Do I need a Minivan? Mazda MPV????

[SarahKate]

Okay, I might get flamed but please try to *Buy American*.

Maybe when the American car companies get on board and start making higher quality vehicles & they hold their value, then more people will be open to buy American cars.

Aside from that, many of the Japanese cars are being assembled IN AMERICA.

My 2008 Accord was assembled in Ohio. 80% American parts, 20% Japanese. My 2004 Odyssey that I just turned in from a lease was actually assembled in Japan.

The quality of the Japanese vehicles comes into play BEFORE the car is actually made. I'm not saying all are assembled here in the U.S., but many are.

Now back to the poster's question. I agree with other posters that getting a van isn't going to keep them from fighting. You'll be paying a whole lot more for gas. I've had my Accord for about 4 weeks and I go almost 2 weeks between fillups....with the Ody it was at least once a week. Gas tank in Ody is 20 gal, and Accord is 18.5 so not a huge diff. We LOVE our Accord. It is a larger looking car and has tons of legroom. We couldn't justify keeping the Ody when we only really need it for very occasional hauling - if we need to do that, we rent a U-haul and borrow a friend's truck.

 

[scjo68]

We have a 2003 MPV, and really like it.

It is on the small side for a minivan, but that's what we wanted, so it fits easily in our garage.

The middle row seats slide apart so easily. You can even do it while you are sitting in it.

It meets our needs well. Our dd is 10, and it seems I am always driving her friends around, and there is still room for ds's car seat as well.

Before our minivan, we always drove a sedan to WDW, and I can't tell you how much easier the trips became once we got the van!

 

[mafibisha]

Maybe when the American car companies get on board and start making higher quality vehicles & they hold their value, then more people will be open to buy American cars.

Aside from that, many of the Japanese cars are being assembled IN AMERICA.

My 2008 Accord was assembled in Ohio. 80% American parts, 20% Japanese. My 2004 Odyssey that I just turned in from a lease was actually assembled in Japan.

The quality of the Japanese vehicles comes into play BEFORE the car is actually made. I'm not saying all are assembled here in the U.S., but many are.

Yes, I've heard it before.

The fact is that in the past American quality was lacking. It is not today. People are learning this is true but it may be taking too long for our country to rebound.

Take a look around. Notice how many factories are closing? Including smaller factories and various assorted companies that supplied the auto industry??

It's already been predicted in many periodicals, including the WSJ (Wall Street Journal) thats it's likely too late for America to ever again be a manufacturing country!!

Now that, is frightening!!

I ask you, where will the millions of our children and their children find employement? Clearly the vast majority of jobs in America begin from some sort of manufacturing.

First, we lost all the electronic manufacturing to Japan. Remember when RCA and GE made TVs, Stereos, etc? Next lost, auto / steel manufacturing??

Again, this is not my original idea but many economists and demographers have warned of this!

Even if cars are assembled in America, the huge profits go back to Japan and their economy. That is why so many of Americas factories are closing down and thousands upon thousands are out of work.

Sadly, it all comes down to each individual family looking out for themselves and their budget and not looking at the *big picture* - of what not buying American is doing to our precious country.

Say what you will; time will clearly tell. But it will likely be too late.

(Again, not my original opinion; my field is healthcare.)

 

[kajcwman]

Add me as an MPV fan. Our 05 has been mostly terrific. The MPV is smaller than the Sienna (and most other minivans), but that hasn't been a problem for our family of 4. The main thing I'm dissapointed with is the MPG. Compared to the V8 Explorer it replaced, it's good, but not as good as I hoped based on 05 EPA estimates. (It was rated at 18 city/25 hwy. If you go to fueleconomy.gov they now estimate mpg of 16/23 based on the way the EPA estimates fuel economy starting in 2008.)
I also think the Mazda5 would be another option. Smaller, with better fuel economy.

 

[pha1226]

I have a 2002 MPV with 75k miles on it and we've never had a minute of trouble with it.

 

[2manypets]

I had a 05 MPV and absolutely loved it, til my DH and I totalled it. My decision was based on seeing so many very old models still driving around. I figured they would last longer than most minivans out there. It drove more like a car, very smooth and excellent on cornering. We also had the fully loaded with the DVD system so it kept my kids quiet on even long trips.

 

[MrMarv]

The Sienna and Tthe Nissan Quest have both been remodeled for 2008, and are now much better vehicles than their predecessors.

But like many other Honda products which have come down the pike in the past 25 years, the Odyssey is safely ensconced at the head of the class among minivans.

 

[DawnM]

I have a Toyota Sequoia and a Saturn VUE and 3 children. I will say that the kids DO get along a bit better in the Sequoia, separated!

btw: I think my Toyota has more parts made in the USA than my VUE.

Dawn