Starex vs Carnival LWB vs Stavic (Gasp!)

**pup2** · December 16th, 2007 04:51 PM

Starex 9-Seater CRDi MT at 1.5M
Carnival LWB CRDi AT at 1.6M
Stavic 9-Seater AT at 1.3M

Yeah, yeah. I know the Stavic is probably the fug!iest vehicle on the planet. It's pretty darn hard to ignore the fact that it's now the cheapest, most comfortable CRDi 9-11 seater whose features are pretty intact though.

**drey** · December 16th, 2007 10:07 PM

Function > Form = Stavic

Test drive muna.

**Horsepower** · December 16th, 2007 10:32 PM

Starex. Iba ang presence ng latest starex e (it looks like one big bully) but the Carnival is good too.

Stavic is just so ugly, i can't stand it.

**mikey177** · December 17th, 2007 10:04 AM

If you have frequent trips to the countryside, I'd have to recommend the Starex, as parts availability for the Stavic, and to some extent, the Carnival, may be wanting the farther you get from Metro Manila.

For city driving comfort though, I'd go with the Carnival since it's an A/T.

As mentioned earlier, test driving all the candidates is your best way to know which will suit your lifestyle and needs.

**hitomi** · December 17th, 2007 02:06 PM

aftersales-wise, carnival for me. kia is better established here than ssangyong,
with a wider dealership base.

looks-wise, still the carnival because the stavic looks wierd
and the new starex - sadly - looks like a ford transit to me.

**pup2** · December 17th, 2007 10:22 PM

May driver po for the van so AT convenience is not a factor. Kung pangit nga yung tranny, disadvantage pa eh.

Yung sa parts, nakausap ko yung 1 owner ng wheels and he said they're supporting it all out daw dahil sila distributor -- to the point na he'll air ship a part kung wala sa inventory nila.

Pero tama kayo, naisip ko nga problema pag tumirik ako sa probinsya kasi medyo madalas din sya mag a out of town.

**pup2** · December 18th, 2007 06:53 AM

Hmmm ... maybe you're right. So far though, they're all 2nd choices to me for the following reasons:

1. Starex -- Whopper of a price increase in the 2007 CRDi model on top of LESS standard amenities like rear wipers. Choosing a TCi would be like going back in time when CRDi's were not yet the norm.

2. Carnival -- Winner of a major Van safety award, only to strip all but one of its airbags upon reaching our shores.

3. Stavic -- Other than parts/repair support in remote areas, it's arguably the fug!iest looking vehicle in the world.

**IMm29** · December 18th, 2007 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by pup2

Hmmm ... maybe you're right. So far though, they're all 2nd choices to me for the following reasons:

1. Starex -- Whopper of a price increase in the 2007 CRDi model on top of LESS standard amenities like rear wipers. Choosing a TCi would be like going back in time when CRDi's were not yet the norm.

2. Carnival -- Winner of a major Van safety award, only to strip all but one of its airbags upon reaching our shores.

3. Stavic -- Other than parts/repair support in remote areas, it's arguably the fug!iest looking vehicle in the world.

I'd put it in this order if it were for me:
1. Carnival - Isn't as massive as the Grand Starex. But if I didn't have to load much, and for its flexibility, I'd go for it. It's sad that we lost most airbags though, but to me, it's still a good buy.
2. Starex - The previous GRX was overall better coz of its size and flexibility. The new Grand Starex is almost in Super Grandia territory, so it's not as go anywhere (and fit anywhere) as before. It does have the biggest presence among the 3, so if physical size is the major concern, it's the Starex among these 3.
3. Stavic - If form follows function, go for it. Otherwise, I'd look elsewhere.

About 4 years ago, we took a chance on the first gen Santa Fe. It didn't look at generally pleasing as the current one, but with its built and comfortable ride, we decided to try it. No regrets naman, although it's quite heavy and its 2.4L I4 engine gets thirsty coz of that. CRDi sana. Hehehe!

**mikey177** · December 18th, 2007 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by pup2

...Carnival -- Winner of a major Van safety award, only to strip all but one of its airbags upon reaching our shores...

All those airbags would have been a comfort to have, but I look at it this way --in 2002 I got a Carnival RS, the lower-end variant that didn't even have ABS or airbags. I was trained to drive in the 80s and rely only on my seatbelt and my prudence for safety. I've had the Carnival for over five years and have driven it most of the time on provincial highways going head to head with unruly bus and truck drivers and suddenly appearing tricycles without taillights.

I have never been in a nasty collision with the Carnival, and I hope I never will. The point, however, is that I drive defensively and do not take anything for granted. I do not push the van beyond its limits or ask it to perform like a slalom car. Also, I actually prefer a vehicle without airbags, because I figure that in our crime-infested country, I am more likely to need a vehicle that can ram another vehicle and not be disabled by suddenly deploying airbags or fuel cut-offs, than to need redundant mechanical safeties that give me a false sense of security.

**minicoopal** · December 19th, 2007 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by pup2

Yung sa parts, nakausap ko yung 1 owner ng wheels and he said they're supporting it all out daw dahil sila distributor -- to the point na he'll air ship a part kung wala sa inventory nila.

Dealers will promise you a lot when trying to make a sale. Even if he airships a part, and assuming it is readily available at source, your unit will still be out of commission for a few days while waiting for the part to arrive.