Topic: Test Drive: 2012 Toyota Sienna XLE AWD

[dkaz]

Dollar vs. feature wise, I think the Honda Odyssey EX is a winner. $34k (+ freight and HST and stuff) gets you comfortable 8 passenger seating, automatic climate control, power sliding doors. Will be a great used buy in a couple of years. I like the Sienna SE but it's $3k more for the same amenities except the 8th seat looks like an uncomfortable afterthought.

[Jaeger]

A van may be nothin more than an APPLIANCE! for some, but it needn't be that way for all.  If I were purchasing one as the primary family vehicle (which is the role my car presently serves) I would choose to equip it pretty comprehensively - just as I have my current and past cars.

Jaeger

[Fobroader]

Ive seen what young children can do to a vehicle, I have a very strict "you must be this tall to ride" policy in all my vehicles. I would have a very hard time seeing my fully loaded, $60K+ minivan get slowly destroyed from the inside out. A $20K Caravan "appliance", who cares, it gets too dirty or stanky, trade in time 

[CanuckS2K]

A van may be nothin more than an APPLIANCE! for some, but it needn't be that way for all.  If I were purchasing one as the primary family vehicle (which is the role my car presently serves) I would choose to equip it pretty comprehensively - just as I have my current and past cars.

Jaeger

Same here. 

[2JDM]

Not every minivan gets "destroyed". Many seniors purchase minivans for traveling too.

Our Odyssey isn't "mint" inside, but its still in very good condition (some dirt/salt stains in the carpet, scratches in the cargo area). We would get top dollar for it (whatever that is for its age and km).

[CanuckS2K]

Ive seen what young children can do to a vehicle, I have a very strict "you must be this tall to ride" policy in all my vehicles. I would have a very hard time seeing my fully loaded, $60K+ minivan get slowly destroyed from the inside out. A $20K Caravan "appliance", who cares, it gets too dirty or stanky, trade in time 

It's what the Parents allow.  I don't allow my daughter to eat in our vehicles, and she knows some other basic rules like feet up on the back of the seat in front of her.  I've got two kids and the inside of my vehicles are quite clean at all times.  You can't allow your kids to do whatever they want (whether it be inside a car or a house) and then complain that it's sh!t under.  

[Fobroader]

Ive seen what young children can do to a vehicle, I have a very strict "you must be this tall to ride" policy in all my vehicles. I would have a very hard time seeing my fully loaded, $60K+ minivan get slowly destroyed from the inside out. A $20K Caravan "appliance", who cares, it gets too dirty or stanky, trade in time 

It's what the Parents allow.  I don't allow my daughter to eat in our vehicles, and she knows some other basic rules like feet up on the back of the seat in front of her.  I've got two kids and the inside of my vehicles are quite clean at all times.  You can't allow your kids to do whatever they want (whether it be inside a car or a house) and then complain that it's sh!t under.  

Im just going by when I worked for the dealer and what I see in parking lots, I imagine not ever minivan belongs on "Hoarders:buried under".

[CanuckS2K]

Ive seen what young children can do to a vehicle, I have a very strict "you must be this tall to ride" policy in all my vehicles. I would have a very hard time seeing my fully loaded, $60K+ minivan get slowly destroyed from the inside out. A $20K Caravan "appliance", who cares, it gets too dirty or stanky, trade in time 

It's what the Parents allow.  I don't allow my daughter to eat in our vehicles, and she knows some other basic rules like feet up on the back of the seat in front of her.  I've got two kids and the inside of my vehicles are quite clean at all times.  You can't allow your kids to do whatever they want (whether it be inside a car or a house) and then complain that it's sh!t under.  

Im just going by when I worked for the dealer and what I see in parking lots, I imagine not ever minivan belongs on "Hoarders:buried under".

Oh I hear ya, I see the same thing in my detailing business as well.  The vast majority of people are pigs are really don't care about their vehicle.  I guess my point is that a minivan's interior doesn't need to destroyed just because you have kids. 

[Fobroader]

Ive seen what young children can do to a vehicle, I have a very strict "you must be this tall to ride" policy in all my vehicles. I would have a very hard time seeing my fully loaded, $60K+ minivan get slowly destroyed from the inside out. A $20K Caravan "appliance", who cares, it gets too dirty or stanky, trade in time 

It's what the Parents allow.  I don't allow my daughter to eat in our vehicles, and she knows some other basic rules like feet up on the back of the seat in front of her.  I've got two kids and the inside of my vehicles are quite clean at all times.  You can't allow your kids to do whatever they want (whether it be inside a car or a house) and then complain that it's sh!t under.  

Im just going by when I worked for the dealer and what I see in parking lots, I imagine not ever minivan belongs on "Hoarders:buried under".

Oh I hear ya, I see the same thing in my detailing business as well.  The vast majority of people are pigs are really don't care about their vehicle.  I guess my point is that a minivan's interior doesn't need to destroyed just because you have kids. 

Oh yeah, youre the detailing specialist, forgot that. Braver man than I, the amount of vehicles Ive seen that look more like a bacterial culture on the inside than a car scares me.

[ktm525]

Ive seen what young children can do to a vehicle, I have a very strict "you must be this tall to ride" policy in all my vehicles. I would have a very hard time seeing my fully loaded, $60K+ minivan get slowly destroyed from the inside out. A $20K Caravan "appliance", who cares, it gets too dirty or stanky, trade in time 

It's what the Parents allow.  I don't allow my daughter to eat in our vehicles, and she knows some other basic rules like feet up on the back of the seat in front of her.  I've got two kids and the inside of my vehicles are quite clean at all times.  You can't allow your kids to do whatever they want (whether it be inside a car or a house) and then complain that it's sh!t under.  

Im just going by when I worked for the dealer and what I see in parking lots, I imagine not ever minivan belongs on "Hoarders:buried under".

Oh I hear ya, I see the same thing in my detailing business as well.  The vast majority of people are pigs are really don't care about their vehicle.  I guess my point is that a minivan's interior doesn't need to destroyed just because you have kids. 

It's a battle when taking kids hiking, dirt biking, camping etc. At the end of the day is an appliance. A well used car is finished anyways in 10 years.

[dirtyjeffer]

I would say $40k is reasonable. What is the average cost of a mid/large soft SUV (Pilot, Highlander, Acadia) these days? The AWD adds..

I would say so too. BUT, as tested this minivan is closer to a WHOPPING $60k, and as such is not on my radar. For this kind of doe, I'll take a new, albeit base, GC AND a new friggin' kitchen or a finished basement. $60k for something that isn't a luxury item that is bound to get trashed by the kids in no time is too much in my books unless you're loaded and just don't care.

my friend bought a base model Sienna last year and loves it...it was $29k (whatever the bottom of the line model is)...he doesn't care about fancy stuff, and just wanted a good people mover for a decent price...the Sienna checked off all the right boxes, and while more expensive than a Caravan with less features, was still a better vehicle.

[Cord]

Back in the day when Ford sold minivans I used wince every time I had to appraise a used one. They were almost always absolutely disgusting inside. Just the smell of old apple juice, baby sh!t, and puke was enough to make my eyes water. Nothing that a thorough detailing couldn't fix but I constantly wondered how people could drive around in those things. I was quite happy when Ford discontinued their vans because it meant I wouldn't have to see the disgusting things anymore. 

[dirtyjeffer]

not sure why, but it always seemed like Ford and Chrysler minivans used to chew through transmissions...GMs seemed to be better, and i never really heard about issues from Toyota or Honda.

perhaps it is a demographical issue?

[Ex-airbalancer]

Honda had tranny problems

[mmret]

Ive seen what young children can do to a vehicle, I have a very strict "you must be this tall to ride" policy in all my vehicles. I would have a very hard time seeing my fully loaded, $60K+ minivan get slowly destroyed from the inside out. A $20K Caravan "appliance", who cares, it gets too dirty or stanky, trade in time 

Indeed. If I had multiple offspring (not even singular yet, thank god) and needed a shuttle to ferry them around in it would not be anything pricey.

$20k Caravan, Mazda 5, something base-model ish. A means to an end.

[johngenx]

It depends on who is in charge in your family, and the desired condition of your vehicle.  Our C230 was the primary kid-carting machine in our family until my daughter was nine, and it was immaculate inside.  However, that is because, in our family, the adults are in control.

[CanuckS2K]

It depends on who is in charge in your family, and the desired condition of your vehicle.  Our C230 was the primary kid-carting machine in our family until my daughter was nine, and it was immaculate inside.  However, that is because, in our family, the adults are in control.

Bingo! 

[ArticSteve]

Honda had tranny problems

Until 2006 Civics autos were crap.

Unitil 2007 Odyssey autos were real crap.

[dirtyjeffer]

However, that is because, in our family, the adults are in control.

QFT.

[Jaeger]

You guys are spot on with the "parents in control" point.  It's nothing to do with the type of vehicle at all.

Jaeger