# Whats the best, cheap minivan i can buy w/side airbags--

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-best-cheap-minivan-i-can-buy-w-side-airbags/17218>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 25, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-best-cheap-minivan-i-can-buy-w-side-airbags/17218 "2008-07-25T23:59:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tyetoozi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/90db22/32.png) [@tyetoozi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tyetoozi)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-best-cheap-minivan-i-can-buy-w-side-airbags/17218/1 "2008-07-25T23:59:31Z")

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this will be for my 2 big dogs & me—note I am finally having to say goodbye to my '79 GMC 3/4 ton, 350–this is very sad–but necessary—so I would appreciate any feedback from y’all who own/have owned/driven minivans–i have to stay under $6000.

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-best-cheap-minivan-i-can-buy-w-side-airbags/17218/2 "2008-07-26T00:46:02Z")

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Side air bags are relatively new. You might have to settle for an inexpensive minivan without them. Our 2003 Ods Silhouette has them. Maybe you could find a high mileage Silhouette with them. Earlier years may have them, too. You might also check the Montana and Venture between 200 and 2003. You could also check [cars.com](http://cars.com) and [edmunds.com](http://edmunds.com) to see what used vans have side air bags.

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-best-cheap-minivan-i-can-buy-w-side-airbags/17218/3 "2008-07-26T01:51:25Z")

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My 2000 Silo has side air bags too.

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-best-cheap-minivan-i-can-buy-w-side-airbags/17218/4 "2008-07-26T02:10:38Z")

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Tyetoozi,  
Be aware our vans and the Venture jt mentioned are not made any more. The MontanaV6 replaced the original Montana.

Although I like this van, I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone not only due to the non production issue but the fact these vans were notorious for having bad intake manifold gaskets. (1996 to 2003 and cost $600 to $800 to fix. Mostly labor)

All three had the same 3.4L engine. Everyone has their own opinions about these engines /gaskets/Dexcool coolant, but since I changed my gasket I haven’t had any more problems.

Toyota and Honda have minivans (called Crossovers today) with side air bags, but you’ll have to do some searching to find one under $6k that isn’t beat to death.

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**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whats-the-best-cheap-minivan-i-can-buy-w-side-airbags/17218/5 "2008-07-26T18:02:19Z")

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“Toyota and Honda have minivans (called Crossovers today) with side air bags, but you’ll have to do some searching to find one under $6k that isn’t beat to death.”

Cost is why I suggested the Silhouette. We bought it new because it is the most comfortable of the triplets.