I dumped the Pacifica... for another Pacifica...
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 544
From: CA
Surprisingly, CR rates VW's reliability 11th overall, which is one below Hyundai and one above Kia! For comparison, Lexus is 5th and Toyota is 9th. Chrysler ranks 22nd. That said, Subaru ranks numero uno, so I take these ratings with a grain of salt. My Subaru had several recalls and weaknesses, so I dumped it earlier than normal (for me).
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 5,482
Likes: 89
From: N/A
Surprisingly, CR rates VW's reliability 11th overall, which is one below Hyundai and one above Kia! For comparison, Lexus is 5th and Toyota is 9th. Chrysler ranks 22nd. That said, Subaru ranks numero uno, so I take these ratings with a grain of salt. My Subaru had several recalls and weaknesses, so I dumped it earlier than normal (for me).
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,422
Likes: 249
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
One thing we're noting, year by year, is large (or at least significant) CR reliability-ratings from brands jumping up and down like a yo-yo. Dodge, for instance, was almost at the bottom a couple of years ago....they now rank eighth. Buick was the top American brand a few years ago...in third place overall. Now they are well below average. There are several other examples as well.
One thing we're noting, year by year, is large (or at least significant) CR reliability-ratings from brands jumping up and down like a yo-yo. Dodge, for instance, was almost at the bottom a couple of years ago....they now rank eighth. Buick was the top American brand a few years ago...in third place overall. Now they are well below average. There are several other examples as well.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: GA
So, got back from the beach today, of course we took the Pacifica. As I have mentioned before, we've had a lot of problems with the Pacifica. Lots of electrical problems, nav screen has been replaced 3 times and still freezes up, they had to replace the passenger front strut, paint peeling from the hood, had to repaint the hood, sliding doors binding and then stopped working, power third row stopped working, the list just goes on and on. At 29,000 miles its been off the road in the shop for like 5 weeks in its 2.5 years with us. So, while we were at the beach its developed more problems. Now the driver side suspension is crunching and creaking, likely needs the same repair they did to the passenger side, the nav system is freezing all the time again, the windshield washers are only working sporadically, it sounds like a wheel bearing is bad, and the paint on the hood is peeling again. All of this crept up within the last 6 days.
Lease is up in November, I think I'm going to try and dump it. I'm just tired of f'ing with it. Its a shame because its a great van, and if we get another minivan it will definitely lack features and conveniences that the Pacifica has...but I can't bring myself to try another one.
So, my wife is absolutely dead set on another minivan, I'm going to present her with a few SUV options...but I don't know how much success I will have. This is what I'm thinking:
Minivan:
1. Honda Odyssey. Really this is the only option, can't do another Pacifica and the refresh Pacifica isn't out. Refresh Odyssey isn't out either, but thats just cosmetic. Lacks surround view camera and adaptive cruise to 0, but the refresh doesnt add those either. New Sienna isn't here yet, nor is the new Sedona. Don't want the old Sienna or Sedona.
SUV:
1. Hyundai Palisade Limited. This is my #1 choice, but she's going to say its too small and she wants the sliding doors. I'm going to bring one home for her to play around with, so we'll see.
2. VW Atlas SEL
3. Kia Telluride
4. Chevrolet Traverse High Country.
5. Ford Expedition. This is an outlier, and WAY more money than I want to spend. But, it certainly would solve my wife's size concerns, and she might like it. I like the idea of it being big and beefy and able to haul us and family and all our stuff without feeling overloaded (which the Pacifica does at times)
Any thoughts?
Lease is up in November, I think I'm going to try and dump it. I'm just tired of f'ing with it. Its a shame because its a great van, and if we get another minivan it will definitely lack features and conveniences that the Pacifica has...but I can't bring myself to try another one.
So, my wife is absolutely dead set on another minivan, I'm going to present her with a few SUV options...but I don't know how much success I will have. This is what I'm thinking:
Minivan:
1. Honda Odyssey. Really this is the only option, can't do another Pacifica and the refresh Pacifica isn't out. Refresh Odyssey isn't out either, but thats just cosmetic. Lacks surround view camera and adaptive cruise to 0, but the refresh doesnt add those either. New Sienna isn't here yet, nor is the new Sedona. Don't want the old Sienna or Sedona.
SUV:
1. Hyundai Palisade Limited. This is my #1 choice, but she's going to say its too small and she wants the sliding doors. I'm going to bring one home for her to play around with, so we'll see.
2. VW Atlas SEL
3. Kia Telluride
4. Chevrolet Traverse High Country.
5. Ford Expedition. This is an outlier, and WAY more money than I want to spend. But, it certainly would solve my wife's size concerns, and she might like it. I like the idea of it being big and beefy and able to haul us and family and all our stuff without feeling overloaded (which the Pacifica does at times)
Any thoughts?
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
From: NH
Perhaps off the beaten path but in your (and maybe her) comfort zone. A used LX570 premium. I did this for my wife and she absolutely loves it. We looked at some of the vehicles you have in the list and they just didn't compare - the Atlas was about the closest and it still wasn't close.
Plus, used, it was somewhere around $8k less expensive than a new alternative - and a way better car.
Plus, used, it was somewhere around $8k less expensive than a new alternative - and a way better car.
Rookie
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 54
Likes: 4
From: CT
my opinion is Sienna, I am Sienna owner since 2004. It look minivan BUT do not drive like minivan, it handle like a regular sedan + view of suv.
Try to test drive this car before you make your final decision.
Try to test drive this car before you make your final decision.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 747
Likes: 459
From: WV
Anyway, we replaced the Enclave with a '17 Honda Pilot Elite after 4.5 years. It's worked well for her and she likes it a lot. Given the list you gave, it might not have the room your wife wants. It's a quality vehicle and worth a look, though.
Someone else in the thread mentioned the Ford Flex. I drove two of those for work, and liked them surprisingly well.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,386
Likes: 353
From: Las Vegas
and to that point, while many relish the thought of some non-changing 'established order' the fact is things can and do change, but really, the differences in so-called "reliability" is very small (hence the swings in rankings) and relative unimportance of the rankings altogether.
I love hyperbole from people saying "I would buy X, but I need something to last past 100k." As if that brand just has some magic timer that blows the engine up at 100k.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 416
Likes: 56
From: PA
The car guy in me says get a Palisade or Telluride as they are the best in the bunch and the least likely to cause regret.
The husband in me says lease a new Pacifica with all the same features she loves. While not the most reliable, I am sure they have improved in the last three years. As mentioned before, try to find a dealer that does pickup for service.
Good luck on the shopping.
The husband in me says lease a new Pacifica with all the same features she loves. While not the most reliable, I am sure they have improved in the last three years. As mentioned before, try to find a dealer that does pickup for service.
Good luck on the shopping.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,041
Likes: 98
From: Southeastern PA
You remind me of where my family was 7 years ago. My wife had driven an '04 Sienna for 8 years, and '95 Mercury Villager (Nissan Quest twin) before that. She wanted a new Sienna, and I was not going to buy another minivan, so I talked her into a Buick Enclave. Won the battle and lost the war, both with the vehicle and the wife. She never liked it ("old person's car") and it had reliability issues. I'll never do that again.
Anyway, we replaced the Enclave with a '17 Honda Pilot Elite after 4.5 years. It's worked well for her and she likes it a lot. Given the list you gave, it might not have the room your wife wants. It's a quality vehicle and worth a look, though.
Someone else in the thread mentioned the Ford Flex. I drove two of those for work, and liked them surprisingly well.
Anyway, we replaced the Enclave with a '17 Honda Pilot Elite after 4.5 years. It's worked well for her and she likes it a lot. Given the list you gave, it might not have the room your wife wants. It's a quality vehicle and worth a look, though.
Someone else in the thread mentioned the Ford Flex. I drove two of those for work, and liked them surprisingly well.