So, military is moving us from DC to Cali this summer. We only have a GTI. Wife, 12 year old boy, 8 year old girl. Was hoping to find a VW eurovan camper, but got to thinking that a minivan might get us 80% of that for way cheaper and more reliable. I'd like to mix some camping with the inevitable hotel stays.
Saw this: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/ctd/5027017865.html
Seems like a pretty fair price for a sub 100k Odyssey. Was thinking we'd sell it out west, but half afraid we'll like it and want to keep it.
Questions:
1. Is that a fair price? What problems do Odyssey's have?
2. Any other ideas?
That's a fair but unexceptional price on that car. Odysseys of that vintage have chronic power steering issues. For one with that mileage, I would also budget a new/rebuilt trans, even though it may make it to 150k, I would bet against it.
Personally, because of Stow & Go and having a slightly taller box, I'd say that a T&C or Grand Caravan would be better for camping.
Good minivans. Ad seems like it's a buy-here-pay-here dealer. I'd steer clear of those, they usually don't pick the cream of the crop.
Check out the Kia Sedona. You'll get a much better value, and it's still a great van. I'm on my second one.
Something's weird about that one. The LX is the base model, but it has leather seats, and no trim level badge.
"(Affordable Prices, test drive right on spot!)
Special pricings is for this weekend only!!"
and
"If you like a vehicle we will put you in that vehicle"
Would make me run the other way, with suppressing fire, quickly.
My wife is currently on her third Odyssey, which I think are excellent, efficient people movers.
If you are thinking disposable van then why not the B Vans?
for example
drdisque wrote:
That's a fair but unexceptional price on that car. Odysseys of that vintage have chronic power steering issues. For one with that mileage, I would also budget a new/rebuilt trans, even though it may make it to 150k, I would bet against it.
$8500 for a 100K mile Odyssey is pretty good compared to here (SF Bay Area), I usually see them for $11-12K.
The transmission on the '08 shouldn't be a problem, they fixed the endemic failures in 2006 or so.
It is odd to see an LX with leather. It doesn't have the automatic climate control system of the EX-L, no steering-wheel mounted stereo controls, and has steel wheels with covers, so those match the LX. IIRC the LXes didn't have power doors, but none of the photos show enough to say. I can't think why someone would have swapped the EX-L seats into an LX, but...
Our Sienna is junk. I would not buy another one.
Our Sienna has been great. I would buy another one in a heartbeat. Of course we bought it used from an older couple with 60k miles on it. could have something to do with it. has 170k on it now and still going strong.
So for the longevity questions- this just needs to get me across country (in relative comfort) and sold for roughly what I buy it for here. I'm looking for probably best I can get for $10k or less- not disposable, because I'd like to get my investment back out of it, and Odyssey's seem to have that popularity thing going.
Duke
MegaDork
5/18/15 8:39 a.m.
I would go for a 2007 Mopar Twin in the nicest condition and trim level that fits your budget. That's the last year of the previous generation so buy-in will be low. Resale will be low too but I doubt you'll lose anything in the deal. You get stow-n-go seating in a time-tested chassis.
2008-2010 is the first version of the current generation, and I would skip them. They still had the older powertrain lineup, so that's not really an issue, but they had some other new-model teething problems. Most notably undersized brakes.
Would renting somthing be an option? Yes there is some cost involved but factor in tax title and registration and that may be half the cost of a rental.
Yep, odysseys do have that popularity. You should be fine. There are 4 trim levels of the ody though, and you do need to pay attention to which you are getting, because I have seen while buying ours that the trim level matters a lot to the price. More than I expected.
- LX - base
- EX - a bit better
- EX-L - I think it used to mean ex w leather, but also a lot more by 2008
- Touring - the fancy schmancy, watch out for TRX michelins on this level if you go there
dean1484 wrote:
Would renting somthing be an option? Yes there is some cost involved but factor in tax title and registration and that may be half the cost of a rental.
This. If you're one and only use for it is to drive cross country and then immediately sell it, rent. You'll get a new minivan from the rental company and can just hand the keys back by time you're done. If you buy, then you pay tax/tag/insurance/registration. Then you have to go through all the joys of selling...in hopes you'll get your money back. Not to mention all the questions of "why are you selling only days/weeks after you bought it?" from perspective buyers. If you just need something for a one time trip, rent.
Then, after you're settled in your new place if you decide that you really need a minivan long term, buy one in your new location.
One way rental can be prohibitively expensive but when checking, be sure to mention Military as there could be discounts and special price considerations.
Klayfish wrote:
dean1484 wrote:
Would renting somthing be an option? Yes there is some cost involved but factor in tax title and registration and that may be half the cost of a rental.
This. If you're one and only use for it is to drive cross country and then immediately sell it, rent. You'll get a new minivan from the rental company and can just hand the keys back by time you're done. If you buy, then you pay tax/tag/insurance/registration. Then you have to go through all the joys of selling...in hopes you'll get your money back. Not to mention all the questions of "why are you selling only days/weeks after you bought it?" from perspective buyers. If you just need something for a one time trip, rent.
Then, after you're settled in your new place if you decide that you really need a minivan long term, buy one in your new location.
Not to mention trying to sell a vehicle in a state across the country from where you are. For Example "Is this a hurricane Sandy vehicle?"
Tax/title/registration will be about $100. I'm active duty, and Washington State resident- they don't charge tax on used vehicle purchase registered there. Renting a van is expensive- we're planning a 2 week trip/vacation, and that would come to $1500 (at least), not including one-way fees etc. Really wanted to rent a motorhome, but those are ~$5k for two weeks.
Rcutclif- thanks for the rundown on the trim levels. That was very helpful.
Duke- The reason I was angling toward the Honda is my perception of reliability and ease of resale. I hadn't considered he "twins" because I don't think they age well at all. Been on rides in some friends' and they are really effed up after only a couple years. The Hondas seem to hold together. Was thinking for the few miles I'll put on it, why not get the nicest sub-$10k minivan I can get and reasonably expect to get the $$ back.
Pretty much all cars sold in all states meet California emissions. There used to be special "California Emissions" cars. If you were moving to California you could register your non-California Emissions car there (as long as it met federal emissions), but there were restrictions on selling it. I believe dealers could not sell them, so you either had to do a private sale or if the you traded it into a dealer, they had to send it to an out of state auction to dispose of it.
bearmtnmartin wrote:
Our Sienna is junk. I would not buy another one.
What year? Our 06 has been nothing short of perfection in the 8 years we have owned it.
I was going to suggest relay rides, since they show vans available for as low as $40/day. But then I realized that you are going one way...
Relay Rides
Boo.
Mazdax605 wrote:
bearmtnmartin wrote:
Our Sienna is junk. I would not buy another one.
What year? Our 06 has been nothing short of perfection in the 8 years we have owned it.
Let's see....drivers side door is broken and needs to be dismantled to be welded. Toyota has a bulletin but will not pay for the repair. Rear wiper packed it in, one of the sliding doors refused to lock closed despite several trips to the dealership where they shrugged their shoulders, but that is Ok because now it will no longer open so we have a three door mini van,much of the plastic trim has distorted and does not match the curves of the sheet metal it is attached to, especially in areas where the mounting clips have failed and the plastic flaps in the wind. Antenna broke off years ago and we have E36 M3ty radio reception. It's a 2008 with about 130000 miles.
Klayfish wrote:
Good minivans. Ad seems like it's a buy-here-pay-here dealer. I'd steer clear of those, they usually don't pick the cream of the crop.
Check out the Kia Sedona. You'll get a much better value, and it's still a great van. I'm on my second one.
You too? So are we, and we parked yesterday next to our old one that got sold to my brother-in-law. He tells me its still running trouble-free.
bearmtnmartin wrote:
Mazdax605 wrote:
bearmtnmartin wrote:
Our Sienna is junk. I would not buy another one.
What year? Our 06 has been nothing short of perfection in the 8 years we have owned it.
Let's see....drivers side door is broken and needs to be dismantled to be welded. Toyota has a bulletin but will not pay for the repair. Rear wiper packed it in, one of the sliding doors refused to lock closed despite several trips to the dealership where they shrugged their shoulders, but that is Ok because now it will no longer open so we have a three door mini van,much of the plastic trim has distorted and does not match the curves of the sheet metal it is attached to, especially in areas where the mounting clips have failed and the plastic flaps in the wind. Antenna broke off years ago and we have E36 M3ty radio reception. It's a 2008 with about 130000 miles.
Wow, sounds like you got a bad one. Our 06 has one power sliding door on the passengers side. It works flawlessly. The non power drivers side one is a bit sticky, but I just think it needs some lube. Other than that, zero issues.
Ours has 120 k I think. Bought as a former rental out of Texas. 17k on it when we bought it. I would own another.
Chris
Teh E36 M3 wrote:
So for the longevity questions- this just needs to get me across country (in relative comfort) and sold for roughly what I buy it for here. I'm looking for probably best I can get for $10k or less- not disposable, because I'd like to get my investment back out of it, and Odyssey's seem to have that popularity thing going.
What part of our largest contiguous state are you moving too? The market can be vastly different depending.
Another idea is to find a buyer first then "deliver" their car? Maybe someone at your new duty station wants a car? You pay license/tax/registration fees and they pay for car?
Ride Amtrak across country?
As long as you don't mind keeping the van the go ahead and buy one but go into it expecting some kind of loss. Chrysler Dodge are good. Honda and Toyota have that aura that will always keep resale higher. Other ideas:
- First year of current Explorer model.
- Mazda CX9
- 2008 era Durango
- Honda Element
drdisque wrote:
Pretty much all cars sold in all states meet California emissions. There used to be special "California Emissions" cars. If you were moving to California you could register your non-California Emissions car there (as long as it met federal emissions), but there were restrictions on selling it. I believe dealers could not sell them, so you either had to do a private sale or if the you traded it into a dealer, they had to send it to an out of state auction to dispose of it.
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv_content_en/dmv/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29
There was at one point a "smog impact fee" that you had to pay to register a 49-state vehicle in CA, but that was ruled unconstitutional.
If you're going to buy a minivan to drive here and then sell, get an Odyssey or a Sienna. The other brands are not well-regarded in CA, and you'll likely lose a lot more money.
