Best Gas Mileage minivan (pref. 8 passenger)?`

[CrunchyGranolaMom]

I LOVE my '97 Chevy Venture (first car I've ever owned!). But it is 11 years old and stuff keeps falling off and falling apart.

I'd like to be prepared and start doing my homework now on what a good replacement would be. We currently have 8 seats, and I truly love that feature. Would be willing to consider a 7-pass if the gas mileage is good enough, though.

We currently get something like 17 mpg. It's too depressing to check often, though!

Any input would be greatly appreciated. btw, we bought this car for $6xxxx and would have about the same for the next car.

Thank you, Frugal Folks!!!!!!!

[cdmamatutu]

We bought a used 2000 Toyota Sienna in 2003 (had over 100k miles at purchase). I've been watching our mileage and we've been averaging 22-23 mpg over the last few months.

We've not had any repair costs, either - I : my Sienna!!

[Eman'smom]

Well since you asked about gas milage I get between 17 and 24, city/highway. I have a Ford Windstar, it's worth about what you want to pay, however there is so much more to a car/van than gas milage. I wouldn't buy my car again. I'd get the Toyota or Honda.

[my2girlz]

We just bought our 2005 Honda Odyssey (8 passenger) and it gets pretty decent gas mileage. We just took it on a 2500 mile road trip and got 26mpg driving 75-80 with the A/C on. This was several times. In town it gets 20-21mpg. Not bad if you ask me.

[CrunchyGranolaMom]

I've read the other "what van do you love" threads on here, and lots of people do love their Hondas....Good to hear they also get good gas mileage.

I forgot to say that I'm totally not attached to the concept of a minivan. Whatever I can stuff my family in

[hmkrueger]

You could consider a smaller version of the Dodge Sprinter diesel and do biodiesel? Or do the same w/ VW van which they haven't made in a few years, but hold up amazingly well from what I've heard?

We have a big ole Ford E350 12 passenger van which doesn't get that great MPG, but it's our only vehicle and we don't drive it more than maybe once or twice a week...3 times, tops. So we compromised on MPG, but decided to change our driving habits. I guess another thing to consider? I know that won't work in every city, though...

Here's a cool tool for comparisons http://www.kbb.com/kbb/CompareCars/default.aspx

[BinahYeteirah]

I was going to ask this question, too. I have no idea if there are any hybrid/electric minivans out there. I'm really clueless, but we want to buy a minivan in a couple months or so.

[PassionateWriter]

it only seats 7, but the Mercedes R320CDI gets approximately 28 mpg in town.

they are much more reasonable than most ppl think.

its diesel and if you have biodiesel in your area, even better. we are considering making our own but havent taken the plunge yet. if you can get a source of oil, biodiesel costs approx. 70 cents a gallon after you recoup your initial investment.

[DiannaK]

Originally Posted by cdmamatutu

We bought a used 2000 Toyota Sienna in 2003 (had over 100k miles at purchase). I've been watching our mileage and we've been averaging 22-23 mpg over the last few months.

We've not had any repair costs, either - I : my Sienna!!

We have a Sienna as well. I haven't done the math, but I think we're in the same ballpark for mileage. I'll ask DH

[Jilian]

Just traded in my '07 Odyssey and it got 21-22 mpg city and the best we've ever done w/hwy miles was 24 mpg.

[pink gal]

I have a 2001 NIssan Quest and it averages 18-19 MPG. It's given us LOTS of problems. I don't recommend it.

[AnalogWife]

Thanks for posting this! My SIL has an Odyssey and loves it. DH wants one too, but we just don't have the fundage right now. The 3 of us are in a tiny VW convertible.

We also have an E350 that's sitting in the driveway for DH's mobile needs. I gotta hand it to the mama who drives one...I don't dare to! It's SO BIG!!!

[PassionateWriter]

Originally Posted by JimmyMom

Thanks for posting this! My SIL has an Odyssey and loves it. DH wants one too, but we just don't have the fundage right now. The 3 of us are in a tiny VW convertible.

We also have an E350 that's sitting in the driveway for DH's mobile needs. I gotta hand it to the mama who drives one...I don't dare to! It's SO BIG!!!

i agree its big but it gets better gas mileage than any other car mentioned in this thread.

[organicmommy]

I have a 1999 Nissan Qwest and we get about 21 mpg and it has been wonderful for us. We have had it for almost 3 years now with NO problems at all other than tires and I guess we did have to replace something because of us living on the gravel and all the ruts.
Its been a great van and we figure we have at least a couple more years with it.

Good luck in your search!
Hugs
Jessica

[AnalogWife]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

i agree its big but it gets better gas mileage than any other car mentioned in this thread.

The Ford E350??? I musta missed that....ours is a HOG.

[PassionateWriter]

Originally Posted by JimmyMom

The Ford E350??? I musta missed that....ours is a HOG.

oh im sorry. i thought you meant an M350! lol! too many letters and numbers.

no i dont have a Ford. i can never buy a Ford for personal reasons but i am kind of loving their new "green" car (dont know how green it really is though).

[annethcz]

Oh wow, I haven't even clicked on this thread, because I don't think my gas milage is that great. I drive a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan and I get between 22-25 mpg (mostly highway miles). I guess that my milage is better than I thought, in comparison to other minivans. In any case, I'm very happy with my Caravan, I've never had any problems with it.

[CrunchyGranolaMom]

::

Thanks for the ideas, everyone! And, Pink Gal, thanks for the UNrecommendation! That's really helpful, too, to know what the heck to stay away from.....

[tboroson]

I have an 04 sienna. I'm getting about 25mpg average town/highway (but almost entirely town, very few highway miles) on it since I started hypermiling. That's up from a little over 20mpg.

When I say "hypermiling", I mean the driving like a granny kind, not the dangerous crap like drafting big rigs or force stopping my engine. I imagine I could do even better if I did that stuff, but I don't feel that's worth it. I just drive slowly, especially for my local errands; take starts really gently and coast to stops. I keep my foot steady on hills, even if it means I slow down by the top (within reason, based on the traffic conditions around me), and try not to touch the throttle on downhills. I use my cruise control a lot - both to prevent my traveling faster than I have to, and to help me control how quickly I accelerate.

[savithny]

Mazda 5 (or is it 6?)

I *think* its a 7-passenger, ,though I could be misremembering (Its possible that the Japanese version is a 7-passenger and the US version is only 6-passenger). In the 6/7 seater configuration there's almost no room for luggage, though (finally got to see one for real while driving through Canada last month; I've only looked at pics online previously)

Manual transmission can get over 30mph on the highway.