Tell me about your minivan

[schuss]

I have a 2016 odyssey I run snows on. It drives better than the Sienna (less floaty). Make sure to get the engine checked out as it has cylinder deactivation which sometimes leads to carbon buildup. Generally rock solid. Not as good in the snow as a AWD, but I have zero issues in NH winters, including steep hills. Decent enough power, though not as much as the new crop.
That said - I'd honestly buy new as a used one goes for high 20's/low 30's with like 50k miles, while a new one is only 10-12k more with better financing terms and a modern platform. For Odyssey, pre 2018 is 2011 platform, so very dated compared to modern stuff infotainment and otherwise. Also the 2018's had some weird transmissions, so avoid that year.

[kathleenturneroverdrive]

That's incredibly helpful info. I feel like I'm gonna end up with a new one at this point. Just need to plastic wrap the entire thing before it gets covered in kid stuff.

[doebedoe]

That's incredibly helpful info. I feel like I'm gonna end up with a new one at this point. Just need to plastic wrap the entire thing before it gets covered in kid stuff.

Leather and Weatherguard mats are your friends.

[uglymoney]

Getting a new AWD Sienna hybrid is a no brainer. Way, way better mileage, which was the downfall of the old AWD version. Can still tow 3500 lbs.

I saw a green one the other day. Pretty damned nice.

[schuss]

That's incredibly helpful info. I feel like I'm gonna end up with a new one at this point. Just need to plastic wrap the entire thing before it gets covered in kid stuff.

Leather+weather techs solves 90% of it. Also, we don't allow eating in the van except for road trips, which helps a lot.
Also - it's a minivan, the point is that it gets dirty and your nicer cars don't.

[frorider]

Idle curiosity had me googling lift kits for the 2022 Sienna…damn, 3” available, which lets you clear a 31” tire.

[Eluder]

We have a 2016 AWD Sienna. I put oversized XL tires on it and it has served us well. We are talking about ordering a new AWD Hybrid since the value is so high on our 2016, its really hard to think anything else would work for us after using one.

[warthog]

Nothing more dangerous than a man driving a minivan. I just get out of their way when I see them coming.

That said, if my company gave me a choice of minivan, I would take it in a second.
I am in a Durango right now, which is fine, but man what I could do with that room and ability to fold those seats down.
God I am old.

That Kia Carnival caught my eye, right until I saw they don't offer AWD. Seems like a big miss to me.

[skaredshtles]

That's incredibly helpful info. I feel like I'm gonna end up with a new one at this point. Just need to plastic wrap the entire thing before it gets covered in kid stuff.

Just accept that, with kids, it's going to get destroyed. There's no preventing it...

[Yonder_River]

Well, I thought we were ridding ourselves of minivans, but now that I'm reading about the hybrid woodland sienna, I'm a bit intrigued. We currently have a 2014 Odyssey as our summer roadtrip and car camping vehicle, but the clearance is terrible for potholed forest service roads and our outback is too small for all of our camping shit.

Has anyone driven a Woodland and run into clearance issues with the hitch? Also wondering if getting a hybrid awd Sienna and just adding a lift kit is better overall.

[Marshall Tucker]

Can still tow 3500 lbs.

yeah what, at a blazing 30 mph?

the great white is so laughing at yer sissy ass minivan.

[BC13]

My wife has a 2018 Odyssey. We love it. It drives like a car and is very comfortable and roomy.

I am driving a rental Chrysler Voyager while my new car is being built. I really like it a lot. It is very comfortable on the highway and has a lot of zip. I have accidentally spun the tires a few times on dry pavement. It seems to be roomier than the odyssey. Other than the engine sounding some what tinny at low rpms I have no complaints. I an even wondering if i am going to miss it when my accord Hybrid Sport comes in.

In my opinion minivans are the very best vehicle for families and people who have gear intensive hobbies. They are so useful, comfortable and easy it is ridiculous.


Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[doebedoe]

Well, I thought we were ridding ourselves of minivans, but now that I'm reading about the hybrid woodland sienna, I'm a bit intrigued. We currently have a 2014 Odyssey as our summer roadtrip and car camping vehicle, but the clearance is terrible for potholed forest service roads and our outback is too small for all of our camping shit.

Has anyone driven a Woodland and run into clearance issues with the hitch? Also wondering if getting a hybrid awd Sienna and just adding a lift kit is better overall.

Woodland is only a 1" lift. Though with another 0.5-1" possible via tires. The Journey kits (assuming you don't use cheap-ass aftermarket CVs w/o gimbled bearings) are a solid option as well for clearance. Never going to be a wheeler -- but gets you up FS roads.

FWIW I've towed 2700# on I70 from Denver to Western slope a few times. Not a whole lot of higher passes folks gonna drive in a minivan. No problem cruising at highway speeds. But then, I don't let my insecurities get in the way of owning an imminently practical vehicle. Probably because I don't live in Georgia and need my camp/ski vehicle to demonstrate my masculinity. I have my stock 1990 miata for that.

[mud]

There is only one way to do it.
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...ape+minivan%94

[doebedoe]

There is only one way to do it.
https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/...ape+minivan%94

Damn..that van sell for $5k in a day in Denver right now.

[schuss]

yeah what, at a blazing 30 mph?

the great white is so laughing at yer sissy ass minivan.

Lol, what a highway queen. Sorry you were born with a small pp, major vibes.
Enjoy your smaller interior dimensions, non-sliding door, worse gas mileage and more frequent consumable replacements.

[concretejungle]

Just accept that, with kids, it's going to get destroyed. There's no preventing it...

What if you just don't let them eat in it?

[bodywhomper]

I like to have my kids take off their shoes before entering.

[concretejungle]

I like to have my kids take off their shoes before entering.

I just tell them the easiest way to walk home and "I'll see you in a bit."

There's crayon melted into the back seat of my hooptie so your results with allowing children to do stuff in your car may differ from mine.

[doebedoe]

yeah what, at a blazing 30 mph?

the great white is so laughing at yer sissy ass minivan.

Nice mall crawler.

Meanwhile my sissy ass van has greater ground clearance than a stock suburban at 10.5". Running water and a kitchen (that can be removed in 5 min, another 5 to reinstall the captains chairs for hauling friends to the ski hill). And enough space to bang on a queen size mattress after getting married.

[Eluder]

Woodland is only a 1" lift. Though with another 0.5-1" possible via tires.

I think the lift is only .6", hard to find as well... Any of them are really.

[Yonder_River]

.6" lift? That's small enough to be completely worthless. Maybe I'll look into the lift kit thing..

[Brownski]

The Sienna is most likely my next big car (replacing a Honda Pilot)unless Chevy brings back the Astro before I’m ready to buy. You can’t beat the minivan for practicality.

[bodywhomper]

You all are discounting the opportunity to leave little shavings of black plastic on rocks poking out from every unpaved roadbed.

Who needs sliders

[skaredshtles]

What if you just don't let them eat in it?

I mean... *maybe* if all kids are over the age of 12.