Best van for 150-170k budget?

[Shredder66]

Hi!First time ko mag-post dito.I need an educated opinion, I'm planning to acquire a van. Pa-rent sana & for family use din. Pang-service din sa work (Malolos Bulacan to Timog via NLEX, daily).So I need a durable & fuel efficient one. I've been browsing the classifieds; would a Kia Pregio be a good choice? I'm a really a noob at this. Your opinions would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[dr. d]

your budget does limit your choices to a besta or a pregio. i've owned a besta. it's a basic van. and as long as the previous owner didn't abuse it, it's easy and cheap to maintain. i'd look for one whose radiator has been upgraded, and whose aircon works fine.

[Shredder66]

How about a spacewagon, elantra, etc? May mga nakikita ako in the 130-140k price range. 97 model. Ok na din kaya un? matipid ba sa gas & easy to maintain?

[GTi]

The Pregio is the most modern van you can get for your budget. It is a nice van naman, much better than the prehistoric L300 Versa Van and Urvan that are still sold nowadays and IMHO also better than the previous gen Hiace. Forget the Space Wagon and Elantra. This is the one to get. Just make sure the Pregio is well maintained. Earlier Pregio's were known for overheating issues since the radiator couldn't take the heat.

[zap.FREEDOM]

150k - 170k budget will only fits for a Kia Besta or a Pregio, I don't have any info about the pregio but afaik it rides more better than the Besta since its rear suspension is a coil spring though same power it has (both same engine with a 2.7L displacement). Alright, to tell you we own a Kia Besta 2.7 EST, we currently use it for our rental business (rent-a-van) every week we used to travel around the city to cater and tour our clients tourists from abroads (yung mga bakasyonista kasi suki namin e), from airports to any parts of NCR, from NCR/Laguna to any beaches in Batangas or Cavite at kung minsan kapag walang arkila or seservicesan, we use to travel it from our home in Laguna to Real, Quezon to pick up some fish products and to visit some relatives there. siguro mga 2x a month kame kung bumiyahe ng Quezon. Our besta almost clocks 130,+++ kms. and it still so far damn good what can I say more...??it is fuel efficient, (kaya magandang gamiting pangarkila instead of our reserve service car a toyota revo 1.8 gas which guzzles gas), powerful engine (2.7L never gonna let you down,can easily run on full passenger and full loads), maganda rin ang suspension, wala kalangitlangitngit kesa sa mga L300 which also in the same age of our van, yung nga lang mahina ang aircon niya (kung gusto mo magupgrade ng aircon, change the compressor na gamit ng mga nissan and change also the blower to a bigger one), about the overheating issue, we never experienced it so far sa tagal na namin paikot-ikot sa manila at quezon, basta alaga lang talaga sa coolant and promptly maintain.

P.S other options would be why not check a cagayan import van, marami kang pagpipilian dun sa port irene from Hi-aces to Nissan Urvans, be sure na maganda yung pagkakaconvert from RHD to LHD. and check also the papers.

[GTi]

There was once wherein we took a '96 Pregio to Baguio once. It was very long ago when that Pregio was still fairly new. The ride is really comfortable and despite being fully loaded, it was powerful enough to climb Kennon Road with no difficulty at all. Yun nga lang, I've seen Pregio's overheating more than once. There was once in NLEX when I saw a Pregio with smoke coming out of the cabin! Needless to say, that Pregio looked very much neglected. And I've heard that the Kia J2 engine really has a higher tendency to overheat when neglected as compared to other engines, even in its application in the Kia K2700.

[Shredder66]

The Pregio is the most modern van you can get for your budget. It is a nice van naman, much better than the prehistoric L300 Versa Van and Urvan that are still sold nowadays and IMHO also better than the previous gen Hiace. Forget the Space Wagon and Elantra. This is the one to get. Just make sure the Pregio is well maintained. Earlier Pregio's were known for overheating issues since the radiator couldn't take the heat.

Bosing curious lang, what made you decide against the Space Wagon & Elantra?

[Shredder66]

150k - 170k budget will only fits for a Kia Besta or a Pregio, I don't have any info about the pregio but afaik it rides more better than the Besta since its rear suspension is a coil spring though same power it has (both same engine with a 2.7L displacement). Alright, to tell you we own a Kia Besta 2.7 EST, we currently use it for our rental business (rent-a-van) every week we used to travel around the city to cater and tour our clients tourists from abroads (yung mga bakasyonista kasi suki namin e), from airports to any parts of NCR, from NCR/Laguna to any beaches in Batangas or Cavite at kung minsan kapag walang arkila or seservicesan, we use to travel it from our home in Laguna to Real, Quezon to pick up some fish products and to visit some relatives there. siguro mga 2x a month kame kung bumiyahe ng Quezon. Our besta almost clocks 130,+++ kms. and it still so far damn good what can I say more...??it is fuel efficient, (kaya magandang gamiting pangarkila instead of our reserve service car a toyota revo 1.8 gas which guzzles gas), powerful engine (2.7L never gonna let you down,can easily run on full passenger and full loads), maganda rin ang suspension, wala kalangitlangitngit kesa sa mga L300 which also in the same age of our van, yung nga lang mahina ang aircon niya (kung gusto mo magupgrade ng aircon, change the compressor na gamit ng mga nissan and change also the blower to a bigger one), about the overheating issue, we never experienced it so far sa tagal na namin paikot-ikot sa manila at quezon, basta alaga lang talaga sa coolant and promptly maintain.

P.S other options would be why not check a cagayan import van, marami kang pagpipilian dun sa port irene from Hi-aces to Nissan Urvans, be sure na maganda yung pagkakaconvert from RHD to LHD. and check also the papers.

Sir anong year model ung van nyo? & ano ung cagayan import van, noob talaga ako e. hehe.San sir ung port irene?

[GTi]

Port Irene is in Cagayan, stronghold of the Enriles. Yung mga Cagayan imports are surplus units from Japan or Korea. Better yung mga Korea surplus since you don't have to convert them.

[zap.FREEDOM]

Bosing curious lang, what made you decide against the Space Wagon & Elantra?

because the space wagon is too small and ride is not as that bad but its totally not great, that's why it was easily trashed up by the Hyundai Starex during the early 2000's.

Sir anong year model ung van nyo? & ano ung cagayan import van, noob talaga ako e. hehe.San sir ung port irene?

1997 Kia Besta (Hi-Besta EST 2.7) all power, from lock to windows. 2nd owner na rin kami nito ito napili namin kasi matipid din daw sa malakas nga ang makina kesa sa L300 at Hyundai Grace, we acquired it last year when it was still logged a 80,+++kms. on its odometer.

yung port irene is located in Cagayan Valley bandang norte (malayo nga siya) dito yung bagsakan ng mga imported japanese and korean, american surplus cars from japan. btw, kung gusto malapitlapit meron din mga surplus cars sa subic. isang kakilala ko dun nakabili ng starex at urvan sa subic. for only 80k - 100k each. It is surplus kaya mura, yung mga van nga daw sa port irene like urvan, hi-ace, mazda bongo cost only less than a 100k meron din tig- 200k , kaso sabi nila ingat lang sa pagpili ng unit.


check this: Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=3&theater

mr.eric galang, a car trader at port irene.

[Shredder66]

*sir zap-
Naku layo..pero the prices you mentioned are very attractive.hehe.btw option ko din talaga sir ung mga wagon-type na body; whatever I can get for the best price. Gusto ko din kase ung medyo modern ung itsura. O kung hindi naman modern, ung very well maintained. Medyo may bad experience kase ako sa huli kong naging auto e. Ung mga suzuki-wagon R ba sir ano masasabi nyo? Matipid ba sa gas?

[zap.FREEDOM]

suzuki wagon R ba? kung magwawagon R ka kunin mo yung wagon R wide, medyo sapat/maluwag yung cabin space, halos konte na lang magkasing lapad na sila ng corolla, parang typical sedan na rin yun driving feeling nun, fuel consumption, depende rin, meron kasi dyan nakasalpak na k10a Turbo, meron k10a, f6a turbo or non turbo and f8b, average is 12km/L, me multicab kami dati...f6a engine (660cc) we only got 14km on highway speed driving which the highest km that we can run on 1 liter of fuel, 12km/L in mixed driving condition, k10a, ewan ko lang, yung mga bago kasi ngayon k10a engine na nakasalpak sa alto and celerio e pumapalo daw ng 20km/L, e yung mga k10a, saka problema mo rin dyan sa wagon r, mahihirapan ka lalo na pagbaha, kaya mas good option pa rin yung mga van like pregio, besta or hi-ace.

[Shredder66]

Hi sir, nagbago isip ko sa wagon R, liit lang pala nun,hard to judge kase based sa pics sa internet..Purpose din kase ng sasakyan, pang-service sa school ng mga elementary kids. So the more, the better. Still not sure kung van kukunin namin, kase gusto ko din turuan mag-drive si misis. Eh parang alanganin naman kung van. Although maraming purpose ang van, pwedeng pang-rent, etc. Kung wagon/mini-van kukunin nmin, school service for rent ang isa sa options namin. Ano masasabi nyo sir sa Honda Odyssey & Lucida? Saw an 2003 Odyssey with a very attractive price. Ganun din sa Lucida. Meron ba kayo iba pa masusuggest na vehicle of this type? Ano sir pros & cons nito? mukhang ganitong vehicle ang need ko. Not too big, but can fit a lot. Thanks ulit!

[renzo_d10]

Ilang kids ba sasakay?

Odyssey & Lucida, both converted.

[Gecko Guy]

Odyssey lakas sa gas! -- Binenta ng kasamahan ko sa work after acquiring it only for less than a year.
If you can stretch out your budget a little, try the Hyundai Grace. Engine is same with L300, easy to maintain and the parts are cheap. ganda suspension and seats 12 comfortably.
Our Grace was purchased 2003 (1996 model) and it's still running today. Nadala ko na sya sa North (Vigan) and south (Tacloban City - passed the San Juanico Bridge!) with no problems at all.

[renzo_d10]

Yung uncle ko may Kia Pregio.

Forgot what model pero yun yung with captain seats.

Nadala na rin namin to far places pero nung dinadrive ko, wala nang hatak stuck at 115-120kph. :rofl01:

Yung aircon ilang beses na rin nag-break down pero naayos naman.

Ride is comfortable. That's for sure!

[Shredder66]

Ilang kids ba sasakay?

Odyssey & Lucida, both converted.

Di pa sure e, kase ngaun pa lang kami kukuha ng mase-servicean sa school. Kaya ko naisip na Lucida, para may porma,baka maselan din kase ung ibang parents. Private school e. hehe.

[Shredder66]

Odyssey lakas sa gas! -- Binenta ng kasamahan ko sa work after acquiring it only for less than a year.
If you can stretch out your budget a little, try the Hyundai Grace. Engine is same with L300, easy to maintain and the parts are cheap. ganda suspension and seats 12 comfortably.
Our Grace was purchased 2003 (1996 model) and it's still running today. Nadala ko na sya sa North (Vigan) and south (Tacloban City - passed the San Juanico Bridge!) with no problems at all.

Considering that also sir. Kaso parang ang hirap maghanap ng 2nd hand van na mababa ang mileage, ung hindi pa masyado laspag? Gusto ko kase sana ung makinis pa, tapos dagdagan ko na lang sa loob ciguro ng amenities, ex. cd/dvd player, etc.

[GTi]

I'd stay away from the converted units, lalo na yung mga walang local version since mahihirapan ka maghanap ng parts. There's also still the question on the quality of the conversion process. I'd still go with the Pregio.

[Gecko Guy]

Considering that also sir. Kaso parang ang hirap maghanap ng 2nd hand van na mababa ang mileage, ung hindi pa masyado laspag? Gusto ko kase sana ung makinis pa, tapos dagdagan ko na lang sa loob ciguro ng amenities, ex. cd/dvd player, etc.

Meron sa may Mindanao ave..Kapamilya trading name dati...puro re-con na Hyundai grace at starex binenbenta nila..yun nga lang nasa 200-250K na mga yun.HTH