US 8 seaters, Yukon, Odyssey, Sienna but what vans Vito etc?

[Hugh Jarse]

if you think we are being wierd about the valley seating, imagine someone on the third row wants a quick roadside pee, and then the fannying about required, then it happens again ten minutes later etc.

[Hugh Jarse]

Update is still no job, about to put an offer on a rough diamond stepping stone house which we can buy before selling the UK house. So much to sort out in one month yikes. The ramp thing into container is starting to get scary. As the cheapo house has a crappy 2 car garage Im thinking of building a dismantalable bridge over the river kwai type structure (or two RSJs) that can be later converted by adding legs into a carport at least for next winter. But commercial ones are available but the logistics arent going to work for Mr pipe cleaner arms.

[Hugh Jarse]

Found some aluminium I beams which probably are manhandalable and can be reused at the other end or sold on hopefully. Bit pricey at £300 each so have made an offer, will still need wooden support which means buying timber in a country where it is the most expensive and taking it to the Allegheny forest where it will be pennies. DUH! Always seem to end up down these rabbit holes.

Edit: one beam is sold, needs them as a piar not as a oner!

Edited by Hugh Jarse on Wednesday 15th May 16:23

[Hugh Jarse]

Right bought a bunch of planks for £75 so the ramp will be bridge over the river kwai style, hopefully get the use out of the planks at the other end for a canoe storage or something. Bought a house as a stepping stone, but 1890, VERY cheap but is timewarp unprogressed internally since 1955 and requires a complete rewire. The garden is large and backs onto a shallow banked paddleable river. It is near a potential former employer, but still no job, so panicking about that and pursuing avenues which is gobbling up time.

Anyway, have found a metris for $12k in NJ from a dealer so will be going for that......but struggling to secure it without just wiring $12k over directly.
Secondly, what happens with the plates, can I buy in NJ but get NY plates, have no idea about these things, bit vague on my first google.

[Hugh Jarse]

The Moose said:

If it’s spent its life in NJ, make sure it’s not rusted out.

Is this dealer a small time dealer or a big dealer?

Cheers Moose.
Small time, it came from Maryland, not sure if that is less or more salty, pictures look good from my POV, we have the carfax, no sign of major service on the carfax which has my concern,, but lots of minor services the dealer has a website, its just behind Paterson bus depot, not the most beautiful area but hey ho.
https://www.classautotradeinc.com/details/used-201...

Edited by Hugh Jarse on Saturday 1st June 11:40

[Hugh Jarse]

Beautiful.

Our plan is to get to port authority terminal, do left luggage, kids go walkabout to central park and food etc, while I catch the 190 across the Hudson direct to Paterson bus terminal, then only a half mile walk to the dealer.
Then I get the child seats second hand TBC and then collect the fam and head north 2.5 hours to Windsor NY. We've booked a cabin at https://lakesidecampgroundny.com/ for three days to settle down, then we will head over to Belmont Monday (2 hours) to sign the house deal hopefully, wire the second portion of house payment and maybe even the keys if informal prepossession is agreed which give the seller and realtor demenaour, seems likelyish. There are some other Metris candidates but not always with sunroof, eight seats (essential) and non black.

[Hugh Jarse]

Sold at Mercedes Benz of Alexandria, Virginia and lived in Rocksville Maryland (only 32 miles away).

Doesnt look rusted, I assume Washington conurbation/Maryland isnt that cold, but then again in urban areas they probably salt the roads more?

[Hugh Jarse]

GAw, had a virtual test drive, price agreed, all hunky dory, but dealer has backed out.....says another buyer with finance wants it...........could be true as they make more dosh on the finance than the sale probably, and another customer (me) is a good way to say "Pay up" to the other person. Was about to wire the money. groan, big anti climax and havent found another, wea re up to $17000 for the next equivalent.

[Hugh Jarse]

alabbasi said:

Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna are your best bet. You won't find diesel unless you buy a sprinter which are super expensive or miled out

Facebook market is the new Craigslist but I suggest auto trader or cars.com if you're wanting to make a franchised dealer purchase.

Quick image to show why honda etc are no go, child seats on second row means third rowers are blocked in the event of an accident.
Thanks for the tip Alabbasi on cars.com, had a quick scoot, but mostly usual suspects.
Tried ebay motors but i think my URL location was blocking me seeing full vehicles or obviously later bidding/buying, I could only get parts. Pity!

[Hugh Jarse]

Called and want to buy another metris at a budget busting 15999 but no, they dont want to sell it for cash, facepalm.
Caddy Limo? seems cheap and 50k miles.
Lots of hondas, this one under 100k. ALL the honda adverts say "impeccably reliable!!"

Edited by Hugh Jarse on Wednesday 12th June 13:53

[Hugh Jarse]

macron said:

Buy the Caddy!

Quite tempting as very low mileage and unlike to be ragged, plus very cheap.
Looking at Hondas at the moment as lots of dodgy looking provate sellers and dealers are either super dear or wont entertain a cash buyer.

[Hugh Jarse]

Have messaged!! Its on!

[Hugh Jarse]

Sorry for the radio silence.
Quick update: The two stretch 6 doors were great but both with major defects, i.e. undriveable.
Saw several crashed vehciles described as "perfect", missed the $9000 Metris white 175k miles with black wheels and elctric doors because sold over the weekend whilst we were drawing out the cash. After several crashed Hondas bought a Metris with a perfect interior and good underside for $12k 116k miles so quite low but is bare bones on extras, no electric doors so a pain.
The final obvious thing is becuse f the tracks and the support knobs used to add the eight seat on the middle row, turning around the seats is not a quick job, as the bolts must be extracted and switch sides, (pics will be clearer), so as yet have yet to make a valley. Anyway need to buy mowers/climbing frames and all sorts of crap so might have the seats removed for a couple of days. Thanks for your contributions.

[Hugh Jarse]

The Dictator said:

I have a Mercedes Viano 3.5v6 petrol with 7 seats, but you can get them with 8 or even 9 if you have 3 in the front and two benches of 3.

I have 4 captains chairs and a bench of 3 - I have had it since October 2022 and as a family we love it.

Sliding electric doors both side, programmable (yourself) to open 1 side or the other from the key
3 sunroofs - 2 opening all with blinds
Curtains all around the passenger compartment
2 screens with DVD
"Leather" seats, heated, electric fronts
Air suspension on the rear for load compensation
Pop up and flip out table
Loads of space for activities and great on roadtrips.

I have the back set up conference style and my 2 children love it, they have a chair each and can put their feet up on the back row. The dog can come in the passenger compartment and has plenty of space.

The only real downside is fuel economy, but I do pretty low mileage annually so not worth the extra issues a diesel engine produces on these.

Yes Im getting about 23>25mpg, admittedly US miles are longer. Has yours got the explorer top? Sounds great. Ours is black with black tints which might be great for a rapewagon or for a dictator (lol like you) but is quite depressing visually. Anyway it works, has donw 1000 miles no issues and has zero rust underneath.
Meanwhile the second hand market seems bargainous for some things and expensive for laughably rusted out stuff, these two have caught my eye:





Still interested in the 6door DTS cadillacs, as low mileage, air suspension, and not silly fuel econony, also as child wagons, they looked great, even better access than a Metris with valley seating. Also likely is the Honda Odyssey which does most things the Metris does, but more car like and opening windows. We will need two cars.