What's the mini-van counter part to a 3rd gen 4 runner?

G

gmv4k

New member
So I'm in a situation where a used mini-van might be in my future. Ive been doing some research and just assumed a Toyota Sienna would be my default but I figured I would would ask for suggestions, I'm guessing another another would be the Honda Odyssey. What year/gen?

I've been trying to search for buyer guides like the one we have but no luck. At this point I could probably write the book for a 3rd gen buyer guide, so maybe I was hoping someone might share their experience with a mini-van.

Criteria:

- inexpensive, inexpensive parts
- reliable
- good online community like ours for info
- looks good, for a mini van

Basically a counterpart to our 4runner.

Thanks.

(Hopefully the mods don't move this because I only check the 3rd gen section)
 
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Not a mini van, and I'm not sure how expensive they go for these days but the Toyota sequoias are a pretty good alternative and shares a lot of the features of the 4runner
 
The mini-van counterpart to our 4Runners is a 4th Gen with 3rd row seats. Ta-da! That's going to be my future once we hit 4 kids. No way I'm ever giving up this 3rd Gen though.

You're not going to find as much online support with something like a mini-van, not very many people are looking to "mod" their mini-van or build an off-road beast. I have seen 4x4 full sized vans though, they are kinda of awesome.

Toyota Nation is the best alternate forums that I know of for the Sienna.
 
My Brother & Sister both have the Sienna & love it. Great p/u for a 6 cyl auto & has more cargo room than the 3rd gen. Think 4 x 8 sheets of anything from Home Depot. I dont have kids so I'd probably go with the Sequoia if I needed something larger & I'd have the 4WD for the snow...ah who am I kidding I'd get a Land Cruiser!
 
step one
go to a wrecking yard, buy a mini van
step two
go to a fab shop and have them mount the mini van body to your 4 runner frame and running gear
done

other than that....my youngest son...who needs the space is sick of the headaches of his Honda pilot
he is now looking for a 4th gen with the 3rd row seats
 
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gmv4k said:
So I'm in a situation where a used mini-van might be in my future. Ive been doing some research and just assumed a Toyota Sienna would be my default but I figured I would would ask for suggestions, I'm guessing another another would be the Honda Odyssey. What year/gen?

I've been trying to search for buyer guides like the one we have but no luck. At this point I could probably write the book for a 3rd gen buyer guide, so maybe I was hoping someone might share their experience with a mini-van.

Criteria:

- inexpensive, inexpensive parts
- reliable
- good online community like ours for info
- looks good, for a mini van

Basically a counterpart to our 4runner.

Thanks.

(Hopefully the mods don't move this because I only check the 3rd gen section)
Click to expand...

not a Honda
sorry, not a fan of Honda cars, although if not ridding a bmw , I d ride a Honda...for few miles
have Honda civics etc, and they were good
but big Hondas,,,,ive never met a person that they have not been nickeled and dimed to death and just think it is normal..
my son included....Honda pilot....3 catalytic converters on a v-6....if one has not failed to pass inspection the other has
 
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A Previa baby! There's a 4WD option and I think some were even supercharged.
186macma4kc8hjpg.jpg~original
 
3bears said:
not a Honda

sorry, not a fan of Honda cars, although if not ridding a bmw , I d ride a Honda...for few miles

have Honda civics etc, and they were good

but big Hondas,,,,ive never met a person that they have not been nickeled and dimed to death and just think it is normal..

my son included....Honda pilot....3 catalytic converters on a v-6....if one has not failed to pass inspection the other has
Click to expand...



I would take the least reliable Honda over the most reliable BMW. Unless we're talking M series but I can't afford that anyway. Maintenance is a killer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Sienna is your answer if a minivan is required. They are even available in AWD!

All other mini-vans are junk that fall apart after 100k miles.
 
PWD4R said:
I would take the least reliable Honda over the most reliable BMW. Unless we're talking M series but I can't afford that anyway. Maintenance is a killer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I was talking motorcycle, thus the word "riding"

however , I did however have one nice BMW 318 convertible, 5 speed , lowered, triple black, one of my favs until my son totaled it
 
I don't know if it's available where you're at but as far as capable mini vans go I drove a diesel turbo Mitsubishi Delica 4x4 when stationed in Japan, kicked A!
 
Thanks for the responses. I have no intentions in selling the 3rd gen. Considering how much time, money and blood I've put into her I'm planning on keeping her till she passes away. I have a supercharger waiting to be installed which might accelerate that process. Of course I still dream about a 5th gen 4runner, gx470, landcruiser and my latest thought a MB g500 (but it seems crazy considering how much they are used)

The minivan would be a 2nd vehicle for moving tons of people and Home Depot runs.
 
shadow247 said:
Sienna is your answer if a minivan is required. They are even available in AWD!

All other mini-vans are junk that fall apart after 100k miles.
Click to expand...
The tappet brothers suggest the honda odyssey, why you so brand specific all of a sudden? I use our 06 Ody for week long jet ski trips from Michigan to Daytona. Its great in the snow up here and hauls all the gear to the beach!
The seinna se looks great, but you dont see them too often.
More pics of the mastersurf! Love those old vans and would like to restore a diesel like that. But would rather toss in a turbo gas engine. Hate the smell of spilt diesel.
 
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frodiesel said:
The tappet brothers suggest the honda odyssey, why you so brand specific all of a sudden? I use our 06 Ody for week long jet ski trips from Michigan to Daytona. Its great in the snow up here and hauls all the gear to the beach!
The seinna se looks great, but you dont see them too often.
More pics of the mastersurf! Love those old vans and would like to restore a diesel like that. But would rather toss in a turbo gas engine. Hate the smell of spilt diesel.
Click to expand...

Honda transmission issues.
 
My wife drove an 01 Accord throughout college. It had transmission issues. Hard thunk between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. She sold it fearing it would break while she owned it (we advised the people who bought it).

That was in 2010, and I still see it driving around town. The current owners, who we know, still have not touched it and drive it everyday.
 
T4R2014 said:
Honda transmission issues.
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I understand there was an issue with early ody transmissions, but not the newer ones. Ody is heavy vehicle, so if you tow your boat with a fully loaded cargo area and you dont add extra cooling it has the same Achilles heal of not enough trans cooling stock.

And assuming you NEED a van, you've likely already used you manhood and could not care less about style/form over functionality and space.
 
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