US 8 seaters, Yukon, Odyssey, Sienna but what vans Vito etc?

[Hugh Jarse]

The Moose said:

There are Ford E-series vans and GMC/Chevrolet Savana Passenger vans.
Give some thought as to whether you'll need 4x4 in the winter.

Thanks for the tips will look at GMC/Chevy. Yes Diesels seem like hen's teeth.
Should be the finger lakes region in NY state so some snowy conditions, but who knows ATM, certainly feeling the pressure.
The way the visa works is it was granted Feb 9th and we have to be fully resident by July 18th or it gets very complicated.

[Thud_Mcguffin]

We have had a Honda Odyssey for 6 years now and it's been great. These things seem to go on forever and the sliding doors make it so easy for the kids. The other bonus is the seats all fold flat for hauling duties too....

[Hugh Jarse]

The logic of a properly reliable vehicle appeals strongly now Im mid fifties, having said that the boot/trunk isnt that large, they really need to do an XL variant with another 15inches tacked on. But back to reality as a first car seems a good choice the Sienna/Odyssey, and maybe a tow hitch to carry bigger loads.

[Hugh Jarse]

Let's rule out Nissan Quests lol

[The Moose]

It's also fugly...

[Hugh Jarse]

Merc Metris ex taxi, reasonable price, no inetrior shots, worlds worst car advert, could be scam etc, . The airstream (bottom row centre) made me laugh, should be renamed "airstream interrupter". Thank you FB algorithm.
The PHer in me wants a Quebec imported CX Fam, but not isofix etc so not gonna happen. Following advice on cooments here, seems my budget needs to go up to $20k. Ive always bought second hand because why buy new when 2nd hand is so cheap, but there is a residuals threshold when you start asking, why buy second hand?

[Hugh Jarse]

So lets see what FB has for us today, hmmmmm, lots of these seven seater Merc Metri, well within budget $8>14k, If I can find an eight seat then maybe that can work. Few other outliers that I couldnt resists.
Like these old civics, but the STD variant never made it to the UK. Not Gonorv'ere.









Only for prats apparently, as a 7litre petrol bus, Id have to agree.


Just lovely, and with bnch seats should fit everyone, wife will moan about safety though.

[Hugh Jarse]

After discussion with the Mrs we are going van, not minivan, because you can reverse the middle row to create a valley, pretty much as we have done in the Grand Voyager, and with the aid of a multimac made it an 8 seater now baby 6 has arrived on Wednesday. Valley seating means you dont have to fight to get in the back row and easier for leaning in and buckling child seats, plus they can throw things at each other. Having seen how halfarsed the other vans seem to approach adding seats, we will set the Metirs as the benchmark, seem plenty availble in NYC as ex taxi, just the worry of being miled out and "why are they selling them" etc. The black colour is horrendous but gives opportunity for an A-team stripe. Will keep an open mind on GMC/Transit etc, but has to match the isofix seen on the Merc Metris Passenger. As we dont want to reinvent the world, a 2.0 LP turbo gasoline will have to suffice! Preferably the XL length one shown in the plan, because stuff. Thanks for all replies and thoughts.

[Hugh Jarse]

Our new seating arrangment just established in the CGV RT: photos coming a bit later

[Hugh Jarse]

Got some more juice out of one of our Multimacs - This one is the 3 seater 1000 - converting the 7 seat CGV RT into an 8 seater, so vehcile seating in the UK crisis averted with the arrival of Clementine Margaret on Wednesday. The other 1320 4 seater changed the Avantime into a six seater. We sold our third one.

Avantime:






Loving the squareness of these town cars, but mad to think lap belts in the back.



Fantastically lovely 2003 Chevy van, would like to buy American, but 7 seater and I assume some monster v8 (7.2l?) in it. Not affordable for a family with one salary.




Nice shot of the extra luggage room on the longer merc minibus:

Edited by Hugh Jarse on Sunday 28th April 07:25

Edited by Hugh Jarse on Tuesday 30th April 16:49

[Hugh Jarse]

Love these vans, but 5.7L V8 etc
The black merc vans will need ajollier wrap of paint job, anything from cheesy mountain sunset to zebra is possible.






or buy two of these?

[Hugh Jarse]

Decision almost made, the Metris also allows a fourth row to be plugged in and add three more passnger spaces which could be handy on grandparet visits etc. Lusting after Americana but life situation means too sensible these days. A Sienna, Carnival, Odyssey or Mopar minivan would be a good second car if the classic fleet isnt ready for backup duties. WHich means the first purchase could still be a one of the four named above not necessarily the Metris. Starting to feel a bit less panicky about the logic and reasoning. Next thing to work out is how not to get scammed and buy remotely, might have to use an car buyer inspector of such things exist stateside.

[Hugh Jarse]

More thoughts on pricing..........it seems to be wierd, plenty of rather expensive miled out 20 years old stuff under $10k, whereas @$15k you can get a 7 year old Metris on medium mileage and quite acceptable, hence we will be going for the $12k>$19k range to avoid the dross.

[Hugh Jarse]

Some bargain basement Hondas, but seen one from 2008 going rusty!



Some strange old stuff quite dear at $8>10k, looks well made and v6 4.3L isnt completely bonkers, still im paying another $8k to get me 16 years newer, fewer miles and different tech generation



Then this dealer supplier five year old on reasonable miles (120k) Metris which looks a winner, Im sure the dealer could fit an eighth seat if we find one.


Plus a 625K mile toyota lol, built to last.


Lincoln Navigator 7 seater think they can be made an 8

[Hugh Jarse]

Right, so its a merc metris 2.0L T &speed auto from 2015>19 at @100k>150K miles for between $13>19k
You can get back to your corvettes etc, apologies
Im not driving a gloomy black van though so some (cheesey?) decals are required, or airbrushing or something.

[Hugh Jarse]

This is my worry, with the older and smaller stuff, its all seat belts hanging from ceiling, or in the transit case, the seats anchorages look very utilitarian CDT metalwork projecty. But keeping an open mind, plenty of alternatives at the lower end of the scale.
Centre sea looks dodgy

Nice Odyssey

[Hugh Jarse]

highish miles, but a hond so prob ok, seems cheap, in the top three so far

[Hugh Jarse]

There seems to be a lot more reasonable priced offerinsg popping up now.

Mentally Im on the Dealer Metris, have checked the second hand car lot, it exists!

[Florida_Man]

I quickly leaned that used car prices are crazy compared to the UK. Best of luck with the move

[Matt Harper]

I think that if I needed 8 seats, I'd forego a van and play it safe with a LWB Suburban. Newer models are quite refined and they are bulletproof reliable. Vortec motor is not overly thirsty and cranks a lot of torque. They are great tow vehicles as well.