I dumped the Pacifica... for another Pacifica...
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: 10,988
Likes: 81
From: Southeastern PA
I don't agree. I don't think the vast majority of the buying public does much research on the car they are buying, if any. People bought the Pontiac Aztec; there will always be someone who will buy a crappy car for the right price. Always.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
From: texas
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?
brett's saying things aren't as bad as internet forums say and you're saying most buyers don't even look or care one way or the other. you're both right.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2020
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From: N/A
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 747
Likes: 458
From: WV
Well, a minivan was all that had been on the left side of the garage (her side) for 18 years, and in that time the right side had been full of 2 x Ford Windstar minivans and a Ford Freestar (a Windstar with all the value removed) that I'd driven for work. I guess I was ready for rear doors with hinges... 
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: TN
I agree about the Palisade and Telluride. Their reviews are solid. I see them all the time and they look great. Stay away from the Volvo. A friend is a retired Volvo salesman and he does not recommend any Volvo made after 2009. BTW - he is a car finder and he found my '07 RX350. He only sells Toyota products and Hondas now
If you are going to buy, have you considered used? What about a used Sienna or Highlander? You could find a good used GX for the money you would spend on a new minivan. I'd also look for a used Expedition.
Get her anything that works properly and looks good and she'll likely forget about needing a sliding door.
If you are going to buy, have you considered used? What about a used Sienna or Highlander? You could find a good used GX for the money you would spend on a new minivan. I'd also look for a used Expedition.
Get her anything that works properly and looks good and she'll likely forget about needing a sliding door.
Thread Starter
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 67,908
Likes: 3,839
From: Maryland
Not considering the current Sienna. We've driven a bunch of them and while they have the features she wants, high trims don't have adaptable seating in the second row and the van is really old...
Haven't had time this week to deal with it beyond bringing that Odyssey home last weekend.
Haven't had time this week to deal with it beyond bringing that Odyssey home last weekend.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,208
Likes: 220
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Siennas, BTW, although not necessarily lemons, aren't always the strong symbol of reliability they once were. A friend of mine has two of them in his company (one of them for personal use), and both have had issues, under warranty. He is not satisfied with Toyota's handling of those issues.
Haven't had time this week to deal with it beyond bringing that Odyssey home last weekend.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,208
Likes: 220
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
I see it's coming on the 2021. Wasn't aware of that until you pointed it out. It will be interesting to see if they will offer it with the Stow-'N-Go seat-folding. Years ago, they couldn't offer them both together, because the AWD hardware in back took up part of the same space that the seats folded into under the body. Engineering, though, has advanced since then (less physical hardware is needed with electronic-torque-distributed AWD systems), so maybe (?) they will be able to offer both together this time....that would be nice.
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,892
Likes: 14
From: Virginia
I see it's coming on the 2021. Wasn't aware of that until you pointed it out. It will be interesting to see if they will offer it with the Stow-'N-Go seat-folding. Years ago, they couldn't offer them both together, because the AWD hardware in back took up part of the same space that the seats folded into under the body. Engineering, though, has advanced since then (less physical hardware is needed with electronic-torque-distributed AWD systems), so maybe (?) they will be able to offer both together this time....that would be nice.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,208
Likes: 220
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Wouldn't be surprised if that takes away some sales from the Sienna, at least for those not particularly concerned about the Pacifica's reliability. And, like I said a couple of posts back, newer Siennas themselves aren't necessarily bulletproof either.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,404
Likes: 215
From: Texas
I would seriously consider the new Genesis GV80 SUV. It will have a twin turbo V6 & lots of tech for the money.
https://www.genesis.com/us/en/2021/g...B&gclsrc=aw.ds
I won’t touch anything from FCA with a 10 ft pole. I had a pile of **** Ram that spent over 200 days in the shop in 2 years. FCA had to buy that smelly turd back. I was a gorgeous truck that had every option except air suspension.
If you don’t like the Genesis, I would pick the Sienna AWD. Nearly everything is standard. After that, I would look at the Honda van. They are well thought out, with minimal lemon issues.
https://www.genesis.com/us/en/2021/g...B&gclsrc=aw.ds
I won’t touch anything from FCA with a 10 ft pole. I had a pile of **** Ram that spent over 200 days in the shop in 2 years. FCA had to buy that smelly turd back. I was a gorgeous truck that had every option except air suspension.
If you don’t like the Genesis, I would pick the Sienna AWD. Nearly everything is standard. After that, I would look at the Honda van. They are well thought out, with minimal lemon issues.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2020
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From: N/A
GV80 is much smaller than all the other options mentioned in the thread, even the Hyundai Palisade. It's roughly the size of an X5. And pretty expensive, even if it is cheaper than its direct competition.