minivan alternatives?
minivan alternatives?
Guys my wife said the word minivan to me this week. I know she was partially joking but with two kids under 6, space is a necessity.
Hoping for a suggestion on a good diesel wagon with the child seat mounting hardware. The little anchor points. Also hoping it is something I can build someday. Anything with a 606 in it? I haven't read too much about them yet as all my interest has been 617. Hate electronic controlled crap and I hear a 603 pump on a 606 is good.
Help me avoid the minivan nightmare.
I know the sex factor with a minivan is zero, but nothing comes closer to being family utility vehicle.
1)They're the swiss army knives of kid carriers. Storage everwhere. The seats can do more than Transformers and Autobots.
2)If you've got to pick someone up at the airport and *have* to take the kids along, it's no sweat for a minivan.
3)Their resale value is crap so the price of entry is low for used.
Oh gosh your right..you can't argue against any of that.
Get a beater minivan like from the Black keys el camino album cover
Oh jeeze my dad had one like that when I was I kid.
My sister had one in highschool that had a turbo in it. I was driving an 86 tpi 305 camaro. My car was having issues for over a momth ...I drove that van it was fast and made my Chevy look like crap. Finally we checked the fuel pressure and realized the pump was bad on mine.
I chatted with a buddy who owned a mini van with his wife and he told me they both hated it. Even with all the bells and whistles they felt "lame" driving it.
They make sense but i need some sexy aspect to it. I really need turbo diesel as a base requirement.
Minivan of your Dreams
I am 17 and I would totally drive this thing...
I know you want a TD....but a VW Eurovan is a sexy option. Was the workhorse of my youth and still is my dad’s daily driver.
It can seat 7 comfortably, hold multiple 4x8 sheets inside, tow a ton of weight (towed a twelve boat dinghy trailer regularly), has cockpit style front seats, and just a ton of room in general. We love it.
Used late model turbo diesel ML320's can be found in the mid-$30,000's...here's one:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/3620103185.html
If you want to go the route I'm going (OM606 into W124 wagon), and build it up, you'll prolly spend at least $15,000 before you're satisfied with it. Prolly more like $20 grand, in fact.
The wife's-urge-to-kill factor would be much less with the ML320.
(02-23-2013, 11:31 AM)willbhere4u Get a beater minivan like from the Black keys el camino album cover
(02-23-2013, 11:31 AM)willbhere4u Get a beater minivan like from the Black keys el camino album cover
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
A work van or any 300TD. Weld in the kid seat anchors.
Don't worry about finding one with airbags-the kids won't be using them either so a w123 is always an option too.
Or a domestic work van, just make sure it's something you can service. Remember walgmuth's thread on PP for his van?
Suburban with barn doors? Tahoe with barn doors?
Jeep grand cherokee (up to 04)-cast iron I6, solid axles, can put on a bigger rear rollbar for ~$200 and it will handle nicely. Just watch out for the 00-02 cracking heads.
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
My wife and I have a no minivan policy in our unspoken marriage vows.
It's the reason we've had two wagons since being married.
But then again, I like wagons. My family growing up went from this:
(Navy blue, no wood paneling)
To this big failure with 4 wheels:
This thing was always 50% broken and the black on black combination made it an oven anytime the sun was in the sky.
To this:
(Same colors, but with AWD)
My wife and I went for this:
It was amazing, with AWD, saddle leather, handled magnificently.... when it worked. We owned it for only 1 day without any warning lights on the dash and ended up towing it to a a tuning house to be used as a parts car.
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
If you want it to never get stolen and be cheap get an Aztek. Not the best looking ever? Nope. Cheap? Yup. Easy to find parts? hell yeah.
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
(02-25-2013, 01:42 PM)Simpler=Better If you want it to never get stolen and be cheap get an Aztek. Not the best looking ever? Nope. Cheap? Yup. Easy to find parts? hell yeah.
(02-25-2013, 01:42 PM)Simpler=Better If you want it to never get stolen and be cheap get an Aztek. Not the best looking ever? Nope. Cheap? Yup. Easy to find parts? hell yeah.
(02-23-2013, 02:37 AM)lgreeley83 Guys my wife said the word minivan to me this week. I know she was partially joking but with two kids under 6, space is a necessity.
Hoping for a suggestion on a good diesel wagon with the child seat mounting hardware. The little anchor points. Also hoping it is something I can build someday. Anything with a 606 in it? I haven't read too much about them yet as all my interest has been 617. Hate electronic controlled crap and I hear a 603 pump on a 606 is good.
Help me avoid the minivan nightmare.
(02-23-2013, 02:37 AM)lgreeley83 Guys my wife said the word minivan to me this week. I know she was partially joking but with two kids under 6, space is a necessity.
Hoping for a suggestion on a good diesel wagon with the child seat mounting hardware. The little anchor points. Also hoping it is something I can build someday. Anything with a 606 in it? I haven't read too much about them yet as all my interest has been 617. Hate electronic controlled crap and I hear a 603 pump on a 606 is good.
Help me avoid the minivan nightmare.
How about a jeep liberty diesel?
(02-26-2013, 04:20 PM)willbhere4u How about a jeep liberty diesel?
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
(02-26-2013, 04:20 PM)willbhere4u How about a jeep liberty diesel?
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
the problem here is that there is not much argument against the utility of a minivan for the family apart from the lack of coolness factor that runs with them.
I say lgreeley83 should embrace it, and hold out for something interesting in the minivan group. He's never gonna win an argument with the missus on whats more useful, wagon or minivan.
you get more passenger seating, more head room, more cargo utility, and more configurability over a wagon or small to midsize SUV, all in about the same size footprint.
Id concede to the minivan, and go nuts with my project vehicles instead. Look at it this way, lots of minivans/family vehicles with zero sex appeal have decent tow ratings. lots of interesting things can be towed behind the family vehicle......
When choosing, look for what would nicely accent your vehicular hobby.
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
Working on a FWD v6 is insanity. Working on a motor that's half under the dash is insane. That' why you need a wagon or a full SUV
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
I'm thinking an astro. Its mini without most of the lame I think. My pops has hauled tools around in that for years...still does. I worked in a tire shop and it was their utility vehicle too. That diesel astro build on here would be awesome.
(02-26-2013, 04:57 PM)Simpler=Better Working on a FWD v6 is insanity. Working on a motor that's half under the dash is insane. That' why you need a wagon or a full SUV
(02-26-2013, 05:05 PM)lgreeley83 I'm thinking an astro. Its mini without most of the lame I think. My pops has hauled tools around in that for years...still does. I worked in a tire shop and it was their utility vehicle too. That diesel astro build on here would be awesome.
(02-26-2013, 04:57 PM)Simpler=Better Working on a FWD v6 is insanity. Working on a motor that's half under the dash is insane. That' why you need a wagon or a full SUV
(02-26-2013, 05:05 PM)lgreeley83 I'm thinking an astro. Its mini without most of the lame I think. My pops has hauled tools around in that for years...still does. I worked in a tire shop and it was their utility vehicle too. That diesel astro build on here would be awesome.
Subaru Legacy wagon that's my daily beater and I love it it cheap and simple to work on 27-30mpg and awd
Get one of those previa vans or whatever, lol
(02-27-2013, 03:03 PM)sassparilla_kid Get one of those previa vans or whatever, lol
(02-27-2013, 03:03 PM)sassparilla_kid Get one of those previa vans or whatever, lol
You have to get the supercharged 4x4 previa, , with the three driveshafts lol, lift the front seat to change plugs. Many friend wants to use one for lemons haha
(02-27-2013, 12:37 PM)willbhere4u Subaru Legacy wagon that's my daily beater and I love it it cheap and simple to work on 27-30mpg and awd
(02-27-2013, 12:37 PM)willbhere4u Subaru Legacy wagon that's my daily beater and I love it it cheap and simple to work on 27-30mpg and awd
It's an ex postal wagon
so how is this debate turning out with the Mrs.?
I have a dodge 3500 12 passenger van with only the front seats im just itching to sell you. Id take 700 bucks, as 1/4 of the floor is held together by the interior carpeting, but it does have the HD suspension ect. throw a couple loveseats in, and you have the ultimate 6 passenger family vehicle!
Lol. Wife would crap if I got something that big. It's ok. I shared the link to this thread with her and she immediately told me NO MORE CARS!
The current family ride is a 96 Volvo 850r turbo. Of course I picked a race car for a family ride. She likes that is has about 100 bottoms on the dash. She likes gadgets and bottons. Having a kid just start kindergarden she has been exposed to all the soccer moms and their minivans with rediculous creature comforts and storage, like transformers. I think she would like all those toys but doesn't want minivan unless we can buy the truely pimped out model.
The Volvo is pretty bad on gas. She doesn't want another car yet but its still on my mind. Any other input on those jeep diesels? It's a belt and not a chain isn't it?
(03-09-2013, 02:50 PM)lgreeley83 Lol. Wife would crap if I got something that big. It's ok. I shared the link to this thread with her and she immediately told me NO MORE CARS!
The current family ride is a 96 Volvo 850r turbo. Of course I picked a race car for a family ride. She likes that is has about 100 bottoms on the dash. She likes gadgets and bottons. Having a kid just start kindergarden she has been exposed to all the soccer moms and their minivans with rediculous creature comforts and storage, like transformers. I think she would like all those toys but doesn't want minivan unless we can buy the truely pimped out model.
The Volvo is pretty bad on gas. She doesn't want another car yet but its still on my mind. Any other input on those jeep diesels? It's a belt and not a chain isn't it?
(03-09-2013, 02:50 PM)lgreeley83 Lol. Wife would crap if I got something that big. It's ok. I shared the link to this thread with her and she immediately told me NO MORE CARS!
The current family ride is a 96 Volvo 850r turbo. Of course I picked a race car for a family ride. She likes that is has about 100 bottoms on the dash. She likes gadgets and bottons. Having a kid just start kindergarden she has been exposed to all the soccer moms and their minivans with rediculous creature comforts and storage, like transformers. I think she would like all those toys but doesn't want minivan unless we can buy the truely pimped out model.
The Volvo is pretty bad on gas. She doesn't want another car yet but its still on my mind. Any other input on those jeep diesels? It's a belt and not a chain isn't it?
The turbo really makes it quick. Some good racing vids of the turbo model out there. A pretty decent following of it too. I need to give it more love though. Don't even know the psi I'm pushing in it. Wish we had the wagon. Wife isn't in to big cars. Funny she loved the suburban she was issued when working for the government.
(03-09-2013, 04:46 PM)lgreeley83 Funny she loved the suburban she was issued when working for the government.
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
(03-09-2013, 04:46 PM)lgreeley83 Funny she loved the suburban she was issued when working for the government.
larsalan I guess I need to look at this stupid ass drip shit. What you have to like mess with those elements on the pump? What a fucking hassle. then use some wire to hold the throttle open or some shit?
On the crappy egyptian roads, I've driven vans, colorados, silverados, and suburbans. The suburban was by far the best ride. I've have to put a pic of the up armored ones.