Help me choose a van for a cross-canada trip!
January 21, 2010 2:02 PM Subscribe
My girlfriend and I are taking a (return) cross-Canada road trip in April, and I'm getting pretty excited about it. We want to keep overall costs as low as possible, and I think purchasing a cheap Van is probably going to fit the bill. Any suggestions on makes/models?
- I intend to sleep in the vehicle most of the time. The Prairies in April probably won't be too pleasant in a tent, and hotels are just too pricey.
- Buying anything newer than 95 probably won't happen for budget reasons (around $3,000 limit on initial purchase)
- I've heard MiniVans have hard-to-access engines and often have transmission problems
- If the thing does end up breaking down, it needs to be fixable! (part availability bonus)
- I might hold onto the vehicle after the trip, might sell it; no solid plans, but resale/re-purposing holds no value to me in this decision.
- I have no current vehicle.
I'm willing to put some work into the vehicle before the road trip starts, like insulation or building a bed/tearing out seats. What's the hive mind think?
- I intend to sleep in the vehicle most of the time. The Prairies in April probably won't be too pleasant in a tent, and hotels are just too pricey.
- Buying anything newer than 95 probably won't happen for budget reasons (around $3,000 limit on initial purchase)
- I've heard MiniVans have hard-to-access engines and often have transmission problems
- If the thing does end up breaking down, it needs to be fixable! (part availability bonus)
- I might hold onto the vehicle after the trip, might sell it; no solid plans, but resale/re-purposing holds no value to me in this decision.
- I have no current vehicle.
I'm willing to put some work into the vehicle before the road trip starts, like insulation or building a bed/tearing out seats. What's the hive mind think?
Ensure that the tires are good - even in April there will be snowy/treacherous conditions through the Rockies.
My first car was an '85 Dodge Caravan - other than the fact that it leaked a quart of oil a day, it was awesome. (This was back in '92 era). However, since I've gotten older, I lean towards Japanese vehicles.
posted by jkaczor at 4:47 PM on January 21, 2010
My first car was an '85 Dodge Caravan - other than the fact that it leaked a quart of oil a day, it was awesome. (This was back in '92 era). However, since I've gotten older, I lean towards Japanese vehicles.
posted by jkaczor at 4:47 PM on January 21, 2010
Uh, Right-hand drive is avant-garde. Unless you are into that sort if thing.
posted by ovvl at 5:41 PM on January 21, 2010
posted by ovvl at 5:41 PM on January 21, 2010
I had a 1991 Dodge Caravan that fell apart after 100,000 miles. Would never own another!
Now I drive a Toyota Sienna, my second one as the first got totaled. I love it, back seats are long gone and I use it to camp and haul stuff. Friends have have great luck with older Previas.
posted by mareli at 6:10 PM on January 21, 2010
Now I drive a Toyota Sienna, my second one as the first got totaled. I love it, back seats are long gone and I use it to camp and haul stuff. Friends have have great luck with older Previas.
posted by mareli at 6:10 PM on January 21, 2010
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Right-hand drive, BTW.
posted by klanawa at 2:58 PM on January 21, 2010