nissan Quest on this thread? My wifeunit drives a 2004 Quest.

Is that like the only year you could get a 3.5 quest without a CVT? CVT is the reason i never recommend Quests, honestly.

Other than that, i mostly like them. I love the motor and the fully loaded ones are stupendous (as are its competitors). That dual sunroof thing is way cooler than it might first seem. IMO.

Jaynen wrote: The styling of the quest at least the new one is hideous. The reliability information on the Chrysler vans is decidedly subpar compared to the Honda and Toyota from what I have researched via truedelta and consumer reports

I don't pay any attention to those dimbulbs. Both major mags that did recent, long term tests of the Mopar mini, raved about its quality and perfect reliability.

tuna55 wrote: By the way, something that nobody but Chrysler has - Stow n Go is awesome for road trips.

That's sort of correct.

The Mazda MPV has a variation of Stow n Go which I actually prefer.

The 3rd row seat stows into the floor like the Chrysler.

The 2nd row seats do not, but the passenger side seat is mounted in a track which allows it to slide side to side, as well as front to back. This allows moving the aisle from the center of the vehicle to the passenger side. The seat back then folds down flat making a "table". Sliding the seat forward and toward the center while folding down the seat back makes a cavernous access to the rear seat, which is very nice. It was also available with a center bench seat, making it an 8 seater.

Plus, the rear seat also does something a little weird. It flips over backwards and creates a bench seat facing rearwards (toward the rear hatch), which is great for tailgating, drive-in movies, etc.

SVreX wrote:

tuna55 wrote: By the way, something that nobody but Chrysler has - Stow n Go is awesome for road trips.

That's sort of correct. The Mazda MPV has a variation of Stow n Go which I actually prefer. The 3rd row seat stows into the floor like the Chrysler. The 2nd row seats do not, but the passenger side seat is mounted in a track which allows it to slide side to side, as well as front to back. This allows moving the aisle from the center of the vehicle to the passenger side. The seat back then folds down flat making a "table". Sliding the seat forward and toward the center while folding down the seat back makes a cavernous access to the rear seat, which is very nice. It was also available with a center bench seat, making it an 8 seater. Plus, the rear seat also does something a little weird. It flips over backwards and creates a bench seat facing rearwards (toward the rear hatch), which is great for tailgating, drive-in movies, etc.

True, but I really like the feature of being able to have the beneath-the-floor compartment for stuff on roadtrips allowing the kids easy ingress/egress, plus being able to flip the seat in or out of the floor on the fly.

forzav12 wrote:

Jaynen wrote: The styling of the quest at least the new one is hideous. The reliability information on the Chrysler vans is decidedly subpar compared to the Honda and Toyota from what I have researched via truedelta and consumer reports

I don't pay any attention to those dimbulbs. Both major mags that did recent, long term tests of the Mopar mini, raved about its quality and perfect reliability.

Do you know which issues as I have them all. Thing is a "long term" test by a magazine is usually A) under warranty and B) only a year long when the car is new so its only the first 15-20k miles. Truedelta is user submissions and includes logs of what type of stuff people are going to the shop for and buying a used one I am probably looking at something with 80-100k miles on it

forzav12 wrote:

Jaynen wrote: The styling of the quest at least the new one is hideous. The reliability information on the Chrysler vans is decidedly subpar compared to the Honda and Toyota from what I have researched via truedelta and consumer reports

I don't pay any attention to those dimbulbs. Both major mags that did recent, long term tests of the Mopar mini, raved about its quality and perfect reliability.

Why pay attention to collection of maybe thousands of owners when you already have two points of anecdotal evidence?

Jaynen wrote:

forzav12 wrote:

Jaynen wrote: The styling of the quest at least the new one is hideous. The reliability information on the Chrysler vans is decidedly subpar compared to the Honda and Toyota from what I have researched via truedelta and consumer reports

I don't pay any attention to those dimbulbs. Both major mags that did recent, long term tests of the Mopar mini, raved about its quality and perfect reliability.

Do you know which issues as I have them all. Thing is a "long term" test by a magazine is usually A) under warranty and B) only a year long when the car is new so its only the first 15-20k miles. Truedelta is user submissions and includes logs of what type of stuff people are going to the shop for and buying a used one I am probably looking at something with 80-100k miles on it

I have an 09 grand caravan with over 100k on it. It runs and drives fine other than a clang coming from underneath somewhere over bumps. Nothing in the suspension is loose to make the noise.
We bought it with the high mileage. It was a fleet vehicle so I doubt it was treated very nicely, but it appears to have been well maintained (new brakes and tires shortly before we got it). It has stow and go seating, power drivers seat and the uconnect system as far as options go. it would be perfect if it were any color other than white :(

You shiny happy people have me shopping new caravans now. Thanks a pantload. To the death of fun (raises glass)

I know this is out there, but seeing a 5 next to an early Caravan(1st or 2nd gen) and they are about the same on the outside. But one is much larger on the inside

I know, I know modern safety, NVH, ect, ect, ect...

In reply to failboat:

That looks awesome, but think of greenhouses on hot days and you'll quickly come to hate it I bet.

I've yet to be in a minivan that wasn't a berkeleying oven in the depths of hell after a hot day in a parking lot, and that looks like it would make it much worse.

I like minivans, they're really all I need. Plus, you want to berkeley with peoples minds you turn the TC off and go to town, those Chryslers with the 3.8 will E36 M3 n' git.

We're looking at a G Caravan this weekend: $17500 for a brand new 2012. How can you beat that? (remember, we're in Canadia)

Yeah. Wish I could've convinced sis-in-law that "real" minivan was the answer. I had no idea the new Caravans were so cheap (I think they start at $20k here.) Lots of vehicle for the money. Are you getting the 0% interest deal up there?

poopshovel wrote: Yeah. Wish I could've convinced sis-in-law that "real" minivan was the answer. I had no idea the new Caravans were so cheap (I think they start at $20k here.) Lots of vehicle for the money. Are you getting the 0% interest deal up there?

I learned the trick to that with my wife. When she realized that she could clip the key to her purse or whatever, be carrying a kid (or pushing a shopping cart) and holding the hand of one who was holding the hand of another, and open the door and hatch with a button from across the lot, she was sold.

Hmm while they do start at 20k you don't get power sliding doors until the crew model which is 28k

Jaynen wrote: Hmm while they do start at 20k you don't get power sliding doors until the crew model which is 28k

Shop used.

Oh I do :) 18-20k buys a 09 Odyssey with 30-50k miles on it CPO the EX version which is pretty kitted out

I know this is out there, but seeing a 5 next to an early Caravan(1st or 2nd gen) and they are about the same on the outside. But one is much larger on the inside

I have noted this in the past.. get them both with the 5spd, and they get the same mpg too. One has a lot more motor swap potential, though.

Shop used.

Best advice ever, seriously.