Well, since my MPV is a royal piece of rusting crap that I cannot stand looking at anymore (I washed it this weekend and noticed rust EVERYWHERE...), combined with the price of new cars these days, I will most probably change vehicles in the next few days.

The question is what to buy?

My budget is max 25000$ selling price. Must be comfortable, not too hard on gas, and a vehicle in which I can haul a machine (or 2) easily. The only thing is that if I end up with another vehicle of the quality of a Grioswold "Family Thruster", I will go nukular...

I wanted your opinions...

My options:

CHRYSLER:
2009 Dodge Grand Caravan. Inexpensive due to crazy-a** rebates, but I am on the fence with it... some say it is awesome, some say it is crap. Opinions? Anyone know someone with one?

2009 Dodge Journey: Same as above, but smaller... dunno...

2009 Ram. Tough on gas with the 8-to-4 cylinder option?

FORD:

2009 Ford Flex. Depends at what price I can get one... Nice vehicle, but might be overpriced...

2009 F150. Same as the Dodge Ram... Gas-overkill...

TOYOTA:
2009 Sienna. Yeah... I doubt I can get on in my range though...

2009 Matrix. On the small side...

2009 Tacoma. NO WAY this is in my range... especially with the quadcab.

HONDA:
2009 Odyssey. Same as Sienna... doubt I can find one at that price...

2009 Ridgeline. Fugly, but useful.

Any other recommendations? Go crazy.... let me know...

... and BTW... no more f**king Mazda or GM. Got burned once by both, never again.

My parents have had 2 caravans, never heard to many complaints out of them, I know for sure you can fit 2 pinballs in the back with all the seats removed as I've done it   

Can't really comment on it any further then that as I'm not much of a car guy. You may also want to consider going with a sedan with some towing capacity that way you can get the best of both worlds.  Something good on gas milege for the day to day and something that can tow a trailer when you need to move a pin or two.  

Get a Hyundai

I'm on the market as well, especially since we are going to have our third kid in September...

So i need one able to fit 3 baby-seats/boosters with still enough room to carry everything else that comes with them (we travel a lot).

Went to look at a Nissan Quest, was nice with the back seat folding into the floor.

Personally, i wont buy new.. its way too F#@*#@# expensive ! A low mileage used one will do it for me.

This is my dream vehicle:

http://www.dodge.com/en/2009/sprinter/

You could fit like 6 pins in that thing

If you're looking for reliability, it doesn't get much better than Toyota... and it's a good mix between foreign and north american.  It's built here, but (thankfully) with Asian quality and standards in mind.

Has Chrysler fixed their transmission problems?

Ford F150 is a great Truck, never had an issue other than the usual maintenance, I have owned two in the 8 eight years, but gas economy does not exist with this truck. On the highway, you get 650-700 km on a 90 litre tank and that is with the 4.6L engine. All the new trucks have 5.4L V-8.

Quoted from machine.slave

Has Chrysler fixed their transmission problems?

Yes, since 2002, but customer ratings are all over the place. Some are extremely happy and have had 0 problems, some think it is a POS and have had problems. That points out build consistency problems... so to get one is a gamble.

We drove a Caravan rental a couple months ago for a few weeks.  The longer we had it, the less we liked about it.  It drives like the old Caravan but just a newer body.  Shocks were awful.  Noise level is bad.  Engine is weak.  I think they did fix their transmission problems but I think they still have head gasket problems.  So we bought a used Toyota Sienna.  4 years old, low kms, loaded and priced well within your budget.  

A neighbor bought a 2008 Grand Caravan, and had nothing but trouble with it
(brakes, etc.). I too have heard mixed opinions about this mini-van.
I understand that the transmission issues were fixed a few years ago.
Certainly cheap now with all the dealer incentives...
But will this manufacturer be in business in the next few years?
Parts?

Toyotas: Usually very reliable, however I have noticed that a few people
at work have been complaining about issues and quality lately.

Hondas: probably the better choice and high reliability/resale value.
But quite expensive to purchase.

How about a used 2008 Ford Taurus X ?

Cheers,
- Sylvain.

I too will never buy GM again (even though I loved my Silverado; the past two vehicles, an Optra and an Uplander Van were lemons), and as far as vans go, I must say that if such a thing as "Stow and Go" seating still exists, it is a huge bonus for "conversion" to a pinball hauler.  Or if that doesn't justify what else may be inadequate, just get a trailer hitch and rent a decent covered trailer.  Out next vehicle will likely be a Toyota or Hyundai (why buy Korean from GM?), maybe, just maybe a Ford.