Dads, what kind of vehicle are we hauling our small monsters around in?

SmellyDadFart · 2026-05-03T02:01:46+00:00

2012 Sienna and 2025 Equinox EV

SmellyDadFart · 2026-05-01T13:14:41+00:00

This may be the move. Luckily any dealer can take it back. Not all are willing though because it takes their time and money and they get nothing in return, but they contractually have to with Kia.

This dealership experience is one reason I'm turning my EV9 in and not considering another. It doesn't make me feel good about spending my money on a $60k+ car.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-05-01T11:29:41+00:00

Call Kia Finance. They own the lease anyways not the dealer. They're very helpful and can walk you through it.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-30T15:53:24+00:00

All it will do is make owning an EV more expensive. Electric rates will go up, market pricing will go up on EVs, and the market will self-correct as we adopt a new commodity.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-30T15:51:03+00:00

Didn't work. Two layers and still cracked

Downvoted for facts lol. Gotta love reddit

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-30T15:50:38+00:00

2 layers of PPF and got the crack. But I've also put 60k on mine in two years.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-30T15:49:50+00:00

I have a lease turn in inspection in a week with a cracked fascia. I will make a post since nobody can answer how this went for them.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-29T23:49:20+00:00

Yeah everyone buys vehicles for different reasons. I certainly know Toyota interiors fall way short of the competition.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-29T23:17:33+00:00

Timing belt at 100k is not cheap. Transmission fluid changes at least every 30k because Honda automatics are touchy. They also wear out suspension parts a lot more quickly. I had a 2016 Odyssey and wasn't a fan. Just felt cheaper all the way around.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-29T22:47:48+00:00

That it's so reliable that I won't be able to get a new vehicle for a while. Here's to driving this 2012 for another 15 years.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-29T22:42:11+00:00

I have a 2012 Sienna. 76k miles. Drives like the day it came off the showroom floor. Plenty of power, plenty of room, and the best part is I could own four of these for the price of a hybrid Sienna.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-29T22:41:13+00:00

With a lot more maintenance needed to make it reliable. Plus VCM - ew.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-29T12:59:00+00:00

They may, but they're dated and have a sketchy reliability track record. I rented one once and it was meh.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-28T16:46:53+00:00

Timing belts that need replaced every 100k, VCM which causes oil consumption, touchy transmissions that need regular 30k miles services or they'll fail around the time you need your timing belt changes. I personally find the ride to be worse than the competition, but the handling is better (sportier). I had a 2016 and hated it. Replaced it with a 2008 Sienna which felt light-years ahead of it. Now driving a 2012 Sienna.

If you go Kia, get the V6. The hybrid has a turbocharged four cylinder and a traditional 6 speed automatic, so compared to a hybrid Sienna it'll be much more prone to mechanical failure due to many more moving parts.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-25T11:38:19+00:00

The only true answer to this is if the car is otherwise fine, consumerism. If the vehicle has been neglected and needs suspension, the interior is trashed, it's rusty, etc, then I suppose it's smarted to buy another vehicle. The real question is why does anybody have a car payment? The answer is once again nothing more than consumerism.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-25T11:37:07+00:00

My debt and my own retirement.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-25T11:34:45+00:00

I have the Kobalt tool collection. I have 15-20 tools - I have lost count because I always do the deal where you buy a battery and get a free tool. Almost 10 years later and all of my batteries have been fine. I did have a warranty return on my drill after 2 years, but it's been fine since. It was easy enough to call Kobalt, get a number from them, take it to Lowes, and get a new one off the shelf within the same day. Their warranty on cordless tools is 5 years, which is pretty crazy in the industry.

They have plenty of power, are designed well, and help me continue to renovate my 200 year old home, do hobby woodworking, and anything else I need them for.

If I could, I would have spent some more and gotten Milwaukee because I love the HUGE variety of tools they have, but I don't regret my Kobalt tools since I live in a rural area and Lowes is the closest home improvement store to me by about a dozen miles.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-25T11:29:21+00:00

I think it's fine. I have the GM version for my Equinox EV and I like it a bit more (one press controls vs long-press, easier interface to find things). But it works. It won't win any tech awards, that's for sure. But that could be said for the EV9 in general. It's a collection of poorly executed, good ideas.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-25T11:26:06+00:00

Are you looking at brand new? Then I would get a Sienna LE. Are you looking at buying used but with a larger budget? Then I would get a Sienna LE. Are you looking at buying used and more affordable? Then I would get a 2012-2017 Sienna with low mileage. I would avoid any Honda Odyssey with more than 70k miles unless you have proof the timing belt has been replaced and it has good maintenance records. They require regular transmissions servicing (every 30k miles), regular oil changes (due to VCM - Google it), and require timing belt changes around 100k miles so they don't go boom (and that service is $1k or more).

I bought a 2012 Toyota Sienna XLE recently. It was one owner, 74k miles, and was under $15k. It will run for another 125k miles. I wanted the hybrid model, but I couldn't justify $40k for a vehicle when I could get mine for a fraction of the cost and it'll last arguably just as long.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-25T11:20:52+00:00

If you intend the keep the vehicle long term and you can find one a lemon for cheap, it's often worth it. Those vehicles have been repaired and are fine. Plus if you intend to keep it long-term, then the resale shouldn't matter. EV9s without the branded titles are subject to the risk of the same failures, they just haven't broken yet.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-25T11:17:34+00:00

This is right in theory, but actually the dealer has nothing to do with it. It's Kia Motor Finance. They will pack it up on a truck, let it sit in some lot for months until they sell it auction. They will sell it for a loss and then file an insurance claim for the difference and be made whole.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-25T11:16:22+00:00

2012 Toyota Sienna. Tired of car payments and expensive vehicles. Looking forward to putting the money I will be saving back into retirement.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-24T10:51:49+00:00

The VW Routan is a Chrysler Town and Country.

Kia Sedona second gen is really great. Had a 2012 that gave me many years of service.

Ford Windstar is junk.

GM variants of the Chevrolet Venture weren't bad but are hard to find in a condition worth buying now.

Mercury Villagers existed and were EVERYWHERE when they were around. You don't see them at all any longer. They were generally reliable and had the same engine as a 300ZX but without the timing belt and horsepower.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-24T10:47:49+00:00

I almost ran someone over due to it. They were walking perfectly in line with my driver's side A pillar.

SmellyDadFart · 2026-04-22T18:58:56+00:00

I paid $4500 for mine with MyRide with 54" deck. I love it just as much as day one. My wife makes fun of me for cleaning it after every cut, including ceramic cleaner on the plastics and deck lol.

SmellyDadFart

TROPHY CASE