In Defense of the Minivan!

[monkeydelmagico]

My one and only speeding ticket was in my 89 caravan turbo. I've been pulled over in my redneck 5.0l foxbody mustang and miata for speeding but was always let off with a warning but not in the beat to shit minivan lol.

Said it was hard, not impossible. You put in the effort and recieved your achievment award.

 

[Kaido]

My one and only speeding ticket was in my 89 caravan turbo. I've been pulled over in my redneck 5.0l foxbody mustang and miata for speeding but was always let off with a warning but not in the beat to shit minivan lol.

http://i.imgur.com/oNxvVnX.gif



Edit: Wait, those came in Turbo?!

 

[nerp]

I was getting my oil changed the other day at my dealer and poked around a new loaded Town and Country. I almost bought it right there. It's so huge and inviting inside. We plan on having a second kid sometime next year so it would still be a little overkill but oh my god the functionality. But it was $41,000 and my logical mind says go with the cheaper Caravan.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Once you get past the whole "I care way too much what people think to drive a minivan" thing....

Minivan = the best people mover + multifunction vehicle on this planet.

Also they are best bang for the buck when it comes to materials you get for the price.

You will never change my mind on this.

Some of these minivans cost as much as Family sedans, meanwhile they already come with V6 and WAY more materials. I remember Oddy was 5-8k cheaper than V6 Accord (back in 2006-07 or so).

Amazing

Once the kids are grown up and move out, we are still planning on having a minivan.

We love it

 

[Vdubchaos]

http://i.imgur.com/oNxvVnX.gif



Edit: Wait, those came in Turbo?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX3lU6r8I9g

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I was getting my oil changed the other day at my dealer and poked around a new loaded Town and Country. I almost bought it right there. It's so huge and inviting inside. We plan on having a second kid sometime next year so it would still be a little overkill but oh my god the functionality. But it was $41,000 and my logical mind says go with the cheaper Caravan.

I'm in the same boat. I've checked out both. I like the look of the caravan best. T & C is too feature rich for my blood. KISS. Besides an SRT package on a minivan is just so silly. I want.

 

[Gillbot]

http://i.imgur.com/oNxvVnX.gif



Edit: Wait, those came in Turbo?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX3lU6r8I9g

http://www.turbovan.net/van.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpwmN3d0x_s

:whiste:

 

[marvdmartian]

A buddy of mine at work bought one when his kids were getting bigger, and they wanted more roominess. Now the kids are grown, and out of the house, and he still has it....but pulled the back seats out, stuck 'em in the shed, and uses it more as a pickup/cargo van than a passenger vehicle. When you stop to think about it, it's not a bad idea. Covered storage area for hauling anything that will fit, and no payments on it for years now (just upkeep & maintenance).

 

[vi edit]

Heh. Building a shed this week. On Tuesday my van had the following in it in one load...

8 - 2"x8"x8' treated planks
2 - 4"x4"x 8' treated posts
20 - 8 foot framing studs
A 36"x48" window
a 7' garage door and track hardware
A roll of tyvek wrap
2 rolls of felt paper
Tools
Boxes of screws & nails
Misc stuff...

Then the next day I moved a bunch of 10' framing studs with it.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Heh. Building a shed this week. On Tuesday my van had the following in it in one load...

8 - 2"x8"x8' treated planks
2 - 4"x4"x 8' treated posts
20 - 8 foot framing studs
A 36"x48" window
a 7' garage door and track hardware
A roll of tyvek wrap
2 rolls of felt paper
Tools
Boxes of screws & nails
Misc stuff...

Then the next day I moved a bunch of 10' framing studs with it.

Can't tell you how many times I've done similar.

Next day, back to Passenger duties.

Most people don't realize Minivan is 10x better than pick up truck. Most people use their truck beds .005% of the time....just doesn't make sense to me why pick up sales have been so high unless we are just talking "accommodate for the lack of size" thing/image thing.

:biggrin:

 

[ramj70]

I'm in the same boat. I've checked out both. I like the look of the caravan best. T & C is too feature rich for my blood. KISS. Besides an SRT package on a minivan is just so silly. I want.

RT package actually

I really do like my Caravan R/T, I considered the T&C but liked the looks of the Caravan more. I really like the van and so does my family. We have a 2006 Ford Freestyle crossover that we don't drive anymore, except for my wife everyone once in a while, otherwise it just sits. Much more room in the van and the stow and go seating is very nice. 283HP to get you moving, sport suspension, black leather interior with red stitching, its very comfortable and lots of room.

My wife likes it and my kids love it so that is all that counts.

 

[vi edit]

Yeah I've seen RT packaged vans being listed new in the paper for $28k. You cannot beat the value there. Had Dodge offered that at the time I got my Sienna I would have went with the Dodge. That's some incredible amount of content for the $$.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Only time I've ever driven a minivan was my sisters Sienna when we went on vacation. Loved the comfort, road handling, and utility. Still wouldn't ever buy one though.

 

[jlee1]

yes please!

 

[Gillbot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdTEy3sVqhw

 

[vi edit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdTEy3sVqhw

HA! I remember driving that in Gran Turismo 2.

 

[TheNinja]

Old thread revival!

I just bought a 2010 Odyssey and LOVE it. I have 3 kids now, but I wish I had bought one earlier. It can seat 8 but as the +1 seat that is removable so you can easily get in and out of the back seat. The storage in this thing is insane! The stow and go seats are fantastic. Gas mileage is good (it has the eco option to turn of cynliders or something). The power sliding doors, the power hatch in the back, DVD, everything man.

And it is cool b/c in my area of the country (Bay Area Cali) where everything is about image, it's like the "don't give a crap how I look" vibe. Plus I don't care if it's cool.

I could go on and on but I won't. I was debating between a 2006 Sequoia 4x4 with 80k for the same price as a 2010 Honda Odyssey with 24k and picked the minivan. I am glad I did.

Oh and the bonus. For school trip purposes I had to have full coverage on my 2000 Chevy 4x4 pickup that was worth maybe $5k. When I sold it and insured the 2010 Odyssey worth probably $22k my insurance went DOWN by $90 per 6 months.

 

[WoodButcher]

Bring back the Chevy Astro.

Never Happen.
I'll keep rebuilding the old ones.
http://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=127&t=17922

 

[Fenixgoon]

the minivan is by far one of the most practical vehicles ever made. arguably the best family vehicle and 2nd best people/stuff hauler.

 

[Raduque]

Bring back the Chevy Astro.

And the Ford Aerostar! :thumbsup:

My family had both, and they were great vehicles.

We should just rename this forum muscle/power cars and literbikes.

FTFY.

 

[BUTCH1]

Great article, and accurate about sleep, I've yet to find a car that I can sleep even remotely comfortable in, I've even tried folding down the rear seats but that didn't work either, they hit the fully-reclined front seat backs!..

 

[Thegonagle]

I just added a 2000 Caravan to my stable. It's ugly, kind of beat up, and a little rusty, but my step-dad offered it to me for free, so I took it.

Wow! It's the best vehicle I never thought I'd own.

I've hauled an enormous amount of stuff inside, and the first time I camped out and slept inside it at my mom/step-dad's property (they don't have a guest room), I realized I was really onto something.

The next minivan (and I'm thinking that there will be a next minivan) I look for will probably be an AWD version so that I'll have good snow vehicle again.

I miss my old Cherokee, but an AWD minivan would do everything I ever asked of my Jeep, plus a lot more (minus "off-roading," which I never did). Greatest part is that on the used market, they're a lot cheaper than a similar age/mileage SUV.