Do I make the switch?

[aeluedtke]

I currently have a 2008 GMC Savana 12 passenger van. My wife and I really want a Nissan NV 3500 12 passenger van. Has anyone switched to the NV from a Savana? How does the cargo room compare behind the last row of seats? What are some other advantages of the NV over the Savana?

[andy_george]

We went from a Savana to the NV. But our Savana was an Explorer conversion van, so the interior was very different than the 12 passenger model you have. So I can't compare the interior packaging for you, but I can say what we love about the NV versus the GMC.

 

Just a quick list off the top of my head....

-the dash and door panel plastics are much more solid and less creaky

-the steering feels much better

-the brakes are 1000 times better.... Our Savana had horrible brakes, even after I bled the lines and installed as grippy a brake pad as possible. Very common on the Savana.

-the doors close with a much more satisfying "thud"

-the overall handling feels much more stable.... Similar to a pickup, and less "tippy" than vans

-the Savana had the 5.3.... The NV has a lot more power, and is much quicker, especially on the low end. And now we have an extra transmission gear, but the NV doesn't downshift nearly as much as the van did.

-rear hvac is better in the NV. But that may have been influenced by the conversion?

- if you do your own maintenance you'll LOVE the room under the hood.

 

If I think of more I'll post it....

[aeluedtke]

thanks andy_george. I agree, the plastics do seem cheap on the Savana and the doors sound like crap when closing them. My Savana has a 6.0 liter V8 and it's pretty powerful, but I'm sure I'd be happy with the power of the NVP. 

 

I'm pretty much sold on buying the NVP, just hard to find one anywhere near me. Looks like I'll have to travel out of state. I'm looking for the SL with 25,000 miles or less for $30,000ish.

 

Thanks again!