Ready for likely the not towing minivan?

[GeorgeR]

How to buy a minivan without really trying

George.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by GeorgeR

How to buy a minivan without really trying

George.

Great! and so true! Personally,I like the Transit, but I want the larger turbo engine and a 6speed manual. Then.... I could actually tow with the thing.
In the mean time, I'll keep my powder dry... or maybe I'll just build my own again.

[Ed Harris]

Sure looks just like a MiniVan to me?

[John Fazio]

I think people that have young children should be required to own a minivan or vehicle with rear sliding doors. I know it must suck for the bottoms of their rear doors to be bent from our nerf bars due to their children flinging the door open when entering or exiting. Now the rear door shape of some SUVs make it suck for us to have dents in our doors from the same flailing and flinging that is common practice amongst young people. The longer I think about it, most people should have sliding doors for all entry points. No, all vehicles should have sliding or no doors to alleviate the issue entirely.


-John

[Ray N]

Reminds me of when, many years ago, a young family guy who worked for me was looking for a new car. I suggested a station wagon but he said he would never be seen in a station wagon. Eventually he came in and announced that he bought a Jeep Wagoneer - an SUV! The next day he sheepishly showed me the owner's manual, in big print it said "Jeep Wagoneer STATION WAGON." Except for the stigma, I don't know why crossovers aren't just called station wagons since they are based on cars, not trucks like true SUVs.

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by John Fazio

I think people that have young children should be required to own a minivan or vehicle with rear sliding doors. I know it must suck for the bottoms of their rear doors to be bent from our nerf bars due to their children flinging the door open when entering or exiting. Now the rear door shape of some SUVs make it suck for us to have dents in our doors from the same flailing and flinging that is common practice amongst young people. The longer I think about it, most people should have sliding doors for all entry points. No, all vehicles should have sliding or no doors to alleviate the issue entirely.


-John

Heck, why not just make 'em all top entry, like a tank?

Francesca

[John Fazio]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Heck, why not just make 'em all top entry, like a tank?

Francesca

That's a great idea. Now I have to figure out how to become the ambassador of such a thing .

-John

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by John Fazio

That's a great idea. Now I have to figure out how to become the ambassador of such a thing .

-John

Like this:

[John Fazio]

That's just completely wrong... I'd have my Bigfoot in tow, geesh.

-John

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by John Fazio

That's just completely wrong... I'd have my Bigfoot in tow, geesh.

-John

You do- it's behind your entourage's "hatchtops".

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Heck, why not just make 'em all top entry, like a tank?

Francesca

They already do... it's called a "convertible."

[floyd]

Originally Posted by John Fazio

I think people that have young children should be required to own a minivan or vehicle with rear sliding doors. I know it must suck for the bottoms of their rear doors to be bent from our nerf bars due to their children flinging the door open when entering or exiting. Now the rear door shape of some SUVs make it suck for us to have dents in our doors from the same flailing and flinging that is common practice amongst young people. The longer I think about it, most people should have sliding doors for all entry points. No, all vehicles should have sliding or no doors to alleviate the issue entirely.


-John

Many years ago, I worked grocery stores. I can tell you from experience and observation that it is not the children who cause most of the nicks and dings...
I can't tell you how many times I have seen a door pop open and the occupant start to rock back and forth to get the momentum to launch themselves out and upright. This usually takes 3-4 cycles with the door being kicked hard against the car next to it.

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by GeorgeR

How to buy a minivan without really trying

George.

Now if they would only make this with the larger 4 cylinder Ecoboost or better yet a small diesel, rear wheel drive, adequate tow ratings, and be available with an optional 6 speed manual transmission, I would then say hooray and celebrate a winner. (and run out and buy one)

[streetvan1]

Had an argument with a co worker a while back, about his mazda 5 being a minivan. I said "look at the side doors, they slide. minivan. done". He said "noooo, it's not, becuase it's built on a car chassis!".... to which i replied "oh, on a car chassis? so then the caravan, windstar, venture, sienna, and odyssey aren't minivans either?". We don't talk much anymore.

[ImbyRick]

There are just so many stereotypes that people have about cars they don't own. The ultimate bicycle hauling 25mpg vehicle is my minivan. I disassemble my bike and put it inside. I hate having a nice bike out in the weather and in view of someone who thinks they deserve it more than I do.

Rick

[rgrugg]

IMO most think a minivan is for people with kids but it's a great vehicle for OLD people because they're so easy to get into and out of. Biggest problem is that there's so much room for "stuff" that you don't really have to carry around but do anyway.

[Lil M.]

AND...with all but the front seats stowed or removed (as is the case with my 02 Grand Caravan), you can haul 4x8 sheets of plywood completely out of the weather. I love my minivan.

Oh, and I can haul my bike and my kayak at the same time, also inside and out of the weather and out of temptation's way.

[Ice-breaker]

Have had two minivans over the years and enjoyed the convenience of both of them. Used a minivan to haul the family across the country, twice. As others have said, they are great for ease of entry. Sliding side doors make it easy to load and unload the kids. I have carried bikes, furniture, large appliances, building supplies and a host of other items in my minivan. I have used it for hauling freshly cut firewood back from the forest with so much weight in the back that the front wheels seemed close to lifting off the pavement. I have slept in the back of the minivan. I have tied three canoes and a weeks worth of camping gear on the roof rack and gone to my paddling trips with it. I have had a queen size mattress and box spring blow off the roof of my minivan and take the rack with it. My 1st minivan suffered from a faulty transmission and is now long gone. I have passed my 2nd minivan onto my middle son, and am not worried that it is so powerful that he will get into trouble with it.

Minivans are great, but my time with them has passed.

dave

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by streetvan1

Had an argument with a co worker a while back, about his mazda 5 being a minivan. I said "look at the side doors, they slide. minivan. done". He said "noooo, it's not, becuase it's built on a car chassis!".... to which i replied "oh, on a car chassis? so then the caravan, windstar, venture, sienna, and odyssey aren't minivans either?". We don't talk much anymore.

According to My Husband's Rules of Manliness:
If a man is behind the wheel, it's not a "minivan" except to other men not at that moment forced to be seen driving one.

Francesca

[David Tilston]

We have a Safari mini van. It is not very mini. We have taken it Thousands of miles with five kids. My wife drives it most of the time. I drive a much more manly Pontiac Firefly.