Wife wants a minivan! HELP!

[GN One Day...]

(Can't believe I'm defending mini vans)

From the shopping around we've done (my wife wants one too), you can get more in a mini van for less money than an SUV. Plus, the MPG benefits etc. The doors are a big plus. It combines the good attributes of a car and the space of a mini van. There are some very good rebates right now on '03 models. A Windstar we saw had $4000. Problem is, as it seems to go with Ford, they don't hold value worth a crap. They had an '02 with 19,000 miles on it on the used lot for $17k. That's a big drop in a year. The good thing about buying an '03 is that you'll appear to be "low" mileage when the day comes to get rid of it. Buy an '04 and you'll rack up miles and look like higher mileage. Just a thought.

We didn't buy squat. I can't stomach new car prices. The Amigo's had plenty of room, we'll just keep it a while longer. Did your salesman try to sell you on a car? Or on financing? I got pissed and walked out when our salesman wouldn't shut up trying to talk us into a 6 or 7 year loan! WTF? I feel like a chump doing a 5 year last time. Can't imagine how upside down we'd be if we had 6 or 7 years on a friggin' car.

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by GN One Day...
(Can't believe I'm defending mini vans)

I can't believe I'm defending a minvan either. But once you check them out it's hard to argue their utility.

I didn't have any of them try to sell me a car, but they did want to sell me whatever they happened to have on the lot, which are all the wrong colors and wrong options.

New car prices are insane. My beater Buick Century is now a $25k car new. It's as basic as basic cars can be. If I had done 7 years on my Exploder I'd be okay since I kept it that long, but a loan for that period of time is nutz. You'd pay out the wazoo in interest and be upside down for most of the loan period.

Jim

 

[Turbo T/A 1543]

My .02? Get her what she wants. Regardless of what WE want, in the long run it will probably cause you alot less grief if you get her what SHE wants. That way it makes it easier to negotiate future TR parts purchases too.

 

[Mease Performance]

what she wants jeez......

man she's got a belt on your ass every night! LOL john!!!

Twin turbo nomad.........twin turbo nomad, twin turbo nomad......even if she doesnt know what "twin turbo" means...Nomad sounds like something from national Lampoons vacations LOL!



John check your email later!

 

[87 WE2]

There's and easy fix to this probalem that everyone is missing, she did't pick a specific mini van. Heres the solution.... Get an 89 Chevy Astro van in good condition & put a Grand National engine in it. TCI adapter plate to addapt the 3.8L Buick engine to the chevy 700 r4, caspers wireing harness to make everything work & you are ready to go.
This way she has her Mini van, & its still fun to drive + it would be funny watching a mini van go 12.00 at the track. Just my 02..........

 

[86brick]

Here's a nice wagon although the wife might not like those wheels up launches.........

http://www.taperformance.com/tawagon.htm

 

[87 WE2]

Here's what my friend Jim did to his wifes car. Its her daily driver 3 kids 2 dogs she needs a station wagon, he made it fun

THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE

 

[TClassic]

Don't forget that Jim's BIG Ass wagon (4800some pounds) knocks down high 12's and gets 20something mpg!

 

[zam70]

When my wife and i got married she already owned a mini van (financially buried in it) So, I didn't have much choice. I loathed driving a minvan until we relocated...WOW that thing can hold some stuff. We packed 16, yes, 16 full sized computer boxes in that puppy at a time. I was impressed...

Now it's 4 years later, it's 7 years old and has 150,000 trouble free miles and the poor ole thing is junkin' out (body rust)...it has now become my beater truck. I carry everything in it - wood, fill dirt, land scaping rock, engines & parts, whatever i can toss in the back...it works great. The key to killing the minivan saga for me was NEVER WASH IT. If it looks like you don't care, it seems less derogatory to your manhood.

Now, Let's get real people - SUVs are nothing more than station wagons with big tires or vans with a nose on them. They're not good at anything. If it makes you feel better to call it an "SUV" go ahead but I will never own an overpriced, underpowerd POS...what's the point. I'd rather have a big ole 4 door truck. at least you can use it as a truck. SUVs are basically useless - slow, handle bad, get bad gas mileage, to small on the inside and you can't carry any more than you could in a regular old car.

The Pacifica isn't to bad of an idea other than the expense.
As far as minivan suggestions, look at the new Nissan one, it's kinda cool...

 

[1 RARE T]

I know some of you won't like this one but,...........

Nissan Murano!

We bought one a year ago and wow, we love it!

Lots of power, great on gas and tons of car/suv for the money.

P.S. I also have 2002 G.M.C. Sierra so don't beat me up too bad.

 

[Renthorin]

Proud owner of a 2002 Minivan

We tried the SUV route (Blazer) but it doesn't hold nearly the amount of crap that the minivan does.

Soooo.....we have a 2002 Chevy Venture extended van. Holds 4 full-size dog crates and all the gear on top of the crates.

I am at the age now where I really don't care what I drive (helps to have a GN in the garage)...and to be honest...no one with any maturity judges others by what they drive either. Who cares if someone you don't even know passes you on the freeway while you are driving it. I think there are way more important things to worry about.

Get what she wants so you don't get in trouble.

I am actually amazed by the acceleration of the thing. Passes very easily and beats the hell out of the Blazer for speed, accleration, and gas milleage.

When she gets her next one I plan to keep this and put a box with some subs in the back

 

[GN One Day...]

I like those Murano's, and the Infiniti version is tough looking. Does the Nissan offer the V8 also?

 

[2quiktocare]

Well, mini vans are well overdone, and the Pacifica is too station wagony for me. My most fav vehicle ever was my F150 Supercrew.
It would hall 6 adults in comfort plus the bed when i needed to take my kid out doing desert freestyle. Could also turn on a dime and the 4 whl abs disc stopped like now. Was an absolute total use vehicle for sure and never a spec of problems either. Mark

 

[Reaper]

Originally posted by GN One Day...
I like those Murano's, and the Infiniti version is tough looking. Does the Nissan offer the V8 also?

nissan = rengeot (sp) = french = crap


they do offer a v8 but i have only seen it in their new truck line 305hp but no telling the amount of TQ i have not done any looking online on it but i imagine its there big v6 with 2 extra holes welded on the back. they did say its got a tow rating of 9500 lbs!


and the damn thing is UGLY!


Dathan

 

[John Larkin]

The manufacturers may have blurred the content part of the car but the stock market and the economy are crystal clear.

 

[Jebadias]

I drove my daughter home from the hospital in a '92 Camaro. My driveway had a 3rd gen F Body in it until both of my kids were over 5 yrs old. That's the time we started phasing in the G bodies. My ex-mother in law has had minivan's forever. Believe me, the Camaro was MUCH easier to put them into the car seat than any of her minivans ever were. It's a simple issue of gravity, bending down rather than climbing up and over. As they grew older they could climb into it better too.

I personally don't like SUVs, but something like a Tahoe or Suburban would be a better option than the Minivan. You get a lot of room and the ability to tow your car too .

Another option is the mid '90's Caprice with the police package. Make sure it has the LT1 in it. I was looking at them a while back. Great for kids. No carpet or plush seats so when the kid pukes all over or throws his happy meal around you can just hose it out. Since it's almost an Impala SS there are quite a few aftermarket parts available for it, if you are so inclined. You get a full frame to protect the family, and enough power to get you out of tight spots. Also, the wagon version has a good deal of storage space out back.

Most important though is to get something you can BOTH be happy with. Good luck

 

[1 RARE T]

Sorry but I think some of you are missing the point of the request for advice.
The poor guy has a wife who thinks she needs a mini-van to cart around the new baby and the pooches.

By suggesting he go get an impractical car that fills the 'need for speed ' ( to some extent) will not help with baby seat location.

Believe me, I would love to have a ss Camaro or Lighting p/u but sometimes life says otherwise.

For those of you who claim SUV's get bad gas mileage, handle bad,are too slow, ect.... visit a dealership and see what's out there today. I 'm not talking about the domestics.

My Nissan and my GMC p/u were close in price but the SUV is twice the vehicle the truck is.

 

[scottyb]

HAHAHA, that's too funny. We're just the opposite. I want her to get a minivan, but she won't have it. She must drive the obligatory SUV and I can't stand them. However, we have been very pleased with Explorers so far. We had a 92 XLT that got plowed by a LeSabre at 150,000 miles this year. She loved that Exploder and we expected to see 250,000 miles easy. After the wreck, we picked up a 98 Exploder Limited and I'm definately sold on them. They are relatively easy to work on and those v6's just keep on chugging.

Back on track, minivans are damn good cars, especially if you're carrying baggage ALL THE TIME. Those ones with dual sliding doors and electric doors rock! We rented one for a road trip and I loved it. It was a Montana and the whole trip I was trying to sell my wife on one.

 

[Roger]

Avalon.
I paid $27k for an '04 XLS.
It's peppy, rides & handles good, gets 35mpg on the hwy & is roomy.

 

[Buicksx3]

After much wrangling and soul-searching my wife and I sold her '99 Regal GS supercharged (ran 14.001 @ 99) and got a black 2003 Mazda MPV ES with the ground effects kit, rear spoiler and optional 17" wheels. We have a 3-year old plus a dog, and as kids get bigger so do their toys and other things (Radio Flyer wagons, tricycles, jogging strollers, etc.) The secondary rear a/c and DVD in the van is terrific. The thing has Tokico shocks/struts from the factory, and really handles as some startled Passat owner learned while southbound on I-15 from Salt Lake City to Mesquite, NV. The middle windows in the sliding doors roll down. The 3rd row seat folds flat into the floor and the 2nd row capt chairs come out really easy. It fits in the garage with plenty of room to spare for the GN and my workbench. I even get compliments from the guys in their mid 20s at Home Depot ("That's cool looking-- what is it?") While gravity works with you when putting kids in child seats in a 4-door Regal or coupe, the roof line doesn't; after banging your forehead against the door opening while holding a 30lb object at arm's length several times, you begin to appreciate a higher seat. After 10 months and 15K miles of MPV ownership, we admit we're hooked. Do I care about the "mommy" image and all that crap? Nope; frankly, someone driving an H2 has a bigger image problem than I ever will.

I also own a '96 Roadmaster Limited LT-1 (with mods, of course) which is my daily driver and tow vehicle (has a Class IV hitch, posi and steeper than OEM gears). As large as its trunk is, the MPV holds a lot more!

After re-reading your post and noting the age difference, here are a couple more suggestions: (a) the new Saturn Vue Red Line that'll be coming out soon (has the Honda 250 HP V6; you may have read about it) or (b) the new Subaru Forester XT with the turbo motor, both of which are affordable. I got to ride in a Forester XT while on a business trip to Northern Cal recently; with a stickshift and 4.44 gears front and rear that thing got up and went. Plus, it's a whole lot more stealthy than a WRX wagon.

Anyway, my 0.02 from someone who had a performance sedan and got rid of it for a minivan.