MINIVAN REVIEW ...the people hauler pages.

07 Nissan Quest SE (used)

2011-01-27T17:18:00.000-08:00

In April of 2010 we traded in our 04 Quest and purchased an 07 Quest SE.

As many of you may know, there were some significant changes to the 07 Quest from the 04-06 models. The biggest change came to the interior. Nissan spent a small fortune to revamp the interior...more specifically, the dash. Traditional Minivan owners has a hard time with the centrally located gauge cluster, so the 07 model moves it back to it's traditional location in front of the driver.

I wasn't very happy about this...yes the center stack gauge cluster is weird the first time you see it, but as I mentioned in a previous post, give it a week and you won't go back. If you want to read more about this, go the the post about our New 04 Quest SE.

Central gauge cluster aside, the new dash is well laid out, less confusing and the materials are of a much higher quality. The Radio now has an Aux plug in. Also, the DVD player that was previously located under the passenger seat is now in the center column and easily accessible by either the Driver or Passenger.

There is now a center console between the passenger and drivers seat...it is very useful...and a great place for the wife to put her purse. It has 2 cup holders, a couple of loose change bins that are felt lined, a front storage pocket (still haven't found a good use for this yet...maybe I can put a small garbage sack in there a call it a hiding garbage bin) and a top bin with a sliding top that holds DVD's. Under the DVD holder (hidden) is additional storage.

The leather in the Quest is new as well, finer grain and perforated. The middle row captain chairs head rests now adjust forward and back to enable the seats to fold flat without having to remove the head rests. The big improvement in the 3rd row is two fold. First, the headrests now collapse with the tug of a single strap rather that having to be removed in order to fold this bench into the floor. Also, there is a spring system that makes collapsing and lifting the seat in and out of the floor much easier.

Quality has improved in the 07 models, squeaks and rattles have disappeared and as previously mentioned the materials are a higher quality. The suspension has been re-tuned for a more compliant and comfortable ride. This was a double edged sword for me. I liked how our previous Quests handled...almost sports car flat through turns, but you sacrificed overall ride quality.

On the exterior Nissan has done mainly cosmetic updates. The front bumper is new as is the grill...again, more traditional. The round tubular roof rack has been replaced with a more "traditional" chrome roof rack. The door handles are now chrome as well. The rocker panels between the front and rear wheels have trim piece installed to give the body a more finished look.

The one thing that I miss from the previous Quests are the lighted running boards, especially in the winter time. In order to install them on 07's you have to remove the finishing trim previously mentioned.

Driving the Quest is always enjoyable. In fact, there has been a few times where I've "thrown down" against other drivers and embarrassed most of them. The Quest is fast "for a Minivan". It is a drivers van...sure the kids enjoy it too... but if a Minivan is in the cards for you, there is no need to feel like you "have to drive a Minivan"... this is one you GET to drive!

Overall, our Quest SE's have been the best Family cars that we have ever owned in 17 years of marriage, and our 07 has certainly raised the bar.

Pics coming soon!

04 to 09 Nissan Quest styling solution!

2009-02-23T23:21:00.000-08:00

In the post here on the site about the New Nissan Quest SE, I touch briefly on the only real styling flaw that I see on the Quest; the rear hatch roof line. It simply looks "unfinished".
The above pictures are of the Nissan Sport Concept vehicle which debuted in 2005. What's it doing in the pages of the Minivan Review? Simple, the rear Spoiler.
If Nissan would have thrown a version, even a mild version, of that rear spoiler on the Quest, it's my belief that they would have increased the popularity of the van. It simply needs a little polish.
That spoiler would finish it off nicely.

That's my .02 cents on the styling.

Oh yes, and Nissan should have built the Sport Concept as you see it above! Instead they "dumbed" it down and created the Nissan Versa. But that's a discussion for another website.

Not your Soccer Mom's Minivan!

2009-02-19T01:37:00.000-08:00

For those in Japan and China, the Minivan industry is HUGE! They treat these things much like how Americans treat SUV's or even Sports Cars. The pictures here are of a early to mid '90's Toyota Previa.
If manufactures would bring Minivans to production looking closer to this (and by "this" I mean sporty, refined, upscale, etc), my bet is we'd see more people driving Minivans

Check back often as we will be adding more unique minivans as we run into them.

If you have a pic of a minivan that is outside the "norm"...let us know.

'99 Chrysler Town & Country Limited

2009-02-19T00:46:00.000-08:00

Watch for a full review, including a very particular problem to look out for on the Chrysler Minivans. If you are considering a Chrysler, Dodge or Plymouth used minivan you need to read this review! We're not saying avoid them, just do your homework first.

Of course there will be more photos too.

Check back soon for full Review.

Toyota Sienna

2009-02-08T00:07:00.001-08:00

Check back soon for the full review of the Toyota Sienna.

Honda Odyssey

2009-02-08T00:04:00.000-08:00

Check back soon for the full review on the Honda Odyssey.

Used 04 Nissan Quest SE

2009-02-07T21:01:00.000-08:00

We have purchased a one owner '04 Nissan Quest SE.
We'll see how well this 4+ year old people hauler has held up, and what to check for when you're in the market for a used Nissan Quest.
This review will also include tips when van shopping online.

Check back soon for the full review and photos.

New 04 Nissan Quest SE

2008-08-29T02:44:00.000-07:00

Above: 2004 Quest SE with lighted running boards.
Below: Rouge leather interior & twin DVD system and Sky Roof.

In our search for our 3rd Minivan, we decided to go all out. Our previous Minivans we had bought used, and while our '99 Chrysler Town & Country Limited was not a bad machine, we had decided to buy new and go big...at least "for a Minivan".

We were shopping in the fall of '03 for the '04 models. Here were our top considerations:

Chrysler Town & Country Limited

Toyota Sienna XLE Limited

Nissan Quest SE

Honda Odyssey EX

While good things were always said about the Honda, it wasn't scheduled for a redesign until the next year. Next to the Nissan, Toyota, and Chrysler the Honda was showing it's age, so we immediately ruled it out.

The Chrysler Limited was a nice ride, much like our '99. In fact it was so close to our '99 in ride quality and feel that we couldn't justify buying a new Minivan that drove like our old Minivan.

On to the Toyota XLE Limited. A very safe design... which turns me off. However, it was very well put together and drove like a "Lexus Minivan" if ever one should exist. We left the lot impressed, but determined to see all of our choices before getting serious with the salesmen.

Ahhh, the Quest. This is the one I wanted to see, and the one that my wife was the most unsure of. As we pulled up to the Nissan dealership there were several Quests sitting on the lot, but only a couple in the top of the line SE trim. As we poked and prodded around the Quest, we started to realize that this thing seemed HUGE by comparison to the other vans. The SkyRoof option was probably the coolest thing either of us had seen in a van... aside from the twin DVD screens.

On the test drive with the salesman in the car, I acted only mildly impressed, but on the inside I was thinking..."my gosh, this thing drives like a sports car!" The VQ engine was not only sports car fast, but sounded exotic. As I merged onto the Freeway, I laid full into the throttle, the needle ran past 80 mph before I was actually on the Freeway. (I think I was making the salesman nervous.)

Cruising along at 75 was effortless, and I couldn't help but make the remark to my wife that I had not driven a van that felt so planted and secure at Freeway speeds. Typically, the smooth ride of a Minivan also means that it feels "boaty" or "twitchy" at higher speeds.
...and I couldn't get enough of that engine sound!

So I decided that I'd push my luck a little. A stab of the throttle prompted a quick but smooth downshift and very quickly we were past 100 mph. This seemed to do very little to the composure of the Quest. Still very stable and safe feeling.

Now, there were some downsides to the Quest. First the interior colors: Gray or Tan. Everything was so monotone that it reminded me of a cargo van. However, I had seen in a brochure a unique leather color called Rouge. Of course, the only one anywhere near our location was a mere 600 miles away. They said they'd bring it in for us. Second, the stereo/HVAC controls seemed confusing, but like anything else, you adapt, or just use the steering wheel controls.

In the meantime, we thought we'd go look at the Toyota Sienna again. We had been impressed with it's roll down windows in the slider doors, and we had owned Toyotas in the past and knew of their quality. But it only took a couple of minutes to realize how boring the Toyota was after having driven the Quest.

When the Smoke Metallic Quest arrived with Rouge Leather, we were sold. The carpet and interior panels were black and the headliner was light gray in color. Combined with the Rouge leather, it was a very rich looking interior. The only thing that took a little getting used to was the center gauge cluster. But after the first week of driving it, my wife and I decided we wouldn't have it any other way. It required very little eye movement off the road to see the gauges, and you could position the steering wheel anywhere you'd like and never worry about blocking any gauges.

3 years later, our lease was over and we decided to see if we could sell our Quest rather than turn it in. It sold surprisingly fast, and we recouped our down payment in the process.

We then turned our attention to the SUV market for our next family ride. A decision that both of us have regretted ever since.

You simply cannot find a better family hauler for the money. Now, my wife and I are past any stigmas that do remain in the Minivan segment, but to those looking at a Minivan, I will always counsel: "If you have to drive a Minivan, the Quest is the one to own,"

I have found that the media has seemed to be harsh on Minivans, but on the Quest most particularly. Personally, I don't think that Journalists, especially male Journalists want to give a fair shake to the segment. Every compliment seems to be justified with the words; "...for a Minivan." Being that the Quest has been so controversial in it's styling (inside and out), it has drawn the most criticism, most of it unfairly, by Journalists who would never consider a Minivan in the first place. Because of this, Nissan has spent a small fortune to restyle the interior for the '07 year. Specifically the Dash, and while I never really had any problems with the previous layout, the new dash is very inviting. To address the exterior styling, there is one area that could benefit from some "updating", the roof line of the rear hatch. It simply doesn't look finished. A very simple rear spoiler would address this nicely and I dare say create a look that more people would find appealing.

I know that there are those out there, like us, who prefer to drive something that is convenient, yet unique in it's design, and not settle for mediocrity. The Quest pulls that off very well.
Let's hope that Nissan, because of the bad press on the Quest, doesn't do away with the unique qualities in the form of the Quest. If they do, we'll have just one more "traditional" minivan out there.

We are now back in the market for another Quest SE.

Read what Car and Driver magazine had to say about the '04 Quest.

Link: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/7_passenger_family_haulers/nissan_quest_3_5se_road_test

Welcome!

2008-08-29T02:22:00.000-07:00

This site is dedicated to the "people hauling" machines known as Minivans. Although they have been stereotyped as the car you "have to drive" rather than "want to drive", auto manufactures have gone to great lengths to make these machines far more enjoyable than many realize.

If you have the need to haul people on a regular basis, whether they be your kids or otherwise, you simply cannot beat the convenience of these driving entertainment centers.
Our purpose is to help you find one that you really enjoy.

The problem is that when people realize that they need to look at buying a Minivan, they often times resort to following the "status quo". That is; "Minivans are boring", "they're slow", "they're not anything special to look at" etc. They also pay too much attention to the Journalists that write about these machines, journalists that follow every compliment of the vehicle with "for a Minivan". So, invariably, people resort to buying something that will simply get them by until they can "afford" to buy something else (i.e. the SUV).

Now, we can't put all the blame on the media, the Minivan manufacturers are to blame as well. They need to put the stigma behind them that they have to build a "box", "bread loaf", "jelly bean", etc. Form does not have to be boring in order to follow function. Make these machines appealing and even more people will flock to them.

Let's get past the stigma of Minivans.

They are one of the most popular vehicle segments today.
They are by far the most car you can buy for your money and
the most fuel efficient for what they "haul".
And they are most decidedly, here to stay.