Need new vehicle. 3 Kids. $4000 budget max.

oscarbosie

New member
Our van has major engine issues and it isn't worth fixing. We'd prefer to avoid a car payment, but our budget would be $4000 max. We have 3 kids. 7 year old in Turbo Booster, just moved into second highest height setting. 4.5 year old in Frontier 90. 2 year old in RF Foonf. We did 3 across in a Taurus for awhile (with slightly different seats) and I'm willing to do 3 across again, but we'd like to at least have a cargo area to haul kid stuff and to tether the dog when he needs to come. He has a Ruff Rider so we would just need somewhere to attach the carabiner. If we pay in full, what would our best options be as far as safety, space, and longevity? We loved our Hondas because they made it over 300,000 miles each, but I'm thinking an Odyssey isn't in our price range.
 
ADS

CarSafetyGuy

New member
Sorry to hear about your van problems. You can actually find several '99-'04 Odysseys in the sub 4k price range, but I recommend them with caution, as many Odysseys in that generation came with bad transmissions.

If you're looking for a nearly guaranteed trouble-free experience, the 1st generation Toyota Sienna (~'98-'03) is a great choice. A few had engine sludge issues, but the overall design is rock solid.
 

henrietta

Well-known member
Yes we saw vans in that price range...older Ody's, Sienna's, and some Kia's...this past week while looking. Also saw a mazda mpv that would have worked for $4000, though all i know about that van is that my friends dad has been driving one he bought brand new years ago & he loves it.
 

DawgDad

New member
Sorry to hear about your van problems. You can actually find several '99-'04 Odysseys in the sub 4k price range, but I recommend them with caution, as many Odysseys in that generation came with bad transmissions.

If you're looking for a nearly guaranteed trouble-free experience, the 1st generation Toyota Sienna (~'98-'03) is a great choice. A few had engine sludge issues, but the overall design is rock solid.

What he said. :)
 

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