Need minivan help

[Nascia]

We recently added a new member to our family and now need to purchase a bigger vehicle for DH. We are considering a used 2008 Kia Sedona and a 2007 used Hyundai Entourage. Both have < 20k miles and are around the same price (around 15k). Options are similar as well and both come with a 5 yr, 60k mile warranty. From what I understand they are essentially the same car, is one more reliable than the other? Anything else I should know about/ consider?

Ideally we would like to get another Sienna (mine is a 2007), but it's not in the budget right unless we go for one pre-2005, which would already be out of warranty. DH drives a lot for work (usually around 20k per year) and this vehicle would be used for that and transporting the kids to/ from school and activities.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Before my van (KIA Sedona) I had a $27,000 Mercury Villager that I LOVED!!! Shortly after my husband got a new car my van was totaled in an accident (within like 4 months). We never thought we would have to be in a 2 car payment situation, but there we were. So, I went with the cheapest van I could find, a KIA Sedona. I expected to not love it the way I loved my Villager, boy was I WRONG!!! I love that van. And for the price??? I really am pleased with it. I have had mine 4+ years. I love the safety rating, I love that it was almost $10,000 less than my other van. The only thing I don't love is that it is not an American car (I was raised on a Ford income), but the fact is we could not afford an American as much as we wanted to, so we bought what we could aford. In the end I am so pleased with my Kia. My friend just bought one after talking to me about mine, and she is happy with hers (it is newer and has the fold away seats--- I am jealous of that!!!)

 

[vicb]

please, consider buying american.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

please, consider buying american.

Going a bit off topic, sorry...
Believe me, buying a foreign car was one of the hardest things I had to do, second, maybe, to telling my grandfather (who raised me as his daughter) that I was doing it. He worked for Ford for more than 40 years. Every outfit I wore every trip I took every bite of food I ate came from a Ford paycheck, I know that. (And DH same thing, his dady worked for Rouge Steel.) But the fact is I could not afford anything American. I feel for Michigan (I grew up outside of Detroit and myself could not afford to live there with my family, near my family.) I really do. It truly bothered me to buy that van but the difference was $10,000... that's a lot on our single income. I figured if my grandpa understood (and he does), than I have to forgive myself...

OK, back to your van...sorry.

 

[luvmy3]

Going a bit off topic, sorry...
Believe me, buying a foreign car was one of the hardest things I had to do, second, maybe, to telling my grandfather (who raised me as his daughter) that I was doing it. He worked for Ford for more than 40 years. Every outfit I wore every trip I took every bite of food I ate came from a Ford paycheck, I know that. (And DH same thing, his dady worked for Rouge Steel.) But the fact is I could not afford anything American. I feel for Michigan (I grew up outside of Detroit and myself could not afford to live there with my family, near my family.) I really do. It truly bothered me to buy that van but the difference was $10,000... that's a lot on our single income. I figured if my grandpa understood (and he does), than I have to forgive myself...

OK, back to your van...sorry.

I feel the same way. I currently drive a Ford Windstar and it has had transmission problems. We just paid alot to have it repaired and it is an on going problem with certain years, and Ford is doing nothing to help the customer. My friend had the same issue with her Honda Odessy (even older than mine) and although it was no longer warranty Honda stood behind their product and paid for half of their repair. My friend just traded in her other car for a KIA Sedona because of the cost and teh 10 year 100,000 mile warranty. I'm going out looking at them, next week. I feel guilty about not buying American ( My family has always been a Ford family) but I just can't afford the car and the repairs.

ETA she is in love with her new Sedona.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Myself, I can't say anything bad about any of the Fords we have had (the van, a Ranger, 2 Escorts), but just that I could not afford the inital payment of it. I am even allowed to buy on the A Plan (employee discount) and it was still many thousand more. I will say I had a major issue with my KIA (while at grandma and grandpa's this summer in Michigan) and KIA paid for the repairs and 9 hours of labor in full because of the 10 year 100,000 mile warranty. On an American car it would have likely not been covered as it was over 4 years and 40,000 miles.
The guilt is hard when you think your fellow Americans are hurting so badly (including my grandfather whose medical has been covered less and less each year). But we are hurting too, trust me, money is tight. How can I justify the extra money when I simply do not have it. I took a 5 year loan on this van, if it was any more I'd be looking at 6 or 7 years...
And I know, I could drive a car, I don't need a van. But I have 3 kids...moms out there understand...I NEED A VAN!!!
Anyway, she wasn't asking about a KIA or an American, her choices were 2 foreign cars... I probably should have stayed on topic...very sorry about that.
Sorry about your Windstar, I can't comment as I never had one (I fell in love with the Villager). But car troubles are no fun...

 

[Nascia]

Not trying to start a debate regarding American cars, but we did buy a new 2005 Chrysler Pacifica and had nothing but problems with it. We had major transmission problems while still in warranty and were given the run around. As a result, we ended up trading it in 2 years later and losing over 10k due to depreciation. We have pretty much sworn off American cars until the customer service and reputation improves. That and our major concern is safety and both the Kia and Hyundai are very highly rated.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

And so, I come back to my original staatement. We are very pleased with our KIA. It was very affordable, has held up well, good service, long warranty and very SAFE!!!!

 

[sherry7]

please, consider buying american.

I appreciate your statement. But, the "Big 3" don't even come close to competing with some of the foreign auto makers. They need to step it up, or get killed by the competition. I was loyal to American cars until last year, and I finally got sick and tired of our legendary "American quality". I work hard for my money (just like most of us do), and when we bought a smaller 3rd car last year for DS to drive, I throughly researched and drove several models (Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Hyundai, Kia, Honda, and Toyota). In the end, the Hyundai Elantra won hands down, and it has a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty (if bought new).

Back to the original subject: Hyundai and Kia are both owned by Hyundai. Kia used to be a separate company, but they were bought 2 or 3 years ago, I think. From my research, you're better off with a Hyundai, as their quality control is supposed to be better...don't know if that's actually true or not. Also, be sure to check out the price of buying new as well. Dealers are trying to get rid of the 2008 models, and there are some good deals and instant rebates. Couple that with a lower finance rate for a new vehicle, versus an used vehicle loan. When we bought our Hyundai Elantra last year, we ended up getting it for only about $1500-$2000 more than a recent used model. Considering that jumped the warranty up to 10 years, I thought it was definitely worth it.