Piston Slap: The Least Sexy Question of The Year?

by Sajeev Mehta

Updated: May 16th, 2014

piston slap the least sexy question of the year

JCP writes:

So here’s the least sexy question of the year. For those of us with the need for six seats (and climbing over the middle row of an SUV is unacceptable) what is your take on the reasonable lifespan of the current minivan lineup? I’m curious what you can expect to be a reasonable number of miles on a Caravan, Oddessy or Sienna if you were to be traveling 900 miles on Christmas Eve or New Years Day? Breakdowns with a family of six in this situation can get very expensive fast, so replacing the vehicle before it breaks can make financial sense. How far would you recommend pushing it?

Assumptions; minivans are purchased new and all regular maintenance is done. Do you have any thoughts on the various models and do any of them have timebombs under the hood?

Sajeev answers:

I hate answering questions like this. And not because they aren’t sexy, I think that damn near anyone can make a minivan look sexy. It’s all about being comfortable with yourself and a positive attitude conveyed to others. Our founder’s wife penned an article on this subject many, many years ago.

Where were we? Oh yeah, trying to make a decision based on all we know: automotive durability stats and the shaky foundations they are based on…

Well then! Many reliability studies don’t go beyond a vehicle’s warranty period, and damn near all of them use formulas of dubious utility. One of the few (the only?) avoiding that pitfall is our own Mr. Karesh’s TrueDelta.com website. Poking around there leads me to believe that the most reliable van so far in modern history (5-10 years) is the Toyota Sienna. It seems marginally better than the repair data collected for the Honda Odyssey. Perhaps the Chrysler vans are just fine now–with their all new powertrains–but their past reliability has been spotty at best. Do you mind being the next spot?

My answer? I don’t really give a crap. Even worse, I have modest-at-best faith in past performance being a bellwether of future durability. There are too many little things that can go wrong, too many moving parts that can have a running manufacturing defect that we won’t know for months/years and we can never plan for.

Just buy any minivan you like, cut the required transmission servicing schedule in half, add a transmission cooler and you’ll be pretty much okay. I call this Taking an Active Role in Consumer Reporting! And that’s how you bring the sexy back.

How’s that for avoiding your unsexy question?

Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry.

#Durability #Minivan.Reliability

Sajeev Mehta

More by Sajeev Mehta

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 51 comments

Don1967 on Jul 23, 2012

One option for the contrarian handyperson is a used 2004-2009 Nissan Quest. The quality issues are well-documented, but most are minor and well within the grasp of shadetree mechanics. The 3.5 VQ is fairly robust, the transmissions solid by minivan standards, and clean specimens are occasionally available for near-Chrysler prices.

Like Reply
Tjh8402 on Jul 23, 2012

If you're buying new and keeping it till it dies, Chryslers available lifetime unlimited mileage warranty would seem to make them the best option. It was a big reason my parents got their Fiat 500 (it was $3k on that car).

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Bruce Purchased (in 2024) a 1989 Camero RS. I wasn't looking for one but I picked it up for 1500. I wanted to only pay 800 but the fellow I bought it from had a real nice family and I could tell they loved each other. They needed the money and I had to give it to him. I felt my heart grow like the Grinch. Yes it has the little 2.8. But the write up does not represent this car. It has never been messed with, all original, a real time machine. I was very fond of these 3rd gen Cameros. It was very oxidized but straight, interior was dirty but all there. I just retired and I parked in my shop and looked at it for 5 months. I couldn't decide how to approach it now That I can afford to make of it what ever I want. Resto mod? Engine swap? No reason to expect any finacial return. Finally I started just doing little things. Buffed and polished the paint. Tune up, Fluids. I am still working it and have found a lot of joy in just restoring what I have just the way I found it just fixed and cleaned up. It's just a cool looking cruiser, fun to drive, fun to figure out. It is what it is. I am keeping it and the author of this critical write up completely misses the point. Mabey the point is what I make it. Nothing more and nothing less.
George Now that the Spark And Pretty Soon Gone is the Mirage I really wonder how are you going to get A low rental price when getting a loaner car for the week or more? Cars that are big as spark usually cost 5 to 10 dollars a day for use in a week rental agreement.Where as a SUV like a Equinox or a Rogue Midsize SUV would cost about 20 to 30 dollars for the same length of time of lease and since you’re getting more space leasing is going to be very expensive.
Mcs Tesla Full Self Driving will be working flawlessly about 10 years after fusion reactors are perfected. That's my prediction and I'm sticking to it.
Akear American consumers have clearly stated they don't want neither rebadged Alfa Romeos or Fiats. The hornet is over stocked for nearly 400 days!
FreedMike I do tip my cap to Musk for at least talking about pushing the edge technologically. But I'm betting no on this question, at least for the near-term future. This vehicle requires two technologies - no-driver-control autonomous driving and inductive charging - that aren't nearly mature enough right now, and they can't be willed into maturity by Musk.