[Bryn-gwlad] OT: Shopping for a new vehicle advice

[Shannon Brewster]

OMG Ysabeau that made me LOL.  My wife Blue has the same issues with
mini-vans and I don't get it.  There are some mini vans that don't look like
mini vans, like the Mazda 5.  But you can't tow with the Mazda 5.  However
the Honda Odyssey and  Toyota Sienna  both have a  3500lb towing range.
Well the  Sienna does for a fact that is.  Both come with  factory  towing
option packages should you so desire  that.  The Odyssey seats 5 while the
Sienna seats 7.  Both should be about 23k-37k so they have a broad price
range. The Odyssey gets 18mpg city and 25mpg highway.  The Sienna is 19mpg
city and 26mpg highway.  Both come with V6.  Hope that helps some.

On 10/30/07, Ysabeau <lady.ysabeau at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> The kicker with a truck is that I'd have to have an extended cab for
> carpooling. I have carpooling arrangement which requires at least 5
> passengers (including driver) plus trombone, backpacks and other gear. The
> other component is that I need to be able to carry enough camping/SCA gear
> for at least three people as well as seating space for three people. I
> averaging about one event a month and sometimes my Focus is good for that
> but only if I go extremely minimal and my daughter has to hold stuff in her
> lap for the shorter trips to say...Bjornsborg.
>
> I've thought about the Dodge Grand Caravan...but then I think...my ~mom~
> drives one of those and I'm not a Grandma! I know, I know...personal issues.
> That seems to be the most logical choice if I can get over that. The full
> size SUVs may be out of my price range.
>
> Lots to think about...I also have a tendency to gather tons of
> information, then get analysis paralysis.
>
> Thanks!
> Ysabeau
>
>
>
> On 10/30/07, Susan Scott <gwenneth40 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > I had the same dilemma as you when I got my last vehicle.  Are 1-2
> > trips/year worth getting a bigger vehicle for?  I decided no.  My 1996
> > Nissan pickup is a 4-cylinder standard and has towed a 5x8 enclosed
> > U-Haul trailer to both Gulf Wars and Pennsic.  I recall that it got
> > what I thought was abysmal gas mileage on the Gulf Wars trip, about 16
> > mpg, but there were no problems otherwise.  Currently it is getting
> > 25-27 mpg, mostly in town, since we generally use Avery's Rodeo for
> > eventing now.  I like the versatility of having an open bed that can
> > be covered; it's easier to fit large or odd-shaped objects.  (Right
> > now, my spear is sticking out the back.)
> >
> > Gwenneth
> >
> > On 10/29/07, Ysabeau <lady.ysabeau at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Greetings,
> > > I'm planning on buying a new vehicle soon. I think I've narrowed my
> > search
> > > down to the mini-SUV category for mileage vs. cargo capacity.
> > >
> > > I have a few general questions that I'm hoping someone can answer or
> > give me
> > > an opinion on. I'm currently looking at the Honda CRV and the Toyota
> > Rav4. I
> > > am going to be test driving them to get a feel for the way they handle
> > this
> > > weekend.
> > >
> > > 1) Towing capacity - It seems that the vehicles I'm looking at have a
> > towing
> > > capacity of 1500 lbs. without a towing package. Could someone please
> > > translate that into something more visual for me? A small/low
> > two-wheeled
> > > Uhaul trailer or a big/tall Uhaul trailer? A tent, a small period
> > pavilion,
> > > a wooden bed, tables, chairs, etc. I'm basically trying to decide
> > whether it
> > > is worth it to get a V6 and a towing package for the one or two times
> > a year
> > > that I might need extra space ( i.e. Gulf Wars). The main thing is
> > that I'd
> > > only need to tow something maybe twice a year and I'm not sure if it
> > is
> > > worth the lower gas mileage the rest of the year to be able to haul an
> > extra
> > > 1000lbs on occasion. Plus...The Rav4 is the only one offering this
> > option
> > > out of the vehicles I'm looking at.
> > > 2) The new model of the CRV has moved the spare tire inside and
> > reduced the
> > > interior cargo space a bit. The back door now opens up instead of to
> > the
> > > side. The RAV4 has a side opening back door door with the spare
> > outside and
> > > a "hidden" cargo area where the tire would go inside. I think I like
> > the
> > > extra cargo space with the tire outside but thought I'd ask for
> > opinions
> > > from anyone with experience either way. Is one easier for loading and
> > > unloading than the other?
> > >
> > > There is also the little voice in my head that says to heck with
> > it...get a
> > > truck! But then the rational part looks at the 12 MPG and thinks it
> > isn't
> > > worth it when I only really ~need~ a truck a few times a year. Keep in
> > mind
> > > that I've manage to do SCA for years in a Ford Focus so it will take
> > time to
> > > build up enough stuff to fill an SUV.
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > > Ysabeau
> > > --
> > > If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of
> > the
> > > game, the stakes, and the quitting time.
> > >   Chinese proverb
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>
>
>
> --
> If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of the
> game, the stakes, and the quitting time.
>   Chinese proverb
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