Car Buying Question
 

Given the choice between a '04 Grand Caravan with 94k miles and an '04 Honda Odyssey EX-L with 111k miles. Both cars have similar features. They need to run for about 5 more years. The Caravan is listed at 7800 and the Honda at 8900. Which is the better option?

Keeping in mind that our current car is a '98 Grand Caravan with 143k miles, that we bought 6 years ago with 94k miles on it. And we have loved that car.

If you already have a history with the Caravans I say stick with it.

This.

When you start buying older (or in this case, a high mileage car), you start running the risk that the previous owner really didn't take good care of the car.

If I were buying it, I'd probably go with the Honda, just because they have a better reputation in general, but it's a risk either way.

Is an import with a better reputation better than a cheaper domestic? My argument is: If you can get 150k out of a us made car and 200k out of an import, does the import with 111k miles make a better bargain than the domestic with 94K? The difference for us is about 18 months worth of driving to make up the diff between 94~111k.

I'd go with the Honda, but I don't know that I would trust any car with ~100K
to last for 5-years unless I was prepared to deal with a lot of maintainence costs and/or downtime.

Also, if you do end up going with the Honda, make sure that it's on it's second transmission. If not, it will blow any day now and you'll be out close to 2K. I would say the same thing about the timing belt. As long as those two things have been done recently, you should be OK on maintenance costs.

Honda.

Whatever car you purchase you should make a dynasty thread that describes your experience with the new car. :D

I just can't believe the price of a 6 year old car with 100k miles is that high.

really? is that because it's a bigger car?

I have my mom's old Honda Civic which is about as big as a go-kart. Anyways, it has about 160K worth of miles on it and everyone keeps saying, "It'll last forever'....which I always sigh at in the hopes of being forced to get a new car :) :(

I'd go with option 3 and run your current car into the ground.

Spending $9K to go from 160K miles to 110K seems like a waste to me.

Good point.

We looked last year, and the prices were much lower. Obviously the economy has rebounded quite well for used cars. I remember a similar car for 1-2k less last year, and there were plenty to choose from. Right now, I am looking at the surrounding 150 miles to find the kind of car that will suit us. And the pickings seem slim.


The Odyssey has been known to have some transmission problems. I think that they plagued the earlier models, but it is certainly something that figures into the equation.


Our current car isn't without it's own faults. It has an oil and transmission leak, needs a new exhaust among other preventative things. It has been discussed though. I just don't know if 2 grand into a car that isn't worth that much is worth it. It runs like a champ, but I think that there are too many things starting to go away for it to be worthwhile.

Part of the problem is we really want a car with leather and those higher model cars just cost more. The leather has been fantastic with our kids. I can't see how cloth seats would ever survive. With leather comes some higher costs.

Still looking right now. Open to other ideas. Something will get done before our trip to Florida in April. So I do have some time. But I am just not sure if I will truly find what I am looking for. So far these two are my best bet.