Since we're on the topic

"fhrblig" (fhrblig) 03/25/2019 at 23:08 • Filed to: None

1

83

How many Opponauts have owned a minivan?

I bought this runt right before I met my partner. It was a 2005 Dodge Caravan SWB with the 2.4 4-cylinder and a 4-speed auto. Yes, that’s right. I was a single guy and I willingly bought a minivan.

Why? Because it was the cheapest newer vehicle I could find as it was only two years old at the time, and I also worked for a courier company and thought it would come in handy. And it did, for a time. I had a Buick LeSabre with some pretty severe electrical problems and really needed a reliable vehicle. I found a place that gave me way too much money for the LeSabre and the deal was done.

Unfortunately, I found out that the first owner never bothered to change the trans fluid so it got a fluid change about 20k too late. That eventually led to the torque converter eating itself and me having to limp it to work for a few months. Then we traded it for my Ranger, and that was the end of it.

Honestly, it was a perfectly acceptable vehicle up until the transmission problems. It had adequate power and managed to get around 27 mpg reliably . The seats were removable but weighed a ton. Once they were out it could swallow a massive amount of cargo though.

So, who els e has owned one of these sex machines ?

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:11

2

I’ve been a child in one.

shop-teacher > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:15

2

Nope, and I don't intend to. I acknowledge that they are among the most practical vehicles ever made, but I think they're ugly and the ones that I have driven I found to be uncomfortable.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:16

1

I owned a ‘95 Windstar. It may have been  the biggest hunk of shit ever to roll off of a carmaker’s assembly line. 

Spanfeller is a twat > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:18

1

Mom did, a Town and country like sixteen years ago.

Nibby > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:18

1

i haven’t but my parents have had a couple when we were little

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:22

3

Oh man, Long Voyager, you're up!

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:23

3

My wife & I have owned a 2000 Dodge Grand Caravan and a 2006 T & C. Both decent cars, with the stow & go in the T & C an amazing feature. Fold all the seats down, and I could move the contents of a small house inside of it.

lone_liberal > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:23

2

I used to when I was single. My wife hated it with a passion so eventually it got sold to my mom. Who turned around and sold it to my nephew for a profit.

ttyymmnn > shop-teacher 03/25/2019 at 23:24

3

We’ve put 200k miles on ours. I love it. Been all over the country--east, west, north, south. Fantastic for a 5-person family. The Odyssey 6 cylinder is quite strong, drives great. I will say, though, that we are on our second engine and second transmission. But that’s just a testament to how much we love it. 

lone_liberal > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 03/25/2019 at 23:25

1

Mine was a ‘96 but while it was an undeniable POS it was dead reliable and useful.

Nothing > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:25

0

Never owned one, nor did my parents. I’ve rented one, though. As far as body configurations go, I’ve never owned a sedan, either.

wafflesnfalafel > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:26

3

N ever owned one - m y only good “minivan” story is that I was “between cars” when I went on a blind date with a cute young lady named Amy so I drove my folks 77 Kombi with the fold out bed in back. In hind sight I looked like a total creepy perve. But we’ve been married for 23 years....

facw > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:27

2

I received a hand me down 1991 Previa in high school, and kept it util the end of my junior year of college when I bought a car and gave the Previa back. The Previa was a pretty good car though. The biggest problem for me is that it had an electrical drain that we never tracked down, which was fine at home where it could just get plugged in if not driven frequently, but bad for being street parked when I was at school.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > lone_liberal 03/25/2019 at 23:28

0

Maybe Ford got some of the issues sorted out after the first model  year. Ours had three transmissions by 30k and that was just the start of too many issues to list.

ttyymmnn > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:29

2

I have owned and still own a 2003 Odyssey. 13 years ago, when we found out we were having twins after our first, I went looking for anything but a minivan. But then I imagined a long car ride with three boys shoulder-to-shoulder across the back seat. So we went with the van, and it was the best thing we ever bought. Tons of room, easy in and out, comfortable on 16-hour drives. I love it so much I’ve put a second engine and a second transmission in it (we got 196k out of the first transmission, despite Honda’s poor history of transmissions with this vehicle). In fact, we are looking at getting another one. The 03 will be my son’s car (sorry, son, but it’s wheels), and we’re going to look for a recently used Odyssey  that I hope will last about 9 years. By then, all my kids will be through college and I can buy something small and fun for myself. 

Alfalfa > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:30

2

I learned how to drive in a 2nd gen caravan, but never owned one. No plans to either, bit who knows when a nice Previa or turbo caravan will pop up when I'm looking for my next beater.

fhrblig > shop-teacher 03/25/2019 at 23:30

0

Fair enough. I'll tell you that the most recent Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler T&C/VW Routan/Ram CV were pretty comfortable. I had a few of the CVs in my fleet at my last job and took them on very long trips, and they were pretty decent long haulers.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:30

3

If you owned a minivan and still managed keep a partner interested then there’s still hope for me yet.

Brickman > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:31

6

Yep, 96 caravan. Base as you can get, except for power mirrors! Inherited from my parents when I was 18... til a year ago.

Kept needing work, and used it as a trade in for my dads Colorado. Now the S-10 is mine :)

I even painted a model caravan to match :D

I learned so much about working on the van. I rebuilt the A/C compressor, replaced evap coil, traced bad internal connections in the PCM, shock replacements, tie rods, sway bar bushings, fuel pump, various electrical stuff, and almost a timing belt change.

Oh and reading crank shaft and cam shaft hall effect sensors with a volt meter.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > shop-teacher 03/25/2019 at 23:32

1

They try to make you think you can drive them like a car but you really can’t.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:34

3

I was raised in a staunchly anti-minvan household. Growing up, my parents first had an Isuzu Trooper, then a series of three Audi A6 Avants, then a Ford Flex, all in the name of avoiding minivans.

lone_liberal > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 03/25/2019 at 23:34

1

There was a bunch of stuff like dome lights not turning off sometimes when you closed the doors and one of the window regulators failed  but the engine and transmission were solid. I think mine was the exception, though. When my nephew bought it his wife had her brother who was a Ford tech look it over and he was shocked how solid the powertrain was. Most of the ones he saw were dead or dying.

fhrblig > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 03/25/2019 at 23:35

1

Mine didn't have Stow 'n' Go, I don't think any of the short wheelbase models did. It was still a very handy vehicle to move things.

fhrblig > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 03/25/2019 at 23:36

3

“Windstar”

There’s your problem.

fhrblig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 03/25/2019 at 23:43

1

He’s hated just about every vehicle I've owned, LOL.

fhrblig > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 03/25/2019 at 23:45

1

I wish I'd been. I grew up crammed into the smallest possible areas, from a '75 Civic to an '83 CJ7 to an '84 Nissan 300ZX 2+2.

fhrblig > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/25/2019 at 23:47

1

My parents never considered them, probably because they only had 2 kids and there was no real need for something that big.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:49

2

Good it means you don’t have to let him drive them

Chuckles > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:53

3

I took my driver’s exam in our 93 Plymouth Voyager, and then it became my car. Honestly, when you’re a teenager, it’s pretty sweet having the ability to take 6 of your friends with you anywhere. We also had a 97 Caravan that I drove for a while.

Merfthemadmauler > fhrblig 03/25/2019 at 23:59

0

I learned to drive in  a ‘72 Volkswagon van. Original minivan? At least mini power. If you can get going in one of those on a hill you’ll never have any trouble driving a manual transmission.

CB > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 00:04

1

A 2003 Town & Country was the first vehicle I drove legally. It was red, named the Deathwagen, and somehow made it to 330k kilometers on its original engine and transmission, to the surprise of every mechanic.

glemon > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 00:05

0

We had a late 90s Mercury Villager (aka Nissan Quest) I drove a Windstar and the a Plymouth or Dodge, don’t remember which. The others felt like trucks, the Villager was more carlike and nimble (all things being relative). It was great on trips and not too bad in town. We pulled the doorside middle captains chair out most of the time so you could ride 5 with easy access to the back seat. I liked it for that time in our lives (two small kids) and have no shame about owning one, but don’t ever see buying one again (though our son always says the Honda Fit is a mini-minivan, he is a kind of right).

Oh yes, three years of completely trouble free ownership from new.  

Chariotoflove > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 00:07

0

I was raised a station wagon child, and I loved it. I never wanted a mini-van, but my wife was destined for one.

Now we have our Sedona, and I really like it.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 00:08

0

Currently own a 2008 Sienna (in brown, what else?). It's really quite decent. We bought it maybe 9 months ago, as we knew we were going to need something bigger than the Vibe to fit 3 car seats. 

glemon > ttyymmnn 03/26/2019 at 00:11

2

“the 03 minivan will be my son’s car”

Obligatory comment about rolling boidiour and don’t bother knocking. That being said  my first car was an MG Midget, and all I will say about that is where there is a will there is a way.

glemon > Merfthemadmauler 03/26/2019 at 00:16

0

Half the people I know around my age learned to drive in a VW bug.  They were pretty easy with the very short first gear.  Imagine a microbus is a little more of a challenge.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 00:23

1

We had a 91 Mazda MPV (the legit RWD, original MPV with 3 regular doors) that my parents bought new as the family truckster and tow vehicle (smaller boat at the time). We kept it until 97 when we picked up a 96 Explorer (5.0, AWD) and a bigger boat. The MPV became my grandmother’s last vehicle. I got my learner’s permit around the time she needed to stop driving, so it worked out for both of us. I got to drive a bunch and she still got to get out and about . It became the first vehicle I drove to high school my sopho more school (It did donuts like a champ).

Ours was white and 2WD, but otherwise just like the picture.

Merfthemadmauler > glemon 03/26/2019 at 00:25

1

I never had any trouble parallel parking either. Sometimes it amuses me to watch people parking their minivans.

Longtime Lurker > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 00:28

1

My first car was a 2000 Dodge Caravan swb 3.0 4spd 400k+km that I paid $300, I was the second owner.

It blew the original timing belt at 410,000km, put a new one on and it was good to go. Traded in on my Ranger when the front strut mounts rusted so bad the top of the struts would slam into the bottom of the cowling. The dealer gave me $1000 for under a recycling program, so I knew some poor family wouldn't end up with it.

ttyymmnn > glemon 03/26/2019 at 00:31

0

My first car was a VW Rabbit. Better than an MG, but not by much. 

Future Heap Owner > CB 03/26/2019 at 00:39

0

So what was the first vehicle you drove illegally?

Longtime Lurker > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 00:40

0

My brother also has as his first car a 2004 Ford Freestar that he bought for $500.

He put 80k km on it in 5 years using to drive him to school. Now at 300k km we blew the headgasket on it while hauling to heavy of a load while driving in the Alberta foothills. The trans is slipping pretty bad, and the second torque converter is starting to fail. He has driven it so hard we’ve put 6 cv axles in it, and it has massive drift damage. B ut it still chugs along, until he can get a job.

CB > Future Heap Owner 03/26/2019 at 00:42

1

It was in a private driveway, so technically not illegal, but a rental Corolla.

Future Heap Owner > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 00:45

0

Never owned one myself, but I learned to drive in an ‘03 or ‘04 Town & Country. I do not miss driving it (I just did a few months ago when I was visiting my folks for Christmas). The gas pedal is super surgey when you first start to press down, which gave me trouble when I was learning. And driving such a long vehicle made me even more anxious than I already was. I compared it to waking up one day and discovering that my ass now stuck out three feet behind me.

That being said, I do want to have children, so I’ll probably own one at some point. There is simply no more efficient use of interior space on that size  footprint.

glemon > Brickman 03/26/2019 at 00:55

2

You may be the only minivan owner in history with a replica model of their van.  Mustang, Corvette, Porsche, sure, minivan, not so much.

CTSenVy > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 01:07

0

Never owned one but have drove 3 different ones for work, with an Escape and 2 Promaster City’s  thrown in the mix.

WindStar was the worse.

The Uplander was the ugliest.

The Caravan came with satellite radio for a year for free so I liked it.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 01:40

2

I’ve owned three, including my current DD, the Jalopnik Special, a Mazda5 6MT. To the best of my knowledge I don’t have any kids, but just like minivans. Mom had a couple of Vanagons, and I even bought one when I was in college, trading in my Rabbit GTI.

I also had a Ford Windstar that I got for $1, back when I couldn’t afford to repair the BMW; that one, unlike my minivans before and since, was a miserable, soul-sucking piece of mediocrity that I was happy to sell to a scrapper when I moved. I am glad that I owned it, not for the obvious reasons like having personal transportation, but for the experience of driving and owning something so comparatively terrible. It’s one thing to have opinions about what makes for a garbage car without having owned or driven one, but it’s another thing to have lived with one for years and can have a solid basis for comparison.  

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 01:42

0

Those sound pretty roomy compared to the Fiat 124 Spyder my mom owned in the ‘70s. 

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Chuckles 03/26/2019 at 01:46

1

I loved the Vanagon that  I had in college, but the flip side to your story was that everyone always wanted to take my car (and never paid for gas) and I was always the designated driver.

pip bip - choose Corrour > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 02:35

0

nope. 

duurtlang > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 03:48

0

I certainly did own one, and still own an important part of that 1996 Lancia  Zeta . I used it as a motor donor for my 1987 Peugeot 205 CTI convertible, so the 2.0t engine lives on.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 07:04

1

Me ....I had a voyager

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 03/26/2019 at 07:16

1

Ford Flex is a minivan........

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 07:17

2

1, 2, 3, 4, 5..........

Ah fuck it, let’s just say I’ve had a few:

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/rally-van-full-build-1830125273

The current state of my 94. Prepping for paint last fall, couldn’t get it sprayed before the cold set it, so it waits for warm weather. Then my 3.8L decided it didn’t like it’s oil anymore, causing the death of it. Now it sits awaiting it’s new motor.

The 92 I picked up not long ago. Needed an axle when I got it, but had 69k original miles and is damn nice otherwise. We’ve put over 2k on her already, just rolled 71,500 miles this morning.

Had this 95 Sport Wagon for 5+ yrs. Still miss it today.

Had this 93 Sport Wagon for a short stint.

This was the motor donor for my 94.

This was going to be the neighborhood treehouse.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 03/26/2019 at 07:19

1

After having the older vans with the interchangeable seating, the SNG drives me crazy. Give me easily removable benches with room under them for carrying lumber.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > glemon 03/26/2019 at 07:21

0

I would if they made a 2nd gen!

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Longtime Lurker 03/26/2019 at 07:43

0

3.0, 4-spd, “rare” combo in a 3rd gen.

Khalbali > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 03/26/2019 at 08:21

1

Yeah a co-worker was telling me all about his, he had 4 or 5 by 100k, they kept dying right before the warranty ended so he kept getting free ones instead of just ditching the van.

shop-teacher > ttyymmnn 03/26/2019 at 08:27

1

They’re great vehicles, this I will never deny. They don’t fit me though , as I was a very wide dude . I have never driven one where my right knee wasn’t perpetually jammed into the hard plastic of the center stack.

shop-teacher > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 08:28

0

I'm a very wide dude. I've never driven a minivan where my right knee wasn't perpetually rammed into the hard plastic center stack.

Chuckles > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 03/26/2019 at 08:36

0

The vans were gone before I was old enough to drink, but I feel your pain. Maybe that’s why these days I tend to gravitate towards tiny cars with no passenger room.

When I got my license, my parents gave me their gas card. That lasted all the way up until the first bill came to the house.

Chuckles > shop-teacher 03/26/2019 at 08:40

0

As a fellow wide dude, I think that you would have been fine in an early 90s Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth. Not much plastic in the center.

HoustonRunner > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 08:49

0

Owned a 2008 Honda Odyssey and 2014/15 Chrysl er Town and Country.  Honda was great to drive, T&C is great value.

Brickman > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 03/26/2019 at 08:52

1

Here you go :D Doesn’t seem to be any for sale listings though.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-BROOKFIELD-1993-PLYMOUTH-VOYAGER-1994-IN-BOX-/352588234289?hash=item5217e57e31%3Ag%3A-mkAAOSwsIFcW6Ej&nma=true&si=yjn0MvDDOk8%252FZGvPuOCMOGVSnWg%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Or a smaller one

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Busch-44613-Plymouth-Voyager-White-1-87-Scale-HO/202609473803?epid=1400566646&hash=item2f2c77390b:g:4Z8AAOSwfINcdkHy

i86hotdogs > glemon 03/26/2019 at 08:53

1

I’ve got a matching Transit Connect model to go with Jan Van. Wheels don’t match, but colors do. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 08:58

0

We had a ‘93 Dodge Caravan SE short wheelbase with the mid sized Mitsu sourced V6 (3 point something litres...? I forget the displacement) when I was growing up...white paint with burgundy interior. I still really miss it! Never let us down once!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 09:37

0

I haven’t but when I was 19-21 my best fiend had one, a 97 Chrysler Town and Country named Baby.

That car saw many an adventure. Anytime we went some where with 5 or more people we took the van. We camped in it, we slept in it when we were too drunk. It drive home, we used it to move all of my belongings, including a couch when I got married.

It’s life ended when his little brother tried to steal it but didn’t know how to get it into reverse and drove it into a tre instead. The front left wheel was turned out and took the brunt of the force, ripping the lower control arm out of its mounting points. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > i86hotdogs 03/26/2019 at 10:10

0

Hey did you get my message about that 91 you posted?

i86hotdogs > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 03/26/2019 at 10:16

1

Regarding having to pass given the state o your current van? Yes I did. I tried contacting for more information, but couldn’t get too much. Tires are new as of Fall, two owner vehicle, previous owner was the lady’s father, besides the trans issue, did not have any othe r mechanical problems. Still waiting on her to provide a vin to figure out the engine/trans set up. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > i86hotdogs 03/26/2019 at 10:20

0

Guessing 3.0/4-speed, but it could be 3.3/4-speed.

Either way it’s quite likely it just needs a fluid/filter change, the 4-speeds act a complete fool when the fluid gets bad . Depending on what I could get it for I may still be interested.

Eury - AFRICA TWIN!!!!!!! > fhrblig 03/26/2019 at 10:23

0

I own a 2014 Odyssey. It’s fine. It also gets driven The least out of all of our stuff because it’s so damn boring, has terrible infotainment and isn’t particularly comfortable. 

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Khalbali 03/26/2019 at 13:35

0

Another thing ours chewed through constantly was brakes. The way I understand it was that this was the early days of US automakers building significantly enlarged vehicles on existing unibody platforms and Ford basically took a Taurus, puffed it up nearly 500 lbs, changed none of the running gear besides a few gear ratios and called it good. I don’t know if they had confidence that the Taurus was over-engineered enough to handle it or if the bean counters made all the decisions, but the components really weren’t great at handling the extra stress long-term.

shop-teacher > Chuckles 03/26/2019 at 22:09

1

Probably. I've never driven one of those.

i86hotdogs > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 03/27/2019 at 06:52

1

She agreed on $500 from me last fall, but plans changed and I ended up moving south. So perhaps you can get less?

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > i86hotdogs 03/28/2019 at 06:56

0

If she’s on the verge of sending it to scrap about the best she’ll pull is $200, more like $150 from most places.

I’m not going to make an offer on it without more info.

i86hotdogs > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 03/28/2019 at 06:57

0

Last we spoke, she claimed she could get $350 for scrap. I am still waiting on more information. If I don’t hear back soon, it may be a lost cause.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > i86hotdogs 03/28/2019 at 07:13

1

I want to become really good friends with that scrapper ;)

No big deal either way. It looked pretty clean from the pic you posted, so it would likely be worth saving, but I don’t “need” it either.

i86hotdogs > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 03/28/2019 at 07:34

0

Nobod y “needs” a 4th/5th/6th (I lost count for you) van. Always dreamed of owning a first gen. 

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > i86hotdogs 03/28/2019 at 07:53

0

HEY, IT WOULD ONLY BE NUMBER 3!

I’ve always wanted a first gen.

i86hotdogs > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 03/28/2019 at 08:16

1

https://www.a-1autobrokerinc.com/1988_Plymouth_Grand%20Voyager_San%20Antonio_TX_20771394.veh

I find this to be the Holy Grail of first gens for me. If I wasn’t saving for a wedding (and my other van), I’d fly down there and have a serious look.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > i86hotdogs 03/28/2019 at 10:10

1

That is a lot of van. Not big on the high-top conversion. My holy grail first gen would be one of these:

A white 1989 ES Turbo with a manual and blue interior.

i86hotdogs > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness 03/28/2019 at 11:00

1

Oh that’s a great looking van. I know the turbo stick combo is as rare as the Lions winning a playoff game, so I ai m a little lower. Plus i’m a sucker for faux wood.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > i86hotdogs 03/28/2019 at 12:05

1

I mean, I’ll settle for a clean Turbo/auto, so long as it’s a white ES with blue interior ;)