Hi guys,

I have spent almost every day this week looking at cars and I cannot decide which is best for us. Family of 5. Really like the dodge journey 7 seater but I have heard these cars have bad transmission problems, any truth in that or should I go for it? I hate car shopping!!!!!

No idea, but it is descent not decent.

Thanks for that, very helpful. Now I know it bothers you I'll leave it

How flattering.

lol only a decent citizen since 2001, oooh you must have been a bounder before that

Ford Edges have good reviews. (just to keep relevant).

Budget? New or Used? Financing or outright purchase?

Can't help, I hate car shopping too but just to say I could have written your post! Family of 5 reluctantly looking to replace our Mazda MPV which is on it's very last legs so I'd narrowed our choice down to Dodge Journey, Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe...something like that!
We only want it to last 1 year and want to spend the least possible but also not have any big problems with it.
So good luck!

Personally would not buy a domestic vehicle. Lower initial cost, higher cost of ownership overall. Toyota or Nissan would be my choice.

+1

Japanese is the sensible choice (in Canada).

Or how about a lease takeover? Never leased a car so a bit wary but could be a good option if we only want a car for 1 year? Do they sting you with all sorts of costs at the end?

I haven't taken over a lease but have leased, and returned, numerous vehicles. Assuming the mileage is that agreed then, Ford no problem (forgave me 5,000km or so each time even when I didn't immediately lease another Ford), Chrysler no problem, Suzuki big problems, VW a hassle but ultimately negotiable. YMMV, but I'd certainly see what's available with a year and 25,000km left on it.

I like leasing. We currently have two leased vehicles at present - a KIA Soul and a Ford Truck. Why? Because vehicles don't last beyond 9-10 years in this part of the world & financing a purchase over 5+ years to get to an acceptable monthly payment just doesn't work for me.

The Kia goes back this year. It had an inclusive service package - which in hindsight we could have done without as we haven't done enough mileage to fully utilise it - and wear protection insurance. Our intent is to simply hand it back when we're done.

The truck is a 24 month lease, again with included maintenance. I didn't opt for wear protection because I'm only using it for 24 months. It'll barely be used by that stage.

In both instances we benefit from mostly/completely being within the manufacturers warranty. So the Japanese/Euro/US manufacturer, what's best, the most reliable etc, becomes less of a factor.

With leasing you have to be confident that you are OK being locked into a financial contract for x years. (although I'd submit the loss when selling a vehicle to get out of a 5,6,7 year hire purchase agreement is much the same) and you have to be concious of the mileage you do. Those extra KM charges can be a sting. For us, living on a Rock in the North Atlantic, we don't do many km's in a year. If we lived on the mainland and had the realistic option of driving to visit places rather than flying, life might be different.

Although some Japanese manufacturers make them in the US and Canada, but at least to their standards.

I always buy ex demo or dealer vehicles, save a bit and still get warranty.

Buy a minivan and have done with it. What, please, is the point of a Dodge Journey that is not achieved more successfully with a Caravan, if it must be a Dodge? It's not an offroad vehicle; 4-wheel drive (if that option is taken) is unnecessary almost anywhere in Canada; the van has more interior space, more flexible seating options, a lower load floor, better fuel economy...

Just too many design compromises in a crossover, IMO.

Dependent on budget and other considerations, look at the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna, or possibly a Kia Sedona as well as the Dodge.

1) It maintains an illusion that it's not a minivan.
2) See point #1.

I'dve thought that the Journey was slightly more economical than the Caravan? Being a little more aerodynamic.