[USER]

I’ve run my 2009 Honda Odyssey into the ground. I’m in the market for a new car and after tons of thought have decided to get another minivan.

I’m usually Toyota loyal so I’m looking at Siennas but not opposed to another Odyssey.

It is impossible to find a used one.

If I buy new, do you recommend getting the base model since it’s the lowest price?

Thanks, I hate car buying.

My Odyssey was $17K private sale ten years ago so it’s killing me to spend triple that.

[Randy]

How is it impossible to find? Or is it that the prices don’t make sense

[Matt]

I highly suggest widening your search. I bought a car years ago via auto trader from many states away and it was 7 grand less than anything comparable in my area.

I bought a $90 airline ticket and paid a transport company something like $700 to bring it to me.

I don’t know what price you’re shooting for but I see a couple that are 38k with 30,000 miles and one if them is a 2023.

If I remember right, the cheapest one listed was 34k but I don’t know it’s details.

[Jared]

I find the same in Raleigh. a used sienna or odyssey 1-3 years old with under 100k does not exist, or if you find one, is 50k miles and 5k less than brand new.

[Rachel]

Stick with what you know… Toyota. Since you keep your vehicles a long time, prioritize what’s important for you.

Heated seats, climate control, sunroof.

If you buy new, you’ll get the full warranty and have peace of mind knowing your the original owner.

[Bonnie]

Try the Enterprise rental car auction. They sell their 2-3 year old rentals. And other “fleet cars” or “program cars.”

We’ve bought two that way over the years.

[Scott]

I seriously doubt you can’t find a gently used odyssey somewhere in America.

It’s the internet. Don’t limit yourself to the local area. Most dealers deliver.

Try voom or carvana

[Arun]

Get one that’s 2 years old so depreciation is already priced in. No more than 20k miles Honda or Toyota hold their value so not a lot of room to negotiate.

[Justin]

I would go with the base model because they tend to be cheaper to purchase and cheaper to insure.

[Leslie]

Do you have to have a van? I bought a 2002 Honda CRV back in 2020 for $4k cash with 240k miles and it was a gem until someone hit me and totaled it.

I recently sold my 2008 Honda pilot with 270k miles for $2700 after buying it for $3500 a couple years ago.

The Hondas and pilots are out there! Both those cars had small corks but super reliable!

[John]

I bought an odyssey when they first came out in the current size. I paid sticker as there was no competition.

I ran that van for decades both my kids learned to drive in it.

I camped in it towed with it moved college kids with it.

Best vehicle ever.

I have no regrets “ overpaying”. I got my money’s worth

[Brennan]

Get the Kia Carnival. The second highest tier of a 2024 is roughly the same as a base Toyota.

I have one and its great.

[Matthew]

Don’t be afraid to travel. I drove over 10 hours round trip to buy a used Cummins that is cheaper than most 1500 pick up trucks because of the deal.

[Cecelie]

I get it. I just bought a new-to-me used Odyssey two months ago. My car search took, what felt like, forever (it was months of casual looking and several weeks of intense searching and test driving) and I had to keep expanding my budget to get what was acceptable for me.

If people haven’t shopped for a car recently they may not realize how difficult it has gotten in the past couple years due to inflation.

Additionally, I have read that minivan selections are on the decline as manufacturers are moving away from minivans and more towards crossovers.

I looked at both siennas and odysseys but leaned more towards Honda since my former van was a 2007 odyssey.

As of 2021 all Siennas are hybrids so keep that in mind if that is a factor for you.

It was for me, I didn’t want to pay more for that so I steered away from Siennas. I ended up with a 2021 Odyssey and I love it.

[Author]

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