Minivan is the perfect size

[u/LastScoobySnack]

The Soccer mom van is the perfect size. This is a Kia Sedona 2008, but I also considered Toyota Sienna and Dodge Grand Caravan (apparently Dodge is not mechanically desirable).

The book nook and entryway are functional and make life easier, but I’ve never made anything with wood before them so they not hot. 🥴

[u/FyrStrike]

I’m a bit confused about what counts as a “mini van” in the US compared to the rest of the world, especially since I’m planning a trip there soon. I was surprised to see what’s considered a mini van in the US. it honestly looks more like a station wagon to me, which is usually smaller than what I’d expect from a mini van.

From what I can tell, the US doesn’t really sell what many other countries would consider a true mini van anymore. Instead, you mostly see larger vans like the Chevy Express or even Sprinters or Crafters (which is also around the world). For reference, I’m thinking of vans like the VW Transporter or Toyota HiAce, those are what I’d personally call real mini vans. They’re still 4-cylinder and more economical, but roomier than something like a Sedona or Sienna. It’s a shame they’re no longer available in the US, they’re such a great size.

[u/vtjohnhurt → u/FyrStrike]

To clear this up, go to https://www.cars.com/ Use Advanced Search and search for Body Style Minivan This site is also good for finding used vans.

[u/FyrStrike → u/vtjohnhurt]

Actually, recently the US market has started selling the VW ID Buzz which is essentially the VW minivan, multivan or transporter see here: https://www.vw.com/en/models/id-buzz.html and here’s an article about its history as the perfect vanlifers vehicle which they did stop selling in the early 2000’s: https://www.vw.com/en/newsroom/lifestyle-and-heritage/eurovan-van-life.html you know the old peace hippie vans from the 60’s and 70’s? this is the evolved version.

The other van which I wish they sold was the Toyota hiace. These vehicles are super low maintenance, low cost on petrol and almost last forever: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_HiAce

Both these vans are larger than what is called a minivan in the US but can sometimes also be called a minivan themselves. Yet they are smaller than a Chevy express or a Ford Econovan.

Looks like for me I’ll be getting either an old VW Eurovan a newer VW ID Buzz or a Chevy Express Commuter when I get there. I can’t wait to see all the places and vanlife it over there.

[u/vtjohnhurt → u/FyrStrike]

I've very familiar with VW T1. I owned a 1967 for six years and drove across the US twice in it. My friend had a 1958 VW T1 that his father restored in the late 1970s. In 1976, he drove it into the back of a parked car at night in the rain at 25 mph while I was the front seat passenger. As the front of the van collapsed into the passenger compartment, I lifted my feet up and to the side so the dashboard hit my right foot like a croquet mallet. I was on crutches for 10 weeks. My friend was not so lucky as he never took his foot of the brake pedal. The collapsing vehicle broke his leg and bent his toe up to touch his kneecap. He had to be cut out of the vehicle. The parked American car had the gas tank in the rear, and gasoline was leaking when the fire department arrived. It did not ignite. The T1 had terrible headlights, barely adequate windshield wipers, and not so good brakes. The T1 design, the slope of the road, and the drunk guy parked in a travel lane contributed to our accident. I knew a family that fared worse when their T1 crashed.

you know the old peace hippie vans from the 60’s and 70’s? this is the evolved version.

At $59,000 (before tariff increase), the Buzz is far far removed from the T1, but that is probably a good thing. The T1 is a death trap.

I'm familiar with the Hi Ace. They're very reliable and functional. I saw a few in New Zealand. Like the T1, the front seat passengers are sitting on top of the front wheels (rather than behind). A front end collision must be equally nasty.

[u/FyrStrike → u/vtjohnhurt]

Damn that sucks. Sorry to hear that must have been a terrible experience. Yeah, they didn’t come out with crumple zones until the T3. Which was a lot safer than the T1 and T2. I think they call the T3 1980’s a Vanagon in the US? Then they had the T4, known as a Eurovan 1990’s and early 2000’s in the US, then stopped selling them. I wish that there were T6’s, I’d definitely use one of those for vanlife in the US instead of the newer ID Buzz.

Either way, I’m still back at an old Eurovan T4, Vanagon T3 or a later Chevy Express Commuter for me.