A New Family Car...With a Bit of a Difference
Discussion
I haven't done one of these threads before - I don't really know how they go!
My wife and I decided we needed another family vehicle. We have a 2007 Landcruiser but wanted a second large vehicle for our 2 young kids, dog etc.
Naturally, we first looked at a minivan - something like the Chrysler Pacifica or Toyota Sienna.
I came very close to buying one of these but couldn’t quite get over the line of being ‘that’ guy...not yet anyway!
Secondly, we looked at another SUV - something like a Suburban, Expedition or something else.
Again, while very pleasant and we knew what we would be getting into as we have rented a number of these and done quite a lot of miles in both, I never really found the right vehicle at the right price for me. Everything was either super expensive, super high mileage or super worn (looked like it had been “mileage adjusted”).
I also looked at an Armada or a QX80.
These were attractive as they have high towing rating which could come in handy at times.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite find the right car there either.
I must say, I was rather dejected by the whole thing and while we had no time pressures I didn’t really press the matter so kinda stopped searching.
On Friday, while I was driving around our town, I spotted a vehicle with a for sale by owner sign in the front windshield. I dropped what I was doing and instead followed this vehicle for 8 or 9 miles out of my way. Eventually they pulled into a gas station...so I pounced! They probably pulled into the gas station as some weirdo was following them for so long
I had actually been looking at these 6 or so months back and my research suggested they would be more than I wanted to spend. Having seen it drive by, I thought it was fate and I just had to look and ask!
This is what I found...and subsequently bought!
It’s a 2017 GMC Savana 2500 with a high-top conversion 7 passenger van. It has 54,000 miles and is pretty much the most comfortable thing I’ve ever driven and ridden in that cost less than 6 figures!
Naturally it has a 6.0L V8 gas motor which is as smooth as a smooth thing! It produces 341 horsepower and 373 lb ft of torque.
I really like the fade paint job and the larger 20” wheels. Even with the bigger wheels it still rides really well.
It has front and rear a/c that would keep even an igloo frozen in the summer heat here. Full size flat screen TV and blu ray. What is nice is that it has the option of either using the speakers or wireless headphones so as the driver I don’t have to listen to whatever garbage the kids in the back are watching.
It has all sorts of different lighting options which I’m still trying to figure out which switch does what. A cooler in the center console and more cup holders that you could shake a stick at (these are also lit!). 110V mains outlets and USB charging ports all over the shop too.
Oh, and the rear couch:
Turns into a bed if I ever need it
All I can say is that I wish I would have the option of riding in the back more frequently!
My wife and I decided we needed another family vehicle. We have a 2007 Landcruiser but wanted a second large vehicle for our 2 young kids, dog etc.
Naturally, we first looked at a minivan - something like the Chrysler Pacifica or Toyota Sienna.
I came very close to buying one of these but couldn’t quite get over the line of being ‘that’ guy...not yet anyway!
Secondly, we looked at another SUV - something like a Suburban, Expedition or something else.
Again, while very pleasant and we knew what we would be getting into as we have rented a number of these and done quite a lot of miles in both, I never really found the right vehicle at the right price for me. Everything was either super expensive, super high mileage or super worn (looked like it had been “mileage adjusted”).
I also looked at an Armada or a QX80.
These were attractive as they have high towing rating which could come in handy at times.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite find the right car there either.
I must say, I was rather dejected by the whole thing and while we had no time pressures I didn’t really press the matter so kinda stopped searching.
On Friday, while I was driving around our town, I spotted a vehicle with a for sale by owner sign in the front windshield. I dropped what I was doing and instead followed this vehicle for 8 or 9 miles out of my way. Eventually they pulled into a gas station...so I pounced! They probably pulled into the gas station as some weirdo was following them for so long
I had actually been looking at these 6 or so months back and my research suggested they would be more than I wanted to spend. Having seen it drive by, I thought it was fate and I just had to look and ask!
This is what I found...and subsequently bought!
It’s a 2017 GMC Savana 2500 with a high-top conversion 7 passenger van. It has 54,000 miles and is pretty much the most comfortable thing I’ve ever driven and ridden in that cost less than 6 figures!
Naturally it has a 6.0L V8 gas motor which is as smooth as a smooth thing! It produces 341 horsepower and 373 lb ft of torque.
I really like the fade paint job and the larger 20” wheels. Even with the bigger wheels it still rides really well.
It has front and rear a/c that would keep even an igloo frozen in the summer heat here. Full size flat screen TV and blu ray. What is nice is that it has the option of either using the speakers or wireless headphones so as the driver I don’t have to listen to whatever garbage the kids in the back are watching.
It has all sorts of different lighting options which I’m still trying to figure out which switch does what. A cooler in the center console and more cup holders that you could shake a stick at (these are also lit!). 110V mains outlets and USB charging ports all over the shop too.
Oh, and the rear couch:
Turns into a bed if I ever need it
All I can say is that I wish I would have the option of riding in the back more frequently!
2017?! You sure about that?!
The exterior looks like it was penned in the 80s!
Having said that, the interior looks absolutely mega. When I saw your opening my initial response was "Nissan Elgrand". But having seen your actual choice I'm glad. This looks like a lovely place to sit for a few hours and recycle some dinosaurs.
The exterior looks like it was penned in the 80s!
Having said that, the interior looks absolutely mega. When I saw your opening my initial response was "Nissan Elgrand". But having seen your actual choice I'm glad. This looks like a lovely place to sit for a few hours and recycle some dinosaurs.
Ambleton said:
2017?! You sure about that?!
The exterior looks like it was penned in the 80s!
Having said that, the interior looks absolutely mega. When I saw your opening my initial response was "Nissan Elgrand". But having seen your actual choice I'm glad. This looks like a lovely place to sit for a few hours and recycle some dinosaurs.
Production, 1995 - present. I’m as surprised as you. The exterior looks like it was penned in the 80s!
Having said that, the interior looks absolutely mega. When I saw your opening my initial response was "Nissan Elgrand". But having seen your actual choice I'm glad. This looks like a lovely place to sit for a few hours and recycle some dinosaurs.
Thank you for the positive comments - I wasn't quite sure how it would go down on here 
Me too!
While it maybe like a PJ inside, I'd prefer to be a passenger than the pilot! My wife will drive it but doesn't really enjoy driving vehicles this size - she has driven it about 1 van-length while I stood on a ladder to make sure it would slip into my garage:
Easy...don't know what I was worried about
Front:
Rear:
I think this model started in 2003 and then I think the conversion company give it a bit of a body kit.
ExcitableBoy said:
Thankfully you didn't go for a modded VW transporter!
The VW Transporter just isn't me...plus when in Rome and all that!TwigtheWonderkid said:
Ffs, I lived in places smaller than that.
Me too!steely dan said:
What a wonderful vehicle and truly fit for purpose , great choice .
As Mike says above , like a private jet inside .
6.0Lt V8 ....... Way to go Sir !
I wish you and your family much pleasure with it .
I thought my 5.7L V8 in my old pickup truck was a big lazy V8. Little did I know... As Mike says above , like a private jet inside .
6.0Lt V8 ....... Way to go Sir !
I wish you and your family much pleasure with it .
While it maybe like a PJ inside, I'd prefer to be a passenger than the pilot! My wife will drive it but doesn't really enjoy driving vehicles this size - she has driven it about 1 van-length while I stood on a ladder to make sure it would slip into my garage:
Easy...don't know what I was worried about
Front:
Rear:
Ambleton said:
2017?! You sure about that?!
That's what the title says!I think this model started in 2003 and then I think the conversion company give it a bit of a body kit.
Northbrook said:
Nicely bought!
I think Hoovie did a video on one of these a few months ago.
He did - 2 or 3 months after I started looking at these things and of course the prices appeared to increased after I think Hoovie did a video on one of these a few months ago.
Seriously cool. Like everyone, I can't believe it's such a recent thing! 2017! But they first came out the year Goldeneye was released. Or the first Toy Story. Actually it was a pretty good year for film, Se7en, Casino, Heat, Apollo 13, and the only car related one I can remember off the top of my head was Bad Boys.
Which is almost as random a post as the chap whose mate now has a Japanese car...
Which is almost as random a post as the chap whose mate now has a Japanese car...
The Moose said:
I haven't done one of these threads before - I don't really know how they go!
My wife and I decided we needed another family vehicle. We have a 2007 Landcruiser but wanted a second large vehicle for our 2 young kids, dog etc.
Naturally, we first looked at a minivan - something like the Chrysler Pacifica or Toyota Sienna.
I came very close to buying one of these but couldn’t quite get over the line of being ‘that’ guy...not yet anyway!
Secondly, we looked at another SUV - something like a Suburban, Expedition or something else.
Again, while very pleasant and we knew what we would be getting into as we have rented a number of these and done quite a lot of miles in both, I never really found the right vehicle at the right price for me. Everything was either super expensive, super high mileage or super worn (looked like it had been “mileage adjusted”).
I also looked at an Armada or a QX80.
These were attractive as they have high towing rating which could come in handy at times.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite find the right car there either.
I must say, I was rather dejected by the whole thing and while we had no time pressures I didn’t really press the matter so kinda stopped searching.
On Friday, while I was driving around our town, I spotted a vehicle with a for sale by owner sign in the front windshield. I dropped what I was doing and instead followed this vehicle for 8 or 9 miles out of my way. Eventually they pulled into a gas station...so I pounced! They probably pulled into the gas station as some weirdo was following them for so long
I had actually been looking at these 6 or so months back and my research suggested they would be more than I wanted to spend. Having seen it drive by, I thought it was fate and I just had to look and ask!
This is what I found...and subsequently bought!
It’s a 2017 GMC Savana 2500 with a high-top conversion 7 passenger van. It has 54,000 miles and is pretty much the most comfortable thing I’ve ever driven and ridden in that cost less than 6 figures!
Naturally it has a 6.0L V8 gas motor which is as smooth as a smooth thing! It produces 341 horsepower and 373 lb ft of torque.
I really like the fade paint job and the larger 20” wheels. Even with the bigger wheels it still rides really well.
It has front and rear a/c that would keep even an igloo frozen in the summer heat here. Full size flat screen TV and blu ray. What is nice is that it has the option of either using the speakers or wireless headphones so as the driver I don’t have to listen to whatever garbage the kids in the back are watching.
It has all sorts of different lighting options which I’m still trying to figure out which switch does what. A cooler in the center console and more cup holders that you could shake a stick at (these are also lit!). 110V mains outlets and USB charging ports all over the shop too.
Oh, and the rear couch:
Turns into a bed if I ever need it
All I can say is that I wish I would have the option of riding in the back more frequently!
My wife and I decided we needed another family vehicle. We have a 2007 Landcruiser but wanted a second large vehicle for our 2 young kids, dog etc.
Naturally, we first looked at a minivan - something like the Chrysler Pacifica or Toyota Sienna.
I came very close to buying one of these but couldn’t quite get over the line of being ‘that’ guy...not yet anyway!
Secondly, we looked at another SUV - something like a Suburban, Expedition or something else.
Again, while very pleasant and we knew what we would be getting into as we have rented a number of these and done quite a lot of miles in both, I never really found the right vehicle at the right price for me. Everything was either super expensive, super high mileage or super worn (looked like it had been “mileage adjusted”).
I also looked at an Armada or a QX80.
These were attractive as they have high towing rating which could come in handy at times.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite find the right car there either.
I must say, I was rather dejected by the whole thing and while we had no time pressures I didn’t really press the matter so kinda stopped searching.
On Friday, while I was driving around our town, I spotted a vehicle with a for sale by owner sign in the front windshield. I dropped what I was doing and instead followed this vehicle for 8 or 9 miles out of my way. Eventually they pulled into a gas station...so I pounced! They probably pulled into the gas station as some weirdo was following them for so long
I had actually been looking at these 6 or so months back and my research suggested they would be more than I wanted to spend. Having seen it drive by, I thought it was fate and I just had to look and ask!
This is what I found...and subsequently bought!
It’s a 2017 GMC Savana 2500 with a high-top conversion 7 passenger van. It has 54,000 miles and is pretty much the most comfortable thing I’ve ever driven and ridden in that cost less than 6 figures!
Naturally it has a 6.0L V8 gas motor which is as smooth as a smooth thing! It produces 341 horsepower and 373 lb ft of torque.
I really like the fade paint job and the larger 20” wheels. Even with the bigger wheels it still rides really well.
It has front and rear a/c that would keep even an igloo frozen in the summer heat here. Full size flat screen TV and blu ray. What is nice is that it has the option of either using the speakers or wireless headphones so as the driver I don’t have to listen to whatever garbage the kids in the back are watching.
It has all sorts of different lighting options which I’m still trying to figure out which switch does what. A cooler in the center console and more cup holders that you could shake a stick at (these are also lit!). 110V mains outlets and USB charging ports all over the shop too.
Oh, and the rear couch:
Turns into a bed if I ever need it
All I can say is that I wish I would have the option of riding in the back more frequently!
Why quote the whole post just to say that? Pistonheads is getting worse.
Sorry about the moan op but people like that on here are really starting to grate on me. It’s not my type of thing at all. However I think it’s brilliant and thanks for sharing I love all the different cars when I go to America. Interior like a private jet and bigger than a house made me laugh but sums it up nicely haha!
Sorry about the moan op but people like that on here are really starting to grate on me. It’s not my type of thing at all. However I think it’s brilliant and thanks for sharing I love all the different cars when I go to America. Interior like a private jet and bigger than a house made me laugh but sums it up nicely haha!
The Moose said:
Kiddos enjoying the ride...but pissed that the drive through is taking so long! 
I was asked off thread what the van cost me:
$30,000 ?I was asked off thread what the van cost me:
It's a big old beast, but a very comfy looking one. If I lived in the USA, I'd have a big motor too, because parking / wide roads aren't an issue.
That would make a fantastic airport exec shuttle.....
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff