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Posted: 10/27/2004 8:35:45 AM EDT
[#1]
You do it and next thing you know you'll be hosting "Queer eye for the straight guy"
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Posted: 10/27/2004 8:37:26 AM EDT
[#2]
uh, they're gay?
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Posted: 10/27/2004 8:40:53 AM EDT
[#3]
Pick up a short wheel base Chevy Astro work/utility van with the 4.6 Liter V6.
My dad had one when he worked for NEC. Things have great power and work realy well to haul a load of guns out to the desert, or in your case the woods. + no stupid rear side glass. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 8:48:18 AM EDT
[#4]
"Soccer Mom", thats what you'll hear from now on.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 8:57:39 AM EDT
[#5]
We have a Chevy Venture. It has good power and a 4x8 bed when you take out the back seats - bigger than my truck! It has been reliable and gets a lot better mileage than an SUV, plus it is easier to park and drive around town. It has been ideal for our family.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:01:07 AM EDT
[#6]
It's a trap!
If you buy a minivan your wife will immediately become pregnant with twins. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:04:13 AM EDT
[#7]
Toyota Tacoma 2005 double cab is a lot better
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:06:50 AM EDT
[#8]
I was caught in this trap myself. The only viable option while still keeping your manhood is the GMC safari all wheel drive. Its full time 4 wheel drive and a GMC truck and no one has ever accused anyone driving a GMC truck of being a girlyman. It also holds a ton of stuff and is tough as nails.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:11:36 AM EDT
[#9]
My dad has driven nothing but minivans since 1986, at one point he and my mom owned three of them at one time. Owning a minivan does not make you gay (my dad is a retired gunship pilot, how much manlier can you get), I am thinking about getting one myself. I have three kids, and even teh big SUVs are a pain in the butt compared to a minivan, plus they really do get a lot better mileage.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:13:15 AM EDT
[#10]
MINIVAN = Manhood Is Not Intact, Vasectomized And Neutered.h
Edit: To add winking smiley to not offend anyone! |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:21:09 AM EDT
[#11]
Every car I've ever owned was a Mustang.
Now I have an 01 Oddyssy. I also have an F-150, so I can blame my wife for the van. It is the most practical vehicle on the road. It has the room of an Excursion but drives like an accord. You won't get any cool points, but you will love it, especially with kids. You know, the same cars that are cool at 23, aren't practical at 33. Mustangs will always be around for later. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:24:32 AM EDT
[#12]
I like most minivans. When I was shopping for used minivans I did a lot of research on crash tests. Most of the US-made vans do not do very well in crashes (including the Astro). Honda and Toyota both get high marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (highwaysafety.org). So I bought a Suburban (a Tahoe or Expedition would also work for a family).
If I were to get a minivan, I like the new Town and Country (2005) and the newer Sienna the best. The Chrysler minivans need good maintenance done on their transmissions (flush and filter change) unless you want to by a new transmission before 100k miles. The Astro is an interesting van with the 4.3L six but it lacks a driver's side sliding door which you really need with smaller kids. Any idea if GM will ever add the driver's side sliding door? GunLvr |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:29:25 AM EDT
[#13]
Buying a minivan is proof that you are giving up any hope of being cool. Don't do it (because your debt is already too high, not because of a coolness factor).
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:31:05 AM EDT
[#14]
When looking at a minivan, there is more to the story than just how much room they have, a minivan may not have all that much more room than your typical gunboat sized SUV, but it will be a lot more versatile (think along the lines of a pickup with a high top bed cover, when you pull the seats out), and the sliding doors make it much easier to wrangle small children in and out of. SUVs are built and bought more as status symbo;s than anything else, they guzzle has and are expensive, without providing any real benefit (unless you really require four wheel drive in your family grocery getter).
ETA: If cool factor is still an importanat feature when you are buying cars and you have two children, you need to spend more time with the kids, I promise you after having a sick child puke a full bottles worth of curdled formula onto your shirt, cool starts to look less important. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:31:28 AM EDT
[#15]
Even THEY arrive in a Suburban! 
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:33:42 AM EDT
[#16]
LOL I can honestly say I have not watched it. Thanks for the info
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:34:03 AM EDT
[#17]
For minivans, most dealerships require a non-refundable deposit of two testicles.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:35:43 AM EDT
[#18]
I have a 2000 GMC Safari, it's been a great vehicle to haul the kids around in. IIRC, the Astro/Safari is the last minivan built on a truck frame, hope I'm not wrong there....all I know for sure is I sit up higher than most other minivans while driving down the road. The height is comparable to my F150.
Don't sweat the childish gay comments, you do what's best for your kids and there'll be no doubt you're a man. Edited fer speeling. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:36:20 AM EDT
[#19]
My wife bought a Honda Odyssey a couple of months ago and I must say it's nice if you have wee-ones. I don't drive it much be she enjoys the hell out of it. The DVD player is great for kids and the van is perfect for getting car seats in and out of.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:48:16 AM EDT
[#20]
Most people who own SUV's wind up spending a ton more only to use them like minvans/station wagons anyway...Unless you need a V8 to tow your toys or you plan to spend time offroad, get a minivan and avoid the hype.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:49:18 AM EDT
[#21]
I don't know, man. Personally, I would NEVER get a minivan. You may as well just cut your nuts off with a steak knife. I think I would go with something else. There are plenty of other options available.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:54:15 AM EDT
[#22]
You need to ask your wife if you can have your testicles back for a little while before we start this conversation.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:57:20 AM EDT
[#23]
 , what are you gay dont do it buy a suburban if room is the problem. And dont buy till you can afford it.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:57:52 AM EDT
[#24]
my friend has owned a dodge and a ford windstar, he says the windstar is the way to go, a whole lot nicer and more reliable. they may not be cool but i have heard they are a very
comfortable ride. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:58:55 AM EDT
[#25]
I was in the same boat. I resisted the mini-van for a long time but we've got one now and I really enjoy it. It's economical on gas (compared to my V-10 Ford) and I can haul tons of baseball and soccer gear in it. They are pretty spunky too and offer some nice features.
I buy cars and trucks to use. To me, they are a mode of transportation to get me from point "A" to point "B". I'm not out to impress the neighbors. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 9:58:58 AM EDT
[#26]
Unless your name is Chili Palmer, I would forget it...
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Posted: 10/27/2004 10:03:40 AM EDT
[#27]
I remember growing up, we had a neighbor who was a OH55 pilot, he had three kids, he drove a Corvette to work everyday, he even pulled his boat to the local lake with it. He traded his Corvette in every three years for a new one. His wife and three kids rode around in a shitty old Ford Pinto, that was at least ten years old. Now that guy was manly as they come.
When my mom got a Minivan, my dad got the old family car, a 78 Ford Farirmont wagon with no AC (this was at Ft. Rucker AL), a couple of years later my dad bought my mom a new minivan, and he got her old one, that is manly, taking care of your family and making sure that they have what they need. My dad had always wanted a V8 Mustang, but he has never had one, he always made sure the family had what we needed. He was able to drive to the flight line or school house and get in front of potential gunship pilots and teach them how to fly, so there is no doubt that he has a stainless stell set of balls (would you get into a helicopter with a pair of Saudi flight students, and allow them to take control of the aircraft?). |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 10:08:53 AM EDT
[#28]
You just haven't heard us 
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Posted: 10/27/2004 10:44:30 AM EDT
[#30]
my mother has a 2005 Town and Country.
My friends and I borrowed it for a long road trip, it was awesome. Stow and go seats so that the seats fold into the floor in five seconds, tons of room, tons of accesorieres, very smooth ride. Couple of times I had to slow down because I would think that I was going 65mph, glance at the speedometer and notice we were going 92mph. Lot of pickup and pep. I myself wouldn't hesitate to buy one, other people's opinions be damned |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 10:55:42 AM EDT
[#31]
You can haul plywood and such home in your SUV without using a trailer? As for offroad use, my Neon has been places most suburban commandos in thier 4X4 SUVs wouldn't even dream of going to, it might scratch the paint. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 10:59:22 AM EDT
[#32]
If I get one it would be something 4-6 years old, because I'm needing to reduce my monthly debt right now compared to the Sport trac. I love SUV's, but gas mileage is a concern, especially with gas prices showing no signs of slowing down. I don't know, my 00' GT that I had before the Sport trac got 26 MPG on the highway, but getting an 18 month old into the child seat in the back would be a pain everyday. My other daughter is 4 now, so she rides in a booster seat so thats no prob......Maybe I should just refinance the Sport trac.......
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Posted: 10/27/2004 11:09:12 AM EDT
[#33]
I think most of you might be missing the point... A minivan is the ultimate in uban camoflage and stealth.
Cops don't pull you over 'cause I doesn't look like you're going fast. You can park anywhere and nobody will notice you. You can fit cases of ammo and guns in the back and still have room for your shooting buddies. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 11:09:30 AM EDT
[#34]
Mini-vans are GIRLY cars!
Except mine which hauls around lots of guns and ammo. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 11:13:50 AM EDT
[#35]
Minivans = gay.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 11:20:08 AM EDT
[#36]
The Dodge and Chryslers are nice, but they don't hold their value and the build quality is sub-par. Right now the two that lead the mini-van segment are the Toyota Cienna and the Honda Odyssey in that order. Honda was offering a lease deal on the Odyssey for $249/month for 24 months 15,000 miles/year on the top of the line 04 EX models to get them off the lot because the 05 is a complete redesign. They might still be. We picked up an 04 on the 48 month lease, and it's been good to us. It has get up and go, gets great gas mileage, and it's roomy as all get out. Edited because it was 24 months, not 48. Remember the Alamo, and God Bless Texas... |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 11:27:25 AM EDT
[#37]
ford '86 areostar!
standard of course |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 11:37:57 AM EDT
[#38]
If you are looking for a used Minivan the poor resale value of the chrysler products might be a good thing, in my AO it is not hard at all to find a 99-2000 Caravan for around 6K.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 11:38:05 AM EDT
[#39]
I think most of you might be missing the point... A minivan is the ultimate in uban camoflage and stealth.
Cops don't pull you over 'cause I doesn't look like you're going fast. You can park anywhere and nobody will notice you. You can fit cases of ammo and guns in the back and still have room for your shooting buddies. +1 |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 11:38:59 AM EDT
[#40]
+1 With the back seats removed and the hatch open, you can shoot prone in shade and air-conditioned comfort. Makes it easy to find your brass as well. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 12:01:17 PM EDT
[#41]
GET THE MINI VAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted: 10/27/2004 12:07:40 PM EDT
[#42]
 Prior to wedlock I had in my stable an F150 a Porsche944 and a CX650E Shortly thereafter I was reduced to a Honda civic HB and a Plymouth Minivan... It hurts to type that. In the quiet moments... when I feel a certain sense of sadness and depression wash over me... And I can't quite get out of the rutt... It dawns on me... You stooopid idiot. You shouldn't have sold the Porsche |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 12:09:09 PM EDT
[#43]
Jeep Cherokee Sport. Get ahold of yourself.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 12:16:30 PM EDT
[#44]
I hear those mini vans have really nice purse holders in them.
Don't care you say ? Well you had better care... because riding in that purse are your balls.  |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 1:28:57 PM EDT
[#45]
Hey, thgere are some REALLY nice MVs out there, sporty ones to with decent power. It doesn't HAVE to be emasculating....
OTOH, you could get a crew cab pick up. S.O. |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 1:49:26 PM EDT
[#46]
Bingo! And you're willing to go back a couple of years earlier, you can knock several thousand bucks off that price. Domestic minivans are currently the best value in the used car market, period. Even if you have to put a couple grand into repairs, you're still WAY ahead in cost over, say, a Suburban (not to mention the ongoing fuel expense). As for the claim that minivans are 'gay', it would appear that an awful lot of ARFCOM members have serious security issues about their masculinity... |
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Posted: 10/27/2004 1:55:18 PM EDT
[#47]
My wife has a gmc safari and its pretty nice.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 6:42:25 PM EDT
[#48]
When my daughter was born my wife started talking minivan. She wanted to be able to sit up higher and see better while driving. She's short. Which I understand but I don't think she realized how big they are and what it would be like to drive one all the time. When I asked her, "You will be the one driving it right?" When it was met with an uncertain "yes". There was no way I was going to buy one. I would end up driving it. I teach in an elementary school and really like my job and the kids but driving a van would have been the end.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 6:53:07 PM EDT
[#49]
I really don't see the point in buying a minivan for just one kid, but for two or more they are great. If you are looking at a used one, it is like Skibane said, you can buy one dirt cheap. I recently looked at a 95 or 96 Lumina minivan that was in great shape and loaded (it even had the power sliding door), the asking price was $900, but I could have gotten it cheaper. I realize that a nearly ten year old vehicle is liekly to have problems, but I can make a lot of repairs for that extra twenty eight or twenty nine grand a decent new SUV would have cost. Hell I looked at a 95 S10 blazer 2WD that was only in fair condidtion and the guy wanted nearly five grand for it, and in my opinion that model blazer was a POS.
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Posted: 10/27/2004 6:59:15 PM EDT
[#50]
What he said. I have three kids and a mini-van was the best option for me. I look at a mini-van as a way to travel in disguise. Who would guess that a mini-van could hold so many guns and ammo at the same time.
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