Question about vans

[sbkline]

I hope to buy a mini-van in the next year or two. Initially, I planned to buy a used Dodge Grand Caravan, or a similar version from another line, such as a Venture, or a Montana, etc. However, I am open to purchasing a brand new one. And, if I went that route, I would want a GM product so that I could cash in my GM card rebate from my GM Mastercard. My question is, do any mini-vans come with a TV in them, or is that only conversion vans? If so, about how much do you think a brand new mini-van with a TV and CD player and cassette player would cost as opposed to one that does not have a TV and that only has one or the other on the CD/cassette player?

 

[artvandelay]

I hope to buy a mini-van in the next year or two. Initially, I planned to buy a used Dodge Grand Caravan, or a similar version from another line, such as a Venture, or a Montana, etc. However, I am open to purchasing a brand new one. And, if I went that route, I would want a GM product so that I could cash in my GM card rebate from my GM Mastercard. My question is, do any mini-vans come with a TV in them, or is that only conversion vans? If so, about how much do you think a brand new mini-van with a TV and CD player and cassette player would cost as opposed to one that does not have a TV and that only has one or the other on the CD/cassette player?

I would go to www.kbb.com. This is the site for the Kelly Blue Book. They'll give you the prices for any car, plus how much it would be with the options you asked for.

 

[mkt]

Sadly, I can't help you there. My siblings with children went the Honda Odyssey Touring route and couldn't be happier.

 

[Nemo14]

When we bought our van, we opted not to go for the DVD /TV thing, and I've never regretted it. We do have a portable DVD player that we can mount on the back of the seats for long trips, plus they can use it anywhere (saved the day on a rainy camping trip!) I don't recall the price of the DVD option at the time, but I know that the portable players are quite reasonable now.
Have you checked the GM website for info?

 

[WDWFREAK53]

The Chevy Uplander has a DVD player in it: Price: $28,095 (The base model starts at $20,895 and you could add a DVD player to it)

The Saturn Relay starts at $24,540 with a DVD player

I believe that is all for "Mini-vans" from GM.

Like Rob said, the Honda Odyssey is probably the way to go as far as vans go...I myself love the Nissan Quest but it's not the most reliable. The Kia Sedona got the best crash-test ratings of any van but I would NEVER recommend a Kia (just because) :lol:

 

[tigsmom]

I've owned a GM Safari (had it 10 years and loved it) and now have a Chevy Astro. We also didn't go with the DVD option, but got a portable one. The kids use it at home and the boss takes it to work when he does call on weekends.

In 1992 I paid $21K for my Safari (added the AWD, extended body & antilock brakes on as a option). When we went looking in 2002 they were basically the same price with AWD & antilock brakes standard. We paid about the same for the Astro, but I understand 2005 was the last production year...the Uplander replaces it.

These are full size vans, not mini vans though and seat 8 comfortably.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

I've owned a GM Safari (had it 10 years and loved it) and now have a Chevy Astro. We also didn't go with the DVD option, but got a portable one. The kids use it at home and the boss takes it to work when he does call on weekends.

In 1992 I paid $21K for my Safari (added the AWD, extended body & antilock brakes on as a option). When we went looking in 2002 they were basically the same price with AWD & antilock brakes standard. We paid about the same for the Astro, but I understand 2005 was the last production year...the Uplander replaces it.

These are full size vans, not mini vans though and seat 8 comfortably.

The Uplander replaced the Chevy Venture. There isn't a replacement for the Safari or the Astro. The "Express" is the full-size work van.

Soccer moms refused to drive a "van" and the Safari and Astro looked too much like a "work" van and less like an SUV...so they dropped the line.

 

[tigsmom]

The Uplander replaced the Chevy Venture. There isn't a replacement for the Safari or the Astro. The "Express" is the full-size work van.

Soccer moms refused to drive a "van" and the Safari and Astro looked too much like a "work" van and less like an SUV...so they dropped the line.

From Wikipedia (I had seen this in the papers too)...


"Faced with falling sales across its many vehicle lines, General Motors began closing plants and discontinuing slow-selling vehicle lines. With new federal standards for side impact and head injury reductions coming, GM determined that there was no use in expending money for a redesign of a vehicle line that was no longer selling well. Thus, the Safari and Astro were taken out of production in 2005, and the long-serving Baltimore, Maryland assembly plant where both were built was closed. It was the only mid-sized van which was produced for 20 model years - a longer run than its rival, the Ford Aerostar, which ceased production in 1997. In total, the Baltimore plant produced approximately 3,700,000 Astro and Safari vans!

In the Chevrolet line, the Astro was replaced by the Chevrolet Uplander "crossover sport van", which also replaced the Chevrolet Venture. Like the Astro, the Uplander is available in cargo and passenger versions, although it is generally not as utilitarian as the Astro, because it is a front-wheel drive unibody vehicle, some see it as less durable for heavy-duty work. Buyers looking for a commercial or industrial use van tended to purchase the larger Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana, while those looking for a personal transport or recreational van purchased the new Uplander. GMC has not introduced a replacement for the Safari, but it is expected that the forthcoming Acadia crossover will serve much of the Safari's former market, at least for passenger vehicles."






*shrugs*

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Yes, I agree...

The Express is the large commercial van
The Safari/Astro was the mid-size van
The Venture was the mini-van.

The Uplander is a mini-van.

(Safari/Astro was based on a truck platform whereas the Uplander/Venture was based on a car platform...AKA...for commercial/industrial use...the Safari/Astro was much more qualified than the Uplander.) You can tell because even the nose looked very similar to that of the Chevy Silverado.

GM will say that the Safari/Astro was the predecessor to the Uplander just to keep their customers...but, nothing has "replaced it." (Similar to when Disney is doing a rehab on "It's a Small World" and they say, "Ride Pirates of the Caribbean as an alternative." Yes, it's similar because it's a boat ride...but nothing like it.) It's similar because it's a van...but nothing like it.

There isn't a van with it's size/qualifications in the GM lineup anymore.

*shrug* Bottom line...they don't make it anymore :lol:

(Ew...can we stop talking about vans now :lookaroun ) :lol:

 

[sbkline]

I recently test drove a van which I really liked, but I want to ask around to find out if the price is a good deal or not. It is a used 2005 Chrysler Town & Country touring edition. About 47K miles. Seats 7 people, with bucket seats in the middle. Middle and back seats are all stow and go, and it has radio, cassette and CD player with power locks and windows and sliding doors on both sides. Asking price is $17,995, but a friend of mine who used to work in the car sales business told me that there is alot more markup on used cars than new. So I wonder if I could be reasonable in asking him to come down a couple grand, or if that is out of the question. He's offering me $2,500 trade in for my 2001 Malibu with about 98K miles on it. So that would make it $15,495 plus taxes and fees. I'm thinking of offering $13,500 including taxes and fees and see what happens. Of course, that figure also includes trade in. I don't care if he comes up on the trade in or comes down on the vehicle. All I care about is the bottom line grand total figure.

Does $17,995 sound like a good price for the vehicle I described?

 

[Debbie]

See what the Blue Book value is. They are nice vans that ride like a car; I enjoyed driving the ones we have rented. My girlfriend has one that is 5 years old and still looks brand new. The gas mileage was decent and the sliding doors on both sides is nice.
I loved my Astro/conversion van. She still cranks up, is a 1991, but starting leaking oil, and the ex crossed the jumper cables; hence the only electrical that works is the headlights, and dash gauges. Still got 20 miles to a gallon.............RIP Nellie....

 

[Nemo14]

I recently test drove a van which I really liked, but I want to ask around to find out if the price is a good deal or not. It is a used 2005 Chrysler Town & Country touring edition. About 47K miles. Seats 7 people, with bucket seats in the middle. Middle and back seats are all stow and go, and it has radio, cassette and CD player with power locks and windows and sliding doors on both sides. Asking price is $17,995, but a friend of mine who used to work in the car sales business told me that there is alot more markup on used cars than new. So I wonder if I could be reasonable in asking him to come down a couple grand, or if that is out of the question. He's offering me $2,500 trade in for my 2001 Malibu with about 98K miles on it. So that would make it $15,495 plus taxes and fees. I'm thinking of offering $13,500 including taxes and fees and see what happens. Of course, that figure also includes trade in. I don't care if he comes up on the trade in or comes down on the vehicle. All I care about is the bottom line grand total figure.

Does $17,995 sound like a good price for the vehicle I described?

I think it sounds a little steep, but I haven't really car-shopped in a year or so. it never hurts to negotiate, and BE FIRM! If he really wants to sell it, he'll come down in price.

JMHO!

 

[sbkline]

Wow! I just checked Kellybluebook.com and here is what it said is the suggested trade in value of such a vehicle at good and excellent condition:

Excellent: $10,600
Good: $9,730

Dude's asking $17,995 for it! :lookaroun Either this site is way off, or he is way overpriced. According to that site, the dealer probably didn't give but around $11,000 dollars (at the very most) in trade in for this vehicle when the previous owner traded it in. Suggested retail value at excellent condition is $16,705.

sounds like he needs to come down some.

 

[Nemo14]

Wow! I just checked Kellybluebook.com and here is what it said is the suggested trade in value of such a vehicle at good and excellent condition:

Excellent: $10,600
Good: $9,730

Dude's asking $17,995 for it! :lookaroun Either this site is way off, or he is way overpriced. According to that site, the dealer probably didn't give but around $11,000 dollars (at the very most) in trade in for this vehicle when the previous owner traded it in. Suggested retail value at excellent condition is $16,705.

sounds like he needs to come down some.

Make sure you go armed with this info when you talk to him. The more informed he realizes that you are, the more likely he will be to come down in price. Let us know how it goes!

 

[mkt]

dealers = ripoff. I call them stealers.

Anywho, just beware the reliability of ANY DaimlerChrysler product right now. If you must go Domestic, Ford will probably be your best bet.

 

[sbkline]

Make sure you go armed with this info when you talk to him.

Definitely. As well as some other info I just found. I love the net. I just checked the prices of some used Town and Country vans online for dealerships in a 50 mile radius of my zip code. While none of them were the touring edition, I found a 2005 T&C LX with only $26,520 miles for $14,788 and a 2006 T&C LX with 25,284 miles for only $12,990. Compare those with the one I'm looking at, which has 48,000 miles for a whopping $17,995. No way I'm paying that much for it. And, after seeing that info on Kelly Blue book as well as the info I just mentioned, it looks like I would be overpaying even at the price range I was going to start at. So it looks like I'm going to have to start much lower and refuse to go much higher than my initial offer.

I understand that they are out to make money as is any business and I don't have a problem with that. But I'm not gonna have him making 8 or 9 grand off of me either. A grand or less, fine. Much more than that and forget it.

 

[miles1]

dealers = ripoff. I call them stealers.

Anywho, just beware the reliability of ANY DaimlerChrysler product right now. If you must go Domestic, Ford will probably be your best bet.

Sorry MKT, but I take exception to this. My wife currently drives a 2001 Grand Caravan with 68,000 miles. We've only had to put about $400 worth of repairs into it in five years (maintenance not included). A few months ago I sold a 1994 Intrepid with 135,000 miles than ran great. I did replace the transmission at 118,000 miles, but I don't think this is outrageous.

Compare this to the wife's prior car, a Taurus, that ate THREE transmissions, a head gasket, an exhaust valve, and the A/C system in the four years we had it. We spent over $6000 in repairs before getting rid of it to avoid bankruptcy. Ford's attitude? "Pfft".

No car is perfect, but I'm much happier with our current DC products than the Ford.

 

[mkt]

As an automotive enthusiast, I only post what I know to be proven. That being said, check this out:

http://www.daimlerchryslervehicleproblems.com/

 

[maelstrom]

My dad has had three different minivans: Chrysler, Plymouth, and Dodge. All of them had a lot of issues. He has a Dodge Durango now and that, while he doesn't like it, doesn't seem to have any problems. I don't know what it is with the minivans.

 

[sbkline]

Well, it looks like I may have found my van. I went online and did a search, trying to find the cheapest Grand Caravans with the least miles and I found one about 2 1/2 hours away with only 20 miles (20, not 20,000) for $14,999. :sohappy: Turns out it is a 2005 model with DVD player, bucket seats in the middle, with middle and back seats all stow and go. CD and cassette player as well. Only thing wrong with it is that it lacks power windows and locks, which, apparently, is why it has sat on the lot for 2 years without ever being sold. I hate that it lacks those things, but at that price and with those low miles and with all the other goodies, I'm willing to manually crank that window down. He's gonna throw in the luggage rack as well, and I asked if they could throw in a trailer hitch. He said that they don't sell those, but they will go half and half with me by estimating 300 bucks for a hitch and then taking off 150 bucks from the price as credit for me to buy a hitch on my own. And if I choose not to buy the hitch just yet, then the deal has just been sweetened by 150 bucks. So I plan to do a little road trip this Monday to pick 'er up...assumming everything goes as planned between now and then and assumming I don't find any surprises when I go in there. :sohappy: