The typical used car recommendations of Corollas and Civics and whatnot are just fine, unless you need to move around more than one or two people. If your seating requirements go beyond that, you’re going to need to look at a crossover or a van. So today, we’re going to check out one of each, still staying below our $2,500 threshhold.
Yesterday, we looked at a couple of rusty beaters from up in Minnesota. One of them didn’t look rusty, but I fear for the areas you can’t see. Nonetheless, that car, an Oldsmobile 88 (sorry, Eighty Eight) won handily. The visible rust on the Honda Accord scared off too many of you.
I get it – but the horror stories I have heard about H-platform subframes rusting out give me pause. I couldn’t recommend that Oldsmobile to someone unless I saw underneath it, preferably on a lift where you can really get a good look at it. The Honda is probably in need of a similar inspection, honestly, and whichever one seemed more structurally sound after that inspection would get my vote. So it’s not as cut-and-dried as it may seem, just looking at the pictures.
Today’s vehicles hail from the Austin, Texas area, so rust shouldn’t be nearly as much of an issue. They’re also newer, which helps. These are both seven-passenger vehicles, with plenty of cargo space as well. Hey, sometimes someone can’t afford a car payment, but still needs a decent-sized vehicle. Let’s check them out.
2005 Chrysler Pacifica Touring – $2,250
Engine/drivetrain: 3.5-liter OHC V6, four-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Austin, TX
Odometer reading: 158,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The original Chrysler Pacifica is a weird vehicle. Chrysler called it a “Sports Tourer,” but it was really the prototype for basically every three-row crossover available today. The Pacifica didn’t do so well in sales, partly because nobody really knew what the hell it was supposed to be, and partly because it wasn’t put together very well.
Originally, the Pacifica came in only one trim level, with all the bells and whistles. For 2005, Chrysler introduced some lower trim levels to bring the price down and offer more choices. All Pacificas had the same engine, however, a single overhead-cam V6 displacing 3.5 liters and making 250 horsepower. That may sound like a lot, but the Pacifica is a heavy vehicle, and the engine works hard – and the gas mileage reflects this. Later Pacificas came with more power to help acceleration, but used even more fuel. This one runs and drives just fine and has newer tires, but the seller notes that it has a power steering leak that needs topping off once in a while.
It’s a mid-level Touring model, optioned-up with leather seats and some other goodies. The Pacifica was meant to be a luxury vehicle, not necessarily a family hauler, but with three rows of seats, it will do the job of ferrying kids around just fine. It has a DVD player in the back to play the same Disney movie over and over again, too (do kids still do that?). The seller notes that the rear windows no longer open, which could be a lot of things, all of them annoying to fix.
It looks decent outside, but I question the difference in color between the front and the back. Is that a trick of the light? Or has part of it been repainted? It’s hard to tell. It is losing a little clearcoat here and there too. And all four wheel center caps have left the chat as well.
2011 Kia Sedona EX – $2,400
Engine/drivetrain: 3.8-liter DOHC V6, six-speed automatic, FWD
Location: Austin, TX
Odometer reading: 137,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
In most other parts of the world, the Kia Sedona minivan is known as the Carnival. Why they chose to name it after a town in Arizona known for New Age retreats instead of a cruise line, I don’t know, but in 2021 the Carnival name reached the US. Back in 2011, however, it was still the Sedona, available only in long-wheelbase configuration, because nobody in the US bought the shorty version.
Only one engine and transmission combination was available in the Sedona, a 3.8-liter V6 from Hyundai and an automatic transmission, upgraded from five to six gears for 2011. This one runs and drives well, and everything works, but the title is listed as “salvage.” However, the ad text says it is a “blue title,” which, if I’m understanding right, means it was considered totaled for some reason or other, but given a clean bill of health, so it’s basically the same as a regular title. If anyone in Texas can explain it better in the comments, please feel free to do so.
It’s in good shape inside, with few signs of wear, and the seller says the air conditioning works fine, as do all the windows. It has power sliding doors on both sides, and it sounds like those work fine, too. It has captain’s chairs for both of the two front rows, so middle-row passengers get a little nicer ride than they would with a bench.
It looks a little scruffy outside, but it won’t embarrass you. I don’t know what happened to cause the title weirdness, but I don’t see anything obvious. It is missing one hubcap, but that just makes it look tough.
The nice thing about both of these is they’re a little newer than our typical fare, and therefore have some more safety features to them. That’s important when you’re shuttling kids around, of course, and not a terrible idea for everyone else either. One is a little cushier, the other is a little roomier, and they’re both good and cheap. If you knew someone in need of a family vehicle for peanuts, which one would you recommend?
In a case where both options have ample red flags, I’ll take the one that is at least somewhat interesting for being somewhat ahead of its time. Pacifica.
I wonder if it has the nav screen in the gauge cluster, which was an eyebrow-raising feature in 2005.
Interesting that so many of you guys care about the title on a sub $2500 car. Normally I’m in agreement to avoid salvage titles but at this price point who cares as long as it wasn’t anything safety related. I’ve had vehicles totaled out that were still perfectly safe to drive.
In some states a salvage title makes it a huge hassle to get a vehicle legally registered.
Same here. Somebody lightly hit my ’99 Corolla last year and “totalled” it. I kept the car and hammered the front left fender out so it wouldn’t rub the tire on full compression.
The Pacifica was an attempt at hiding the mini van behind regular opening doors and a lowered roof line. they were pretty dorky in the end, and this one should be trounced by the Sedona by all rights, but the Salvage title, blue or not is a red flag to me. I would probably move on to a different vehicle and perhaps the pacifica is all I might find in the area. so I would probably lean towards that I suppose. at least I am aware of the ins and outs of the 3.5. it is a decent motor
I mean, at sub $2500 is the title really a big deal to you? Sure you can’t get collision insurance but this is a throw away car. Any repair bill over $500 and it goes to the scrapyard.
Definitely the Pacifica. I had the Sedona as a media loan; even as a brand new vehicle, it was underwhelming. It had all the *stuff* – so value wasn’t the issue, it was more that they took the approach of throwing features into a bucket instead of making a good vehicle that drove well, first, and then integrating the goodies. It was a lot of checklist items for your dollar, but it also drove like poop.
The Pacifica will drive better. When it’s driveable.
This is truly a tail of two cars I know nothing about. I voted purely on looks, which I give the nod to the Pacifica for being both a color, and having a black leather interior. The KIA is probably a better choice, but as a guy without kids who likes to go to the park I don’t think its wise for me to start showing up with a minivan….
Same – that gold on beige would put me in a horrible mood.
Yeah I wouldn’t be happy to see it, but damn if it isn’t convenient to have a beige/silver car. They never look the best in my opinion but its not as ugly when they are dirty which I suppose is a good quality in a beater.
We had a slightly older Sedona, and it was an absolute tank. That V6 is strong. I towed campers, UHauls and cars with it. Raised three kids through their teens and travelled the USA in our K-I-A.
Not a real sophisticated vehicle – the rear seats weighed a ton and were hard to remove. But ol’ reliable. Ours was closing in on 200k miles and going strong when we sold it. Once the kids were mostly out of the house, my wife wanted something cooler.
I’ve never owned either, but I’ve wrenched on both for friends, and I’ll take the Kia. The Pacificas were relatively nice when new, but they fell apart fast and are not something I would ever willingly own.
Being a circa-2006 design the “Sedoan” is from a more stout H/K era, better than the first round but just before quality took a backseat to design. There aren’t really any hidden gotchas I can think of with these, if anything it should run okay when neglected sort of in that “runs poorly for longer” GM way. Nothing dramatic like the H/K models introduced in the 2010s had.
This one is an LX per the manual driver’s seat and steelies with wheel covers. Not as plush as the Chrysler, and salvage title gives me pause but more useful. I wouldn’t trust the Chrysler to not have electrical issues; don’t know if the van has power sliders but you can at least heave those open manually.
“ It has power sliding doors on both sides, and it sounds like those work fine, too.”
Well I’ll be! lol – thank you.
I’ve missed being Captain Obvious before. Cut yourself some slack.
This is a very rare occasion when the Chrysler product is the better choice. Those old Kias were truly garbage. My Aunt, who cares not one bit about cars, always had Kias of that generation because their son worked at a dealership. Every single one of them had a major failure before 100k miles.
Blue title is what you want. That means a clean title in Texas.
Wow. I try to be a good sport and always pick one, not matter how bad both cars are, but it’s just not possible with this pair. Both have issues and both are likely to have more significant issue coming up. I might think about the Kia but lord knows whether I could even get it insured here in Cali with that title.
And then there’s the fact that either of these would cause me crushing existential despair every time I got in the damn thing to drive it. You finally beat me, Mark. No vote.
I think that at this price point every car has issues and are likely to have more significant issues coming up.
Yeah, anything at this price point is gonna be at, or near it’s end of life. I went with the option of functional windows.
Yeah, it’s really the crushing existential despair thing that made for the no vote.
I’ll take the Kia. While the branded title is a little disconcerting, at this price point it’s not a killer as long as there isn’t a safety issue. I’ve had Hyundais and I know people with Kias and while they have their issues, they’re no worse than Chryslers.
I’m not confident that either of these vehicles will be hauling passengers much longer. The weirdness and cushy interior of the Pacifica won me over in this battle of questionable vehicles that will only be moving via tow truck pretty soon.
As long as you don’t need to carry more than 4 passengers you would be better off with something like a W body GM with the 3800 V6 or the best 4 banger Camry you can find for $2,500. Either will seat 5 (or 6 with some of the W bodies) while having less to go wrong with them.
Pacifica for me. The salvage title on the Kia sewed it up for me.
As far as paint mismatch on the Pacifica, all I see is the difference between the passenger front fender and the A-pillar. That may just be a consequence of material difference. If the pillar cover is plastic and the fender metal, the paint can fade in different ways. Doesn’t automatically mean crash damage. Is there something I’m not seeing?
The rear door and quarter panel look to be a slightly different shade than the front door and front end.
Yeah, I see that now. All the panel gaps look pretty consistent, so I’m thinking whatever was repaired wasn’t too serious.
Or the shop did a really good job.
(Flips a coin). Chrysler it is.
I still see a lot of these Sedonas on the road so Kia must have done something right.
My great aunt has one from the previous generation that I have ridden in. Hers is in great condition because she rarely drives. Second row captain’s chair comfort was lacking but it reminded me of the utility a minivan can provide.
Never owned a H/K but I’m willing to spend $2400 for one (but no more) just for the extra room. .
At this price point, parts availability and repairability are tantamount, so I’ll stick with the American brand.
Kia minivan parts are cheap and easy to get.
At this price point, there isn’t a part or repair that would be worth the $.
True, any big repair and it’s scrapyard time and time for new beater.
Chrysler. This is a comparison of the “devil I know vs. the one I don’t”. I know people with Pacifcas and aside from basic issues, they’ve been pretty solid. As for Kia: Never, not in a million years will I take that monkey on my back.
My wife and I both have Kia vehicles and they have been very reliable. My father in law is a “proud Chrysler man” and his have had lots of problems, both small and large.
Also, who, after having a very unreliable Dodge Journey trades it in on a new Dodge Journey? My father in law, that’s who.
same, our Niro has been rock solid!
I hope your FIL doesn’t hang out on this site.
I’m sure he would never find this site. His computing use is model trains and getting news on youtube. One of these is far more worrisome than the other.
What’s wrong with model railroading? JK.
Not one, but two Dodge Journeys? What kind of masochist is he?
Yup, NEVER KIA
Never a H/K product. I’d rather rock the leaker that could lose its rear crossmember at any moment.
I have owned a sedona and Not into the non-sliding door pacifica. neither day for me.
Kia. I have zero faith in that era of Chrysler. Or really most eras of Chrysler based on the experiences of family and friends.
Pacifica.
It’ll be a nicer place to sit and watch Cars on repeat while waiting for the tow truck.
Life is a hiiighway
That we’re not driving ‘cause
We brooooke down
The Pacifica is hiding something with that mismatched paint from front to rear. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same accident that resulted in a repaint also nuked the rear window operation. I don’t trust it at all.
The Sedona… I don’t know about the title nonsense going on here. It seems a little more honest and useful to me, but maybe someone will reveal more about that in the comments later. For now it gets my vote as a runs and drives minivan for 2400$ is a great deal.
In the people-mover battle, minivan always wins. Also, way more useful for utility purposes.