2009 models of Starex TCi vs. Urvan Estate

[Gerbo]

A close relative wants comments, so I volunteer. For a no-frills extended 12-seater family carrier that offers passenger comfort and easy drivability. Mostly provincial routes.

Anyone? TIA.

[alwayz_yummy]

kung mag tci na starex ka, wag nalang. maiinis ka lang sa kupad...oo maganda hatak nyan pag walang laman, e do you think na di pupunuin yan? at since van yan, do you think na limited lang yan sa city use?

di na pinagiisipan yan, much better pa ang urvan estate!

[s_quilicot]

A close relative wants comments, so I volunteer. For a no-frills extended 12-seater family carrier that offers passenger comfort and easy drivability. Mostly provincial routes.

Anyone? TIA.

Gerbo, napapansin ko sa starex tci sobrang usok.

pero looks GS na ako.

urvan estate para di ko masyado type.

luma na sa mata.

[OTEP]

The Urvan Estate is the one with the 3.o engine, right? It's the same engine in the Patrol and if you are going to use it as 'pang-harabas' maintenance will be a bit on the expensive side. You can't skimp on filters. The oil filter costs Php800.00 and there are two fuel filters. One costs Php1,700 and the other around Php1,200.

But so far the engine in my Patrol has been reliable (albeit a bit expensive to maintain engine-wise).

The Grand Starex is a good 9 seater but is not really ideal for 12 persons.

[Gerbo]

Thanks for the initial replies.

I was about to tell them to get the GRX Starex instead although it might turn them off kasi 2nd hand na mga ito.

Looks may not be very crucial in the decision kasi mga probinsyano gagamit but as OTEP have said, mas mahal pala maintenance ng Estate. Not to mention unit price is also higher.

So, di ba kakahiya mag-recommend sa base model ng 2009 Starex?

[s_quilicot]

Thanks for the initial replies.

I was about to tell them to get the GRX Starex instead. However, it might turn them off kasi 2nd hand na mga ito.

Looks may not be very crucial in the decision kasi mga probinsyano gagamit but as OTEP have said, mas mahal pala maintenance ng Estate. Not to mention unit price is also higher.

So, di ba kakahiya mag-recommend sa base model ng 2009 Starex?

exterior looks almost the same pero if you'll look closely mejo cheap looking, and mga features mejo kulang. cvx model nalang.

[alwayz_yummy]

why not just the urvan..the one with TD27...not with the 3.0...

enormous body of the grand starex is the weak point of the g.starex. its the same engine used in the older models..where in most owners says its sluggish talaga...

better choice pa ung urvan-escapade...

ps- estate is same as patrol engine, minus the turbo...but with direct injection.

[Gerbo]

why not just the urvan..the one with TD27...not with the 3.0...

I dunno but with its 70+ hp rating somehow it would not be a significant upgrade from the L300 they used to own.

[OTEP]

If they can stomach the looks, the Ssangyong Stavic is pretty good. With its Mercedes Benz W124 based chassis and modern MB diesel engines. Wheels Inc. seems to have tons of promos for this model.

But again, crash test considerations have made this van an ideal 9 seater with a smallish last row.

Why not the Grandia GL?

[kompressor]

If you're looking for a people carrier, IMHO torque matters more than a diesel engine's HP ratings.

If you'd ask me, I'd go for the Urvan Estate for a people carrier. I've ridden a TD27 escapade filled to the brim and it had no problems at all, not to mention its exceptional airconditioning. What more for an estate with a bigger direct injection engine and aircon vents on each passenger row?




In fairness to the GS, I've ridden the one with the VGT engine and wow, ang lakas talaga humatak. However, it has only 2 rows at the back plus the fact that the front row has 2 captain seats but with all the leg roooooooooooooooom. The airconditioning? I had to close the vents ontop of me. Now here's the catch: how much?

9 seater starex TCI? Never mind.

[alwayz_yummy]

sa sobrang mahal lang ng CRDi- VGT engine kaya they still line the anemic tci engine..

sa van-- horsepower is not the name of the game.. test drive one.. and i tell you-- its woorth the upgrade from an l300 to a urvan "escapade"--2.7L pero ang ayaw ko lang sa 2.7 urvans, its to bare for me-- power steering lang, wala pang tachmeter.

ung 3.0, mas ok na ok yun!

hiace- another van worth considering if you can buy a tci gstarex/estate...

[niky]

I really hate the back seats of the 12-seater Hiace... terrible... and the ride is pretty stiff (the new Grand Starex, though, is supposedly pretty stiff, too). If you're getting a Hiace, get the posh version with the captain's seats. With less seats, they specified lighter rear springs, apparently, as it didn't need to be able to carry two tons of cargo...

I'm leaning towards the Urvan on this... or... would they like a secondhand E150? :hysterical: Very comfortable. Don't ask about fuel economy.

[s_quilicot]

I'm leaning towards the Urvan on this... or... would they like a secondhand E150? :hysterical: Very comfortable. Don't ask about fuel economy.

e150 it is. TUMPAK niky

with its low resale tumpak talaga. FC is about 4-5 city and around almost 7 on highways.

siguro naman yung difference ilang years din na pang gas.

and boy is to spacious and tough.

perfect van for me.

[tidus1203]

The E150 always reminds me of vans used by American burglars Natandaan ko yung sa Home Alone laging E150 gamit nilang van yung dalwang magnanakaw

[s_quilicot]

The E150 always reminds me of vans used by American burglars Natandaan ko yung sa Home Alone laging E150 gamit nilang van yung dalwang magnanakaw

:bwahaha: majority e150 din gamit ng mga goons, i.e politicians

sorry for the OT mods.

to gerbo: why not recommend an e150?

[Gerbo]

Thanks guys for the inputs. Very much appreciate them.

I've have chances to ride, not drive, the 2.7 Escapade and the 3.0 Estate. The latter feels more like a "family carrier" due to the built in amenities than the former which feels like a "commercial shuttle". Yep, airconditioning vents, better seats and spacing, etc. At old school diesel. I initially thought maintenance was not an issue until OTEP pointed them out. Never had a Patrol. Nevertheless, it may not be an issue with them. This is actually the perceived top choice.

On CRDI engine vans--the Grand Starex was nice but was way too expensive. My mother in-law had an old SVX which proved to be serviceable naman. This is the reason why the GS was considered albeit the base non-CRDI variant.

Hiace? Its been considered expensive for the trim and the D4D engine "customer beware" sign sticked to it.

Ford E-150. Not really popular here except for a couple of local politicians who owned such unit. Gargantuan proportions indeed. But 2 things seems to go against it: (i) fuel consumption, (ii) parts availability as there are no so many thrid-party providers in this part of the country and with poor road conditions here its just amatter of time when parts need replacement.

The Estate seems to be the "right vehicle".

At ito matindi....mukhang na sales talk din sila sa husband ng second-degree cousin ko who happened to work in a local Nissan outlet.

[s_quilicot]

Thanks guys for the inputs. Very much appreciate them.

I've have chances to ride, not drive, the 2.7 Escapade and the 3.0 Estate. The latter feels more like a "family carrier" due to the built in amenities than the former which feels like a "commercial shuttle". Yep, airconditioning vents, better seats and spacing, etc. At old school diesel. I initially thought maintenance was not an issue until OTEP pointed them out. Never had a Patrol. Nevertheless, it may not be an issue with them. This is actually the perceived top choice.

On CRDI engine vans--the Grand Starex was nice but was way too expensive. My mother in-law had an old SVX which proved to be serviceable naman. This is the reason why the GS was considered albeit the base non-CRDI variant.

Hiace? Its been considered expensive for the trim and the D4D engine "customer beware" sign sticked to it.

Ford E-150. Not really popular here except for a couple of local politicians who owned such unit. Gargantuan proportions indeed. But 2 things seems to go against it: (i) fuel consumption, (ii) parts availability as there are no so many thrid-party providers in this part of the country and with poor road conditions here its just amatter of time when parts need replacement.

The Estate seems to be the "right vehicle".

At ito matindi....mukhang na sales talk din sila sa husband ng second-degree cousin ko who happened to work in a local Nissan outlet.

commission na yan gerbo. joke

if the escapade, boy its design is way too old and IMO walang dating.

late 80's pa ata design nyan.

re: e150, parts availability? no problem, casa carry them on stock and thers a lot of shop that carries genuine and replacement parts.

if provincial use, expect the e150 to average on 6km/L. and to acquire a unit, most of it nowadays sells for 500k below. depends on model.

but is there any luxury in estate? leather interior?

[tidus1203]

Buti na lang no one suggested the L300 Believe it or not they are still selling this old piece of junk and I see some Z plate L300's still roaming around daig ba yung mga X plate Revo's

[s_quilicot]

Buti na lang no one suggested the L300 Believe it or not they are still selling this old piece of junk and I see some Z plate L300's still roaming around daig ba yung mga X plate Revo's

i think its the cheapest brand new van in the market, am i right?

last december nga may nakasabay ako l300 (still no plate) nagpapaset up ng video and audio upgrade

[tidus1203]

Yes I believe its the cheapest van brand new right now. But you get what you paid for.