"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
06/30/2015 at 18:46 • Filed to: Fatherhood
3
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"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
06/30/2015 at 18:46 • Filed to: Fatherhood | 3
| 38 |
You know that feeling you get after going to the bank for money to buy a car, something you want? A buzzing, effervescent feeling of anticipation, the money burning a hole in your pocket? I have never had another feeling when buying a car, and for the first time in my life, it is absent. For behold, I am buying this (probably)(if it’s as represented)(contingent upon my inspection):
For there comes a time, my friends, for a man to cross over to the Dark Side, whereupon he shall find the light. Maybe. For Lo, another child shall be upon me shortly, and mine wife needs a larger conveyance with which to carry all the shit required therefore! To wit, Dad’s Law states that a small child will expand to fill all available space, as ours has, her available space being a previously adequate 325iT, notably with thine exalted manuel transmission, which I shall now have to part with to cover the currency extracted by the above vehicle.
But behold, brothers and sisters, all is not lost! For despite my previous prejudices to any van of less than Econoline mass that was not German with a small engine in the back, I have repented! Ah have Repented, I say-uh! Let the record show that I have come to embrace the miniature van, for it has abundant space, supreme comfort, and a sultry reliable engine of six cylinders which makes more power than anything else currently in our Scuderia Familia. And let’s not forget, let us NOT forget, Dude, it will make my wife’s life easier, thus doing the same for mine. Hence, it shall be so, and thus tomorrow, on the first day of the 7th month, I will reemerge from my chrysalis of pain and defeat a new man, the same as before, but different. And it will be good.
HammerheadFistpunch
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 18:51 |
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This whole “buy a minivan and turn in your mancard” thing needs to die the death. Minivans are great utility machines, they car camp like no ones business and they haul around future car lovers. If temporarily trading in hinged doors for sliding ones so you can be a better dad is less manly, then this “man” club can cram with walnuts and die. Congratulations on the addition and on the decision you’ve made to be a better dad and husband. Feel shame no more.
lone_liberal
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 18:51 |
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A minivan can carry a lot of car parts and tools. Just saying.
I had one as a winter car/hauler when I was single and found it extremely useful. It was after I got married that I had to get rid of it since my wife hated the idea of owning a minivan, even by proxy.
EL_ULY
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 18:53 |
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duuuuuuuuuude congrats on the upcoming future hooning offspring. FYI, Siennas are rad!
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> HammerheadFistpunch
06/30/2015 at 18:57 |
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It used to be considered a rule for wagons, until minivans replaced them in the mom-car role in general. It may be that one day crossovers are the man-card-rejected blather target of the moment.
Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 19:00 |
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 19:00 |
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I’m required to shun you for not getting something that’s either a Stout Scarab or a Previa. Other than that, this is the practical car so you can splurge on idiocy elsewhere. *cough* Matri Ranchaud, *cough*
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HammerheadFistpunch
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/30/2015 at 19:00 |
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wouldn’t surprise me in the least. Why can’t guys just understand that its not the car that makes the man, its the man that makes the car!
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RallyWrench
> HammerheadFistpunch
06/30/2015 at 19:00 |
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Thanks! And I agree completely, which is why I put it in such terms. I admit there was a time, when I was childless and well under 30, when I swore up and down I’d never have a minivan. This despite being a drummer and growing up in VW vans. It made no sense, whereas minivans make perfect sense. I’m perfectly happy with this.
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> HammerheadFistpunch
06/30/2015 at 19:01 |
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...though paradoxically, a carstache does not make a car more manly. Usually.
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RallyWrench
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/30/2015 at 19:02 |
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I’ve been looking for Previas, but they’re hard to find with less than 300k or in good condition any more. I like them a lot, our extended family has both had them.
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RallyWrench
> lone_liberal
06/30/2015 at 19:04 |
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That they can. I’m a drummer too, and there are few better vehicles for hauling a kit.
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 19:05 |
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On consideration, I should probably refer to a Quattro/Rancho mashup as something more like a Mattro Ranchaud. Still working on that.
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RallyWrench
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 19:05 |
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Also, and I can’t believe I just now thought of this, but if you take the “i” out of “Sienna” it’s “Senna”. Coincidence? I think not.
Tohru
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 19:06 |
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You chose... poorly.
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RallyWrench
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/30/2015 at 19:08 |
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Maudi Quancho.
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 19:10 |
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RallyWrench
> EL_ULY
06/30/2015 at 19:11 |
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Thanks man! I’ve worked on a few, and this one seems pretty nice for the money so I’m hoping it’s as good as the guy says. We’ll know more in a couple hours.
dogisbadob
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 19:13 |
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Toyoa makes great cars, so you should get many enjoyable miles out of it :)
Unfortunatley the engine is a bit hard to work on, though, even worse than the Camry with the same motor
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RallyWrench
> Tohru
06/30/2015 at 19:15 |
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Hard to find in decent shape or with less than 300k miles anymore, but I’ve looked for them. I’ve got to put my wife & children in this thing with absolute confidence, so a bit more modernity and safety wins the day.
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RallyWrench
> dogisbadob
06/30/2015 at 19:17 |
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Yep, I’ve worked on them. Not my favorite, but I prefer them to the Odyssey and hopefully I won’t have to do much to it.
ly2v8-Brian
> HammerheadFistpunch
06/30/2015 at 19:22 |
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I disagree about the man-card thing. I hate minivans because I remember how little kid me was devastated when the trucks in the family were traded for minivans.
That is why I will not own a van.
Everyone has different reasons.
fhrblig
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 19:27 |
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True story, I bought a Dodge Caravan as a single guy. Except for when the transmission broke (because of course it did) it was a perfectly adequate vehicle, and no fucks were given about what others thought.
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RallyWrench
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
06/30/2015 at 19:32 |
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And so it shall be.
desertdog5051
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 19:32 |
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You gotta do what you gotta do. It’s hard to lug around all the stuff that small humans require. It’s almost impossible in a car. No points or demerits for this. You get a trophy for being smart and making your life easier.
No stick family in the back window. That is a violation that could cause revocation of your Jalop card.
thebigbossyboss
> HammerheadFistpunch
06/30/2015 at 19:32 |
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My girlfriend says “please don’t make me drive a van”.
LongbowMkII
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 19:33 |
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I had an 01 for a while. The transmission was about to bite it at ~130k so it got traded towards the current family hauler.
The transmission crapping out on these isn’t uncommon apparently, of course YMMV.
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RallyWrench
> ly2v8-Brian
06/30/2015 at 19:36 |
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As a 4-year old, my dad sold his BMW Bavaria and we got a Vanagon. No shit, I cried at the time, but over 30 years later I still have that Vanagon, sitting and waiting for me to bring it back to life. It’s really just a minivan itself, so I’ve made peace with them.
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RallyWrench
> desertdog5051
06/30/2015 at 19:40 |
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There will be no stick family. I hate those stickers.
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RallyWrench
> LongbowMkII
06/30/2015 at 19:42 |
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I’ve seen a couple exceed 200k without issue, and the Honda and Mopar vans of the era’s trans issues are worse, so it’s a lesser of the evils kind of thing. Hoping for the best.
E92M3
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 19:45 |
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Exactly! No point having the latest child seat if you’re going to put them in somethintg that would fail today’s crash tests.
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LongbowMkII
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 20:02 |
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yeah, we picked ours up at 94k with papers for a song and thought it would last for 10 years since there were plenty available with a ton of miles. Next winter, shifting became a bit slow when it was cold, which is understandable. Then in the spring it was still slow and getting worse while the fluid level/color was fine. Then came a chatter... Traded it for nearly as much as we paid, just one of those things. It seems to effect early (00-01) ones more.
Personally I still believe automatic transmissions run via black magic, so I don’t know any preventative tips (if any). It seems more or less random, some last forever fewer only last ~100k. I’d take the risk again if that says anything.
promoted by the color red
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 22:38 |
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You know you can get a supercharger kit for one of these, right? TRD made them.
105 HP of fury
> RallyWrench
06/30/2015 at 22:48 |
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Can it do burnouts?
mr2gud2u
> RallyWrench
07/01/2015 at 00:21 |
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My wife and I are expecting our first in September. I think my wagon will do for now. People tell me how great minivans are for hauling kids, but I don't think I could give up my rwd wagon for a van. I would kill me.
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RallyWrench
> mr2gud2u
07/01/2015 at 01:03 |
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That’ll change come time for number two, and its ok.
Kevingalls
> RallyWrench
07/01/2015 at 13:04 |
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I’m not a dad yet but I use my Ford Freestar very frequently. My other 3 sports-cars don’t have back seats so I need the minivan for my grocery/hardware/auto parts store runs. The second and third row seats fold down or come out to provide way more cargo room than most SUVs, costs less, and better aerodynamics and mileage. I also tow an aluminum trailer w/ my race car to the track with the minivan.
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RallyWrench
> Kevingalls
07/01/2015 at 13:24 |
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Has is been reliable? How is the fit & finish holding up? The Freestar hasn’t really be on my list because I never see them so they weren’t really in mind.
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Kevingalls
> RallyWrench
07/23/2015 at 17:30 |
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Cheap used car lots are covered in them. There’s really a flood of them available for cheap because they aren’t super reliable, nor do they have a lot of the luxuries of other makes. I stand by my recommendation of one as a utilitarian vehicle but if you’re looking for a reliable van to haul the family cross country, the Freestar is not the best option. Mine has 150k miles though, and has needed around $1,500 in repairs over the years so it’s not worry free but it is cheap.