Used 7 -8 Seater Large Van/Car.. which one is good

niagraBzO on 02/07/2019 - 16:58

Hi all,

Looking for expert advise. I am after 7 or more seater but all adult seats not like majority of seven seater SUV offer. My budget is maximum 20k and looking for used one. I need powerfuli engine too.

After spending some time I couldn't find anything that can beat Nissan elgrand but unfortunately it is import van and internet is full of stories where dealer changed odometer by 100k to sell this one. Is there anything else that you think is good?

I already have Kia Rondo and I am not happy with Kia now due to no real engine power.

Automotive

Comments

  • altomic on 02/07/2019 - 17:01

    *advice

    Advise is the verb. E.g. "please advise me Of which one is best"

    I have a diesel 7seater outlander 2013. Turbo is nice on it. You can actually accelerate up hills.

    Look for a direct japan import for the elgrand. Used cars imported from japan usually have legit low kms.

    • [Deactivated] on 06/07/2019 - 00:47

      all adult seats not like majority of seven seater SUV offer

      So you can correct someone's English but can't read the question?

  • spackbace on 02/07/2019 - 17:05
    +5

    Tarago or Grand Carnival

  • coxjon on 02/07/2019 - 17:43
    +3

    3.5L V6 Grand Carnival. Can comfortably seat three adults in the back and three child seats fit across.

    • ESEMCE on 03/07/2019 - 07:46

      The Carnival certainly has some decent power (for the vehicle size)

      Ford Territoty Diesel would be another option, provided the 6/7th seats were suitable.

  • epkh on 02/07/2019 - 19:11

    My dad used to have a Nissan ElGrand and we used to go on interstate road trips with it. It is an excellent car and heaps of space for all 8 seats.

    We kept it for 5 years maybe longer (don't really remember) and I'm really sure we never had any problems with it.

    As for power, I don't remember it being a powerful car and with a full load it didn't feel comfortable going up hills etc. although it was possible.

    I don't remember what year/how much my dad got it for but I helped him sell it for 10k 2 years ago if it helps.

  • brendanm on 02/07/2019 - 19:30
    +1

    Grand carnival or Tarago. Your car lacking power has nothing to do with it being a Kia, it is simply underpowered. The grand carnival v6 is not underpowered.

  • zuuutoootuuu on 02/07/2019 - 21:03

    Toyota Alphard, Toyota Estima Hybrid and Nissan Elgrand

    • John Kimble on 03/07/2019 - 21:27

      "Alphard" has got to be one of the worst names I've heard for a car. Any other contenders?

  • whooah1979 on 02/07/2019 - 21:15
    +1

    An Hiace D4D commuter.

  • justaperson on 03/07/2019 - 01:42

    The Elgrand is a fine vehicle. As for worries about odometer fraud, make sure the seller or dealer give you a copy of BOTH the japanese auction sheet AND the dereg certificate. If in doubt about the legitimacy of the documents or the seller, use http://www.japaneseodometercheck.com to get the genuine auction sheet in about a day. If the seller/dealer refuses to show both documents, walk away. Its not that hard to find a good imported car with genuine kilometres, you just need to properly check.

  • DarthAntz on 03/07/2019 - 10:47
    +1

    Ive got a 2008 Nissan Elgrand. Awesome Car. Look for the 2009 model. Theres a UK forum for elgrand owners. You'll always have the satellite and time on the vehicle locked to Japan time, and this happens with a few other imports. Its no problem. I've installed a new android headunit and if I keep the car for another 2 years, I may install a new TV screen for the back. I have the 2400cc model and theres another 3L version.
    Its a very roomy car. The next project I have for the vehicle is cleaning the rails which the seats run along, as they fill up with sand and other small things which is very difficult to keep clean.

  • Rockets84 on 03/07/2019 - 11:17
    +1

    My wife has a 2010 Grand Carnival - 2nd Gen VQ. It's got plenty of power. Everyone after their first drive of it always comment about how surprised they were at the power available. The older, smaller SWB 4 cylinder Carnivals are gutless and there's reliability issues with the engine, avoid them. Kia dropped the old SWB Carnival models and the LWB Grand Carnival is now just called the Carnival. Not sure what year that happened, I think around 2014.

    We've currently got ours in a 7 seater configuration with the middle seat from the middle row removed which makes getting into the back row much easier. Plus with the third row up there's still a large amount of boot well space which is something almost all 7/8 seaters lack when the third row is up. The third row is a 60/40 fold flat into the floor split which gives a huge amount of cargo room. We often do a 8 hour trip to my wifes home town and we fit all the luggage in boot with the third row up - 3 large suitcases for the kids plus a couple smaller bags for ourselves.

    When were looking for a mini van the Grand Carnival was most flexible seating wise with good boot space of any of the non import models available that didn't cost the earth - VW or Merc. Most of the other mini vans are based on a commercial vehicle and it shows eg the Hyundai iMax. The Tarago is getting really long in the tooth. The current models were released 06, have had minor face lifts since then and are due to be replaced later this year with the Granvia which is based on the HiAce. When I looked at a Torago last it really felt like it hadn't changed much since the mid 90's when my parents had one. Dunno why Toyota don't make a RHD Sienna, it's a fantastic van.

    Reliability wise we haven't had any problems at all with the GC. It's a little hard wearing on the tyres though so you need to rotate them regularly and maintain air pressure etc.

    • niagraBzO on 06/07/2019 - 09:15

      Thanks so you reckon model should be minimum 2014?

      • Rockets84 on 08/07/2019 - 10:19
        +1

        Not necessarily. If looking at a model prior to 2014 get the Grand Carnival with the V6. If you see both side by side there's no mistaking which is which. The older 4 cylinder SWB Carnivals don't have the 3rd row as fold flat into the floor and there isn't a the well in the boot where the seats fold flat into. The spare tyre is under the car behind the drivers door. The 2014 face lift has a better interior layout in the front. Ours has this funny shelf in between the front seats that you could fold down if you don't store anything on it so of course we never fold it down cause the Mrs has always got crap all over it. In the 2014 they replaced it with a proper centre console so the layout is nicer.

        I'm a true cheap skate. I don't buy new cars or even demos. In fact the GC when we bought it was the newest car I've ever bought, I think it was 2 years old at that point. I'd been paid a large bonus at work so I used that to buy the car outright. The sales guy looked at me weird when I said we'd pay cash, no finance. My car is a very tidy low Km 2004 Holden Berlina. I'm always baffled by people on OzBargain buying new cars, what a good way to flush money down the toilet. But hey, I have zero debt except what's on my $3K limit CC and we own our home having paid off the mortgage last year.

  • Noblejoker on 03/07/2019 - 11:58

    Note on SUV if you can do with 7 seats and dont want an Elgrand etc.
    The largest internal SUV style car is the Toyota Kluger
    We tried everything when upgrading from Outlander and the Kluger has the most room in the 2nd row and usable 3rd row seats
    Not sure how old you will need to go to get under a $20K budget
    the good news is they haven't had a significnat upgrade for a while so all look pretty similar and very popular so plenty around

    • spackbace on 03/07/2019 - 13:37
      +2

      but all adult seats not like majority of seven seater SUV offer

      There's a good reason why everyone is suggesting people movers

      • Rockets84 on 03/07/2019 - 14:50

        I wouldn't consider the 3rd row in a Kluger adult seats either. They are better than others but an adult will have their knees around their ears in the back of a Kluger.

        • spackbace on 03/07/2019 - 15:11
          +1

          Nor would I, hence reiterating OP's request

          • Noblejoker on 09/07/2019 - 09:42

            @spackbace: Agreed Kluger is best of a bad bunch for the 3rd row
            it is also quite large etc. - but still a little smaller and more car like than the Bus style vehicles mentioned

  • brad1-8tsi on 03/07/2019 - 12:31
    +1

    Toyota Tarago V6. Surprisingly cheap and under your $20k budget with reasonable mileage

    You'll go through fuel like there is no tomorrow but they accelerate faster than a Phase1 Falcon GTHO; they are roomy enough for 6 adults and their (overnight) luggage (many don't have room for bags); they ride and handle well; Toyota reliability, spares and service backup.

    DO NOT BUY THE 4 CYLINDER VERSION.

    I've had regular use of various people movers and 6/7 seat SUVs. 3rd row in SUVs (Captiva, Outlander, and we had 2 others I can't even remember) is useless for adults.

    Avensis Verso is a bit small and underpowered. We had a Nissan that was even smaller and slower. Sliding door Odyssey was roomy but the engine was stressed and the CVT has question marks over reliablity.
    Tarago, bigger body; powerful, unstressed engine; traditional torque converter auto.

    • niagraBzO on 06/07/2019 - 09:18

      Thanks, great advise

  • danield on 03/07/2019 - 14:22

    I recently started looking at people movers as the family is starting to grow. Being in similiar situation as OP but with a slightly higher budget up to 25K. I was disappointed by the lack of options available for locally sold cars. Narrowed it down to only 4 options. Toyota Tarago, Kia Carnival, Citreon Grand Picasso and Honda Odyssy.
    Initially we were wanting to get something like an Elgrand but I quickly dismissed anything that was imported, as I figured it (1) it would cost more and be more expensive to maintin (2)it could easily intoduce more issues and more then I want to have with a car.

    So reading through this thread has got me thinking again, as the Elgrand has come up much more then I expected, Is it really worth going for a imported car or would it really just be easier to stick with the Oddessy (which is where I had landed as preferred).

  • niagraBzO on 06/07/2019 - 09:20

    Thanks all. It's great advise. What about Chevrolet grand Voyager? Does anyone have experience with it?

    • brendanm on 06/07/2019 - 14:02

      Avoid at all costs.

    • brad1-8tsi on 08/07/2019 - 08:51

      That would be a Chrysler Grand Voyager. I'm inclined to not touch anything from the traditional "Big 3" USA manufacturers.

      They are cheap cars at their point of origin. I was buying 4cylinder SWB Voyagers for our USA offices in 2005 and they were USD19,000

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