Author Topic: 8 person vehicle  (Read 3113 times)

DocMcStuffins

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8 person vehicle
« on: October 07, 2016, 08:41:50 AM »
Live a relative MMM lifestyle.  Safe >50% currently with a paid off Honda Odyssey and Nissan Car.  We generally don't use our cars much for day to day life.  Kids will walk to school (moving currently) and I am going to start riding my bike (why not get exercise like this every day??).  We love weekend trips to within 4 hours of home (camping/hiking).  We are currently at 4 children but will be adopting 2 more within the next 6 months (may be 3) making our family 8-9.  I was trying to get any thoughts / ideas on a vehicle to use for this.  Anyone out there using a big vehicle out there that actually needs one and do you have any recommendations for used ones.  Thanks. 

FYI, will be getting rid of the honda and nissan as our oldest is 11.  Live in a small town

FIRE Artist

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Re: 8 person vehicle
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2016, 08:46:03 AM »
I grew up in a family of 6 kids.  Pre minivan era my parents drove a Suburban.  Once minivans were invented, it was the long Dodge Caravan for my folks.  They have not had kids at home for two decades,  but still drive a Dodge Grand Caravan.   When I asked my parents why, I got told that what our vehicle can you take the seats out of and fit in full sheets of drywall, or trees for the garden?  And my parents do crap like that, regularly.
« Last Edit: October 07, 2016, 08:48:09 AM by FIRE Artist »

acroy

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Re: 8 person vehicle
« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2016, 10:03:47 AM »
Howdy Doc
we are in similar situation - 6kids, 7th on the way. Adoption - Badass! congratulations and thanks for your efforts!

We also save 50%+, I cycle to work most days, DW is SAHM and part time fitness instructor. We too enjoy family road trip vacations. I'm also a gearhead/petrolhead and spent a lot of time on this topic.

2 major options:
1) Chevy 3500 van, 12 or 15 pass. Specifically, 2010 and up, 1 ton. They have the excellent 6.0 engine and 6spd tranny. Extremely reliable. 16-18mpg highway with a light foot. AC will freeze an Eskimo. plenty of power. Downside: ride like a 1 ton truck, which it is. This is what I have. i spent some time & a couple hundred bucks adding insulation, nice shocks, tint etc which improved it somewhat, but it is a crude implement.... The 1/2ton, and pre2010, have substanard trannies. GMC Savanna is the same van, much harder to find, a bit nicer.

2) Ford Transit 10-15pass. Upside: much more modern, quiet, refined. Downside: Spendier, and the base 3.7V6 is barely adequate. unknown reliability, though should be good.

Avoid older vans (reliability issues) and 'SUVs' - suburba, armada, etc. Small and expensive.

Good luck!!

SomedayStache

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Re: 8 person vehicle
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2016, 10:29:30 AM »
If you only need an 8-passenger and not a 9 your options are much greater.  I just bought a 2007 8-passenger Toyota Sienna with ~104,000 miles for $6900.   

mm1970

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Re: 8 person vehicle
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2016, 11:22:03 AM »
Howdy Doc
we are in similar situation - 6kids, 7th on the way. Adoption - Badass! congratulations and thanks for your efforts!

We also save 50%+, I cycle to work most days, DW is SAHM and part time fitness instructor. We too enjoy family road trip vacations. I'm also a gearhead/petrolhead and spent a lot of time on this topic.

2 major options:
1) Chevy 3500 van, 12 or 15 pass. Specifically, 2010 and up, 1 ton. They have the excellent 6.0 engine and 6spd tranny. Extremely reliable. 16-18mpg highway with a light foot. AC will freeze an Eskimo. plenty of power. Downside: ride like a 1 ton truck, which it is. This is what I have. i spent some time & a couple hundred bucks adding insulation, nice shocks, tint etc which improved it somewhat, but it is a crude implement.... The 1/2ton, and pre2010, have substanard trannies. GMC Savanna is the same van, much harder to find, a bit nicer.

2) Ford Transit 10-15pass. Upside: much more modern, quiet, refined. Downside: Spendier, and the base 3.7V6 is barely adequate. unknown reliability, though should be good.

Avoid older vans (reliability issues) and 'SUVs' - suburba, armada, etc. Small and expensive.

Good luck!!
Pretty much this.

If you are possibly going to have 9 passengers, not 8...go for one of these.

Turnbull

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Re: 8 person vehicle
« Reply #5 on: October 07, 2016, 12:00:57 PM »
Get an Excursion with the 7.3. All of your kids will be long out of college before that engine dies.

DocMcStuffins

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Re: 8 person vehicle
« Reply #6 on: October 07, 2016, 04:33:56 PM »
Looks like it is definately 8 for us.  I was looking at the ford transit also.  Liked the idea of having as much room as possible with sports, activities also.  Love the sprinter vans by mercedes but the price is too much although I  have a friend that could get it for as cheep as possible (used luxury dealer).  Love the idea of standing up  (not for me as I am 6-5).  Thanks for the update. 

DocMcStuffins

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Re: 8 person vehicle
« Reply #7 on: October 07, 2016, 04:41:18 PM »
Shout out to the big family members here too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think of how crazy my house is and that there is so much noise and movement..... it is going to be really BORING when they are all gone but luckily (actually intentionally) I have an awesome DW.  Lol she is a part time fitness instructor too.

RetirementDreaming

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Re: 8 person vehicle
« Reply #8 on: October 07, 2016, 04:43:28 PM »
I second the Toyota sienna.  You can get used ones reasonably priced. We are a family of four but it's  nice for hauling friends (girl scouts in my case) and stuff from home depot. Even use it for dump runs when needed.

paddedhat

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Re: 8 person vehicle
« Reply #9 on: October 15, 2016, 07:52:20 AM »
Looks like it is definately 8 for us.  I was looking at the ford transit also.  Liked the idea of having as much room as possible with sports, activities also.  Love the sprinter vans by mercedes but the price is too much although I  have a friend that could get it for as cheep as possible (used luxury dealer).  Love the idea of standing up  (not for me as I am 6-5).  Thanks for the update.

I wouldn't touch one with a pole, but it's your money.  A $40-50K vehicle that suffers from German reliability, a near absence of qualified repair facilities in large areas of the country, paint that is as durable as cake icing, severe body rust on fairly new units, and horrendous repairs costs. We are hard core RVers. We have talked to dozens of folks who own Sprinter based RVs. They all brag about the awesome fuel economy, then get a bit quiet when it comes to the overall ownership experience. We have met two couples that were stranded with major issues, hundreds of miles from a competent shop. We have a neighbor that just sold his, and one reason was that he just couldn't stomach getting robbed every time it headed to the local Mercedes dealer. He just paid over $300 for what the dealer admitted was nothing but an oil change and a quick visual inspection of the mechanicals. Used units can be hit or miss. Some users get fantastic service from them, others dump them far earlier than they had planned, since they are being slowly bled out, in repair costs. If you really like the concept, buy the Ford, and save tens of thousands, counting the initial purchase, and long term ownership costs. That said, In your shoes, I would have a used GM van in the driveway. They depreciate like a falling brick, and a nice, low mileage unit will be tens of thousands less that a Transit or Sprinter. Having owned them in the past, they are typically as tough and reliable as an anvil.

DocMcStuffins

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Re: 8 person vehicle
« Reply #10 on: October 15, 2016, 08:25:55 AM »
Agree on points with sprinter. Just liked the overall feel and the space of the vehicle. I actually have seen a lot of ford transits which are stand ups now. Nice for the 8 of us (remember 11-2 y/o). Don't know about the pricing yet but will evaluate used ones if I can. Currently doing the bourbon chase in kentucky and a lot of people are renting them for there running teams. Easily these could be used for camping overnight. Have a ford dealer within 2 miles of the house. 

FYI I love mini vans and the are the most useful vehicles but with car seats, local / regional trips and we actually bring a lot of kids to school / games that aren't ours I don't think it will work out.  But will think it through more as this is the most economic pursuit.

MayDay

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Re: 8 person vehicle
« Reply #11 on: October 15, 2016, 07:32:21 PM »
My aunt and uncle have 7. Started with a 12 passenger of some kind, but when their oldest left the house they switched to an 8 seater Sienna and have been happy with it.

 

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