# Buying a used van

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-van/36047>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [September 3, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-van/36047 "2009-09-03T03:31:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mom\_s\_taxi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@mom\_s\_taxi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mom_s_taxi)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-van/36047/1 "2009-09-03T03:31:02Z")

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Hello, I need a vehicle that hauls at least 7 people and I only have $4000 to spend. I am looking at a 2000 Honda Oddsey and a 1999 Mazda MPV. I know Honda’s are known for reliability, but I like the fact that the MPV is 4wd. What do you think?

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**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-van/36047/2 "2009-09-03T04:03:06Z")

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“At least 7 people.”

Neither of the vehicles you list can carry more than 7 people.

Your budget is going to make this difficult.

To be honest, I’d be skeptical of an Odyssey for $4K. It must have a ton of miles on it.

Mazda vehicles also have a decent reputation for reliability. If these two vehicles are the only choices I think I’d go with the MPV.

More information about these vehicles might help.

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**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-van/36047/3 "2009-09-03T05:52:35Z")

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A dodge Caravan would carry 7 and with $4K you should be able to pick a decent one up. A Honda at that price probably has high miles. I don’t know much about Mazda, but I know some of them were Mercury/Ford twins.

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**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-van/36047/4 "2009-09-03T19:03:27Z")

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If you are going to transport more than 7 people, you may need to think about a full-size van such as a Ford E-150 or the equivalent Dodge, GMC or Chevrolet van. With just $4000 to spend, whatever you buy the condition rather than the manufacturer is the overriding consideration.

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**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buying-a-used-van/36047/5 "2009-09-03T22:38:12Z")

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Looking at a car that has 4wd is good if you really need it. But if you only have $4k to spend can you really afford to run and maintain a 4wd that old ? For that price, 4wds are many times third vehicles with fewer miles of use expected on them.  
There is a reason why you get an older Honda for the same price as a newer Caravan. It’s still more reliable. At $4k, you’re still taking chances, and I would vote for Honda/Toyota products over Chrysler.